Alexander John Christlieb

1882–1962

Alexander John Christlieb (Friedrich Carl Christlieb¹, Carl Christlieb², Isaac Christlieb³, Isaac A. Christlieb⁴) [969], born 1 August 1882, Long Lake, Minnesota; died 24 February 1962, Norwalk, California; married 1^st, 26 March 1913, Ima Caroline Heen. No issue. Married 2^nd, 26 November 1920, Helen Delsing (Baptized as Christina Magdalena Catherine Delsing), daughter of Joseph Delsing and Frances Supheimer, born 24 1891, St. Paul, Minnesota; died 19 October 1987, Fullerton, California.

“Alexander John Christlieb was born in Long Lake, Minnesota. He grew up on his father’s farm and attended the schools of his home district. In 1900, at age 18, he followed his father to California. He said he came to California “riding the rails.” What he did and where he lived before Isaac purchased the Fullerton property in 1903, we don’t know.”

“Alexander’s brother, Benjamin, came to California and both boys assisted Isaac in clearing and planting the orange orchard. By the year 1907, Isaac split this property into three parts and it was in the names of Alexander, Benjamin and Mary E. Clasen Kadelbach (mother of Alex and Benjamin who married George Kadelbach after her divorce from Isaac).”

“Alexander married Helen Delsing in Santa Barbara, California. She was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. Helen came west to work first in Glacier park, Montana, then in Seattle, Washington and then to Los Angeles, California.”

“The house they lived in when Clyde was born was a huge barn which was constructed as some in Germany where part is used for living quarters, part for vehicle and farm equipment and part for livestock.”

“Alexander, aside from taking care of the orange acreage, also leased other properties where he grew nursery stock which he sold to other ranchers. He also leased land to raise corn, yams, peanuts, boysenberries, and tomatoes. Truck gardening was a special interest as he could see quick results.”

“The families of Alexander and Benjamin grew up together on adjacent properties, attending Orange Thorpe Grammar School and Anaheim Presbyterian Church. They also made trips to the mountains and to Anaheim Landing where they enjoyed swimming at the beach. When the Benjamin Christlieb family sold their acreage in 1934 and moved to Ashland, Oregon, it was a sad day for the cousins left behind.”

“Alexander’s mother, Mary Clasen Kadelbach lived close by and Clyde remembers her making lots of apple pies. She always made a special little one for him and he would wait patiently outside the kitchen door nibbling on nasturtium leaves and playing with the ants. She said “ja” instead of “yes” and the adults often spoke in German when they didn’t want the children to know what they were saying.”

“The barn was dismantled in 1932 and Alexander had a three bedroom Spanish-style home built in its place. Later this home and some acreage were sold and another home built down the road.”

“Alexander died February 24, 1962 at age 79, in Norwalk, California. He is buried at Loma Vista Memorial Park in Fullerton. Helen died October 19, 1987 at age 96 and is buried at Loma Vista Memorial Park.” Clyde Christlieb, August 1994.

“There is an interesting murder case involving Isaac’s second wife, her second husband and a sister. There is quite a history of it in the newspapers of 1907.” Mary (Lewis) Christlieb, 1994.

Children of Alexander John Christlieb and Helen Delsing

• Clyde Joseph Christlieb (Friedrich Carl Christlieb¹, Carl Christlieb², Isaac Christlieb³, Isaac A. Christlieb⁴, Alexander John Christlieb⁵) [971], born 11 February 1922, Anaheim California; died 24 January 2007, Anaheim, California; married, 18 September 1942, Faye Avva Nell Hartley.

• Allene Elizabeth Christlieb (Friedrich Carl Christlieb¹, Carl Christlieb², Isaac Christlieb³, Isaac A. Christlieb⁴, Alexander John Christlieb⁵) [974], born 11 May 1924, Anaheim, California; married August 1947, Jack Pletcher. No issue.

Back to Top