Christian Winter Rostad, (1862-1945)

Headstone GPS Coordinates:

Birth: 7 October 1862, Ørland, near Trondheim, Norway,

Death: 12 December 1945, Bremerton, Kitsap County, Washington, USA

Relatives in Seabeck Cemetery: Edward Rostad, Marie Rostad née Forde

American Revolutionary War Patriots*: None

Disclaimer: These lines have not been officially proven by NSDAR standards

Christian Winter Rostad was born Anton Kristian Eliasen Rostad on October 7, 1862, in Ørland, near Trondheim, Norway, to Elias Eriksen and Maren Nilsdatter. The seventh of nine children, all born in Ørland, he was baptized on November 16, 1862. Raised on his family’s farm, Christian grew up amid the steady rhythms of rural Norwegian life, where horses, cows, sheep, and pigs filled the barns and shaped his early understanding of hard work and self-reliance.

At twenty-five, Christian set out to make his own way. On March 7, 1888, he sailed from Trondheim aboard the Hero to England, then crossed the Atlantic on the Germanic, arriving in New York City on March 24. By April 2, he had reached Portland, Oregon, checking into the International Hotel. Given the speed of his journey west, he likely crossed the United States by train—about a seven-day trip at the time. He remained in Portland through 1890, working as a laborer.

Like many ambitious young men of his generation, Christian was eventually drawn north by the promise of gold. Although he disappears from easily traceable records for nearly two decades, he resurfaces in Fairbanks, Alaska, at the height of the gold rush era. On August 21, 1909, he married Marie Bolette Hansdatter Forde at the First Presbyterian Church in Fairbanks.

Christian continued working as a miner, spending time in Dawson City in the Yukon—then a rugged, male-dominated frontier town forged by gold fever. In the Alaska Citizen newspaper dated December 12, 1910, Christian is mentioned arriving in Fairbanks from the Valdez Trail with two other men, possibly returning from Eagle City on the route from Dawson.

By August 20, 1912, Christian had brought his growing family to Seattle, where his second son, Alfred Bernhardt Rostad, was born. At this time, Christian worked as a laborer. Soon after, in February 1913, the family moved again—this time by freight boat to Seabeck, Washington. They purchased Paul N. Myhre’s former homestead near Crosby, and Christian transitioned from miner to cattle rancher. In the community, he became known simply as “Chris Rostad,” a hardworking farmer building a life from the land.

Their third son, Edward, was born on February 14, 1917, likely at their Seabeck home. By 1923, Christian purchased his first automobile. According to his son Alfred, he would holler “WHOA!” each time he applied the brakes, as though pulling reins on a team of horses—a small but vivid reminder of the farmer he had always been at heart.

In October 1925, tragedy struck when fire destroyed the Rostad home. The Kitsap Herald of October 25, 1925, carried a heartfelt appeal written by Rev. Samuel Bassett, known as “BRUTUS,” describing Christian’s situation:

“An Appeal for a Neighbor
Mr. Rostad bought, years ago, eighty acres, which included the improvements on the old homestead of Paul N. Myhre of Silverdale. He paid part, and Mr. Myhre took a mortgage on the place for the balance. I have been told on good authority that there is still a balance of $275 due on that mortgage. Mr. Myhre for some years, had a fire insurance on the house of $600. Mr. Rosatad, when he came home the evening of the day the house was burned, notified Mr. Myhre of the accident, so he could notify the insurance company, and found out by Mr. Myhre that he had requested the agent to call on Mr. Rostad for the insurance fee before the insurance would run out, and Mr. Mesford promised that he would, but forgot it, I am sure. So, Mr. Rostad found himself with no protection against fire. Such happenings sometimes catch the best napping. I am sure the loss to Mr. Rosatd would not be covered if we could raise $3,000 for him.

Mr. Rosatd, as stated, was not at home the day of the fire. The oldest boy, Lewis, was sick abed. After dinner, Mrs. Rostad was digging potatoes in the field. Seeing great smoke rising from the feed room, which was attached to the house, she ran home and found the building on fire. She rushed and called the son to come from his bed right away. The house was on fire, and off she went and used all the water she had handy to try to quench the fire, but was unable to; so in she went to the burning house and pulled her sewing machine out to safety, and repeatedly went in, daring the fire, to try to save what she could, and that was very little. She had her two arms scorched pretty badly with the fire. They had over $75 worth of grain purchased and stored in the feed room, as part of the winter supply, and lots of groceries. Besides, they have lost all their wearing apparel, beds and bedding. Their house was well furnished. The neighbors had done what they could to help them, but very few here are flush with money. Mr. Rostad will receive from Rudy Hintz about $400 for timber that he logged from the place. Outside of this, they are penniless, to build a house before the winter sets in. Mr. Murray of the West Fork camp lent them a good-sized canvas tent and donated them a mattress, springs and bedstead. Mr. Just gave them one hundred pounds of flour, a pair of boots to Mr. Rostad and a few shoes for the boys. Mr. Marshall gave a pair of shoes, a clock and some other things. Mr. and Mrs. Zoffel, before they left for California, gave them their cooking stove and a bed. To enumerate all will, I think, to take too much space in the Herald. Can I, in my appeal, touch a thousand Samaritan hearts that will give a dollar apiece toward helping this poor family in building a house? It will cost Mr. Rostad a great deal more than that, because he is noe carpenter. He is a hard-working man on the farm. I think, Mr. Editor, it would be well to have the people disposed to help in the northern part of the county, to send their contributions to the bank at Poulsbo, if it will receive the money. Mr Fridn Mr. Greaves, may be, will get the bank of Silverdale to receive collections; and maybe Mr. Fairfield in the Valley and the country around him. I have a pretty good friend at South Colby, Mr. Rust. Maybe he will be able to do something in this. I appeal (continued) BRUTUS.”

Despite devastating loss, Christian rebuilt. Life on the ranch resumed, and snippets from the Kitsap Herald continued to mark the family’s milestones:

Friday, 11 October 1929, Crosby:

“Lewis Rostad has gone to St. Louis to learn to be an aviator. Lewis is a boy with great ambitions, and we hope he will succeed.”

Friday, 20 February 1931, Crosby:

“Mr. C. Rostad butchered a fine young beef cow on Thursday and took it to the farmers’ market at Bremerton Saturday.”

20 February 1931, Crosby:

“Mr. Chris Rostad has taken our papers to become a citizen of the United States, witnessed by Mr. S. J. Bassett and Sid Wilson.”

On September 22, 1932, Christian was officially naturalized as a United States citizen and adopted the name Christian Winter Rostad. His paperwork lists his arrival in New York aboard the Majestic, though earlier emigration records show the Germanic—both ships served similar routes, and perhaps memory blurred the details after more than four decades.

Tragedy returned to the Rostad family when their youngest son, Edward, who suffered from epilepsy, was severely burned after falling into an open fire during clearing work on the ranch. After nearly a year of suffering, Edward died on July 13, 1933. The Kitsap County Herald, Friday, July 28, 1933, reported:

“The youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Rostad passed away last Thursday, after a year of suffering. Edward, aged 16, met with an accident about a year ago be being terribly burned from falling into an open fire as clearing was being sone on his father’s ranch. He was in the hospital until one month ago, when he was brought home and was seemingly recovering when death claimed him. He was buried at the Seabeck Cemetery on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m., Rev. Hokenstad preaching and rendering a very touching sermon. Mr. and Mrs. Rostad and family wish to thank all the neighbors and friends for the beautiful flowers and the help they rendered, and to Rev. Hokenstad they asked me to say that their hearts were full to overflowing for his kindness. SHEBA”

Christian and Marie remained in Crosby for the rest of their lives. Their sons Louis and Alfred stayed in Kitsap County, married, and raised families of their own.

On December 10, 1945, Marie died at Roosevelt Hospital in Bremerton from angina pectoris. The Bremerton Sun, December 12, 1945, published:

“Marie F. Rostad
A resident of this vicinity for the past 33 years, Marie F. Rostad passed away at a local hospital, Monday. She was born March 24, 1876, in Norway and immigrated to the U.S. 36 years ago.
She is survived by her husband, Chris, at the family home, Star Rt.1, Box 383; two sons, Louise and Alfred of Bremerton; four sisters, Mrs. Nikka Barnard and Mrs. Sophia Bassette, both of Seattle, and the other two sisters reside in Norway. Also surviving is one brother, a resident of Norway.
Services will be held at the Lewis chapel Saturday morning with the Rev. Givens officiating and interment at the Seabeck cemetery will follow.”

Two days later, on December 12, 1945, Christian died of chronic myocarditis at age eighty-three. The Bremerton Sun, December 13, 1945, reported:

“Husband, Wife Die Only 2 Days Apart
A resident of this vicinity for the past 34 years, Christian Winter Rostad, Star Rt. 1, Box 383, passed away at a local hospital yesterday. His wife, Marie F., passed away Monday, at a local hospital. He was born at Trondheim, Norway, Oct. 7, 1862, and came to the U.S. 71 years ago. He is survived by two sons, Louis and Alfred, both of Bremerton. Double funeral services will be held at Lewis chapel Saturday morning at 11 o’clock with the Ref. Givens officiating. Interment is the Seabeck cemetery will follow.”

Christian and Marie were laid to rest beside their son Edward in Seabeck Cemetery. No headstones marked their graves at the time of their passing, but in the early 2000s, local historian Fred Just, with help from the Rostad family, commissioned markers to ensure that Christian and Marie’s names—and the story of the life he built—would not be forgotten.