Christian Aisenbrey, born January 30, 1857, in southern Russia, was postmaster of Menno, Hutchinson County, South Dakota. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1874 with his parents, Andrew J. and Elizabeth (Bentz) Aisenbrey, who settled in Dakota Territory. Christian worked on the family farm before marrying Christiana Keck in 1877 and establishing his own homestead. He later moved to Menno, where he served as county treasurer and became a successful furniture and undertaking business owner. Appointed postmaster in 1898, Aisenbrey was a dedicated Republican and active in the German Reformed Church.
Christian Aisenbrey, the able and popular postmaster at Menno, Hutchinson County, was born in southern Russia on the 30th of January 1857, a son of Andrew J. and Elizabeth (Bentz) Aisenbrey, of whose five children the subject is the elder of the two surviving, his brother Carl being a successful hardware merchant of Menno. The parents were both born in southern Russia, the father on the 28th of February 1821, and the mother on the 7th of July 1823. The paternal grandfather, Philip B. Aisenbrey, was a native of Germany, whence he removed over the line into Russia in 1803, being there engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death. His son, Andrew, likewise followed farming there until 1874, when he emigrated to the United States, in company with his wife and two sons. He came at once to the territory of Dakota and took up a homestead claim of a quarter section of land in Hutchinson County, there improving a good farm, upon which he continued to reside, an honored pioneer of the county, until his death, in May 1889. His wife passed away in 1876, two years after coming to what is now South Dakota, both having been devoted members of the German Reformed Church.
Christian Aisenbrey was reared on the old homestead in Russia, and there he secured his early education in the common schools, while his knowledge of English was gained by absorption and self-application after he came to the United States, being seventeen years of age at the time of his parents’ emigration to the new world. After locating on the pioneer farm in South Dakota, he there continued to assist his father in the improvement and cultivation of the same until the time of his marriage, on the 18th of November 1877, when Miss Christiana Keck became his wife. He then took up a tree claim of one hundred and sixty acres and a homestead of equal area, improving the property and bringing it under effective cultivation, and there he continued to reside until 1890, when he rented the farm, which he still owns, and removed to the town of Menno, where he served as deputy county treasurer in 1890-1. In 1892 he was elected to the office of treasurer, and upon the expiration of his term of two years was chosen as his own successor. In 1896, after the expiration of his second term, Mr. Aisenbrey purchased the furniture business of Peter Heil, while in 1901 he also purchased the business of his only competitor, David C. Heckenlaible, and he now controls the exclusive furniture and undertaking business of the town, having a large and complete stock and the best of facilities in both departments of his enterprise. His correct business methods and personal popularity ensure to him a liberal supporting patronage, and he spares no effort in catering to the demands of his trade. In 1898 he was appointed postmaster of Menno under President McKinley and was reappointed in 1902 under the regime of President Roosevelt, being known as one of the most ardent advocates of the principles of the Republican Party that can be found in this section. He served for eight years as county assessor and has been a delegate to the various state and county conventions of his party. He and his wife are valued members of the German Reformed Church, in whose work they take a deep interest.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.