Edwin R. Christman, secretary of the Silurian Oil Company of St. Louis, was born September 6, 1887, in Wheeling, West Virginia, a son of Edwin A. Christman, a native of Tennessee and a representative of one of the old Pennsylvania families of Dutch descent and also of early American Quaker ancestry living in Pennsylvania. Edwin Christman was united in marriage to Margaret Cahill, a native of Tennessee and of Irish lineage. They have become the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters.
Edwin R. Christman, the second in order of birth, was educated in the public schools of Washington, Pennsylvania, and completed a high school course there. His first employment was in the tin plate business, as a representative of the McClure Company at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was employed in a clerical capacity and when eighteen years of age began to earn his own livelihood, altogether continuing with the McClure Company for three years. He next became associated with the Silurian Oil Company at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, accepting the position of clerk in 1908, while in 1910 he was advanced to office manager and made secretary of the St. Louis office. This position he has since filled and the success of the enterprise in the middle Mississippi valley is attributable in large measure to his efforts, his enterprise, his thorough understanding of the business and his fidelity to the interests which he represents. He is also the secretary of the W. C. McBride Company, Inc., of St. Louis. In the Silurian Oil Company he is connected with J. R. McCune, who is the president and treasurer of the corporation, while Mr. Christman is its secretary.
On the 23d of April, 1913, Mr. Christman was married to Miss Genevieve Templeman, a native of St. Louis and a daughter of W. J. Templeman, her father being an old and prominent commission merchant of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Christman have three children: Elizabeth, Margaret and Edwin R.
During the World war Mr. Christman took an active interest in supporting all measures to advance the home work, which was that of the active defense of American interests on the battle lines of the old world. He was particularly helpful in promoting the sale of Liberty bonds and did everything in his power for the welfare of soldiers in camp and field. Religiously he is connected with the Roman Catholic church and fraternally is a Knight of Columbus. In politics he is a republican, giving earnest support to the party and its principles, and he is well known as a member of Triple A Club.