Christen was born in 1789.1 Christen's father was Hans Olsen and his mother was Mari Jacobsdatter. He had four brothers and a sister, named Ole, Jacob, Isach, Hans and Berte Marie. He was the third oldest of the six children.
General Notes
Overtok sammen med sin bror Ole gården Mellom-Adal fra sin far i 1820. I 1845 solgte han sine tre femteparter til Lars Olsen Skilnan.