Christiena was born in Norway. Her parents were Johannes Johannesen Dosland and Lisbeth (Elizabeth) Arnesdatter. Her family lived on a farm called Upper Dosland, which is in Uskedalen Valley on Hardanger Fjord. According to the Kvinnherad ministerial records, she was born January 20, 1839, baptized January 24, 1839 and given the name Christi. Her memorial stone indicates a birth date of January 20, 1838, but probably contains an age error. She emmigrated as Christi, but in the USA was also known as Christine, Christina, Christene and Christiena.
Christiena, with her parents and siblings moved to America in 1853, following her older brother who immigrated in 1852 and found new land to settle in Olive Township, Clinton County, Iowa, near Calamus.
Christiena married John McLain Smith. The couple lived in several places in Iowa, including Clinton, Cherokee and Montgomery Counties. Christiena died in Montgomery County on January 31, 1879. She was survived by her husband and children: Burgess Jefferson, Elizabeth (Libbie) A., Eliza Ellen, William Hall, Carrie Christine, Eldora and John Hayes Smith. An infant daughter did not survive. Christiena was also survived by her parents and siblings: John D. Johnson, George (Gjert) Johnson, Aaron Johnson, Caroline (Carrie) Johnson Handt and Margaret Johnson Hayes.
In the immediate years following Christiena's death, Elizabeth (Libbie) A., the older teenage daughter, was given charge of the two youngest children, Eldora and John Hayes Smith. They lived with their uncle, John D. Johnson, near Calamus, Iowa. The second oldest daughter, Eliza Ellen went to live with her aunt, Margaret Johnson Hayes, also of Calamus. John McLain Smith remarried in September 1880.

Married John McLain Smith B 2/14/1837 or 1839 in Morgan Co. Ohio D 6/23/1902 in Villisca Montgomery Iowa.