began his business career was an inexhaustible fund of courage, which was ever supported by a worthy ambition and strength of purpose, by means of which he achieved his success.
The early years of Jonas A. Christian's life were spent in procuring an education, performing his share of the farm work and enjoying such pastimes as the average youth. He remained at home until he had reached his majority, when he commenced working for himself. Since that time he has acquired three hundred and seventy acres of land, all of which he is cultivating. He makes a specialty of feeding cattle and hogs, and in this he has met with success. His homestead is. well improved, the residence being one of the handsomest in Story county and containing all of the modern improvements and many beautiful appointments.
Mr. Christian has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Bessie Johnson, a daughter of Knute Johnson, by whom he had three children, as follows : Cora, Maime and Silvia. The wife and mother passed away in 1905. Mr. Christian's present wife, who was Miss Deona Logan, is the daughter of Christian Logan. Two children have been born of this union, twin boys, Julius Cecil and John Logan. Mr. and Mrs. Christian attend the Lutheran church, of which denomination they are members. The candidates of the republican party always receive his ballot and have ever since he received the right of citizenship. He is very active in local politics and is at present serving as trustee in Harvard township. He has been successful in his various undertakings and in addition to his real estate is one of the stockholders and officials of the Roland Savings Bank. He is considered one of the most progressive citizens and foremost business men in his community, and both he and his wife have many friends who enjoy the gracious hospitality of their beautiful home.
C. E. LONGNECKER.
C. E. Longnecker, the proprietor of the Calamus Run Stock Farm, was born in Polk county, Iowa, on the aid of March, 1865. His father was a native of Indiana and was but ten years of age when his parents removed to Iowa, locating in Polk county near Des Moines, where the son grew to manhood and married Miss Mary Davis, the mother of our subject. After his marriage Mr. Longnecker settled on a farm in Polk county, which at that time was a piece of unbroken and unimproved prairie, and there the parents spent their entire lives, Mrs. Longnecker passing away in 1875 and her husband twenty-five years later.
The early years of C. E. Longnecker's life were uneventful, the routine of the days being varied only by trivial incidents which hardly served to break the monotony. He attended the district school, aided his parents about the house and farm, and for recreation depended upon such diver