away two years later; Julia Ann, who was the second of the name and died in 1905 at the age of twenty-seven years ; Andrew Cornelius, who died when ten years of age; Jane Matilda, the wife of George G. Norbeck, of Aberdeen, South Dakota; and Henrietta Mabel, the wife of Simon Simonson, of Newman, Nebraska.
The family are members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Olson is a republican in his political views. He has held school and road offices but has never been a politician in the sense of seeking political preferment. His time and energies were for many years given almost exclusively to the work of the farm, and his close application, perseverance and business integrity constituted forces in the substantial success which he has achieved.
JOHN M. CHRISTIAN.
John M. Christian was born in Kendall county, Illinois, on the 27th of March, 1871, a son of Ole and Julia (Twedt) Christian, both of whom were natives of Norway, the father being born in that country on the 17th of November, 1842, and the mother on the 24th of that month in the following year. Ole Christian came to the United States with his parents when he was five years old and located in Kendall county, Illinois, where he acquired his education and grew to manhood. In 1879 he came to Story county, Iowa, and settled on a farm, remaining a resident of this county during the remainder of his life. He was a very capable and industrious man and his careful regard of details and discretion in the conduct of his business enabled him to acquire fourteen hundred acres of land. He was held in high regard by the business men of the county not alone because of his sagacity but by reason of his personal worth. He married Julia Twedt and unto them were born the following children: Cass, a resident of Minnesota; Tom, who also lives in Minnesota; John M., our subject ; Albert, living in Roland, Iowa ; Charlie, residing in McCallsburg, Story county; Henry, a resident of Milford township, Story county; Olaf, who also lives in Milford township; Alice, the wife of Ely Morrison; Emma, who married Ed Erickson; and Jane, the widow of Henry Erickson. The family worshiped with the Lutheran denomination, the parents being communicants of that church. The father passed away on the 19th of March, 1910, at the age of sixty-seven years, but the mother is still living and makes her home in Roland, Iowa.
John M. Christian was a lad of only eight years when his parents settled in Story county, so that the greater part of his life has been spent in the Hawkeye state. He attended school before leaving Illinois but the major portion of his education was obtained in the district schools of Warren township, this county. His early life was as uneventful as that of the average boy living in the country. When he had acquired sufficient