education to enable him to undertake his life work, which he had already decided should be farming, the task of the schoolroom gave way to the work of the field and from that time until he reached his majority he assisted his father on the old homestead. In 1892 he began working for himself and cultivated a farm which he had rented. He continues to lease land and now has one hundred and sixty acres which he operates.
Mr. Christian selected for his wife Miss Helen Jondahl, a daughter of Hans Jondahl, who is a native of Norway and came to Story county more than forty years ago. Here Mrs. Christian was born. Mr. Jondahl became a resident of this county on the 26th of June, 1870, and worked at the carpenter's trade but later followed farming as well. There were twelve children in his family, of whom the following are still living: Henry; Sam, living in Howard township; Malenda, the wife of Joe Dewey; Carrie, who married Ed Joam; Bertha, who became the wife of Cass Christian; Helen, the wife of John M. Christian; and Edward. Mr. and Mrs. Christian have become. the parents of six children, June, Hansell, Marion, Cleo, Frank, and Olive.
The family attend the Lutheran church, the parents holding membership therein. Mr. Christian is affiliated with the republican party but does not take an active part in politics, never having been an office seeker. He has been a resident of Story county for thirty-one years, during which period he has won many friends whose regard he retains.
MADISON C. Allen.
No matter in how much fantastic theorizing one may indulge concerning the causation of success, careful reflection will prove that advancement in any field of endeavor comes through earnest purpose and indefatigable energy, intelligently directed. These are the qualities which have made Madison C. Allen one of the prominent real-estate dealers of Nevada, where for many years he has conducted a real-estate and abstract office.
He was born in Midway, Madison county, Ohio, June 22, 1843, a son of Vincent and Eleanor (Chappell) Allen, who were likewise natives of Madison county, the former born March 27, 1818, and the latter June 18 of the same year, and during their entire lives they resided in the county of their nativity, where the mother passed away at London in March, 1893. At the time of the Civil war Vincent Allen responded to the country's call for aid in July, 1862, and was commissioned as first lieutenant in Company K, Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg and after its surrender went with the army under General Sherman which was sent to look after the Confederate forces near Jackson, Mississippi, under General Johnson, that had been giving General Grant some trouble during that siege. During the march Mr. Allen was taken ill