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History of Story County Iowa C - D Unless noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton. 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 worshipped 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 s that of the average boy living in the
country. When he had acquired sufficient education to enable him to undertake
his life work, which he had already decided should be farming, the task of the
schoolroom gave away 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 that 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, Manon, 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. JAY G. DUTTON, president of the Farmers Bank of Nevada, throughout the last period of his residence in this city, covering thirteen years, has long been accorded a prominent position in business and financial circles. His record is another proof of the fact that success is not the result of genius as held by some, but is rather the outcome of clear judgment, experience and close application. He was born in Benton county, Iowa, August 31, 1866, and in 1870 was brought to Nevada by his parents, O. B. and Elizabeth A. (Beavers) Dutton, the former a native of New York and the latter of New Jersey. The father became a resident of Chicago in 1835, before the incorporation of the city, and was closely identified with its early development. The year 1855 witnessed his arrival in Iowa and in Delaware county, this state, he was married to Miss Elizabeth A. Beavers. Subsequently he removed to Norway, Benton county, and in 1870 came to Nevada. In that year Mr. Dutton established the first bank of Story county and conducted business under the firm style of O. B. Dutton & Son, bankers, the junior partner being O. E. Dutton, now living in Los Angeles, California. For eleven years he continued in the banking business but in 1881 sold out and removed to Missouri Valley, where he established the First National Bank of that place. He was connected with financial interests there for about nine years but disposed of his interest in the bank in 1890 and returned to Nevada. In early life before entering banking circles he had engaged in merchandising and from time to time as opportunity offered he made extensive and judicious investments in real estate, becoming the owner of nine hundred and sixty acres of rich and valuable land adjoining the corporation limits of Nevada on the west. To the development and improvement of the property he gave his personal supervision. He was a very successful man, his business judgment being sound, his sagacity keen and his enterprise unfaltering. His labors, too, were of a character that contributed largely to the improvement and progress of the section in which he lived, and his commercial integrity was such as to win for him the unqualified confidence of all. The death of Mr. Dutton occurred in Nevada in 1891, when he was sixty-five years of age. He had for several years survived his wife, who passed away in Missouri Valley, in April, 1888, at the age of fifty-three years. Their children were six in number: Martha, the wife of David Leonard, a resident of Lake City, Iowa; O. E., living in Los Angeles, California; O. J., a banker of Grand Junction, Iowa; Jay G., of this review; Jeannette, the wife of Dr. F. H. Conner, of Nevada; and Omer B., who died at the age of sixteen years. Jay G. Dutton was only four years of age when his parents came to Nevada and in the public schools of this city he began his education, which was continued after the removal of the family to Missouri Valley. In the latter place he made his initial step in business, becoming the first cashier of the First National Bank of Missouri Valley, which position he occupied for seven years, or until his removal from that place to Perry, Iowa. His attention was then given to the lumber and grain trades and to the banking business for seven years, when he disposed of his interests there. He then returned to Nevada, where since 1897 he has continuously made his home. He came here with the intention of entering the banking business and purchased an interest in the Farmers Bank, of which he has since been the president. He is thoroughly familiar with every phase of banking and is conducting a business that safeguards the interests of depositors and also promotes the success of the institution. He is also the owner of extensive landed interests in this county and elsewhere, much of his capital having been placed in the safest of all investments - real estate. In 1891 Mr. Dutton was united in marriage to Miss Lida Briggs, a native of Nevada and a daughter of Otis and Jennie Briggs. The father is now deceased, and the mother resides in Los Angeles, California. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dutton have been born two children: Dorothy and Orson B. The family are prominent in Nevada, the hospitality of the best homes being cordially extended them. As a citizen Mr. Dutton advocates and supports all those measures and movements which are of practical value in the upbuilding of the city along material, intellectual, social and moral lines. His entire life has been actuated by a spirit of enterprise that is manifest in his public relations as well as in his private business affairs. He is resolute and determined, accomplishing what he undertakes and his success is the logical sequence of his industry, close application and business integrity.
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