History of Grinnell, (Poweshiek County) Iowa United States of America

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Biographies:

Christian, George Melville, United States marshal for the Southern district of Iowa, for many years a resident of Grinnell, is one of the best known republican leaders in the state. He has had an influential part in shaping the affairs of the republican party of the state for many years.

Mr. Christian is a native of Illinois, born in Chicago June 19, 1847, in the house that stood where the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific station now stands, at Van Buren and La Salle streets. His parents were David William Christian, who was born in Albany, N. Y., in 1813, and served four years in the Fifty-first Illinois Infantry during the war, and Lucy Anna Patrick, who was a native of Ware, Mass. His father was a cabinet maker and carpenter and his ancestors were Manxmen. His mother's ancestors were English.

Young Christian attended public school in Chicago and later Bryant & Stratton's Commercial college in Davenport, Iowa, in 1866. Having his own way to make in the world he did not attend school after he was 12 years old, except in the Commercial college, and had no other college education. He first came to Iowa in 1865 as a telegraph operator, but did not remain permanently. He finally settled in Grinnell in the spring of 1870, where he continued to reside.

Mr. Christian has had an active business life. He began to earn money when he was a young boy by folding papers for the Press and Tribune in Chicago, owned by the famous ?Long John? Wentworth. His first steady job was acting as messenger boy for Stephen A. Douglas while that famous democrat was president of the United States fair in Chicago in 1860. In 1861 he became a news agent on the Rock Island road from Chicago to Kellogg, then the western terminus of the line. In 1866 he went to work for H. F. Royce, afterward general superintendent of the Rock Island, then engaged in general merchandise and lumber business in Pond Creek, Ill., and as station agent of the Rock Island at that point. He taught Mr. Christian the art of telegraphy, so that he soon became an expert operator and was employed at Tiskilwa and Morris, Ill., and later in Superintendent Kimball's office at Davenport. In 1868 he owned and managed a restaurant at 174 South Clark street, Chicago. Mr. Christian's ability as a telegraph operator and his knowledge of the railroad business secured him a position as station agent on the Rock Island at Grinnell, in 1870, and after being there a few months he entered into partnership with Hiram Johnson and purchased the Grinnell House, which he conducted until 1877. In the spring of that year he purchased the leading hotel in Grinnell, known as the Chapin House, which he conducted until 1890 and still owns. For three years, from 1885 till 1888, he leased and operated the Hotel Colfax, the large summer resort hotel at the big spring a mile east of the town of Colfax. In 1889, Mr. Christian was appointed assistant superintendent of the railway mail service by Gen. J. S. Clarkson, who was then first assistant postmaster-general. He held this position for fifteen months and on July 1, 1890, was appointed postoffice inspector by the postmaster-general, John Wanamaker. His record for efficiency in this position was such that he was reappointed year after year notwithstanding changes in administration, and held the place until he resigned, March 1, 1898, and accepted his present appointment at the hands of President McKinley upon the recommendation of the Iowa delegation in congress. During his term as postoffice inspector, Mr. Christian was connected with some of the most famous cases in the department and was regarded as one of the most valuable inspectors in the service.

He has always been a republican and has never voted any other ticket. He was five times alderman, and twice mayor in Grinnell. For a number of years he was chairman of the republican county committee and a member of the republican state committee from the Sixth district serving as chairman of the finance committee. In 1888 he was a delegate to the republican national convention in Chicago and was chairman of the finance committee of the Iowa delegation. He had charge of the organization of the Allison campaign for the presidential nomination in that convention. He has been a delegate to nearly every republican state convention for twelve years.

Mr. Christian was only 14 years of age when the war broke out. He tried several times to enlist, but was refused on account of his age. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, is a Knight Templar and is a charter member of the Franklyn club at Grinnell. He is a member of the Congregational church.

Mr. Christian was married in 1869 to Miss Margaret M. Rowse, of Davenport, Iowa. They have four children living, viz: Geo. H., born April 9, 1873; Jessie Isabel, born October 27, 1876; Alma, born July 1, 1878, and Margaret, born February 11, 1880.

SOURCE: Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of Iowa published by Conway and Shaw, Des Moines: 1899.

Local Historical and Genealogical Records:

From: History and Genealogy of the Ancestors and Family of Captain Israel Jones of Barkhamsted Connecticut. By Asahel Wellington Jones. Published by Laning Co., 1902.