Bio of CHRISTIAN, George H. (b.1839), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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GEORGE H. CHRISTIAN - Vol III, pg 746-749
The life of George H. Christian rounded out more than three-fourths of a
century. In fact, he was approaching the eightieth milestone on life's journey
when he was called to his final rest and ceased from those labors which have
made him so widely known and honored as a promoter of the milling industry of
Minneapolis and as a philanthropist, for as he prospered in his undertakings he
shared with humankind the benefits of his labors and more than one institution
of great public worth came into being by reason of his generosity. Withal he was
a most modest man, never speaking of his benefactions and, in fact, maintaining
the greatest reticence concerning them. It was only when publicity was
inevitable by reason of the nature of the gifts that aught was known of his
service for his fellowmen. Mr. Christian had been a resident of Minneapolis for
more than a half century when death called him. He was born near Wetumpka,
Alabama, January 14, 1839, and continued living in the south until 1850, when he
accompanied his parents to Walworth county, Wisconsin, where the family home was
established on a farm. Before leaving the south Mr. Christian began his
education in a private school in Wilmington, North Carolina. His opportunities
for further study, however, were limited, for soon after his arrival in the
north he went to Albany, New York, where he was employed in the store of an
uncle. His residence in different parts of the country, with its attendant
varied experiences, proved an excellent training school for him and in this way
he acquired valuable knowledge. For a time he occupied a clerical position in
the office of the Continental Insurance Company in New York city and when he
left the eastern metropolis it was to establish himself in Chicago, where he
secured a clerkship with a flour, grain and commission merchant. Thus he entered
upon the line of activity which was to claim his attention throughout his
remaining days. With his characteristic, thoroughness, he began studying the
conditions of the middle west and with great fore­sight and discriminating
intelligence saw the possibilities at the head of navigation on the Mississippi
and divined the great future of the region around it, especially in the
production of cereals and their conversion into manufactured products of various
kinds for consumption. In 1867, therefore, Mr. Christian transferred his
residence to Minne apolis, where he became a flour buyer. After a brief period,
however, he entered into partnership with Governor Washburn in connection with
the milling business and when he passed away one of the local papers said: "Mr.
Christian was one of the last of the men who founded the great Minneapolis
milling industry, the direction of which has now passed to men of the second and
third generations. In 1871, at the beginning of a period in which the flour
manufacturing process of the country was revolutionized and in which Minnesota
led, he introduced into the Washburn mills the French purifier system and
shortly afterward the Swiss system of chilled iron rollers. That he might become
familiar in every detail with the European advancements in the science of
milling he made frequent journeys abroad and constantly improved upon the
machinery in use He maintained his interest in the mechanical development of the
industry throughtout hip later years of retirement from active business life and
was keenly interested in modern invention and improvements." His wonderful
prescience as a business man was manifest in his taking over the mill now known
as the Washburn B. Its capacity was six hundred barrels a day and the prediction
was then made that the mill was too large to be operated successfully. Mr.
Christian, however, fully understood the situation and lived to see the
remarkable development whereby corporations can turn out fifty thousand barrels
of flour per day. The milling company with which he was identified prospered
from the beginning and in the course of years he became one of the capitalists
of the city. He was also called to the presidency of the Hardwood Manufacturing
Company, a position which he filled for a number of years, building up its trade
to large proportions and making it one of the leading industrial and commercial
institutions of the city. He was also the vice president of the Minneapolis
Paper Company and was connected with other industries and business undertakings
of various kinds and of cumulative value to the community around him, which he
had helped so materially to build up, develop and improve.
On the 23d of April, 1867, in Minneapolis, Mr. Christian was married to Miss
Leonora Hall, a native of Wisconsin, and to them were born two sons and two
daughters, all now deceased. Mrs. Christian died October 7, 1916. Mr. and Mrs.
Christian held membership in St. Mark's Episcopal church and he was identified
with the Minneapolis and Com­mercial clubs. Both Mr. and Mrs. Christian were
prominently known because of their charity and benevolence. Mrs. Christian
shared in her husband's philanthropic plans and for many years was identified
with the anti-tuberculosis crusade, and with her husband built the Thomas
Memorial Hospital for those ill of tubercular trouble. Four years prior to his
death Mr. Christian built and afterward largely maintained the Citizens Club in
South Minneapolis, for the purpose of furnishing a recreational and educational
center for young men, in which matters of civic interest and importance could be
dis­cussed. The club became popular immediately and has had marked local
influence in determining questions of widespread importance. Mr. Christian was a
profound student of art, philosophy, mathematics and lexicography and found keen
enjoyment in these pursuits. In his later years he traveled extensively, making
many trips to Europe, visiting the art centers and the points of modern and
historic interest. Ere his death he organized and incorporated what was known as
the Citizens Aid Society, which he endowed during his life-time and upon his
death with funds now aggregating approxi­mately two million dollars to be used
for charitable work. He always regarded himself merely as a custodian of the
wealth that crowned his labors and he gave faithful account­ing of his
stewardship. Through his labors hard conditions for the unfortunate were
ameliorated to a large extent, while in a less direct way he contributed to the
sum total of human happiness by developing great business interests that have
given to hundreds of employes the means of self-sustenance and financial
independence. After all, the greatest charity is that of enabling the individual
to become self-supporting, that he may thereby maintain his self-respect and
develop his latent powers. In many ways George H. Christian contributed to the
world's progress, and humanity is the better in that he lived.
George H. Christian was a son of John and Susan (Weeks) Christian. The father
was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, in 1807, and died in Minneapolis in 1881.
He was a son of David Christian, also a native of Ireland, who on leaving the
Emerald isle migrated to, the United States in 1806, settling in Albany, New
York, where he died after having engaged in mercantile pursuits for many years.
His family numbered six sous and three daughters. The mother, Mrs. Susan (Weeks)
Christian, was a native of Wilmington, North Carolina.