Christian H. Lien Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1103-1104 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				HON. CHRISTIAN H. LIEN. 

	The banking interests of Roberts county find a worthy 
representative in Christian H. Lien, who was the organizer and is the 
cashier of the Summit Bank of Summit. He is, moreover, a recognized 
leader in political circles, having three times been called upon to 
represent his district in the state legislature. He is one of the 
worthy and substantial citizens that Norway has furnished to South 
Dakota. His birth occurred September 19, 1867, his parents being Hans 
and Kari (Peterson) Lien, who were also natives of Norway. The father, 
who was born in ]818, passed away in Norway in 1868. The mother, who 
was born November 5, 1820, reached the very advanced age of almost 
ninety-two years, dying on the 2d of November, 1912. She brought her 
son Christian to the United States in 1880 and settled at Willmar, 
Minnesota. She possessed good business ability and made a good living 
for her family, which numbered five children, of whom three are yet 
living: Marit, the wife of Bernt Jorgenson, a retired farmer of Summit; 
Oline, who married Per Lundgren, a farmer of Roberts county; and 
Christian H. The father throughout his active life was a farmer and 
laborer. His religious faith was that of the Lutheran church and his 
family were also connected with the church. Mrs. Lien certainly 
deserved great credit for what she accomplished in rearing her family 
as well as providing for her own support, and merited the dove and 
gratitude of her children. 

	Christian H. Lien supplemented his early education acquired in 
the schools of Norway by study in the normal school at St. Cloud, 
Minnesota, after which he took up the profession of teaching. He worked 
on a farm and on a railroad in order to earn the money that would 
enable him to continue his education. He started in life a poor boy and 
never had a cent given him, earning all that he has possessed and 
enjoyed. He worked for a year in a general store and in connection with 
the grain business at Marvin, and the following year, 1893, he removed 
to Summit, where he established a small mercantile store. His capital 
was limited but as his trade grew he increased his stock and conducted 
a very gratifying business until 1897, when he withdrew from commercial 
interests and established a private bank, known as the Summit Bank. In 
1901 this was incorporated as the State Bank with a capital of ten 
thousand dollars. There is now a surplus and undivided profits of four 
thousand dollars, while the average deposits amount to one hundred and 
seventy-five thousand dollars. Mr. Lien is cashier of the bank and as 
such is the active manager of the institution, which is carefully 
conducted along conservative, yet progressive, lines and is bringing to 
him gratifying success. He is also a member of the Depositors Guaranty 
Fund Commission of South Dakota. 

	In 1895 Mr. Lien was married to Miss Carrie Brustuen, a native of 
Norway, and they have become parents of four children: Pearli, Helma, 
Carl and Alvin, now sixteen, fourteen, thirteen and eleven years of age 
respectively. In 1909 Mr. Lien took his family back to the old country 
for a visit, spending considerable time in Norway, Sweden and England. 
He is a Lutheran in religious faith and is loyal to his professions. In 
politics he is a republican and has been honored with several offices, 
having been chosen to represent his district in the state legislature 
in 1897, 1899 and 1901, while in 1908 he was presidential elector. He 
keeps thoroughly informed concerning vital and significant problems and 
his support of any measure is the result of a firm belief in its value. 
He now devotes the greater part of his time to the bank and at the 
present the company is erecting a bank building, which will be 
thoroughly modern in its equipment in every respect. Laudable ambition 
and firm purpose have guided Mr. Lien at all points in his career, and 
the steps in his orderly progression are easily discernible.