Christian Magnus

As printed in 1901

Among the prosperous business men and capable financiers of Cedar Rapids is numbered Christian Magnus, who has been a resident of this city since 1859. He was born on the 19th of March, 1834, in Giessen, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, where he grew to manhood and received a thorough education in the higher schools and colleges. His father, Carl Magnus, was also a native of Giessen, Hesse-Darmstadt, and was a brewer, as was also his father and grandfather. For many years Carl Magnus was actively engaged in the brewing business in Giessen, and was one of the prominent men of that city.

During his youth Christian Alagnus learned the brewing business with his father, and then traveled through Germany, working in different cities and thoroughly learning the business in all its branches. In connection with it he also worked two years at the cooper's trade in Frankfort and thus qualified himself for his chosen occupation. He traveled and worked in different cities of Germany for several years.

In 1857 !Mr. Magnus crossed the Atlantic, and took up his residence in Twin Springs, Winneshiek county. Iowa, where he started a brewery for a Frenchman, remaining there one year. He subsequently spent a short time in Chicago and Milwaukee, and in 1859. came to Cedar Rapids, where he worked in the brewery of Jacob Wetzel as head brewer for two years. He next started a brewery in Kankakee. Illinois, where he remained two years, then returned to Cedar Rapids and formed a partnership with Mr. Wetzel in the brewing business, that connection continuing until 1868, when Mr. Magnus bought out his partner. He began business here in a small way, l)ut has enlarged his facilities from time to time to meet the growing demands of his trade until the capacity of his lirewery is now twenty-five thousand barrels per year. He was at the head of the business when it was organized as a stock company with Mr. Magnus as a stockholder and director. He was one of the promoters and an original stockholder in the Cedar Ra])ids National Bank; a stockholder in the Cedar Rapids Savings Bank, the Electric Light and IViwcr

As printed in Biographical records of Linn County, Iowa .. (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.