St. Louis County, Minnesota
Genealogy and History
Biographies
St. Louis County, Minnesota
Genealogy and History
Biographies
Howard Abbott
Source: Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Marilyn Clore
ABBOTT Howard T, Duluth. Res 2219 E Superior st, office 405-406 Lonsdale bldg. Lawyer. Born Feb 11, 1867 in Washington D C, son of Asa T and Fannie B (Cross) Abbott. Married Nov 20, 1895 to Gertrude P Markell. Educated in Army schools Fortress Monroe Va and Fort Hamilton N Y; public and high schools Minneapolis; U of M and U of Mich. Has been engaged in practice of his profession in Duluth 1891 to date.
Charles Adams
Source: Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Marilyn Clore
ADAMS Charles Edward, Duluth. Res 1029 E 2d st, office 515 Torrey bldg. Lawyer. Born Oct 1, 1867 in Boston, Mass, son of Isaac M and Emeline (Twitchell) Adams. Married May 14, 1902 to Grace M Tennant. Educated in high school Fargo 1888; Princeton Univ 1892-93; graduated from U of M, A B 1896, law dept LL B 1900. Supt of public schools Granite Falls Minn, 1896-98; engaged in practice of law Duluth 1900 to date; court commr St Louis Co 1905 to date. Member Commercial and Boat clubs; K of P.
David Adams
Source: Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Marilyn Clore
ADAMS David T, Duluth. Office 503 Providence bldg. Mining engineer. Born Sept 6, 1862 in Rockford Ill, son of Jane (Castoney) Adams. Received a public school education. Engaged in prospecting and mining on the Iron Range of Minn, Mich and Wis; gold mining in California and copper mining in Mexico; a pioneer of the Mesaba Iron Range; compiled and published the first map and was the first to develop merchantable iron ore on that range 1891; located and developed Fayal, Spruce, Cloquet and Adams groups of mines at Eveleth and established Adams Mining Co; located and developed Meadow Mine, Aurora and established Meadow Mining Co; located and developed Lone Jack, Victoria, Bessemer, Moose, Auburn and Commodore mines at Virginia; the Kanawha and Cincinnati at Biwabic; the Tener, Shenango and Weed at Chrisholm together with several other mines on different parts of the range; founder and locater of the town of Virginia and locater and promoter of the city of Eveleth. Pres, treas and dir of Adams Security Co; pres and dir of Meadow Mining Co corporations of Minn; and v pres and dir of California-Calaveras Mining Co of Cal. Member of Commercial Club Duluth; Order of Foresters and B P O E.
Arcadius Agatin
Source: Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Marilyn Clore
AGATIN Arcadius L, Duluth. Res 2402 E 5th, office Lonsdale bldg. Lawyer. Born Feb 7, 1868 in Russia, son of Ludwig and Antoinette Andrey-Kovicz Agatin. Married June 1890 to Marie Lanctot. Educated at Classical Gymnasium Grodno Russia; Lauderbach Academy Philadelphia. Graduated from law dept U of M 1889; began practice of law in Minneapolis; moved to Duluth 1890 where he has been continuously engaged in his profession to date. Examiner of titles for St Louis County; master in chancery U S Circuit Court. Member Kitchi Gammi and Commercial clubs.
Robert Angst
Source: Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Marilyn Clore
ANGST Robert, Duluth. Office Wolvin bldg. Chief eng D & I R R. Born June 2, 1847 in Wyl Switzerland, son of Ulrich and Elizabeth (Ringer) Angst. Married in 1874 to Anna Haller. Educated in the common and high schools and Polytechnic schools Zurich Switzerland. First employed in city eng dept Zurich 1865-67. Engaged in topographical work in govt service 1867-69. Moved to U S 1869 and engaged in Jackson Lansing and Saginaw Ry until 1871. Draftsman and eng with C M & St P Ry in Minneapolis 1871-75; office eng for Green Bay and Minn R R Co in LaCrosse Wis 1876-77; asst city eng Minneapolis 1877-78; with M & St L R R as resident eng later as chief eng 1878-85; chief eng of C & Ind Coal road at Chicago 1885-87; chief eng D & I R R at Duluth 1887 to date. Served in Swiss light artillery. Member Kitchi Gammi, Northern Ry Club and Masonic fraternity.
Percy Anneke
Source: Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Marilyn Clore
ANNEKE Percy S, Duluth. Res 523 E 2d st, office Fitger Brewing Co. Brewer. Born Aug 20, 1850 in Milwaukee Wis, son of Fritz and Mathilda F Anneke. Educated in public schools Milwaukee; college course in Switzerland. First engaged as bookkeeper in bank Milwaukee; with Schlitz Brewing Co until 1885; moved to Duluth and entered firm of A Fitger & Co brewers; incorporated 1905 as Fitger Brewing Co of which he has been sec and treas to date. Member Commercial , Kitchi Gammi and Yacht clubs.
Ludvig Arctander
Source: Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Marilyn Clore
ARCTANDER Ludvig, Minneapolis. Res 2407 Irving av S, office 730 Temple Court. Lawyer. Born Jan 3, 1863 Skein Norway, son of A H and Caroline (Ahlsell) Arctander. Received college education in Norway and graduated from the Univ of Christiania Norway; immigrated to Minn in Sept 1881 and located in Minneapolis 1886 where he has been practicing continuously ever since except in 1893-4 when he was located at Duluth.
John Arnold
Source: Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Marilyn Clore
ARNOLD John B, Duluth. Res 4331 McCullough st, office 314-317 Burrows bldg. Lawyer. Born May 22, 1866 in Stanley, York county N B, son of Allen A and Martha (McAloon) Arnold. Married Sept 8, 1898 to Mette L Jones. Educated in public schools Eau Claire Wis; high school Merrill Wis; and U of M. First engaged as police court clerk and municipal court clerk Superior; admitted to bar and practiced in Duluth 1888; in Superior 1889-1903; asst dist atty Superior 1896-97; now engaged in practice in Duluth.
Luther Arnold
Source: Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Marilyn Clore
ARNOLD Luther Bishop, Duluth. Res 218 15th av E, office 512 Wolvin bldg. Born Nov 9, 1868 at South Hadley Mass, son of Luther Hart and Harriet B (Bishop) Arnold. Married June 27, 1906 to Maud McVeety. Educated in the public schools of Boston. In service of C P I & P Ry in eng corps in Kan, Colo and Okla 1887-89; M & St L Ry eng corps 1890; same year transferred to Land dept; sec and dir W M & P Ry 1890; in charge of Land dept W M & P 1892; in charge of D & I R R Land dept 1899. Dir N A Tel Co; sec and dir Wis, Minn & Pac Ry Co; sec treas and dir Aitkin Farm Co. Member Minn and Town and Country clubs St Paul; member Kitchi Gammi and Northland Golf Club Duluth.
Claude Atkinson
Source: Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Marilyn Clore
ATKINSON Claude M, Hibbing. Res 311 Lincoln st, office 108 3d av. Publisher. Born Nov 14, 1862 in Appleton Wis, son of James F and Anna (Waterbury) Atkinson. Married Nov 24, 1886 to Ida M Lott. Attended common schools of Appleton Wis and learned printing trade in Escanaba Mich. Remained in Escanaba until 1879. Moved to Florence Wis and was engaged as printer in newspaper office. Moved to Crystal Falls Wis 1897 and established “Diamond Drill;” continued this publication until 1894; then went West and was employed on various newspapers. Finally located in Hibbing and bought the Missabe Ore a weekly paper. Appointed postmaster Hibbing 1906; terms expires in 1910. Member library board.
Joseph Austin
Source: Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Marilyn Clore
AUSTIN, Joseph E, Chisholm. Lawyer. Born Nov 18, 1876 in Good Thunder Minn, son of Orville H and Lorette B (Earl) Austin. Educated in graded school Good Thunder; graduated from high school Mankato Minn 1896 and from College of Law U of M 1903. Began practice of law at Gary S D 1903; removed to Chisholm same year and entered into partnership with Hon Edward Freeman continuing same until 1906; entered into partnership with H H Austin which continues to date. Member of Minn House of Representatives.
William Bailey
Source: Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Marilyn Clore
BAILEY William D, Duluth. Res 1007 E 2d, office 50 Lonsdale. Lawyer. Born April 3, 1868 in Grinnell Ia, son of James F and Cornelia (Doolittle) Bailey. Married June 12, 1901 to Ora Goodby. Educated in the public and high schools of Grinnell Ia; Gridley College A B 1891; Yale Law School LL B 1893. Engaged in the practice of law in Duluth 1894; member of Washburn, Lewis & Bailey 1896-1900; Washburn & Bailey 1900-1904; Washburn, Bailey & Mitchell 1904 to date. Member of Kitchi Gammim, Commercial, Boat & Yacht clubs of Duluth.
Festus Bannon
Source: Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Marilyn Clore
BANNON Festus L, Hibbing. Lawyer. Born Jan 6, 1873 in Providence R I, son of C E and Helen F (Duffey) Bannon. Married Jan 14, 1904 to Beatrice T Cunningham. Educated in common schools Providence and Iona, Murray county Minn; graduated from law dept U of M, LL B 1901. Engaged as contracting freight agent M & St L R R Co at St Paul until 1902; practiced law at Brainerd 1902-1904; in Eveleth 1904-1906; moved to Hibbing and has been engaged in the practice of his profession to date. Member M N G.
John Barton
Source: Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Marilyn Clore
BARTON John A, Two Harbors. Banker. Born July 9, 1877 in Two Rivers Minn, son of Albert and Beatrice (Trettle) Barton. Married Aug 8, 1905 to Helen H Currer. Educated in common, high and normal schools in St Cloud Minn; and St John’s Univ Collegeville Minn. Taught school 1893-94; salesman for farm machinery 1894-96; clerk Little Falls 1896-98; asst cashr of bank in Ely 1898-1902; assisted in re-organization of First State Bank; of which he is now cashr; sec-treas Lake County Land Co. Member Outlook Club B P O E.
Marcus Bates
Source: Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Marilyn Clore
BATES Marcus Whitman, Duluth. Res 319 E 4th st, office 4-5 Exchange bldg. Commission merchant. Born April 26, 1840 in Chester Ohio, son of Abner Curtis and Laura W (Baker) Bates. Married April 9, 1861 to Mary E Bisbee. Educated in common schools Chester and Cleveland O and Excelsior Minn Academy. Employed with Bassett & Co lumber Minneapolis 1857-58; enlisted in Grand Rapids in 21st Mich Inf and served in Civil War 1862-65; returned to Grand Rapids and organized Grand Rapids Savings Bank 1871; cashr of same until 1876; established and was sec of Grandville Plaster Co Grand Rapids from 1876; moved to Duluth and engaged in whol commission business 1891 to date; sec Northern Land & Lumber Co. Member G A R and Loyal Legion.
Thomas E. Blanche
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. Publ. 1907 Transcribed by Rhonda Hill
BLANCHE Thomas E, Duluth. Res 415 E 2d st, office 332 W Superior st. Railway official. Educated in the public schools of Buffalo. Engaged in railroad business in Buffalo with Michigan Central and Grand Trunk roads and in lake transportation in Lake Superior Transit Co and Anchor Lines; district freight agt Buffalo of the N P Ry 1896-1902; appointed gen agt in charge of passenger and freight traffic in Duluth for same road 1902, which position he still holds. Member of Kitchi Gammi, Yacht, Curling and Northern Railway clubs.
Lafayette Bliss
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. Publ. 1907 Transcribed by Rhonda Hill
BLISS Lafayette, Virginia. City school supt. Born Sept 15, 1865 in Chicago Ill, son of William A and Elizabeth G (Gartley) Bliss. Married in 1893 to Anna E Cohoon. Educated in public schools Chicago; graduated from Carleton College A B 1884. First engaged in teaching; supt of schools Waseca 1895-1904; supt schools Duluth 1904 to date. Member Commercial Club Virginia; Masonic fraternity.
Samuel F. Boyce
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. Publ. 1907 Transcribed by Rhonda Hill
BOYCE Samuel F, Duluth. Res 320 12th av E, office 329 W Superior. Drugs. Born Aug 1, 1842 in Wellsville O, son of Robert and Christina (Wilhelm) Boyce. Married in 1869 to Lucien Lane and in 1899 to Minie A Gould. Educated in common high and Presbyterian schools Wellsville O. Served in 104th Ohio Regt 1862-66; telegraph opr 1866-69; in drug business Chillicothe O; same Duluth 1884-85; sec Richardson Drug Co Omaha 1885; returned to Duluth 1886 and engaged in drug business to date. Member Commercial Club, Masonic fraternity and G A R.
Samuel Huntington Boyer
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. Publ. 1907 Transcribed by Rhonda Hill
BOYER Samuel Huntington, Duluth. Res 219 2d av E, office 207- 208-209 Lyceum bldg. Physician (R). Born July 1, 1866 in Oil City Pa, son of Samuel P and Carrie C (Huntington) Boyer. Married June 14, 1900 to Emma Meining. Educated in the common and high schools of Titusville Pa, Univ of Penn medical dept graduating M D 1890. On leaving college began practice of his profession in Titusville: removed to Duluth 1891 and has been actively engaged to date. Coroner of St Louis county 1901-1903; re-elected for term 1903-1905. Member of St Louis County and Minn State Medical societies, Commercial Club, B P O E, F O E and Masonic fraternity.
Thomas Pringle Bradley
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. Publ. 1907 Transcribed by Rhonda Hill
BRADLEY Thomas Pringle, Duluth. Res 211 E 3d st, office 212 Palladio bldg. Lumber and cedar. Born May 13, 1881 in Bay City Mich, son of Edward L and Lucretia A (Pringle) Bradley. Married Aug 10, 1904 to Emma Black. Educated in the common and high schools of Duluth. Entered lumber business and was employed in various capacities 1898-1902; sec of Duluth Log Co 1902; sec and gen mngr of same 1904; sec and gen mngr Duluth Cedar Co. Member Commercial, Yacht, Boat and Curling clubs, Masonic fraternity and B P O E.
Thomas F. Brady
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. Publ. 1907 Transcribed by Rhonda Hill
BRADY Thomas F, Hibbing. Res 1019 3d av, office 218 Pine st. Public official. Born Mar 27, 1868 in Houghton Mich, son of Thomas M and Margaret (Friel) Brady. Married 1897 to Anna Haben (died April 3, 1905); Dec 16, 1906 to Delia La Franc. Educated in the common and high schools Houghton Mich graduating 1886 and attended law dept Notre Dame Univ 1887-89. Editor of newspaper Ontanagon Mich 1890-91. Removed to Duluth 1892 and entered law office of his father Thomas M Brady under firm name of T M Brady & Sons until 1894. Removed to Grand Rapids Minn with father and remained 1 year; thence to Hibbing where he has been engaged in practice to date. Township clk Hibbing 1896-1900; village recorder 1900-1903; municipal judge of Hibbing 1904-1907; re-elected 1907 for 3 years; village atty 1905-1906. Member B P O E and K of P.
Frank A. Brewer
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. Publ. 1907 Transcribed by Rhonda Hill
BREWER Frank A, Duluth. Res 2215 E Superior st, office 30 Mesaba blk. Lumber and mining. Born Nov 28, 1854 in Oakland county Mich, son of Addison P and Sarah Brewer. Married Sept 1877 to Jennie Duncan. Educated in the common and high schools Saginaw Mich and Albion College Mich. Engaged in lumber business as Duncan & Brewer until 1875. Moved to Duluth in 1880 as member of firm of Duncan, Gamble & Co, loggers and mnfrs; succeeded by Duncan, Brewer & Co in 1887 which firm continues to date; also pres Duncan & Brewer Lumber Co (Inc). Elected member of Board of Education term 1906-1909. Member Commercial Club.
Rinaldo R. Briggs
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. Publ. 1907 Transcribed by Rhonda Hill
BRIGGS Rinaldo R, Duluth. Office 900 Torrey bldg. Lawyer. Born April 20, 1851 in Lake Mills Wis, son of Silas H and Sarah Ann (Reed) Briggs. Married July 4, 1875 to Lizzie Bascombe. Educated in the common schools of Wis and high school at Winona Minn. Studied law in Winona and was admitted to the bar in 1873. Practiced in Winona and Moorhead 1873-90. Moved to Duluth 1890 and has been continuously engaged in general practice to date. Has large interests in various firms and corporations. Member Minn State and American Bar assns; Commercial Club Duluth; delegate to gen conference M E Church 1884.
John Harvey Brigham
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. Publ. 1907 Transcribed by Rhonda Hill
BRIGHAM John Harvey, Fond du Lac. Office 516 Torrey bldg Duluth. Lawyer. Born June 14, 1858 In Townshend Vt, son of B B and Mary E (Holbrook) Brigham. Educated in the common schools of Townshend Vt, Vermont Baptist Academy Saxton's River Vt graduating 1881; Univ of Mich law dept LL B 1885. Located in Duluth 1886 and engaged in the practice of law with William A Cant as Cant & Brigham until 1890 since which time he has been practicing alone.
Michael S. Bright
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. Publ. 1907 Transcribed by Rhonda Hill
BRlGHT Michael S, Duluth. 509 First Nat Bank bldg. Lawyer. Born Mar 29, 1866 in New York N Y, son of Michael S and Sarah (Lodge) Bright. Married June 4, 1890 to Lorene Carnahan. Educated in public schools Madison Ind; Perdue Univ Lafayette Ind and studied law in office of Hill & Lamb Indianapolis Ind. Admitted to bar 1887 and was of firm of Hill, Lamb & Bright until 1890; practiced in Superior Wis 1890-96; moved to Duluth and practiced to date. Chairman Douglas Wis Board of Supervisors 1898-99; member Commercial and Boat clubs Duluth; Minn Club St Paul; Indiana Society of Chicago and American Bar Assn.
Andrew H. Burke
Progressive men of Minnesota. Published by The Minneapolis Journal, 1897 – transcribed by AJ
The subject of this sketch is in the truest sense of the word a self-made man. Born in New York City, May 15, 1850, of humble parentage, he was left by the death of both father and mother at the age of four years a homeless and friendless child in a great city. That beneficent institution which has done so much for unfortunate childhood, the Children's Aid Society, took him in charge, and at the age of eight years he was sent West, where a home had been found for him with a farmer who lived near Noblesville, in Indiana. Here he lived and developed into a promising lad of exemplary habits until he reached the age of twelve years. In 1862 he ran away to enlist in the service of his country as a drummer boy in the Seventy-fifth Indiana volunteers. After serving in the war he returned home to take advantage of such educational facilities as he was able to procure, with the money he had saved from his pay as drummer. He was enrolled as a student at Asbury, now De Pauw University, at Greencastle, Indiana. From lack of means, however, he was unable to pursue his studies there as long as he desired, and was obliged, therefore, to lay aside his books and seek employment in business channels. Among his important
business engagements was that of business manager of the Evansville, Indiana, Courier. Subsequently he removed to Cleveland, where he was employed in the service of a commercial agency. In 1877 he came to Minneapolis and was for two years employed as a bookkeeper by N. B. Harwood & Co., wholesale dry goods merchants. He was a fellow employe with S. E. Olson, now one of the prominent department store merchants of Minneapolis, and formed a close personal friendship with that gentleman which has continued ever since. Later he was employed by a lumber firm at New York Mills. In 1880 he removed to Casselton, North Dakota, where he was for a time engaged in commercial business, and subsequently became cashier of the First National Bank at that point. While holding this position he was elected treasurer of Cass County, and was twice re-elected and resided at Fargo, the county seat, during his six years incumbency of said office. In 1890 he was nominated by the Republicans for governor of North Dakota and elected, being the second officer of that rank in the new state. His administration was a very successful one, highly creditable to himself and advantageous to the state. Upon the expiration of his term as governor he removed to Duluth, where he now resides, and is engaged in the gram commission business. In this he has been highly successful, his honorable record both public and private in North Dakota having served to bring him business in his chosen line in larger volume than he would otherwise have enjoyed. Governor Burke, as he is still known, is a gentleman of high character, genial manners, and creditable literary attainments, and is held in great esteem by the people of North Dakota and Minnesota, who admire him for his sterling qualities and his native ability, and the distinguished success which he has achieved in spite of the adverse circumstances of his youth. He was married in Minneapolis in 1880 to Miss Carrie Cleveland, who was then a teacher in the public schools, of that city. He has two daughters, who are twins, born in October, 1885. Governor Burke is a thirty-third degree Mason, and, although not a member, is a liberal supporter of the Episcopal church, to which his wife and daughters belong.
John R. Carey
Minnesota Territorial Pioneers - Biographical Sketches of Territorial Pioneers - Contributed by Jo Ann Scott
John R. Carey, of Duluth, was born at Bangor, Maine, March 3d, 1830. He arrived at St. Paul May 12th, 1853, on the stern wheel steamer Clarion with a New England colony, of which he was a member. In 1859 he was appointed U. S. commissioner for the District of Minnesota by judge R. R. Nelson; which office he has held to the present time. He was judge of probate from 1859 to 1871; clerk of District Court from 1870 to 1882; register of U. S. land office from 1882 to 1885; city justice of Duluth, 1872 to 1874, and alderman of the city for one term. For the past fourteen years his occupation has been dealer in real estate.
His wife, formerly Hannah E. Terry, died April 12th, 1897, at the age of 64 years. Judge Carey is an active member of the Territorial Pioneer Association, serving last year as a member of the executive committee, and rendered good service in the building of the log cabin at the State Fair grounds.
Archibald M. Chisholm
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Liz Dellinger
CHISHOLM Archibald M. Duluth. Res 1832 E 2d st, office 609 First National Bank bldg. Mines and mining. Born in 1864 in Alexandria Ont. son of Donald Andrew and Catherine Chisholm. Married 1891 to Miss Eulalie Cummings. Educated in the common schools and business college St Paul. First employed by the Weyerhaeuser lumber interests as clk, which connection brought him into contact with mining interests on the Gogebec Range; employed by Capt Jos Sellwood on Vermillion Range 1888; removed to Hibbing Minn with Frank Hibbing; located Susquehanna mine 1896 and later the Elizabeth, Philbin and Chisholm in connection with John R Mitchell St Paul. When the Chisholm mine was found the present town of Chisholm was built in 1902. An organizer of Shattuck Arizona Copper Co and Denn Arizona Mining Co being sec and treas of former and dir in latter; dir Butte & Superior Copper Co; City National Bank Duluth; pres and dir First National Bank Chisholm; v pres and dir Miners Bank Hibbing; postmaster Hibbing 1896-1901. Member Kitchi Gammi and Duluth Commercial clubs.
Harvey Clapp
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Liz Dellinger
CLAPP Harvey, Duluth. Res 222 5th av E, office 600 Torrey bldg. Lawyer. Born Nov 19, 1880 in Fergus Falls Minn. Son of Moses E and Hattie (Allen) Clapp. Educated in common and high schools St Paul; graduated from law dept U of M, LL R 1904. After graduation moved to Duluth and engaged in practice of law under firm name of Miller & Clapp which has continued to date.
Orville Howard Clarke
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Liz Dellinger
CLARKE Orville Howard. Duluth. Res 330 13th av E. office 416 Superior st W. Real estate and mortgage loans. Born Aug 28, 1850 in Ottawa O. son of miles Place and Mary Elizabeth (Crowell) Clarke. Married Feb 15, 1882 to Katherine A Vavin. Received his education in the public and high schools. First engaged as clk in employ of B H Randall Fort Ridgely Minn 1865-67; with Louis Robert and Indian trading post Redwood Falls 1867-69; Simmons & Clarke farm machinery and livestock Fort Ridgely Minn 1870-72; engaged as clk Curtis & Blake whol grocers 1872-75; dep register of deeds Winona county 1875-81; mngr A D Ellsworth Milling co Winona 1885-91; during which period he was elected city clerk Winona 1885-94. Moved to Duluth and engaged in real estate business under firm name of Pearson & Clarke 1894-95; Pearson, Clarke & Dickerman 1895-97; alone 1897 until 1905 at which time the present firm of Clarke-Hepworth Co was incorporated Mr Clarke being pres of same. Served as post drummer at Fort Ridgely 1862. Member commercial Club Duluth and Masonic fraternity.
Frank A. Clarkson
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Liz Dellinger
CLARKSON Frank A. Duluth. Res 4842 London road, office 332 W Michigan. Merchant. Born April 24, 1843 in Perry’s Mills N Y. son of Flinton and Mary Ann (Gregory) Clarkson. Educated in the common schools of Perry’s Mills. First engaged as clk 1859 with Perry & Cressy where he remained till April 1861; then working in a woolen factory at Malone N Y and in the fall of the same year opened a grocery store in Whipplewill N Y and engaged in buying bark for tanneries during winter of 1861-62; returned to his home on account of sickness in Spring of 1862, remaining there until Aug 1863 when he engaged with J J Rogers Iron Co Blackbrook N Y as clk and in 1873 was made supt. Which position he held until Aug 1887; removed to Duluth Minn in the Fall of 1887 and opened the whol grocery house of Wells-Stone Mercantile Co continuing with same until 1897 when the firm was changed to the present concern of Stone, Ordean, Wells Co; one of the organizers of the firm of Wright-Clarkson mercantile Co importer and whol grocers of which he is v pres and dir; sec, treas and dir Thos Thompson Produce co. Member of Masonic fraternity 32d degree.
Charles C. Cokefair
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Liz Dellinger
COKEFAIR Charles C. Duluth. Res 1815 E Superior, office 307-310 Providence bldg. Capitalist. Born in 1848 in Bloomfield n J, son of Isaac Moore and Catherine (Kierstead) Cokefair. Married in 1868 to Elsie J Albertson. Educated in public schools of Bloomfield; Pennington Seminary Collegiate Institute. Engaged in business in new York 1872 and for more than 30 years identified with important enterprises; developed slate quarries at Bangor pa; since 1899 has been at the head of the great St Louis River water power development; organized Great Northern power & Trans Co to promote and develop same; is pres of Great northern Dev Co of Duluth for power development on upper Mississippi river; pres Mississippi River Elec Power Co. Member Upper Mississippi River Impr Assn; Am Inst Elec Engineers; Kitchi Gammi; Commercial, Northland County Boat and Yacht clubs.
Francis Albertson Cokefair
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Liz Dellinger
COKEFAIR Francis Albertson, Duluth. Res 1815 E Superior, office 307-310 Providence bldg. Engineer. Born in 1869 in Madison N Y, son of Charles C and Elsie J (Albertson) Cokefair. Educated in New York and graduated with degree of civil engineer from School of Mines Columbia Univ N Y 1894. Engaged in engineering work in and near New York several years and with French Panama Canal Co; has been chief eng in the development and promotion of the great St Louis river power; explored the whole drainage area of the St Louis river and worked out the plan to harness and utilize the power is chief eng and dir Great Northern Power Co Duluth; v pres and dir Great Northern Dev Co Duluth; first v pres and dir of Mississippi River Electric Co. member American Society of civil Engineers; Am Inst Elec Engineers and lake Superior Mining Inst; Kitchi Gammi, Commercial, Northland Country, Boat and yacht clubs; and Columbia university Club New York City.
John Nilson Comstock
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Liz Dellinger
COMSTOCK John Nilson. Duluth. Res 1020 E 2d st, office 202 Lyceum. Lumber. Born Dec 17, 1868 in Bay City Mich, son of John Wilson and Margaret (Green) Comstock. Married July 26, 1892 to Lottie O’Connell. Educated in the common and high schools Bay City Mich. Engaged with C H Bradley & Co Lumber Bay City 1880-87; moved to Menominee Mich with McCormick & Co and held position of lumber insptr 1887-1892; with Whittemore & Co Marquette Mich until 1893; with Smith & Davis Ashland Wis 1893-94; member of firm of Davis & Comstock lumber 1894-1902; member of firm of Comstock & Wilcox shippers of lumber 1902 to date; treas and dir Glaspin-Comstock Co mining and milling supplies. Member Kitchi Gammi, commercial, Curling and Boat clubs; Masonic fraternity and B P O E.
Wirt H. Cook
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Liz Dellinger
COOK Wirt H. Duluth. Res 317 14th av E, office 406-411 Lyceum bldg. Lumber and railroad official. Born Sept 8, 1867 in Kent county Mich, son of Merritt S and Viola E (Reynolds) Cook. Married in 1888 to Martha L Walsh. Educated in the common and high schools Manistee Mich. Engaged in surveying and civil engineering 1886-90; moved to Duluth and continued same 1891-92; engaged in timber and logging business 1892-1900; organized Duluth Rainy Lake & Winnipeg Ry, of which he is pres and gen mngr; sec and dir Virginia Lumber Co; dir Virginia & Rainy Lake Co. Member Commercial and Northern Railway clubs.
Joseph B. Cotton
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Liz Dellinger
COTTON Joseph B, Duluth. Res 1617 E 1st st, office Wolvin bldg. Lawyer and railroad official. Born Jan 6, 1865 in Albion Ind, son of John and Elizabeth J (Riddle) Cotton. Married Jan 4, 1900 to Louise Hubbell. Educated in the common and high schools of Albion Ind; Michigan Agricultural college B S 1886. Studied law with Hon Edwin Willits of Mich. Moved to Duluth 1888 and was member of law firm of Cotton & McGendley; Cotton & Dibell 1891-93; Cotton, Dibell & Reynolds 1893-94; appointed gen atty for d M & N Ry 1893; gen counsel for Lake Superior Consolidated Iron Mines 1894; gen solr for Duluth & Iron Range R R; gen solr for Oliver Iron Mining Co; Minnesota Iron Co and subsidiary companies; 2d v pres, dir and gen solr North Butte Mining Co; dir Cananea Central Mining Co and Pauton & white co; 4th v pres Greene Cananea Copper Co. Made nominating speech for re-election of Senator Davis 1893; member House of Representatives 1893-95; delegate to Republican Nat Convention 1904; seconded nomination of Theodore Roosevolt on behalf of Northwest. Member of Indiana Society of Chicago and Minnesota Society of New York; Kitchi Gammi. ???? Commercial, Northland Country and ??? Clubs Duluth; Minnesota Club St Paul; Chicago Athletic Club Chicago; Washington club Isle royal; B P O E shrine; Phi Delta Theta.
Henry A. Courtney
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Liz Dellinger
COURTNEY Henry A. Duluth. Res 322 3d av N, office 401 First Nat Bank bldg. Lawyer. Born Nov 10, 1878 in Forest City Minn, son of William J and Mary B (Byrnes) Courtney. Educated in rural school Forest City; State Normal School St Cloud; U of M. Admitted to bar 1905; practiced in Minneapolis until 1906; moved to Duluth and has been engaged in practice of his profession to date. Dir and treas Security Mercantile Agency of Duluth.
Arthur Halifax Crassweller
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Liz Dellinger
CRASSWELLER Arthur Halifax. Duluth. Res 4230 e Superior st, office Exchange bldg. Lawyer. Born July 25, 1858 in London Eng, son of Christoper and Sarah (Hallifax) Crassweller, married Oct 28, 1891 to Nellie Seaton. Attended private school in England; high school Goderich Ont 1881; Bengough’s Shorthand School Toronto 1885; studied law in office of W W Billson Duluth. Taught school in Ontario 1879-84; moved to St Paul and was employed as stenogr 1885-89; as stenogr and law student 1887-90. Admitted to bar 1888 and formed partnership in 1890 with Chas O Baldwin which continued 3 years. City atty Lakeside 1891 and 1892; asst city atty Duluth 1893. Formed partnership with his brother Frank C 1897, which continues to date. Dir American Exchange Bank Duluth. Atty for same. Served 4 years in Canada militia. Member of Commercial and Boat clubs Duluth.
Frank Crassweller
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Liz Dellinger
CRASSWELLER Frank. Duluth. Res 4701 Cooke st, office 205 Exchange bldg. Lawyer. Born Jan 4, 1856 in London Eng, son of Christopher and Sarah (Hallifax) Crassweller. Married July 7, 1885 to Alison Moffat Douglas. Educated in a private school London Eng; public school Goderich Ont; normal school Toronto Ont. Taught school in Ontario 1880-87; moved to Duluth 1888 and entered law office; admitted to bar 1889 and has practiced his profession in Duluth since that time; now member firm of Crass Weller & Crassweller established in 1897. Member city council Duluth 1897-99; pres of same latter year. Pres Duluth Commercial Club; member Curling, Yacht and Boat clubs.
Ernest Critchett
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Liz Dellinger
CRITCHETT Ernest T. New Ulm. Superintendent city schools. Born July 30, 1863 in Concord N H son of Moses B and Emily J (Yeaton) Critchett. Married June 15, 1887 to Helen M Crooker. Graduated from Concord (N H) High School 1881; Dartmouth College A B 1885; A M 1888. Prin Pleasant Grove Grammar School Mankato Minn 1885; Principal high school Mankato 1886-88; prin high school Duluth 1889-93; supt city schools New Ulm Minn 1894 to date. Has conducted Teachers’ Training schools in Minn several years. Member Minn Education Assn; Nat Educational Assn and Nat Geographic Society. Member Masonic fraternity.
George H. Crosby
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Liz Dellinger
CROSBY George H. Duluth. Res 2029 E Superior, office 609-610 Lonsdale bldg. Mining capitalist. Born July 24, 1865 in Hastings Minn son of Charles Whitmarsh and Elmira G (Smith) Crosby. Married Dec 31, 1889 to Charlotte B Stultz. Educated in the common parish and high schools Hastings Minn. Employed as clerk in Hastings 1880-84; with Gardner Rolling Mills 1884-86; moved to Duluth and entered the employ of Geo H LaVaque until 1888; engaged in art business for self 1888-89; real estate and mineral land business 1889-1905; iron and copper mining business 1905 to date. Gen mngr and dir Copper Quinn Mining Co Idaho; sec and dir Sullivan Development Co; stockholder Butte & Superior copper Mining Co. Member of Commercial Club; pres Order of Modern Samaritans; member B P O E.
Marcus B. Cullum
Source: Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Kim Mohler
CULLUM Marcus B, Duluth. Res 2020 E 2d st, office City Hall. Mayor of Duluth. Born Dec. 3, 1856 in Laurel Ind, son of Richard H and Mary (Connell) Cullum. Married in 1892 to Jane M Adams. Educated in common schools Laurel Ind, private school Boston; Alfred (NY) Univ and graduated from Ohio Dental College Cincinnati D D S 1885. Practiced profession in Minneapolis until 1888; practiced in Duluth 1888 to date. Mayor of Duluth 1904 to date. Democrat. Former member Board of State Dental Examiners; alderman 1899-04; member State Dental Society; Kitchi Gammi, Commercial, and Northland Country clubs; Masonic fraternity; B P O E; K of P; I O O F.
Frank H. Cutting
Source: Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Kim Mohler
CUTTING Frank H, Fond du Lac. Special municipal judge. Born Sept 12, 1862 in Kalamazoo Mich, son of William B and Mary R (Ranney) Cutting. Educated in Vermont Academy; graduated from law dept Univ of Mich. Admitted to bar 1885 and has been engaged in the practice of his profession in Minn since 1886.
Herbert Allan Dancer
Source: Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Kim Mohler
DANCER Herbert Allan, Duluth. Res 126 8th av E, office 301-304 First National Bank bldg.
Lawyer. Born March 8, 1874 in Chelsea Mich, son of Walter H and Mary A (Tucker) Dancer. Married Nov 15, 1905 to Ruth G Scott. Educated in public and high schools Chelsea Mich; graduated from law dept Univ of Mich LL B 1897. Began practice of law in office of Baldwin & Baldwin Duluth 1897; admitted to firm under name of Baldwin & Dancer 1902. Member Commercial and Boat clubs.
John Henry Darling
Source: Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Kim Mohler
DARLING John Henry, Duluth. Res 532 W 3d st, office U S Engineer office Canal Park. Harbor improvement work for the government. Born April 15, 1847 in Lake Ridge, Lenawee county Mich, son of Henry and Matilda (Osborn) Darling. Married Feb 25, 1880 to Addie A Ford. Educated in district school Lake Ridge Mich; high school Tecumseh Mich; graduated from Univ of Mich C E 1873. Entered service of U S government same year; asst engineer on survey of Great Lakes and Mississippi river 1873-82; asst engineer in government work on river improvements in Minn 1882-84 with headquarters in St Paul; asst engineer in government work of harbor improvements on Lake Superior with headquarters in Duluth 1884 to date. Designed and executed important improvements in channels and piers in Lake Superior harbors. Member American Society of Civil Engineers; Sons of the American Revolution; dir and former pres Union Building & Loan Assn; dir Superior Home Building & Loan Assn.
Charles D’Autremont Jr.
Source: Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Kim Mohler
D’AUTREMONT Charles Jr, Duluth. Res 1401 E 1st st, office 714 Torrey bldg. Mines and mining. Born June 2, 1851 in Angelica N Y, son of Charles and Sarah (Collins) d’Autremont. Married in 1879 to Hattie Hart. Educated in the common schools and Angelica Academy Angelica N Y; Cornell Univ Ithaca N Y; Lausanne Switzerland; Columbia College New York LL B 1875; practiced law Elmira N Y 1875-82; same Duluth 1882-96, retiring the latter year. Dir Calumet & Arizona Mining Co; Superior & Pittsburg Mining Co; Junction Mining Co; Duluth & Pittsburg Co; Warren Realty & Development Co; American & Saginaw Development Co; Greene-Cananea Copper Co. Former county supervisor Elmira N Y; county atty St Louis county 1884-86; mayor of Duluth 1892-94. Delegate to Nat Dem Convention St Louis 1904. Member state Dem executive committee; Kitchi Gammi; Commercial; Northland County, Boat, Yacht and Gun clubs; Masonic fraternity.
Frank Adelbert Day
Source: Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Kim Mohler
DAY Frank Adelbert, Duluth. Res Kitchi Gammi Club, office Exchange bldg. Real estate and loans. Born Dec 11, 1859 in Chateaugag N Y, son of Charles W and Alcista Douglas (Smith) Day. Educated in high school at Austin Minn; graduating in 1878, and Carleton College 1879. Admitted to bar 1882. Engaged in law and real estate business Austin Minn 1883. Removed to Duluth as member of the firm of Richardson, Day & Co; engaged in real estate business and same has continued to date. Member Kitchi Gammi and Commercial clubs.
Joseph Van Buren De La Motte
Source: Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Kim Mohler
DE LA MOTTE Joseph Van Buren, Duluth. Res 8 Munger ter, office 300 Torrey bldg. Lawyer. Born Sept 3, 1864 in Prairie Du Chien Wis, son of Joseph G and Marguerite (Ozis) De La Motte. Married Aug 1900 to Nellie C Pinney. Educated in the parochial schools of Chippewa Falls and high school and business college at Valparaiso Ind; Univ of Wis law school, graduating LL B 1892. Began practice of law at Chippewa Falls Wis 1893 when he removed to Superior Wis, becoming member of firm Loud, De La Motte & Loud 1893; Thorsen, Crawford & De La Motte 1893-97; member of firm of Thorsen & De La Motte until his removal to Duluth 1902; practiced alone 1902-1903; member of firm of McMahan & De La Motte 1904; practiced alone 1904 to date. Member Commercial Club.
Charles E. De Witt
Source: Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Kim Mohler
DE WITT Charles E, Duluth. Res 931 E 1st st, office 14 E Michigan st. Merchant. Born July 12, 1857 in Jersey City N J, son of James R and Aletta (Hedges) De Witt. Married Oct 14, 1897 to Ellen M Hubbard. Educated in common and high schools Montrose Pa; graduated from Hamilton College Clinton N Y, B A 1879. Came to Duluth and employed in Am Exchange Bank 1882-97; sec and treas L W Leithhead Drug Co 1897-1905; pres De Witt-Seitz Co furniture 1905 to date. Member Kitchi Gammi and Commercial clubs.
John Henry Dight
Source: Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Kim Mohler
DIGHT John Henry, Duluth. Res 2109 E Superior st, office First Nat’l Bank bldg. Banker. Born in 1855 in Ontario Can, son of E and Honoria (Symond) Dight. Educated in Lucon Ontario High School 1873. Entered Canadian Bank of Commerce in Can 1873 at one of its branches; served in its New York office 1881-87; came to Duluth in 1890 and entered service of First Nat’l Bank. Became cashier in 1892. Member Commercial and Kitchi Gammi clubs and Masonic fraternity.
Hermon L. Dresser
Source: Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Kim Mohler
DRESSER Hermon L, Duluth. Res 16 S 19th av E, office Wolvin bldg. Railway official. Born Jan 24, 1851 in Granger, Allegany county N Y, son of Joel and Belinda A (Button) Dresser. Married Oct 23, 1872 to Phoebe Rhoades. Educated in the common schools of Granger N Y and Angelica Academy Angelica N Y. Reared on a farm until 25. First engaged as rodman in engineering dept of railroad in southern Ia and Missouri; qualified as an eng 1882; in charge of construction work on C G W Ry 1886-87; on Iowa Central 1889-90; on Duluth & Winnipeg Ry 1890-92; asst chief eng D M & N Ry 1892-99; chief eng of same 1899 to date. Member Commercial and Yacht clubs; Knights Templar and Shrine.
Charles A. Duncan
Source: Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Kim Mohler
DUNCAN Charles A, Duluth. Res 131 W 3d, office 508 Lyceum bldg. Born Dec 25, 1858 in Livingston county Michigan, son of David A and Julia (Stoner) Duncan. Married Oct 27, 1880 to Ina F Rose. Educated in common and high schools of Saginaw Mich. First engaged as clk and deputy in city treas office Saginaw 1875-80; removed to Duluth and entered firm of Duncan, Gamble & Co as a partner, engaging in logging and general lumber business, later being known as Duncan, Brewer & Co. Assisted in the organization of Great Northern Power Co. Sec and treas Duncan, Brewer Lumber Co Inc; pres and dir Great Northern Power Co; v pres, dir and treas North Butte Mining Co; dir American Exchange Bank; v pres, treas and dir Green Cananea Mining Co. Member Kitchi Gammi, Commercial, Northland Country, Boat and Yacht Clubs.
Guy Eaton
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Anna Parks
EATON Guy Arthur, Duluth. Res 120 15th av E, office Federal bldg. Public official. Born October 27, 1871 in Red Oak Ia, son of Webster and Frances (Ames) Eaton. Married June 8, 1898 to Jessie Burton. Educated in the public schools of Lincoln and St Cloud Minn; Claverick College Claverick N Y; graduating as civil engineer 1889. Was engaged as government surveyor in northern Minnesota 1890-92; same in South America 1892-94. On his return to the United States located in Wright county and held office as county surveyor 1896-98. With Shevlin & Carpenter in purchase of timber lands 1898-1900. Organized firm of Eaton Bros 1900-1905. Sec and dir Minnesota Timberland Co and sec Manitou Co. Appointed postmaster of Duluth June 1, 1906. Commander Naval Militia of Minnesota since 1903; term expires 1913; chairman Duluth Republican Central Committee 8th congressional dist 1903-1904. Member Commercial and Boat clubs Duluth, and Gitchi Nidji Club Superior Wis. Member Masonic fraternity and B P O E.
Solomon Eckman
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Anna Parks
ECKMAN Solomon Henry, Duluth. Res 2609 W 3d st, office 511-512 Palladio bldg. Lawyer. Born Jan 7, 1866 in Washington county Minn, son of Carl Henry and Britta Eckman. Married July 1, 1903 to Elinda Dahl. Educated in public schools Cokato Minn; graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College St Peter A B 1890 and from law department U of M, LL B 1893. Admitted to bar and practiced in Duluth as member of Eckman & Stevenson 1893-1903; alone 1903 to date.
Meyer Edelman
Source: Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Anna Parks
EDELMAN Meyer I, Minneapolis. Res 2432 Lyndale av S, office 109 Washington av N. Manufacturer. Born January 10, 1864 in Kross Russia, son of Leib and Rachel Edelman. Married June 15, 1903 to Rose Pulverman. Educated in private schools Russia. Employed in mercantile business 1880-83; moved to Minneapolis 1883; engaged in retail clothing business until 1893; moved to Duluth and engaged in jewelry business until 1902; returned to Minneapolis 1902 and engaged in manufacture of trousers as member of Edelma & Co. Member of I O O F.
William Edson
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Anna Parks
EDSON William D, Duluth. Res 507 E 5th st, office 702 Torrey bldg. Law. Born Dec 16, 1849 in Wa-Wa-Sing, Ulster county N Y, son of Darwin N and Hannah (Bliss) Edson. Married Jan 21, 1875 to Matilda Allen. Educated in the common schools of New York; Unadilla Academy Unadilla N Y. Studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1871. Practiced alone in Unadilla until 1872 and was then member of firm Belknap & Edson 1875-1882; engaged in real estate business 1882-188; resumed practice of law until 1892. Removed to Duluth practiced under firm name of Edson & Edson 1891-81894; Edson & Campbell 1894-95; municipal judge Duluth 1895-1902; practiced law alone 1902 to date. Pres and dir Mineral Range Development Co; v pres Orlando Mining Co Duluth. Member Modern Samaritans; K of P; pres and dir Duluth Bethel Society and dir Y M C A. Served as supervisor town of Unadilla N Y 1890-91.
Jacob Engel
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Anna Parks
ENGEL Jacob Christian Herman, Duluth. Res 203 S 17th av E, office Federal bldg. Public official. Born Dec 30, 1864 in Indianapolis Ind, son of John M and Mary D (Brommer) Engel. Married June 29, 1898 to Maud Thompson. Educated in public and high schools Anoka Minn. Engaged as clk in mercantile business 1879-83; in business for self under firm name of H Gasten & Co Anoka 1883-88; read law 1888-89; admitted to bar 1889; practiced in Anoka 1890-1906; appointed registrar U S Land Office Duluth 1906; term expires 1910. Probate judge Anoka 1892-1900; member Board of Education 1897-1906; member Commercial Club, Masonic fraternity, Shrine and K T.
Josiah Ensign
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Anna Parks
ENSIGN Josiah D, Duluth. Res 504 E 2d, office Court House. Born May 14, 1833 in Erie county, N Y. Moved with parents to Ashtabula O 1839; educated in common schools and academy; admitted to the bar 1857; clk of the courts Ashtabula county 1857-63; moved to Minn and settled in Duluth 1870 where he was engaged in the practice of law until 1889; held office as county atty of St Louis county; member of city council and mayor of Duluth; member of Board of Education; judge of 11th judicial dist since 1889.
Charles Ericson
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Anna Parks
ERICSON Charles Victor, Duluth. Res 1001 E 3d st, office 219 W Superior. Merchant. Born Sept 27, 1860 in Motala Sweden, son of William and August (Engman) Ericson. Married Oct 26, 1886 to Amelia H Acker. Educated in the common schools of Sweden until 12. Moved to Duluth 1873 and graduated from high school 1878. First engaged as clk with W G Willis clothing Duluth 1878; became mngr of same 1885; purchased Willis’ interests 1886 and has continued in clothing and gents’ furnishing business for self to date. Member 2d Regt M N G 1884-89. Dir Y M C A; member City Civil Service Board Duluth 1906 to date. Member Commercial Club, Modern Samaritans, A O U W, U O F and B P O E.
Edwin Ferguson
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Anna Parks
FERGUSON Edwin Malvin, Duluth. Res 216 E 3d st, office 218-220 W Michigan. Merchant. Born April 2, 1867 in Oakland county Mich, son of Andrew and Mary Churchess (Day) Ferguson. Married Feb 20,1902 to Luella Wood. Educated in public school and high schools Oakland county Mich and Eau Claire Wis. Employed by railroad construction company 1888-92; member Knudson & Ferguson commissary contractors for construction companies 1892-96; organized and was sec and treas of Smith Fruit & Produce Co Duluth 1896-99; now sec, treas and mngr Knudson Ferguson Fruit Co Duluth. Pres Western Fruit Jobbers Assn 1905-1907; member Commercial Club, Masonic fraternity and B P O E.
Bert Fesler
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Anna Parks
FESLER Bert, Duluth. Res 6019 Tioga st, office 604 First Nat Bank bldg. Lawyer. Born July 22, 1866 in Franklin Ind, son of John R and Harriet (Fish) Fesler. Married March 28, 1894 to Vinnie L King. Admitted to the bar 1893. City atty of Duluth 1904-1908.
Cornelius Field
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Anna Parks
FIELD Cornelius A, Duluth. Res 1227 E 3d st, office 203 Exchange bldg. real estate, insurance and loans. Born Feb 4, 1825 in Berlin Vt, son of Alpheus and Rhoda (Emerson) Field. Married Jan 20, 1853 to N Maria Dewey. Educated in public and high schools Hanover N H. engaged in gen merchandise business first as clk and partner in firm of Scott & Field Montpelier Vt 15 years; moved to Hanover N H in same business 1862; postmaster Hanover 1865-85; moved to Duluth 1887 and has since been engaged in real estate business.
Edwin Field
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Anna Parks
FIELD Edwin Dewey, Duluth. Res 1227 E 3d st, office 203 Exchange bldg. Real estate and insurance. Born June 1858 in Montpelier Vt, son of Cornelius A and Marie (Dewey) Field. Attended public schools Hanover N H; graduated from Dartmouth College B S 1880. Bkpr and teller Rockford (Ill) Nat Bank 1882-85; moved to Duluth and employed in grain business 1885-88; with father established E D Field Co Duluth real estate and insurance. One of incorporators and treas Duluth Board of Fire Underwriters; pres Duluth Realty Investment Co; dir New Duluth Co. Member Commercial, Boat and Curling Clubs.
Harry Fisher
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Anna Parks
FISHER Harry White, Duluth. Res 707 E 1st st, office 600 First Nat Bank bldg. Mines and mining. Born 1878 in Iowa, son of Henry A and Esther (White) Fisher. Married in 1892 to Ethel M Pattison. Educated in common schools. Cornell College, Univ of Wis, U of M and Michigan School of Mines. Sheep raising in Wyoming 1899-1901; mine inspector Vermillion range 1901-1903; moved to Duluth and engaged in mines and mining business with Martin, Pattison & Pattison. Member Kitchi Gammi Club and Masonic fraternity.
Graham Fitch
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Anna Parks
FITCH Major Graham Denby, Duluth. Res 414 E Superior, office Engineers bldg. U S Army officer. Born Feb 19, 1860 in Chicago, son of Henry S and Ellen Rose (Hetzel) Fitch. Married in 1900 to Hermonie King. Educated in France and Germany and West Point. In U S Engineers Corps; service on Mississippi river, N Y harbor, Willetts Point. Santiago, Cuba, Oswego, Lake Ontario and Little Rock Ark; appointed to Duluth 1906 in charge of harbor improvements. Member Society C E; Commercial, Kitchi Gammi and Northland Country clubs Duluth and University Club N Y.
Charles Fitzsimmons
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Anna Parks
FITZSIMMONS Charles Thomas, Duluth. Res 1431 E 1st st. office 122-124 W Michigan. Merchant. Born Nov 8, 1863 in Sparta Wis, son of William and Mary (Scantelton) Fitzsimmons. Married Aug 3 1893 to Charlotte T Hunter. Educated in common and high schools Sparta Wis. Employed in woolen milles 1880-81; learned flour milling business and followed same 1881-83; engaged in gen mercantile business Burr Oak Wis underfirm name of J T Scantelton & Co 1883-84; engaged in creamery business Cataract Wis as Fitzsimmons & Atchison 1884-85; moved to St Paul and engaged in whol commission business with Geo W Martin & Co 1886; moved to Duluth and engaged in whol fruit produce business as a partner in Geo W Martin & Co until 1887; Martin, Fitzsimmons & Warfield 1887-89; Fitzsimmons & Warfield Co 1889-91; Fitzsimmons-Derrig Co 1891-1906; Fitzsimmons-Palmer Co 1906 to date, of which firm he is pres, mngr and dir; gen mngr, treas and dir R N Fernandez Cigar Co. Member Commercial Club, Masonic fraternity and B P O E.
Gustav Flaaten
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Anna Parks
FLAATEN GUSTAV, Duluth. Res 216 E 4th st, office 210-212 W 1st st. Music teacher. Born Sept 16, 1877 in Christiansland Norway, son of Halvor and Olefine (Davidson) Flaaten. Studied violin under J H Flaaten and Carl Riedelsberger; under Richard Hagemeisterof Royal Orchestra Berlin 1899; later with Gustav Lange. Located in Duluth and is now dir of Flaaten’s Conservatory of Music and Dramatic Art.
Robert Forbes
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Anna Parks
FORBES Robert, Duluth. Res Hunter’s Park, office 705 Palladio bldg. Mines and mining. Born April 18, 1860 in Peterhead Scotland, son of James and Catherine (Turner) Forbes. Married Nov 15, 1892 to Emma E Walker. Educated in the common schools of Peterhead. Located in U S in 1873 at Hartford Conn, later removing to New Britain Conn and then to Manitoulin Ont; engaged in locating copper; nickel prospecting and Indian trading 1873-78; removed to Duluth and was variously employed while studying for mining eng, being one of the original explorers on the Iron Range; in 1880 opened real estate and loan office in connection with his extensive mining interests; later abandoned the former and now devotes his exclusive time to the purchase and sale of mineral lands and expert engineering. Member I O O F.
Herschel Fryberger
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Nancy Overlander
Fryberger Herschel B, Duluth. Res 211 10th av E, office 415 Lonsdale bldg.. Lawyer. Born March 15, 1867 in Goodhue county Minn, son of William and Margaret (Burroughs) Fryberger. Married Aug 16, 1899 to Nellie F Featherstone. Educated in public schools of Red Wing and graduated from law dept of U of M. Member Commercial Club and State Bar Assn.
Thomas Gall
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Nancy Overlander
Gall Thomas Alva, Duluth. Res 114 S 14th av E, office 501-502 First Nat Bank bldg.. Law. Born Feb 18, 1871 in Highland county O, son of John and Margaret (Miller) Gall. Married June 16, 1904 to Mabel G Williams. Educated in the common schools of Highland county; normal school and Hillsboro (Ohio) college graduating A B a18945. Professor of mathmetics Hillsboro College 1894-95; principal of ward school 1896-97; admitted to bar 1900. Has been engaged in general practice since that time. Member of Garfield Club and Modern Samaritans.
Harry Gearhart
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Nancy Overlander
Gearhart Harry Gilbert, Duluth. Res 118 E 3rd st, office 513 Palladio bldg.. Law. Born Oct 278, 1872 in Geneseo N Y, son of Nathaniel A and Ella F (Gilbert) Gearhart. Education in the common and high schools of Geneseo N Y; U of M law dept LL B 1891. Engaged in the practice of law in Duluth with his father 1891 as N A & H G Gearhart which firm continued until 1898. Member of the Commercial Club and Masonic fraternity.
Clay Giddings
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Nancy Overlander
Giddings Clay H, Duluth. Res 631 E 5th st, office 311 Lyceum bldg.. Life Insurance. Born Oct 10, 1873 in Gaines Mich, son of Henry and Josephine (Phelps) Giddings. Married in 1893 to Elva Becklinger. Educated in the common schools of Gaines and Luther Mich; business college Duluth. First engaged as stenogr and later as salesman for Eimon Mercantile Co whol grocers; salesman for Gowan, Peyton, Twohy Co whol grocers 1901-1904; with John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co; special agent 1904-1905; gen agent since 1905. Member M W A.
George Gilbert
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Nancy Overlander
Gilbert George C, Cass Lake. Physician (R) and surgeon. Born April 11, 1850 in Oneida county New York, son of John H and Sarah (Smith) Gilbert. Educaed in Rome N Y Academy; Cazenovia (N Y) Seminary; and graduated from St. Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons 1883. Engaged in practice of his profession in St Louis 2 years; Pittsburg Kan 10 years; Duluth Minn 5 years; Grand Rapids Minn 6 years; and Cass Lake 1905 to date. Member Am Medical Assn; Minn State, and St Louis Count Medical societies; B P O E; K of P; M W A; A O U W; Maccabees; M O of F; I O F. Resident surgeon of G N Ry and St Michael’s Hospital.
Henry Grannis
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Nancy Overlander
Grannis Henry James, Duluth. Res 4729 McCullough st, office 612-613 First Nat Bank bldg.. Lawyer. Born June 18, 1865 in High Forest Minn, son of Charles Lawrence and Rose Anna (Rogers) Grannis. Married June 18, 1890 to Laura Hingson. Attended public school at High Forest Minn; graduated from U of M A F 1886; law course Univ of Mich LL B 1888. Engaged in practice at Faribault 1889; moved to Duluth 1890; admitted to practice in the US sup court 1896. Member Commercial Club. Thirty-second degree Mason.
August Hagberg
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Richard Ramos
HAGBERG August, Duluth. Res 110 Exeter st, office 218 W Superior. Public official. Born May 12, 1869 in Karlstad Sweden, son of Nils and Christine Hagberg. Marreid Jan 27 1893 to Lottie Stark. Educated in common schools of Sweden and Duluth; attended Parson’s Business College. Engaged as tailor until 1899; chief deputy register of deeds until 1901; now in tailoring business; state factory inspector 1905 to date; pres Lake Superior & Nevada Development Co.
Anak Alexander Harris
Source: Progressive men of Minnesota. Published by The Minneapolis Journal (1897) submitted by Diana Heser Morse
A. A. Harris, of Duluth, comes of an old southern family which traces its line back to the Revolutionary War. Mr. Harris' great grand-father came from England and settled in North Carolina long before the colonies declared war. He was in the Revolutionary army, and was with Washington at Yorktown, when the surrender of Lord Cornwallis terminated that conflict. His son, Mr. Harris' grandfather, was a soldier in the War of 1812. Henry Washington Harris, Mr. Harris' father, was born in Kentucky in 1812. He was always a farmer, and although of limited education, was a man of much common sense and always a leader in the community where he lived. He died in Texas at the age of seventy-seven. His wife was Miss Maria Dawson, the daughter of a distinguished Democratic politician of Kentucky of the early times. He was a soldier in the Mexican war, and achieved distinction. Mr. and Mrs. Harris were married in 1836. Their son was born on January 16, 1838, and Mrs. Harris died when he was two years old. The education obtained by the young scion of this old family was obtained from the old-fashioned common schools of Simpson, Franklin County, Kentucky, where he was "born and raised," to use the phrase of the people. As he grew to manhood he determined to be a lawyer and entered a law office in Kentucky. But before he was ready to practice the War of the Rebellion broke out, and young Harris enlisted as a Confederate soldier early in 1861. He was in the first battle of Bull Run and many other notable engagements, and in one battle was seriously wounded. As has been the experience of many other ex-Confederates he has found, since the close of the war, that many of his best friends were Union soldiers. In 1865 Mr. Harris commenced the practice of his profession. In 1871 he moved to Fort Scott, Kansas, and on July 22, 1893 he became a citizen of Duluth. This move was made because after mature consideration he came to the conclusion
that Duluth was the most promising young city in the United States. Upon establishing himself in Duluth Mr. Harris at once secured a large practice. Nearly thirty years of law practice had given him a wide experience. He had been connected with many important cases, both civil and criminal. He was retained, and was leading counsel, in the great case of Merritt vs. Rockefeller, growing out of the transactions of the parties to the suit in mining and railroad properties. Mr. Harris was for the plaintiff, who, in June, 1895, obtained a judgment against the defendant for nine hundred and forty thousand dollars. The argument made by Mr. Harris in this case was, perhaps, the best work of this kind which he has done. He has received much praise and congratulation on the success of the suit and the excellence of his conduct of the case and his argument. Mr. Harris has been, from early manhood, a Democrat, but has never held office. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Methodist church. On May 29, 1866, he was married at Lebanon, Tennessee, to Miss Isabella S. Evans. They have two children, Henry Evans Harris, who is now his father's law partner, and Laurenz R. Harris, an electrician.
Luther C. Harris
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Richard Ramos
HARRIS Luther C, Duluth. Res 2709 Park Point, office 700-701 Torrey bldg. Attorney at law. Born June 17, 1857 in Grinnell Ia, son of E H and Rachel (Hanlin) Harris. Married July 29, 1886 to Hanna B Knapp. Educated in high school Grinnell lIa; Iowa College graduating M A 1881; law dept Univ of Iowa 1882; engaged in practice of law La Moure N D 1883; register of deeds and county clk La Moure county N D 1885-89. Resumed practice of law in 1890. Moved to Duluth and engaged in practice under firm name of Moer, Towne & Harris 1890-92; Towne & Harris 1892-94; alone 1894 to date. Member of Civil Service Commission for Duluth and Commercial Club.
Herman L. Hartenstein
Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Richard Ramos
HARTENSTEIN Herman L, Duluth. Res The Spalding, office American Carbolite Company. Manufacturer of carbolated and carbides. Born Oct 18, 1864 in Wheeling W Va, son of Herman and Louisa Nipping (Weidebusch) Hartenstein. Married in 1886 to Miss Anna E Stewart. Educated in common schools and by private study. Began career in employment in Belaire (Ohio) Steel and Nail Co, continuing for seven years; went to Chicago and for seven years experimented with electric and other furnaces until he finally perfected the furnaces, apparatus and devices now used by the American Carbolite Co, which he organized at Constantine Mich May 1904 for the manufacture of carbide. He has financed and completed another plant at Duluth buildings of which cover nine acres, said to be the largest of its kind in the world. Pres and mngr American Carbolite Co; also chairman executive committee. Mayor of Constantinte Mich 1905; re-elected by acclamation 1906 by all parties. Member Masonic fraternity 32d degree; K T and Shrine.
Joel Prescott Heatwole
Progressive men of Minnesota. Published by The Minneapolis Journal, 1897 – transcribed by AJ
Joel Prescott Heatwole is the Representative in Congress of the Third Congressional District. He is of German descent, his great-grandfather, on his father's side, Mathias Heatwole, having come to this country September 15, 1748. He settled in Pennsylvania. His son, David Heatwole, grandfather of Joel, emigrated to Virginia, where Henry Heatwole, Joel's father, was born, the youngest of eleven children. In 1835 Henry Heatwole moved to Ohio, where he married Barbara Kolb. Henry Heatwole was born in 1813. He studied medicine and built up a successful practice. He became active in politics, and was a captain in the state militia. Subsequently he joined a religious denomination called the New Mennonites, closely allied to the orthodox Quakers. He then renounced politics, conscientiously obeying the teachings of the church. He died in 1888. Barbara Kolb was descended from George Kloebber, born in Germany. He came to this country when a boy, and his daughter, Elizabeth, married Henry Kolb, grandfather of the subject of this sketch. The Kloebbers and Kolbs were enlisted on the Colonial side in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Heatwole's mother is still living at Goshen, Indiana. Joel Prescott was born at Waterford, Elkhart County, Indiana, August 22, 1856. His education was received in public and private schools. Before the age of seventeen he became a teacher in the district schools of Northern Indiana, and in 1876 was elected principal of the graded schools at Millersburg. He had already learned the printer's trade, and in August, 1876, began publishing his first newspaper, the Millersburg Enterprise, and fort two years he conducted the Millersburg graded schools and at the same time published the Enterprise as a weekly newspaper. He then decided to discontinue his work as teacher, and moved to Middlebury, where he established a printing office and began the publication of a weekly paper called the Record. This paper was conducted successfully for three years, when in 1881 he sold it and removed to Goshen, Indiana. There he became a part owner of the Times, and was engaged in newspaper work until 1882. He then sold out, and in August, of the same year, came to Minnesota, settling first at Glencoe, where he purchased a half interest in the Enterprise, which he edited until the next July. He then sold his interest and went to Duluth and was employed on the Lake Superior News. In November, 1883, he returned to Glencoe and resumed charge of the Enterprise until April, 1884, when he bought the Northfield News, with which he also consolidated the Northfield Journal. He has built up this paper to one one of the finest weekly newspaper properties in the state. He is prominent among the editors of Minnesota, having been elected first vice-president of the State Editorial Association in 1886, and president in 1887, 18888 and 1889. He has always been a Republican and has taken an active part in politics. He was made a member of the Republican State Central Committee, and secretary of that body in 1886, which position he held until 1890. In 1888 Mr. Heatwole was unanimously elected a delegate-at-large to the Republican National Convention. In 1890 he was elected chairman of the State Central Committee and conducted the second campaign in which Mr. Merriam was a candidate for re-election as governor. Mr. Heatwole was made regent of the State University in December, 1891. He was nominated for Congress from the Third District in 1892, and, although defeated, succeeded in reducing his opponent's plurality nearly forty-three hundred. He then ran for mayor of Northfield and was elected by a vote of nearly three to one. On 1894 he was renominated for Congress and was elected by a plurality of 5,268, and upon the organization of Congress was given a place on the Foreign Affairs committee of the House. Mr. Heatwole is a member of the Minnesota Club, of St. Paul, and a gentleman of genial manners and dignified bearing. He was married December 4, 1890, to Mrs. Gertrude L. Archibald, of Northfield, Minn.
Jed L. Washburn
Source: Progressive men of Minnesota. (Shutter, Marion Daniel, 1853-ed.) Minneapolis, The Minneapolis Journal (1897) Submitted by Diana Heser Morse
Jed L. Washburn is an attorney of Duluth, Minnesota. His father, Christopher C. Washburn, a retired farmer of Blue Earth County, was one of the pioneers of Southern Minnesota. He was a native of Southern Ohio and settled in Minnesota in 1856. The following year he brought his family over-land from Indiana, the subject of this sketch then being but a few months old. Mr. Washburn's wife was Miss Julian Showen, a native of Kentucky, and a woman of strong moral and religious convictions. She still lives with her husband at Lake Crystal, Minnesota. Their son Jed was born in Montgomery County, Indiana, on December 26, 1856. His boyhood was passed amid the exciting scenes of the pioneer life in Minnesota four decades ago. He well remembers the Indian outbreak of 1862, and the final termination of the troubles by the hanging of the leaders of the Sioux at Mankato. He received an academic education, including a limited course in literature and languages, and a good course in mathematics. But his education has been mainly self-acquired. His reading has been as extended as a busy life would permit. After leaving school he taught for a number of years, and at one time, while engaged in studying law, was teaching in the public schools of Mankato; afterwards he served for a number of years on the Board of Education of that city, and for a considerable time he was its president. Mr. Washburn studied law with Hon. Martin J. Severance, of Mankato, now Judge of the Sixth district, and was admitted to practice in the spring of 1880. For ten years he lived in Mankato and built up a large practice throughout southern Minnesota. In 1890 Mr. Washburn moved to Duluth, where he has been equally successful in his law practice. At first he practiced alone, but in September, 1895, formed a partnership with Judge Charles L. Lewis, who resigned from the bench to enter this connection. At the same time Lucius E. Judson, Jr., and Wm. D. Bailey who had, for a long time, been employed by Mr. Washburn, were also taken into the firm, the name being Washburn. Lewis & Judson. During Mr. Washburn's practice he has ben engaged in many important trials, and connected, in a professional way, with numerous heavy business and financial transactions. His practice has covered almost the entire field of litigation, but since his removal to Duluth he has endeavored to confine himself as much as possible to corporate and real estate law. He is counsel for many corporations, and his duties have taken him to all parts of the country. He is attorney at Duluth for several railway companies, including the Northern Pacific, Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway Company, and Duluth Transfer Railway Company. For the latter company he did the work of its organization and the difficult legal work of getting its lines established in the congested bay front of Duluth. Mr. Washburn has considerable property interest in Duluth and upon the iron ranges, and resides in the suburb of Hunter's Park, where he has a beautiful home. In politics he has been classed as an independent Democrat, but has rarely taken an active part in the affairs of the party. In May, 1882, Mr. Washburn was married to Miss Alma J. Pattee, who was a graduate of the State Normal School at Mankato, and who was a teacher for some time in that institution. Mrs. Washburn is a native of Wisconsin, though of New England descent. She is a lady of much literary ability, and a frequent contributor of papers on topics considered in the numerous associations to which she belongs. Mr. and Mrs. Washburn have five children, two boys and three girls, Claude, Genevieve, Abbott, Mildred and Hope. Mr. Washburn has two brothers, Rev. Francis M. Washburn, pastor of the First Congregational Church at Mankato, and Edward W. Washburn, merchant, at Lake Crystal. His only sister is Mrs. Jennie W. Webster, of Juniata, Nebraska.
Albert Woolson
Last Union Army Veteran Dies; Drummer at 17, He Lived to 109
Albert Woolson of Duluth Also Was Sole Survivor of Grand Army of Republic
DULUTH, Minn., Aug. 2---Albert Woolson, the last member of the Civil War's Union Army, died today at the age of 109. Mr. Woolson, who answered President Lincoln's call to arms and marched off to war as a drummer boy when he was 17, had been hospitalized for nine weeks with a recurring lung congestion condition. He lapsed into a coma early Saturday and did not regain consciousness. Since then, he had been fed intravenously and received oxygen through a nasal tube. Members of his family were at his bedside when he died in St. Luke's Hospital. Full-scale military funeral services will be conducted at the National Guard Armory here Monday at 2 P.M. Burial will be in the family lot at Park Hill Cemetery here. Only three veterans of the Civil War, all members of the Confederate forces, survive. They are Walter W. Williams, 113, of Franklin, Tex.; John Salling, 110, of Slant, Va.; and William A. Lundy, 108, of Laurel Hill, Fla.
Informed of Mr. Woolson's death, Mr. Lundy said "I regret very much the passing of Mr. Woolson." Mr. Woolson's last comrade of the Union Army, James A. Hard of Rochester, N.Y., died in 1953 at the age of 111. In Washington, President Eisenhower said today the death of Mr. Woolson "brings sorrow to the hearts" of Americans. The President said: "The American people have lost the last personal link with the Union Army. "His passing brings sorrow to the hearts of all of us who cherished the memory of the brave men on both sides of the War Between the States." With Mr. Woolson's death, only the Confederate veterans will get a medal being prepared for the last survivors of the Civil War unless the law is changed or broadly interpreted. Last month Congress passed a law directing the Secretary of the Treasury to prepare gold medals with suit- able inscriptions honoring the remaining veterans of the North and South. Representative John A. Blatnik, Democrat of Minnesota, pushed for a quick award of the decoration to Mr. Woolson when the old soldier became critically ill. But Mr. Blatnik's office said today the Treasury would be un-able to get the medal finished before Oct. 1. There is no definite provision in the law for a posthumous award. Mr. Woolson married Sarah Jane Sloper in 1868. She died in 1901. Three years later he married Anna Haugen, who died in 1948. Survivors include six daughters, Mrs. John Kobus, Mrs. Arthur Johnson and Mrs. Robert Campbell, all of Duluth; Mrs. Adelaid Wellcome, Mrs. F. W. Rye and Mrs. J.C. Barrett, all of Seattle, and two sons, Dr. A.H. Woolson of Spokane, Wash., and R.C. Woolson of Dayton, Wash. The Kobus family had lived with Mr. Woolson for several years. Mrs. Kobus said late today that instead of floral memorials the family preferred contributions to the Albert Woolson Scholarship Fund at the Duluth Branch of the University of Minnesota.
Outlasted 2,200,000
Mr. Woolson was the sole officially listed survivor of the more than 2,200,000 men of the Union armed forces. He also was the last survivor of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans that exerted wide influence in American politics for many years after the Civil War. Mr. Woolson's great age carried him into what was virtually another world of warfare as well as of politics. As a boy, he could have spoken with venerable men who had fought in the Revolutionary War. Veterans of the War of 1812 were numerous in his youth. When the war in which he served began in 1861, the commanding general of the Army was Winfield Scott, a hero of the War of 1812. The War with Mexico started in 1846, the year before Mr. Woolson was born. Last year, when he was 108, several dependents of veterans of that conflict still were receiving Government benefits. This year, Mr. Woolson could include himself among the more than 19,000,000 living persons who had served in the United States armed forces. Of these, as of May 2, 2,715.896 were receiving cash compensation or pension payments from the Government. This included some but not all of the 826,657 former members of the armed forces receiving education benefits. Mr. Woolson, who had been a bugler-drummer rather than a rifleman, might have been excused if, in his later years, he had only a passing interest in the progress made in the art of war between the period of his Civil War service and the middle of the twentieth century. In 1865 the most expert rifleman could kill no more than two or three persons in a minute. In 1945, when Mr. Woolson was in his nineties, an estimated total of 100,000 persons were killed by atomic bombs.
Civil War Still a Live Topic
In 1956, ninety-one years after Appomattox, popular interest in the war in which Mr. Woolson had fought showed few signs of diminishing. Biographical studies of Civil War figures from Lincoln down to generals such as "Fighting Joe" Hooker were in bookstores, and a dramatic reading of Stephen Vincent Benet's "John Brown's Body" had been presented successfully on Broadway within a year or two. Mr. Woolson fought in no Civil War battles, although he drummed to their graves many who had. When he was 106 he remembered it all pretty well. He recalled himself as a drummer boy of 17 in a rakish blue forage cap in the precise line of drummers who beat out the resonant slow step on muffled drums or, again, thudded the quick step--most likely "The Girl I Left Behind Me." "We went along with a burying detail," he said. "Going out we played proper sad music, but coming back we kinda hit it up. Once a woman came onto the road and asked what kind of music that was to bury some- body, I told her that we had taken care of the dead and that now we were cheering up the living."
Mr. Woolson was born in the New York farm hamlet of Antwerp, twenty-two miles northeast of Watertown, on Feb. 11, 1847, the same day Thomas Alva Edison, the inventor, was born. James K. Polk, the dark horse Democrat, was in the White House and the issues that were to bring about the Civil War were being drawn into focus. Willard Woolson, his father, was a carpenter in Water- town and apprenticed his son to this trade. The senior Woolson had, however, a second vocation. He was a musician in the band of a traveling circus. When President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers in 1861, the father and his fellow musicians enlisted as a body.
Traced Father to Minnesota
When his family did not hear from him for more than a year they traced him through Army records to a hospital in Minnesota. The younger Woolson and his mother undertook the difficult journey by Great Lakes boat and stage coach to Windom, where they found the father suffering from a leg wound received at the battle of Shiloh. Shortly after the family was re- united his leg had to be amputated and he died. Mr. Woolson and his mother remained in Windom and the boy went to work as a carpenter. But it was wartime. The sound of drum and bugle was in the air and it was agony for a spirited boy--mostly especially one in the drummer-bugler tradition-- not to be in uniform. Minnesota's manpower was stretched thin to furnish its quota for the Union forces and at the same time to hold back the Sioux Indians, who went off the reservation in 1863. Mr. Woolson recalled the day he left for the Army he had seen thirty-eight Sioux hanged in Mankota. In the South, the war was dragging out its course. It had been a war of maneuver and field entrenchment, but by 1864 the Confederates were beginning to dig in to save manpower and the Union needed heavy artillery. Col. William Colville organized a Minnesota heavy artillery regiment of 1,800 men. Mr. Woolson got his mother's consent and was accepted into Company C, First Minnesota Volunteer Heavy Artillery. His military service dated from Oct. 10, 1864. Enlisted as a rifleman, he wanted to be assigned as drummer and bugler, but Company C already had its quota of one field musician. "I got the job by knocking his block off," Mr. Woolson recalled many years later. Late in 1864, the regiment joined the Army of the Cumberland in Tennessee. It was commanded by Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, known to history as "The Rock of Chickamauga, " but more familiarly to his men as "Pap."
Recalled Firing Cannon
Minnesota's ponderous cannon and their north-country cannoneers waited hopefully at Fort Oglethorpe to be called into action, but the call never came. Mr. Woolson got to fire a cannon, though. It was the out- standing recollection of his Civil War service. The bored gunners of the First Minnesota Heavy Artillery pre- pared to fire one of their pieces just to hear the noise. Mr. Woolson recalled it thus: "The colonel handed me the end of a rope and said: 'When I yell you stand on your toes, open your mouth wide, give a yell yourself and pull the rope.' I yanked the lanyard and the can- non went off and scared me half to death." The First Minnesota sat out the spring and early summer of 1865 in the shadow of Lookout Mountain, near Chattanooga, and in August the regiment was ordered home. Mr. Woolson received his discharge on Sept. 7, 1865. He again practiced carpentry. Veterans of both the Union and Confederate armies were returning to their homes or perhaps seeking new homes in the West. He was but one of thousands returning to civilian life and, in the case of Union veterans, an organization was soon formed that was to make the former wearers of the blue the most potent force in their country's politics for the next twenty years. This organization was the Grand Army of the Republic, of which Mr. Woolson became the last member in 1953. He had been named senior vice commander in chief in 1950. The first G.A.R. post was formed at Decatur, Ill., in April, 1866. Mr. Woolson was still in his teens when the G.A.R. was founded, and it is probable that, in common with most of the younger veterans, he did not join it for many years. The G.A.R. had a tinge of the secret society popular in the day. There was an oath and a ritual, and the organization was ostensibly free from politics and dedicated to good works. In a few years, how- ever, it became one of the principal instruments for keeping the Republican party in power and for obtaining pensions and Government job preferences for Union veterans. The G.A.R., as Mr. Woolson first knew it, was dominated by such figures as Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, a swarthy Illinois politician nicknamed "Black Jack." A gallant and successful general and a thundering orator with a black mane, he never failed to re- mind his hearers that while "not all Democrats were rebels, all rebels had been Democrats." Mr. Woolson was a member of the G.A.R. in 1890, when it reached its peak of membership of 408,489. Its political influence had declined in the Eighties, al- though it was a force to be reckoned with until the turn of the century. Mr. Woolson did not receive a pension until 1900. Immediately after the Civil War, pensions were limited to men who had suffered physical disability, but in time they were extended to all with recognized Civil War service with the Union forces. Unsuccessful attempts were made from time to time to obtain Federal payments for Confederate veterans. In the South the states paid small pensions to their Civil War veterans. At his death, Mr. Woolson was receiving a pension of $135 a month. He was then getting no other benefits, but was entitled to hospitalization and out-patient care. In May, records showed that 5,784 widows and children of Union veterans were receiving pensions or payments under special acts of Congress.
Formed Drum Corps
Mr. Woolson and Robert Rhodes, an old friend who had been bandmaster of the Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, formed a drum and bugle corps in 1867. Mr. Woolson beat his old Civil War drum. "We played fine lively music," he said. "Nothing sad." With the passing of years, the G.A.R.'s, as they came to be called, became older men and finally old men. Their fellow countrymen seemed to recall them only on Memorial Day, which their organization had helped to establish. The National Encampments of the G.A.R., lively and often more or less rowdy affairs in the early days, became quiet get-togethers. Mr. Woolson and his comrades wore the blue uniform coat and slouch hat of the G.A.R. and marched in the Memorial Day parades as long as they could. Finally they became very old men sitting quietly in the sun. There were other veterans of later wars to tell of the deeds they had done. Mr. Woolson was one of six Union veterans attending the last National Encampment of the G.A.R. in Indianapolis in August, 1949. Here these last survivors of the organization voted to disband it. With Mr. Woolson's death the Grand Army of the Republic passed out of existence. Its records will be turned over to the Congressional Library in Washington, and its flags, badges and official seal to the Smithsonian Institution.
In the Nineties, Mr. Woolson moved to Duluth and it was there that he discovered he had a knack for storytelling to supplement his brisk bugle and drum. He would drop into a nearby school, tell a couple of fanciful tales, give a little lecture on thrift and pass out a few bright, new pennies. In 1952 the children of Duluth's schools turned the tables on him. They collected 27,652 pennies and commissioned an oil portrait of Mr. Woolson that was hung in the City Council chamber. The aged veteran liked to say that he was born a Republican. He voted for President Lincoln when he was 17 under a special dispensation that gave the ballot to soldiers. He admitted he voted for the Democratic ticket once. That was for Franklin D. Roosevelt in his first bid for the Presidency. Mr. Woolson did not retire until 1930.
In his later years, Mr. Woolson liked to recite poetry and his favorite poem was "After the Battle, Mother." And it is unlikely that his school children friends for several generations let him forget that great sentimental poem of the post-Civil War period, "The Blue and the Gray," by Frances Niles Finch. It ends: "Under the sod and dew, waiting the judgment day, Love and tears for the Blue, Tears and love for the Gray."
[The New York Times, August 2, 1956 - Contributed by Janice Rice]
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