Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 97

Author: Holcombe, R. I. (Return Ira), 1845-1916; Bingham, William H
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago : H. Taylor & Co.
Number of Pages: 1190

USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Minneapolis > Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota > Part 97

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business. The remarkable development and noteworthy suc- cess of the Kondon Manufacturing company is a striking example of what may be accomplished through the ability and perserverance of one man. Mr. Kenyon was married November 8, 1888, in Minneapolis, to Miss Effie DeMille. They have two children, Norma R. who married Mr. Asa J. Hunter of Minneapolis, and Donald D. Mr. Kenyon is a member of the Hennepin Avenue Methodist-Episcopal church and in Masonic orders has attained the rank of Shriner and the Thirty-second degree. He is a member of the United Com- mercial Travelers association and is prominent in the leading social and commercial organizations of the city, holding mem- bership in the Minneapolis, Athletic, Interlocken, Lafayette, Rotary and Auto clubs and in the Commercial and West Side Commercial clubs.

JOSEPH RAMSDELL KINGMAN.

Mr. Kingman of Kingman & Wallace, attorneys, was born in Chicago April 15, 1860, a son of Benjamin F. and Adelaide E. (Ramsdell) Kingman, of old Massachusetts families. The father was a manufacturer; and, removing to Chicago in 1954, continued in business there until failing health induced him to seek different climate; and, in 1869 lie came to Minneapolis, where he died in 1875, at the age of forty-three.

Mrs. Kingman, survived until 1902. She was an ardent and sympathetic worker in all the benevolent activities of Ply- mouth Congregational church, prominent and energetic in the undertakings of the Pillsbury Settlement, a zealous and effective force in connection with Drummond Hall and earnest in her intelligent and practical support of other improving and uplifting agencies. She and her husband were the parents of two children, Joseph R. and Susan H.

Joseph R. Kingman was graduated from the Central High School in 1877 when it was under the direction of Benjamin F. Knerr. He read law for one year in the office of Samuel R. Thayer, then a prominent lawyer and afterward United States minister to Holland. Mr. Kingman then spent one year in. the University and four years in the academic course at Amherst College, from which he was graduated in 1883. He . immediately began anew the study of his chosen profession in the office of Charles H. Woods and William J. Hahn, the latter of whom was then attorney general.

He was admitted to practice in 1885, and soon joined his former preceptors, the firm hecoming Woods, Halın & King- man, the firm continuing without change of name until 1908 when it became Woods, Kingman & Wallace. Judge Woods died in 1899 and John Crosby became associated with Mr. Kingman and Mr. Wallace for two years, when lie became Secretary and Treasurer of Washburn Crosby Co. Mr. King- man and Mr. Wallace continued in business and have an extensive general practice although real estate, law, probate and corporation business demand most of their attention.

In political allegiance Mr. Kingman is a Republican; but, while loyal to his party and deeply interested in its success he has never heen an aspirant for public office. He has, however, taken an active part in many things that make for the betterment of the community. He is a director of the Minneapolis Trust company, and a member of the Minneapolis, Minikahda and Six O'Clock clubs.

Mr. Kingman was also president for five years of the

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

Associated Charities. He was chairman of the buikling com- mittees in the erection of the new Plymouth Congregational church, the Young Women's Christian Association Buikling and the Pillsbury Settlement House. He was a trustee of Plymouth church for many years, and has also rendered valuable service on other boards of trustees and directors, and on publie commissions.

In October, 1891, Mr. Kingman was united in marriage with Miss Mabel Selden, a daughter of the late Henry E. Selden, who died in 1902, after a residence of over forty years in the city, having located here in 1861. He was a general contractor; and, erected the Public Library and many other large and important structures. Mrs. Kingman is a native of Minneapolis and a high school graduate. They are the parents of three children: Henry S., a student at Amherst College, Joseph Ramsdell, Jr., and Eleanor.

ANTHONY KELLY.

Mr. Kelly was a native of Ireland, born in the borough of Swinford, County Mayo, on August 25, 1833.

He was one of six sons born to Andrew and Alice (Dur- kin) Kelly, who were also born in County Mayo, Ireland, and a grandson of Thomas Kelly, a merchant in that part of the Emerald Isle. The father died at the age of thirty- three. The mother married a second husband, and about 1843 the family came to America and located near Montreal, Canada, where the son passed ten years in school and clerical work. Soon after attaining his manhood he changed his residence to Savannah, Georgia, and in the neighborhood of that city engaged in planting.

In 1859 he came to the Northwest and located in Minne- apolis, joining an older brother, Patriek H. Kelly, who had taken up his residence in this city a year or two before. Together the brothers started a retail grocery store on a small scale and conducted the business under the firm name of Kelly Bros.

The firm's first store was on Washington avenue one door south of what was then Helen street but is now Second avenue south. Their trade kept on expanding and they were soon forced to seek larger accommodations for it, and moved into a large room in the Woodman block at the corner of Helen street. When they started in business Minneapolis had a population of about 1,500, whose wants they supplied in part. At the time of Mr. Kelly's death his wholesale grocery was sending it's goods over all the rail- roads radiating from the commercial and industrial center which he had helped so largely to build up and give it business life, soeial tone and a high moral atmosphere.

In 1861 they added pork-packing to the grocery trade, and in 1863 Patrick H. Kelly retired from the firm and started a wholesale grocery in St. Paul, while Anthony continued as proprietor of the Minneapolis store. The building in which he earried on his business was destroyed by fire in 1866. He immediately built a larger and better house, constructing it of stone instead of wood. This gave him better facilities and considerably more room, but as the trade of the city increased he formed a new partnership with Hiram W. Wagner and J. I. Black under the name of Anthony Kelly & Company, and their quarters soon became again too lim- ited for their trade.

The new firm started a wholesale business which grew so rapidly that it was obliged to discontinue retailing and take a still larger building. The commodious and substantial stone structure at Washington and Second avenue north was put up, and this continued to be the headquarters of the business until the firm was dissolved by the death of Mr. Kelly in May, 1899.

During the Civil war Mr. Kelly's political training and 'con- victions made him an ardent sympathizer with the Southern side of the great contest. His brother John, who shared his views in this respect was killed in the Southern army, and they had another brother, Dudley, who served in the Union army. Anthony did not enter the military service, but he made no secret of his love of the South and his warm in- terest in its cause. He handled some munitions of war in his store, and one event in his life that was always a source of deep regret to him, was that by chance he sold to the Indians the ammunition they used in the uprising in this state in 1862. But he knew nothing of their purpose and was guiltless of all wrong in making his sales to the savages.

Mr. Kelly was married on April 26, 1863, to Mrs. Anna (Haymond) Willey, the widow of U. S. Willey, an early and gifted lawyer of Minneapolis. She was a Virginian by na- tivity. Six children were born of the union, four daugh- ters and two sons. The sons died in early life. The four daughters who are living are: Alice K. Corrigan; Annie, who is now Mrs. James F. Blaine; Agnes, who is unmarried, and Bernadette, who married F. W. Plant. The mother had two children by her first marriage: Robert Kelly Willey and Geor- gia, who is now the wife of E. A. Prendergast. The mother died in 1907 and the father in May, 1899. He met with a serious accident in 1893, which greatly disabled him and almost put an end to his aetivity.

WILLIAM B. BOARDMAN.

William B. Boardman, president of the Real Estate Board, was born in New Brunswick, March 1, 1862, and is the son of George A. Boardman, naturalist. George A. Boardman, who passed the years 1882 and 1883 in Minneapolis, expect- ing to make it his future home, was a genius and an interest- ing and cultured man. He was born in Massachusetts but became a resident of Calais, Maine, at an early age, and there grew to manhood, an ardent lover of natural history, char- acterizing him from boyhood. He rose to eminence as a naturalist, collecting large numbers of specimens for the Smithsonian Institute, having spent twenty-one winters in Florida for that purpose. He maintained relations of cordial friendship with Professor Baird, secretary of the Institute, Professor Louis Agassiz, and many other eminent scientists. Calais, being located in the boundary line of New Brunswick, Mr. Boardman studied the natural history of the province and made a collection of 3,000 specimens of the native birds, which is still on exhibition in the parliament house at Freder- ickton. The only pair of a peculiar specimen of Labrador ducks, now extinct, in the Smithsonian Institute were sup- plied by him. His useful and interesting life ended at Calais, in 1901, his sons, soon after, publishing a well deserved memorial. When seventeen years old, William B. Boardman came to Minneapolis to attend the University, his brothers F. H. Boardman, a prominent lawyer, and A. J. Boardman, a

N. B. Boardman

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

prosperous real estate dealer, being already residents. Wil- liam B. passed two years in the University, returning to New Brunswick. He soon went to Florida as a member of the civil engineering corps for the Florida Southern Railroad. In 1884 he became a partner with his brother A. J. in real estate, this brother, in 1892, going to Tampa, Florida, to superintend the erection of a gas plant. He now lives in Los Angeles, Cali- fornia. Mr. Boardman thien began to take special interest in the development and improvement of the East Side, and his energies have since been largely devoted to that section. Be- sides having an extensive agency business he has important personal holdings, being particularly interested in railroad trackage properties. Mr. Boardman, realizing shortage of track facilities in the jobbing district, conceived the idea of building a railroad spur between Washington avenue and Third street, from 4th to 10th avenues North; and, which has changed this section from the most dilapidated part of the city to what is fast becoming the most attractive business district. He has already located on this spur several of the largest jobbing and manufacturing houses in Minneapolis, not less than a million dollars being already expended in build- ings. Among them are the Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company, employing 500 hands, The Parlin & Orendorf Plow Company, The Roach-Tisdale Company, The Green & De Laitte Whole- sale Grocery Company, The Pence Automobile and the Andrews Warehouses, The Cribben & Sexton Stove Company and the Acme Harvester Company and the plant of the George Duensing Hay and Grain Company, which he erected individ- ually and which he still owns. This was the initial move- ment to open many miles of trackagc in the heart of the city; and, which, being followed by others, will afford an unlimited supply of moderate priced houses for the growing jobbing trade. A more recent movement is the development of a new industrial center on the East Side covering not less than 1,000 acres. He conceived the idea of bringing the Belt Line into Minneapolis, the extensions of which make such a center possible. One of the industries in the movement, and located by Mr. Boardman, is the new plant, just being completed, of the National Lamp Company costing one half million of dol- lars and to employ 600 hands. For three years he was chair- man of the Commercial Club committee to secure new in- dustries, and is chairman of the industrial and development committee of the Civic and Commerce Association. He was for some years real estate agent for the Great Northern, the Northern Pacific and the Burlington Roads; and, secured the right of way from Minneapolis to Rochester, for the Dan Patch Electric line. Many other commissions, committees and organizations for improvements have had the benefit of his counsel and enterprise. It is in the extension and im- provement of Minneapolis proper, however, that he has been most deeply and thoroughly interested. He laid out the Wil- liam B. Boardman Addition at Minnehaha Falls, and joined in platting the Gilman & Boardman, the Taylor and Board- man and the Minnehaha Falls Second Addition, and has erected several business and residence properties His entire thought and attention are given to business, steadfastly re- fusing to accept political honors. He has not neglected social organizations nor enjoyment of outdoor pleasures, belonging to the Lafayette and Auto clubs; and, for recreation, makes frequent trips to northern Minnesota, in the development of which he is deeply interested. He was married in 1887 to Miss Jessie P. Wilbur, a native of Vermont. They have one daughter Marjorie, who was a member of the first graduating

class of the West Side High School and a student at Smith College. In 1912 she and her mother made a world tour visit- ing Japan, China, the Philippine Islands and Honolulu. The family attends the Universalist Church of the Redeemer.

ALBERT H. KENYON.

For a continuous period of forty years this esteemed citi- zen has lived in this city and been actively connected with its business interests, public affairs, social life and general advancement. When he came here in 1873 he had the fore- sight to realize the wonderful possibilities and the enter- prise to take advantage of the passing opportunities. His enterprise and public spirit made him a promoter of the development of the community, and by exercising business ability and acumen has made that development advantageous to himself.

Mr. Kenyon was born in Greenwich, Washington county, New York, thirty miles from Troy, September 14, 1842, working on his father's farm until the age of eighteen. He then began his business career as clerk, and in 1868 came to Chicago, and soon became a partner in a general store at Aurora and which is still doing business. The rapid restor- ation of Chicago following the fire soon drew much of the trade from Aurora, and in 1873 Mr. Kenyon sold his interests and came to Minneapolis. He had known A. C. Rand, later mayor and president of the Minneapolis Gas Light company, in Aurora, and acted upon the representations of that gen- tleman, who drew flattering pictures of the future of the Northwest. Mr. Kenyon bought the store of Thomas and Geo. Andrews on Bridge Square, next door to the hard ware store of Hon. John S. Pillsbury. The Andrews estab- lishment was a general store with a trade of $100,000 an- nually. The management of it was a difficult undertaking for Mr. Kenyon, but his twin brother, Alfred F. Kenyon, joined him as Kenyon Bros., and they succeeded in handling the enterprise with the small capital they had.

Under the name of Kenyon Brothers they conducted the business until 1885. In the days when the Grange organi- zation was potential it was their custom to open the store at 4 o'clock in the morning to meet the requirements of customers from the country. The farmers bringing their grain to the city would often fail to get unloaded until far in the night, when, after a few hours' rest, they were ready to start on their long journey home early in the morning. It was thus necessary to have the store open at that early hour to accommodate them. It carried a large stock in al- most everything but groceries, and was the leading dry goods store.

In 1885 Mr. Kenyon sold his interest to his brother and opened a carpet store, Messrs. Folds & Griffith being the only firm already operating in that exclusive line. The brother continued to conduct the old store with a constantly increasing trade, which in time reached a business of $200,000 annually. The new 'carpet store was opened on a small scale on Nicollet avenue where the Rothschild store now is. Later it moved to the old Sidle block, and in 1888 Mr. Kenyon, Jame's I. and W. S. Best united in building the Medical block, in which he now has his offices, and which has been more especially devoted to the use of the medical profession.

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

This six story block fronts 110 feet on Nicollet avenue between Sixth and Seventh streets. When it was built some of Mr. Kenyon's friends said he must be demented to build so far from the business center. Hle moved his carpet store to the new building where it was continued successfully for ten years.

Mr. Kenyon also owns a business block on Washington avenue north, a four-story brick block on Washington avenue south and another on Third street, having kept his inter- ests in the heart of Minneapolis. His old home at 89 South Teuth street is now occupied as a business block, and his present residence is at Twenty-second street and Blaisdell avenue. During the last twenty years he has passed win- ters in Southern California, New Orleans and at Palm Beach, Florida. With abiding faith in Minneapolis property he is justified in taking some satisfaction in having been one whose efforts have materially contributed to its growth.

Mr. Kenyon takes no active interest in politics as a par- tisan, but is earnest in his advocacy of good government as a citizen, and zealous in securing it. In religious affiliation he is a Universalist, being a regular attendant at the Church of the Redeemer. In 1875, he was married at Aurora, Illinois, to Miss Belle Newlin, a daughter of Major Thomas Newlin, of that city. Mrs. Kenyon is a member of the Women's club, the Travelers' club and other similar organizations.

Mr. and Mrs. Kenyon have three children: Lewis N., a graduate of the University of Minnesota, is now associated with his father. Alfred T. is a coffee broker in Los Angeles after having for some years been so engaged in San Francisco. Raymond H. is a student at Columbia University, New York eity.

MATTHIAS KUNZ.

Matthias Kunz, vice president and manager of the Kunz Oil company, is a native of Germany, born near the Rhine, March 22, 1856. He came to this country in 1868, and located in Carver county, Minnesota. In 1882 he removed to Minneapolis and for several years was in the employ of W. W. Eastman as night engineer and watchman for the Island Power company. He then erected a livery barn and for six years engaged successfully in this business in company with his brother, Jaeob Kunz. The latter was at this time employed as engineer by the Island Power company and in 1888 he established an oil business in which his brother was also interested, the firm being known as Jacob Kunz & Brother. This enterprise met with such success and its rapid growth attested to possibilities which at length claimed the attention of Matthias Kunz to the exelusion of other interests. In 1892 the livery was disposed of and the following year the firm was changed to its present style, the Kunz Oil company. Matthias Kunz as manager of this company has been eminently identified with every phase of its remarkable development. From an original investment of $2,200 with $5,000 covering the first year's sales, its success and growth is marked. In 1905 it was incorporated with a capital of $100,000 and in 1913 the company transacted an annual business of over $400,000. It has a force of thirty employees engaged in com- pounding and blending, produeing a high grade lubricating oil. Through their salesmen they transact a large business through- out the northwest beside an extensive local trade. Aside

from his interests as vice president, treasurer and manager of the Kunz Oil company, Mr. Kunz is associated with other important industries of the city and is a stockholder in the Minneapolis Brewery, and the North Star Malt House of which Jacob Kunz is the manager. Matthias Kunz was married in Waconia, Minnesota to M.3 Emma Haback, daughter of William Haback. They have four children, Therese, Helen, William and Florence.

HENRY N. KNOTT.

Henry N. Knott was born at Bloomington, Hennepin county, Minnesota, on December 14, 1874, a son of E. W. and Tabitha (Little) Knott, the former having removed from Canada to Minnesota about 1855, and the latter born and reared in Penn- sylvania. Her father was a merchant in that state, and about 1856 located near Glencoe, in this state. His daughter Tabitha was a young woman when the family moved to Minnesota, and soon after her marriage to Mr. Knott, the father of Henry N., they located on a farm in Bloomington township, Hennepin county.

Henry N. Knott passed his boyhood and early youth at Sauk Center and completed his education at the high school in that town. In 1893 he located in Minneapolis, and here he supplemented his academic training with a thorough eourse of study in a good business college. In 1895 he was appointed stenographer and bookkeeper in the city clerk's office by C. F. Haney, at that time the city clerk. From this start he passed through all the intervening positions in the office until he reached that of assistant city clerk in 1900, which he continued to fill until 1909, when he was elected to the city elerkship as the successor of L. A. Lydiard.

Mr. Knott was elected as a non-partisan, and that he has bcen ever since. He was re-elected in 1911 and again in 1913. The volume of business requiring attention in the office is constantly increasing, and has grown to such mag- nitude that Mr. Knott is compelled to have seven assistants. In the fraternal life of the community he mingles freely and servieeably as a member of the Order of Elks and of Minneapolis Lodge No. 19 and Ark Royal Arch Chapter of the Masonic Order.

O. P. BRIGGS.

President of the H. E. Wilcox Motor Company, was born on a farm in Maine, February 17, 1856, and came to Minne- apolis in 1877, the directory of that year indicating him as clerk for O. A. Pray, Mill Furnishings and Iron Works at First Street and Fifth Avenue South. His father, W. H. Briggs, who was a life-long friend of the Hon. W. D Waslı- burn, was a teacher for many years and became, at the urgent request of Mr. Washburn, the superintendent of the Children's Home, where he rendered valuable service till his death. He was also treasurer of the Church of the Redeemer, a warm attachment existing between him and Drs. Tuttle and Shutter, its pastors. O. P. remained with Mr. Pray till 1886, and the following year. in association with Joseph Garbett and W. H. Getchell, founded the Twin City Iron Works. It was at first a foundry and machine shop, gradually becoming

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HISTORY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA

devoted to the making of Corliss engines and transmission machinery. Several of the old employees of the Pray Com- pany sought positions here under their former companion; and, the business experienced so rapid development that by 1902 it had outgrown its shop facilities, it becoming necessary to secure larger and better accommodations. Other eitizens now becoming interested, united in the organization of the Minneapolis Steel & Machinery Company, erecting the finest plant of its kind in the Northwest, and whose operations soon demanded the employment of 650 mechanics. Mr. Briggs was vice-president of the incorporation. His services being re- peatedly sought by the directors of the National Founders Association, who urged him to become its head, he finally yielded, and resigning his position with the above company, and his terms of activity in the association being readily ac- eepted, he in 1903 assumed that important official relation, that of commissioner to the organization, a position he filled two years, was the vice-president for one year and president for seven years, till November 15, 1913, his successor being William H. Barr of Buffalo, N. Y.

The objects of this association are: "The adoption of a uniform basis for just and equitable dealings between the members and their employees, whereby the interests of both will be properly protected. Also, the investigation and ad- justment, by the proper officers of the association, of any question arising between members and their employees."

His own wide experience reaching back to boyhood in ad- justing the questions arising between employer and employee, thus extending over a long period, readily enabling him to recognize the rights of all concerned, justified his selection as the head of an important employers organization. Main- taining his home at Minneapolis, he had become interested as a director in the Wilcox Motor Company, to the presidency of which he was selected July 1, 1913.

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Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota, Part 97

Author: Holcombe, R. I. (Return Ira), 1845-1916; Bingham, William H Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Chicago : H. Taylor & Co. Number of Pages: 1190

Author: Holcombe, R. I. (Return Ira), 1845-1916; Bingham, William H
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago : H. Taylor & Co.
Number of Pages: 1190