USA > Minnesota > St Louis County > Duluth > Duluth and St. Louis County, Minnesota; their story and people; an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, educational, civic and social development, Volume II > Part 31
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One of the chief sources of success to the Marshall-Wells organi- zation has been Mr. Marshall's faculty of picking and retaining the right sort of men in his organization. He entrusted a young Cana- dian with first opening up an international business for the firm in Canada, and with the Klondike gold discoveries of 1898 the emis- saries of the Marshall-Wells Company were soon within the Arctic Circle. Out of this venture developed the great business handled by the firm in the Canadian northwest through Winnipeg, where the first warehouse of the company was established in 1901. In 1901 the company also rented a barn in Portland, Oregon, as the first ware- house of the Portland branch, and within less than ten years several successive buildings were erected by the firm in that city, until the Portland branch now handles business from the Pacific northwest to Los Angeles and the Imperial Valley of California. Through the Portland house was also done a large export business to the Hawaiian Islands, and more recently to Russia and China. The Spokane branch of the firm was opened in January, 1909. to serve the great trade of the inland empire. In July, 1912, was incorporated the Marshall- Wells Alberta Company, which took over previous connections of the firm and an old established business at Edmonton, Alberta, and this
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house now controls the trade of that northwestern province and north to the Arctic Circle.
In the meantime, in spite of developments and extensions to these far-flung fields, addition after addition has been made to the Duluth headquarters. Besides the enormous material facilities the personnel of the Duluth organization has increased from forty-four employes of 1893 to a small army of upwards of 1,000 in the wholesale hardware business.
One of the individuals in this great organization, writing from personal knowledge and facts known to the personnel of the Marshall- Wells Company, has given this interesting tribute: "It is not in anything but the leadership of its founder, its captain-general, Mr. A. M. Marshall, who better realized and appreciated the resources of this great northwest, and had the courage, the confidence, and the ability to invade the far west and develop that business at a time when other jobbers were deserting the territory-that accounts for the real secret of Marshall-Wells success.
"His counsel and guidance have pervaded every department-the lines of goods, the contracts made, the catalogue, the advertising, the extension of territory and of credit; the selection of his staff, their training, the principles inculcated in them, and the constant personal watchfulness over the activities of every factor in the business-his broad knowledge of finance, manufacturing and merchandising in general ; his deep insight into human nature and his happy methods of treating each, have been the fundamentals-his technique.
"As to his business tactics and broader strategy, they might easily be compared with the successful campaigning of a military organiza- tion, for surely merchandising is warfare; peaceful battles are trade gains, trade victories, won by the training, the co-ordination, the resources, reserves, the initiative, the attack, the consolidation, and the follow-up."
A great business from ordinary commercial standards, it is also great as an exemplification of the human element in business. The company provides many forms of profit-sharing, insurance, pension funds, and other advanced programs of welfare.
It was after he had seen his business reach the full tide of success and influence that Mr. Marshall in 1918 took the chairmanship of the Board of Directors and named his older son, Seth Marshall, as presi- dent and general manager. At that time one of his old associates said : "In my opinion no other merchant in the great northwest has been the equal of Mr. Marshall in the vision and the optimism which so benefited this great area of expansion, or has the ability, energy, courage and devotion to a great work which he has had, and no other has accomplished so much as he."
P'. G. PHILLIPS, who is commissioner of the city government, being in charge of public utilities, is one of the best qualified men that might be found for that responsible post. Mr. Phillips has lived for many years in Duluth, was an alderman before the commission form of government was adopted. is a thorough business man, and has a vast and intricate knowledge of city affairs.
He was born in Swansea, Wales. September 24, 1870, and was only an infant when brought to America by his parents in 1871. His father, William Phillips, lived for a time at Connelsville, Pennsyl- vania, where he followed his trade as a brass moulder. He continued
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in the same line of business at Marshalltown, Iowa, where he lived until his death in 1896.
P. G. Phillips was the third in a family of six children. He acquired his early education in the public schools of Marshalltown, Iowa, and as a youth served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade. That trade was his regular occupation from 1890 to 1910. In the latter year he became manager of a general co-operative store at West Duluth, and handled the affairs of that business very successfully until February, 1917.
Mr. Phillips was first elected an alderman, representing the Eighth Ward in the city of Duluth in 1912. He was in that office a year and a half before the commission form of government was adopted. In 1917 he was chosen commissioner of the Board of Public Utilities, and since then has spent practically all his time with the affairs of his office. Mr. Phillips is an able speaker, has a great amount of information on everything connected with the government of Duluth, and. is well qualified in a literary way and has frequently discussed subjects of current interest in the local press, especially through the columns of the Duluth Herald.
Mr. Phillips is a member of several of the leading fraternal orders. He is unmarried.
N. A. YOUNG is a wholesome type of the modern educator, and was keenly alive to the great responsibilities he carried as county superin- tendent of schools of St. Louis county.
Teaching and school administration has constituted his life work. He was born on a farm at Bismarck, Illinois, on August 2, 1874. son of James L. and Nancy A. (Silvey) Young, being of Scotch ancestry in the paternal line and English and Irish through his mother. He is the oldest of four living children. His father was also a native of Illinois, and spent his active life as a general farmer and died at Dan- ville, that state. He strenuously objected to holding any office, though he endeavored to exercise an intelligent interest in public affairs. He was a member of the Christian Church.
N. A. Young attended the rural schools of his home community to the eighth grade, and then had his first experience as a teacher in a country school. He continued his higher education in the Illinois State Normal University, spending four years in that institution and graduating in 1901. For one year he was principal of a ward school in Hoopeston, Illinois, for two and a half years was principal of the high school at Bement, leaving there in the middle of the year to become superintendent of a small system of schools at Deland, Illi- nois, early in 1902.
Mr. Young came to Minnesota in the fall of 1902 and for five years was principal of the schools at Soudan and for two and a half years superintendent at Aurora. He has been connected with the general school work of St. Louis county since February, 1910, when he was made assistant superintendent. In the fall of that year he was elected county superintendent, and held that office until August 1, 1920, when he resigned in order to give all his time to the Duluth School of Busi- ness, of which institution he is president and part owner.
Many important changes and improvements were made under his administration. The outstanding feature was the gradual centraliza- tion in control of schools in the County Board of Education. This is now the vital center and heart of the county system of education, though in 1911, when Mr. Young became superintendent, the office
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was comparatively a nominal one and his entire force consisted of himself, one assistant and a stenographer. At the time of his resig- nation about twenty people were at work in the county superinten- dent's office all the time. Through the county office the schools of St. Louis county are now in a measure grouped as a single big district. with a central organization in control. It is possible to review only briefly the larger results and the influences which emanated from the office of County Superintendent Young. One feature was the con- stant endeavor to improve the health of the school children and the patrons of the schools in rural territories. Mr. Young has been a staunch advocate of homes for teachers in connection with the schools, and this idea has been developed in a number of cases with gratify- ing results. The plan for Boys' and Girls' Clubs was fostered, until there are now between 125 and 130 such organizations in the county. The chief object of the club organization, as Mr. Young views it, is to develop a spirit of self government in the children early in life.
The increase in the activities of the superintendent's office is partly accounted for through Mr. Young's advocacy and practice of a closer supervision of rural school work. He contended that good schools are possible in the country as in the city, provided certain factors are present, the same quality of teacher, the same generous supplies of books and papers, and the same kind of supervision. School patrons and school directors have never been allowed to forget since Mr. Young was made superintendent that an important essential in good rural schools is better buildings, better ventilation, better light and more comfortable quarters in every way.
The rural schools in St. Louis county, as in nearly every other part of the country were seriously handicapped during the war by an insufficient supply of teachers. In order to overcome that difficulty Mr. Young endeavored to prevail upon the county high schools to conduct normal training departments, and at the present time nearly all of the rural teachers are home-trained products.
He adopted in his school administration an idea long practiced by progressive business organizations in getting the teachers together in a good summer school just before the opening of the regular term, not so much for the purpose of instruction and acquainting them with pedagogic theories, but in arousing their enthusiasm and general inorale so as to put them in readiness for the actual problems they will encounter in their school work. Each summer for a number of years such a school has been conducted in St. Louis county.
For eight years Mr. Young was publisher of the Rural School Bulletin, a local magazine devoted to the interests of the schools of St. Louis county. He was a regular contributor to the Bulletin, the files of which contain most of his literary productions. About four years ago he also edited one division of the encyclopedia known as "School Methods." In 1919 he and an associate opened a commercial school at Twenty-first avenue, West. and Superior street in Duluth, the first session beginning September 2nd. Mr. Young is devoting his entire time to that institution now.
The majority of the people living in the rural districts of St. Louis county are of foreign birth. In order that they might become acquainted with the English language and learn something of Ameri- can ideals and form of government Mr. Young instituted what is known as the Speak-English Movement. Through this movement the children are encouraged to teach the English language to their parents and to their little brothers and sisters. They take pride in
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telling their parents stories of American heroes and in giving them facts concerning the geography and government of United States.
Each school entering upon the Speak-English work is provided with an attractive, framed certificate, and each Speak-English worker wears a button bearing the inscription : "We Speak English."
The Speak-English Movement was started in the fall of 1918, and when Mr. Young's resignation took effect in August, 1920, 2,250 boys and girls were enrolled in the movement. The English language is spoken in many families where it was never heard before, many fathers and mothers are delighted over having learned to read English, and whereas in former years the little folks entering school were unable to speak English, the majority of the beginners in 1920 were acquainted with the English language.
During the war Mr. Young was manager of the Junior Red Cross. He is not a member of any literary or educational organization, has no secret affiliation, was reared a Methodist and is an independent voter. July 31, 1901. he married Miss May E. Walls, daughter of I. C. Walls. Both their children are now deceased.
G. A. E. FINLAYSON. In no profession is there a career more open to talent than in that of the law, and in no field of endeavor is there demanded a more careful preparation, a more thorough appreciation of the absolute ethics of life or of the underlying principles which form the basis of all human rights and privileges. It is a profession into which none should enter without a recognition of the obstacles to be encountered and overcome and the battles to be won, for success does not perch on the banner of every one who enters the competitive fray, but comes only as the legitimate result of capability.
G. A. E. Finlayson was born May 2, 1873, in Montreal, Canada. and is a son of Alexander and Agnes (McLennan) Finlayson. His father, who was born and reared in Canada, came to the United States on October 31, 1880, and located in South Angus, Polk county, Min- nesota, where for about a year and a half he was engaged in the mercantile business. At the end of that time he turned his attention to farming, in which he met with splendid success, becoming the owner of 800 acres of excellent and productive land in Polk county. In 1883 he removed his family to Crookston, Minnesota, that his children might have the benefit of the schools of that city.
G. A. E. Finlayson received his elementary education in the public schools of Crookston, being a member of the first class of four who were graduated from the high school there in 1891. Having deter- mined to devote his life to the legal profession, he then entered the University of Minnesota, where he was graduated from the academic department with the degree of B. A. in 1896. He then entered the law department and was admitted to the bar in 1899, entering upon the active practice of his profession at Crookston. In 1913 he came to the city of Duluth, where he has since resided and practiced his profession.
Politically Mr. Finlayson is affiliated with the Republican party. having cast his first presidential vote for William McKinley. His religious membership is with the Pilgrim Congregational Church of Duluth. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Clan Stewart, Curling Club and other organizations.
On September 29, 1915, he was married to Eva Busselman, a daughter of William Busselman, and they are the parents of a son, G. W. A., born on October 17. 1916.
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FREDERICK A. RICHARDSON. It is generally considered by those in the habit of superficial thinking that the history of so-called great men only is worthy of preservation and that little merit exists among the masses to call forth the praises of the historian or the appreci- ation of mankind. A greater mistake was never made. No man is great in all things and very few are great in many things. It is not a history of the lucky stroke which benefits humanity most, but the long study and effort which eventually result in a sure and permanent success. Among those in St. Louis county who have achieved suc- cess along steady lines of action is the subject of this sketch.
Frederick A. Richardson was born on January 11, 1893, in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and is the first in the order of birth of the nine children who blessed the union of W. J. and Josephine (Perrin) Rich- ardson, the former of whom was a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Frederick A. Richardson was educated in the country schools of Wisconsin and the public schools of Duluth, the family having moved to this city while he was still a lad. His first employment was as a water carrier at nine years of age. Shortly afterwards he went to work on his father's farm and spent three years there. He grew to manhood surrounded by those conditions which tend to develop indus- try, integrity and frugality. How well he has retained those lessons of his early training has been shown by his later life.
On leaving the home farm Mr. Richardson obtained employment as a messenger boy for the Western Union Telegraph Company, but two years later became a clerk in a railroad office in this city, where he remained for a time. Then for a year he worked as a clerk in the Western Union office in this city, being then transferred to the American District Telegraph Company, where for a year he served as night operator. From June, 1916, until 1918, he had charge of the day office for that company and in the latter year was appointed general manager of the American District Telegraph Company's office in Duluth. He severed his connection with the American Dis- trict Telegraph Company and is now associated with the Langdahl Tailoring Company, 18 North Twenty-first avenue, West, Duluth. Energy, good judgment and executive ability are the elements which have contributed to his success, and among his associates he is held in the sincerest regard, while he stands high in the esteem of the public who have had dealings with him.
On January 23, 1911, Mr. Richardson was married to Marie A. Fleckenstein, and they are the parents of a son, Frederick A., Jr. In his political views Mr. Richardson is independent, but he stands staunchly for all movements or enterprises having for their objects the advancement of the city along material, civic or moral lines.
MARSHALL H. ALWORTH, with two of the greatest industries of north- ern Minnesota, lumbering and mining, Marshall H. Alworth has been inti- mately associated for a period of nearly half a century. For the greater part of that time he has been a resident of Duluth and one of the men of enterprise who have liberally bestowed their public spirit and also a share of their business influence in the development of the community.
Mr. Alworth was born at Florence, Oneida county, New York, Octo- ber 26, 1846, a son of Nathan S. and Deborah (Wickwire) Alworth. His father, who died about 1856, was a railroad man and was engaged in construction work for the Erie Railroad at the time of his death.
Marshall H. Alworth had four sisters, but is now the only survivor of his generation of the family. Beginning life with a district school educa-
Hb. Alwarth
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tion acquired in western New York, he left home between the age of thir- teen and fourteen, and for many years had some of the "rough and tum- ble" experiences of life. For a time he worked on the Great Lakes, but eventually became a land and timber explorer, a work in which he achieved a high degree of expertness and skill, and which he followed for over twenty years.
About 1867 he began exploring in the timber lands of Michigan, Wis- consin, Mississippi and Minnesota, and after looking for timbers for others interested in investments finally secured a working interest and op- erated on capital of his own. It was about 1880 that he became financially interested in this industry, and during the past forty years he has held and developed large tracts of timber land, especially in the northern states.
Mr. Alworth first came to the city of Duluth in 1873. For several years he was employed under contract in exploring and locating Govern- ment land in Minnesota, Wisconsin and upper Michigan. Soon after he came to Duluth there occurred the memorable failure of Jay Cooke, ini- tiating the tremendous financial depression of 1873. There was no .dis- position on the part of moneyed interests to continue the contracts in which Mr. Alworth was interested. With what money he personally com- manded he looked over some in St. Louis county, but soon found his oc- cupation practically gone. That financial depression was a serious blow to the development of Duluth, which did not recover for several years.
Mr. Alworth returned to northern Minnesota in 1882, again as a land looker, but he was a purchaser of lands at the Government land sale, and later, in the 1893 sale at St. Cloud, he acquired further land holdings. Some of these lands were on the Mesaba Range. They had already shown indications of ore, and these indications led Mr. Alworth to believe that if the underground resources were properly explored a satisfactory com- mercial basis could be established. Thus he and his associates agreed not to sell the fee of the lands when the timber was removed, and that pre- caution was fully justified by the later outcome.
At first he gave options to explore, but found the work was not prop- erly done, and he and his associates then took the matter directly under their own supervision. Much of the land had been "test-pitted" and worked over from one to three times, but the 'new and thorough investi- gations proved good deposits of ore. On that basis was formed the Al- worth Mining and Development Company, an organization that was suc- cessfully continued for several years, as long as ore was found in paying quantities. The members of this company were J. L. Washburn, W. C. Agnew, W. H. Cole and Mr. Alworth. Finally they leased the lands and did not get more than two and a half cents a ton above what the option called for.
A number of other business enterprises have commanded the time and resources of Mr. Alworth. He became owner of considerable real estate in Duluth and took an interest in various industries to build up the town. Among properties which he owns is the Alworth Building, construction of which was begun September 12. 1909, and the building, completed, was turned over by the contractors May 1, 1910. He also owns the St. Regis Apartments and a few buildings in other parts of the city. During his career at Duluth he is said to have invested about half a million dollars in local manufacturing industries.
Mr. Alworth has no church membership but is a supporter of many charitable enterprises and organizations. He is a Republican in politics. He was married at Saginaw, Michigan, June 13, 1878, and of the seven children born to him and Mrs. Alworth two are now living. Marshall W.
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and Royal D. Alworth. The sons are actively associated with their father, Marshall looking after the mining properties and Royal after the real estate holdings.
JOHN R. MCGIFFERT. While he came to Duluth in 1892 to practice law, and made a name in that profession, John R. McGiffert is best known in the Northwest as one of the executive officials of the Clyde Iron Works, as an inventor and mechanical engineer and as patentee of a large list of devices, most of them used in the lumber industry and which have in some respects almost revolutionized certain logging and lumbering operations.
Mr. McGiffert was born at Hudson, New York, March 19, 1869, a son of John N. and Sarah (Carnahan) McGiffert, the former, a native of New York and the latter of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, James McGiffert, was born near Belfast, Ireland, in 1800 and came to New York in 1819. In the maternal line Mr. McGiffert represents some dis- tinguished American names. His maternal great-great-grandfather, John Carnahan, was commander of a Pennsylvania company in the Revolutionary war. The Carnahans were Scotch-Irish and settled in Pennsylvania during the eighteenth century. One of the Carnahans, James, was an early president of Princeton College. The grandfather. James McGiffert, was a grandson in the maternal line of Colonel Wil- liam Dinwiddie, whose brother was the Robert Dinwiddie, known to every American schoolboy as the Colonial Governor of Virginia.
John R. McGiffert was liberally educated, attending public schools and an academy in his native town, taking two years in Hamilton College. graduating in 1890 from Williams College in New York, and in 1892 receiving his law degree from the University of New York. Admitted to the bar the same year, he came to Duluth and opened his office and soon had a comfortable clientele as a lawyer.
While in school and during his law practice Mr. McGiffert found time to encourage his inventive genius and allowed it more or less full scope, though the first invention patented and turned to commercial use was the McGiffert Log Loader, which he first patented in 1901. During subsequent years he obtained more than twenty other patents covering different types of logging machinery.
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