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 40
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August 5, 1913, recorded the marriage of Mr. Dahl to Miss Margaret E. Kaus, of Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, and they have three children-David, Deborah and Mary.
PETER J. VAN VICK in early life was a cooper, later a cigar maker. then a manufacturer of cigar boxes, and through progressive stages has gradually extended and broadened his business and is now presi- dent of the Duluth Paper Box Company, manufacturing essential products in great demand and distributed throughout Duluth and the Northwestern territory.
Mr. Van Vick was born in Norway March 23, 1877. His parents, John and Cornelia Van Vick, brought their family to America in 1886, first settled in Minneapolis and later moved to Duluth. His father was a cooper by trade and followed that line in Minneapolis and also in Duluth until his death in 1896.
Peter J. Van Vick is the oldest of a family of two sons and two daughters, three of whom are still living. He was nine years of age when brought to America and finished his education in the public schools of Minneapolis. As a boy he worked with his father at the cooper business, and followed that trade for three years, until prac- tically mastering it. He then determined to find another vocation. and at Duluth established a cigar factory in the Manhattan Building and made some popular brands of cigars that enjoyed a steady demand. In 1896 he turned his attention to another line, though kindred to cigar making, the manufacture of cigar boxes. This business was known as the Minnesota Cigar Box Company, and was continued by Mr. Van Vick for sixteen years, with a shop at 118 West Michigan street.
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Finally Mr. Van Vick changed his business from the manufacture of containers for one line of articles to paper boxes and cartons fabricated to suit every demand and necessity of such standard con- tainers. The Duluth Paper Box Company has complete equipment for the manufacture of paper and cardboard and fiber containers, including fancy candy boxes. It is an important Duluth industry and located at 122 West Second street. Mr. Van Vick is a popular busi- ness man, is a member of the Masonic Order, also of the Order of Elks, the Rotary Club, and of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. He was married to Elizabeth Thennis, of Duluth, and their three children, all living, are Russell T., Cornelia R., and Roger F. Mrs. Van Vick passed away in 1914.
CARL R. JOHNSON, who under the title of the Johnson Supply Company, and as its president, has developed a remarkably large and prosperous business in the handling of furniture, household goods and talking-machines at Virginia, and over the Range, is still a young man but has the distinction of being the pioneer in the talking- machine business in Minnesota.
Mr. Johnson was born in Sweden on the 23d of May, 1879, and is a son of John L. and Maria (Anderson) Johnson, of whose five children all but one are living. The father was engaged in the man- ufacturing of flour in his native land. Carl R. Johnson acquired his early education in the schools of his native land, and he was a youth of seventeen years when he determined to join an older brother, Anton E., who had previously come to the United States. Accord- ingly, in April, 1896, Mr. Johnson severed home ties, and sailed for America. After landing in the port of New York city he forthwith continued his journey to Biwabik, St. Louis county, Minnesota, where he joined his brother, who was there engaged in the mercan. tile business. At the time of his arrival Mr. Johnson could not speak · a word of the English language, and his initial knowledge of English was gained during a service of seven months as a section hand on the Duluth, Missabe & Northern Railroad, in which connection he re- ceived a compensation: of one dollar and five cents a day. The self- reliance and ambitious purpose that thus marked his early period of residence in the land of his adoption have continued dominating characteristics and have been important forces in his advancement to the goal of substantial and worthy success. In the autumn of 1896 Mr. Johnson became a student in the public schools of Virginia, which was at that time a mere mining village, and in the three months of study here he greatly fortified himself in the knowledge of English, which he began to speak with comparative fluency. In the mean- while his brother had removed to Tower, this county, and after leaving school he clerked in his brother's store and about a year later clerked a few months in a store at Mountain Iron. Still later he became a traveling salesman in the selling of furniture and household goods. He gained diversified and valuable experience in this con- nection, and in the summer of 1898 formed a partnership with Hilmer A. Nelson, now general manager of the Gatley's stores and who had been in the employ of the same house. and engaged in the furniture and house-furnishing business in the city of Duluth. The firm built np a prosperous business, in connection with which it established branch stores at Eveleth and Hibbing. After the dissolution of the partnership in 1905 Mr. Johnson assumed control of the Hibbing and Eveleth stores. the business of which he concentrated at Eveleth by closing the store at
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Hibbing. In 1909 he centralized his business at Virginia, where he has since maintained his residence and headquarters and where he has achieved a success that is on a parity with his energy and progressive- ness and also with his unqualified personal popularity. From a news- paper article published in 1915 have been taken the following interesting statements :
"In a canvass of the state talking-machine authorities have discovered that the Johnson Supply Company of Virginia is the oldest talking-ma- chine firm in Minnesota. Nineteen years ago Carl R. Johnson, present manager of the company, and his former associate, H. A. Nelson, of Duluth, began selling talking-machines, and the company has continuously sold talking-machines ever since. Another remarkable incident is that hey have during all this time handled the Columbia line exclusively. Mr. Johnson can undoubtedly relate many experiences from the early history of the talking-machine business. He has seen it grow from almost noth- ing to one of the largest musical industries in the country."
Imbued to the fullest extent with the true American spirit, Mr. John- son has been a naturalized citizen since June 10, 1902-or since he was twenty-three years of age. In that year also his parents came to this coun- try, but both are now deceased. While a resident of Eveleth Mr. John- son served as a member of the city Board of Aldermen, and at Virginia he is now serving efficiently as chairman of the Board of Education, besides which he is a director on the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Public Library and is serving as secretary of this board. He is a charter member of the local Kiwanis Club, is a Republican in politics, and he is a communicant and officer of the Swedish Lutheran Church. During the nation's participation in the World war Mr. Johnson took an active part in support of the various Governmental loans and other Governmental agencies, and was an officer of the Virginia Motor Corps.
On the 9th of May, 1909, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Johnson to Miss Gertrude B. Baker, of Kiron, Iowa, and they became the parents of three children-William Norris, Norman and Robert Stanley. Mrs. Johnson passed to the life eternal on the 16th of June, 1920, secure in the affectionate regard of all who had come within the sphere of her gracious influence, and of the three sons the second, Norman, is likewise deceased.
MARK ELLIOTT. The varied phases of the industrial life of Mark El- liott, a prominent and successful citizen of Virginia, are deserving of more than passing notice, inasmuch as he has created for himself a more than ordinarily active position in this part of the state of Minnesota, being general superintendent of the Interstate Iron Company at Virginia.
Mr. Elliott was born at Galena, Illinois, April 1, 1865, a son of Thomas and Dorothy (Grindy ) Elliott, native of England. While yet a lad Thomas Elliott came to the United States, was married in this country, and for several years followed farming as a means of livelihood. In the fall of 1873 he and his family moved to Michigan, and he became engaged at mining in Negaunee, working for the Iron Cliffs Company, and in that place he spent the remainder of his life.
Mark Elliott is the second of five sons born to his parents, but two of whom are now living, and his early years were passed on his father s farm, where he assisted in agricultural operations. On his parents tak- ing up residence at Negaunee, Michigan, he attended the public schools until he was about fifteen years old, at this time starting out for him- self and working as a telegraph messenger for the Western Union Tele- graph Company. Later he learned telegraphy, and after he had become proficient along that line of activity he was located for a time at Cascade
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Junction. At the termination of that engagement Mr. Elliott attended Lake Forest Academy of Chicago, remaining in that institution for one year, at the end of that period taking over the duties of telegraph opera- tor and ticket agent at Negaunee, Michigan, for the Marquette, Houghton and Ontonagon Railroad Company.
The next three years were spent by Mr. Elliott in the law and insur- ance office of J. Q. Adams at Negaunee, after which he began working in a clerical capacity at Ishpeming for the P. & L. A. Iron Mining Com- pany, and continued in this line for three years. He then became chief clerk for the Volunteer Iron Company at Palmer, Michigan, remaining with this concern and its successors until 1904. For part of this time he looked after the fee interests of General R. A. Alger, and for fifteen months was superintendent for the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company.
In 1891 Mr. Elliott was elected a member of the Board of Super- visors of Marquette county, serving in this capacity for thirteen years without a break. In 1904 he was elected clerk of Marquette county, and as a tribute to his efficiency and popularity he was re-elected in 1906. He resigned the office after a few months of his second term had elapsed, and in March of the latter year moved to the Mesaba Range, taking over the duties of general superintendent of the Leetonia Mining Company and of the Interstate Iron Company. He is still engaged in administering the affairs of these companies, with headquarters at Virginia, and the scope of his work covers the following mines: Lincoln, Columbia, Grant, Nassau, Longyear, Leetonia, South Agnew, Mississippi, Hill Annex and Lind, bringing to the duties of this extensive field a ripe experience and sound judgment.
In 1890 Mr. Elliott was united in marriage to Miss Tillie Sporley, of Negaunee, Michigan, and they have become the parents of five children. namely: Warren, who died at the age of eighteen, Mark, Jr., Carolyn, Charles S. and Matilda. Mark, Jr., served in the naval department of the United States Government during the World war, but did not go abroad, his services being confined to various home stations.
Mr. Elliott is active in Masonic circles and is a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, the Knights Templar, and the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In his political affiliation he gives unstinted support to the Republican party and warmly espouses its policies. He and his wife take an active part in the social and cultural affairs of their home city, and the weight of their influence is ever thrown on the side of move- ments calculated to advance the best interests of Virginia.
OTTO F. HALSTROM, who in a business way has been associated with the Iron Range district for many years, is also prominent in civic affairs, and is president of the Aurora School Board and township clerk of White township. His home is at Aurora.
He was born near Rush City, on a farm in Chisago county, Minnesota, January 1, 1876, son of Carl and Brita (Lind) Halstrom, both natives of Sweden. His father, who was born in 1826, came to the United States in 1854 and was a Minnesota pioneer, prominent among the early Scan- dinavians in the state. His first settlement was at Red Wing, whence he went up the river to St. Paul, then to Taylors Falls and homesteaded land in the heavy timber at the present site of Center City. He lived there until the Civil war, when he enlisted and served a year in the Union army. After his military duty was performed he returned to his homestead at Center City, which he then sold and bought a farm in the woods near Rush City. He was industrious and capable, made a good living, pro- vided well for his family, and responded to all the obligations of good
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citizenship. He served many times as a member of local juries and was affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic and a member of the Swedish Lutheran Church. His first wife was Eva Johanson, and of her three children, one is Frank, an employe at the St. James Mine at Aurora. Brita Lind, the second wife of Carl Halstrom, is still living at the old homestead near Rush City, now past seventy years of age. She became the mother of ten children, and one of her daughters is Mrs. Minna Carl- son, a resident of Aurora.
Otto F. Halstrom secured his early education in a typical "old red schoolhouse" in the rural locality where he was reared. At school he excelled in mathematics, which stimulated his ambition to become a clerk. At the age of twenty he started his business career in a rural store. Later he worked in a clothing store at Duluth, and then in another farm store at Isanti, Minnesota. With this experience he came to the Range country and for five years was with the Carlson Mercantile Company at Hibbing, and then came to Aurora to take charge of the dry goods' department of the Aurora Mercantile Company. He continued with the same establishment after it was taken over by Mr. Talboys until 1918.
Mr. Halstrom has been township clerk since 1917 with the exception of the year 1919. He has been a member of the School Board for a similar length of time and is now chairman of the board and devotes much time and study to the improvement of the schools.
At Duluth Mr. Halstrom married Tina Fredin. They were school- mates at Rush City. Mrs. Halstrom died leaving two daughters, Gladys and Grace. Gladys is a graduate of the high school at Aurora and is now attending the State Normal School at Winona. Mr. Halstrom mar- ried for his present wife, Theresa Johnson, of Two Harbors, Minnesota. Fraternally he is affiliated with Biwabik Lodge of Masons, and with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World, Elks and Moose. Politically he casts an independent vote.
P. GEORGE HANSON is one of Duluth's older business men. Between thirty and forty years he has been identified with the city, formerly in banking, and for the most part with the real estate and insurance busi- ness.
Mr. Hanson was born in Norway March 23, 1858, and came to Amer- ica and located at Duluth in 1882. His first employment was as clerk in a general store. Later for five years he was on duty with the St. Louis County Bank, beginning as messenger boy, was promoted to bookkeeper, and on severing his connections from this bank engaged in the real estate and insurance business and for several years one of his sons, now deceas- ed, was associated with him under the name P. George Hanson & Son. That title is still retained, but another son, Frederick C., is now with him. The firm maintains offices at 1915 West Superior street, and does an extensive business in loans and insurance, in building management and in the handling of bonds and other securities. Mr. Hanson has been closely identified with the development of the West End of Duluth, and the citi- zens of that portion of the city regard him as one of their ablest and most substantial leaders and co-workers.
Mr. Hanson served as a city alderman from 1892 to 1899. He is a Republican in politics. November 25, 1882, at Duluth, he married Miss Johanne Erickson. They reared a family of seven children ; namely : Hartwick O. and Anna M., both deceased; Joseph R., a building con- tractor of Duluth ; Oscar, an electrical contractor of Duluth; Frederick C., an attorney and associated with his father ; Ruby B., bookkeeper for her father, and Muriel A., attending High School.
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Mr. Hanson is a member of the Commercial Club of Duluth and a member of the Methodist Church. He was one of the secretarys and is now vice president and director of the Duluth State Bank and one of its largest stockholders.
E. J. W. DONAHUE. Duluth and Saint Louis county enjoy a high rep- utation because of the high order of their citizenship, and none of their citizens occupies a more enviable position in the esteem of his fellows than the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. A residence in this locality of many years has given his fellows a full oppor- tunity to observe him in the various lines of activity in which he has engaged, and his present high standing is due solely to the honorable and upright course he has pursued. As a leading citizen of his com- munity he is eminently entitled to representation in a work of this charac- ter.
E. J. W. Donahue was born in Bismarck, North Dakota, on January 27, 1875, and is the only child born to his parents. His father, Edward Donahue, was a native of Illinois, who moved to North Dakota, where he made his home for a number of years. In 1910 he came to Duluth, but a short time later returned to Bismarck, where he spent the remain- der of his life, his death occurring in 1918. E. J. W. Donahue was educated in the public schools of Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and at the age of eighteen years became a stenographer in the offices of the North- ern Pacific Railroad, where he remained about three years. He after- ward was employed as chief clerk to the general manager and superinten- dent of the Montana Railroad, but about a year later resigned that posi- tion and became bookkeeper for a wholesale grocery house, where he was employed several years.
In 1909 Mr. Donahue, in association with others, began exploring in the Cuyuna Range, their investigations resulting in the opening of the Cuyuna, Mille Lacs Mine, the Cuyuna Duluth Ironton Mine, the Duluth Brainerd Mine, the Sultana Mine and others. Mr. Donahue served as president of the three first named corporations. On July 1, 1914, the Cuyuna Mille Lacs and Cuyuna Duluth Companies were consolidated with the Dunbar Furnace at Dunbar, Pennsylvania, under the name of the American Manganese Manufacturing Company, of which Mr. Dona- hue was secretary and manager of the western end until he resigned in May, 1915, in order to enter into other business on his own account. In 1916 he became associated with Alexander Mckenzie and A. B. Cook in the purchase of the east half of the southeast quarter of section 28, town - ship 47, of range 29, Crow Wing county, Minnesota, which was later improved as the Gloria Mining Company and the property opened for shipment. In addition to his ore interests Mr. Donahue has also devoted considerable attention to the oil business, operating properties in the shallow fields of Kentucky with success. He maintains offices in the Alworth Building, Duluth. A man of keen discernment and mature judgment, he has been an important factor in the development of the country contiguous to the Head of the Lakes, and because of his energy and perseverance he has gained a satisfactory measure of success.
On September 25, 1902, Mr. Donahue was married to Mary E. Burns. and to them was born two sons, James and Emmet, but the former died at the age of seven and one-half years. Emmet Donahue was born Dec- ember 5, 1906, and is now a student of the Cathedral High School.
Politically Mr. Donahue gives his support to the Republican party. while his religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks,
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the Knights of Columbus, the Royal Arcanum and of other organizations and clubs. He is also a member of the American Mining Congress and the Mining Institute. Although modest and unassuming, Mr. Donahue possesses a strong and vigorous personality, and in the best sense of the term is fitted as a leader of men and well fitted to manage important enterprises.
EDWARD C. A. JOHNSON, former mayor of Virginia and for many years practically engaged in many phases of civic development, of which the citizens feel justly proud, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, born there February 1, 1880, but has been a resident of this part of Minnesota for more than thirty years.
Mr. Johnson is a son of Johan O. and Christina M. (Sather) John- son, who immigrated to this country in 1891, among other reasons to give their children better opportunities than were available in the old country. Some few years prior to 1891 the father came on a tour of inspection to the United States, to look over the situation generally before bringing his family. Johan O. Johnson had been operating a bakery and confectionery store in Norway. He returned to that country in 1891, and on again coming to the United States, brought the entire family back with him to the United States, on arrival here going on out to Minnesota and locating at Duluth. He was employed for a time at the Scandinavian Bakery in the West End, but in 1892 moved to West Su- perior. Later on he lived and proved up on a homestead at Iron Junc- tion, but eventually moved to Virginia, where he now resides. The elder Mr. Johnson has never had any reason to look backward, having been successful in his undertakings from the very beginning.
Edward C. A. Johnson, when twelve years old, accompanied his parents from Norway. He learned the baker's trade while working with his father and continued thus engaged until the premises were burned out in the great fire of 1900. After that disaster had been overcome he started a bakery on his own account in Virginia, and has continued in the bakery business ever since, extending the scope of his trade with the passing years and now enjoying a large connection.
When a young man Mr. Johnson became interested in the work of the Virginia volunteer fire department and served as a volunteer through- out the disastrous fire of 1900, and at the age of twenty-two had become the chief of the Virginia fire department. He realized that after the serious losses involved by the general fires of 1900 Virginia was sorely in need of fire protection. This view created two factions. Mr. John- son, in view of his public worth as a citizen, was induced to run for the office of alderman in 1912. He had the singular experience of being nominated by one faction, endorsed by the opposing faction, and elected without opposition. He was subsequently re-elected to the same office for two succeeding terms. During his first term he was an earnest advo- cate of public paving, and he has never ceased being keenly interested in and an active supporter of all civic improvements. He was appointed on the commission that adopted the first charter, and upon its adoption was appointed a member of the first police and fire commission.
In 1918 the citizens of Virginia further honored Mr. Johnson by electing him mayor of the city, and he served the public in this repre- sentative capacity for two years-the period covered by the participation of the United States in the World war. During his administration the maintenance of order in a community largely composed of cosmopoli- tans occupied much of his time. A market place, which had been under consideration for many years, was established, enabling the producers
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and consumers to come into direct contact. Mayor Johnson took a very active and patriotic part in supporting all movements promoting war acti- vities, and he was vice president of the Virginia Defense League.
On January 15, 1904, Mr. Johnson was married to Cora Johnson, and they have five living children: Charles Edward, Janice Christina, Olivia Josephine, John Albert and George William. Two children died : Edward Robert and one unnamed. Mr. Johnson is an earnest member of the Lutheran Church and of the Masonic Order, the Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. As an Odd Fellow he has achieved distinction and served in 1913-14 as grand patriarch of the Grand Encampment of the state of Minnesota. In 1915 he was elected a representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge at San Francisco. Mr. Johnson enjoys the confidence of all classes of his fellow citizens, and he and his wife give of their time and abilities to the furtherance of all projects intended to advance the community welfare.
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