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 41
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JOSEPH CHRISTOPHERSON, a well-known citizen of Virginia, descended on both sides of the house from Swedish families, has been a resident of the Range country for more than a decade and for ten years his home has been in Virginia, where he practices his profession of optometry.
Mr. Christopherson was born at Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 8, 1879. When he was four years old he was taken by his parents, Olaf and Sarah Christopherson, to Dassel, Minnesota, and he was reared in that place and there he received his early education. Both his parents were natives of Sweden and came separately to the United States, the father arriving in 1869, and after living for a time in Minneapolis they moved to Dassel, this state.
Joseph Christopherson is one of four children-three of whom are now living-born to his father's first marriage. When about fifteen years old he moved to South Dakota and worked on a farm, receiving remun- eration at the rate of eight dollars a month. He spent four seasons engaged at farm work, and then returned to Dassel, where he served an apprenticeship of four years to acquiring a knowledge of the drug business, later taking up special studies in pharmacy. When he had com- pleted these studies he became manager of a drug business at Dassel, where he remained until 1910. In the meantime he had decided to try a new line and took up the study of optometry, passed the state board examination, qualified, and in April, 1910, began the practice of optometry at Hibbing. However, in the fall of that year he moved to Virginia and resumed his practice as an optometrist, in the intervening years steadily adding to his clientele and firmly establishing a reputation in his profes- sion. He has added the office of director of the Farmers and Merchants State Bank to his other activities.
August 25, 1910, Mr. Christopherson was united in marriage to Miss Esther Hane, of St. Paul, Minnesota, and they have become the parents of four children: Ralph, Janet, Joseph, Jr., III, and Richard. Mr. Christopherson is a member of the Charter Commission, a member of the Rotary Club, and his religious affiliation is with the Lutheran Church. He took an active part in the promotion of the various bond drives and other American movements during the World war, rendering much practical help to the work. He is a strong believer in the future pros- perity of Virginia and is ever on the alert to "boost" the community in which he has made his adopted home.
CHARLES A. PERSONS, proprietor of the Johnson Hardware Company of 1928 West Superior street, has achieved a successful place as a mer-
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chant from comparatively small and humble beginnings. He had the ability to work hard and consecutively, possessed ambition, good judg- ment, and twenty odd years have been sufficient for the achievement of a commendable record.
Mr. Persons was born in Sweden December 23, 1881, and was about four years of age when in 1885 he came to this country with his parents, G. C. and Mary (Anderson) Persons. His father established his home in Duluth and continued to follow his trade as a carpenter until his death in 1898. All the three children are still living, Charles A. being the second in age.
Mr. Persons graduated from the Lincoln grade school at Duluth in 1895, and continued his education in the Duluth High School until 1897. In the meantime he had learned much of practical business, having car- ried a paper route for seven years and during vacations worked as water boy for the contracting firm of Fredin & Wilson. In 1897, on leaving high school, he entered the great Duluth mercantile house of Marshall & Wells, and acquired a thorough commercial training with that estab- lishment. Eighteen years later, in 1915, he employed his modest capital to enter the retail hardware business at Barnum, and in 1918 returned to Duluth and bought out the Johnson Hardware Company on West Superior street. He has a highly satisfactory patronage and business and keeps his store well stocked with heavy and shelf hardware, builders' hardware, roofing and paper, paints and automobile supplies.
Mr. Persons is also well known in civic and social life, being a mem- ber of the Duluth Builders Exchange, the Alpha-Omega Club, the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, and is a member of the First Swedish Bap- tist Church. Politically he votes as an independent. On April 26, 1911, he married Miss Ellen Renstrom, of Duluth. Their four children are Virginia, born September 23, 1912, June, born June 30, 1916, and Charles and Robert, twins, born April 15. 1918.
CAPTAIN SAMUEL RICKARD, captain of the Mohawk Mine near Aurora, is one of the most widely experienced and traveled mining men on the Minnesota Range. He has mined various metals from tin to gold in nearly all the celebrated mining districts of the Globe, from South Africa to the Pacific Coast. He has been well and favorably known and has found important responsibilities as a miner and mining official on the Range for the past fifteen years.
Captain Rickard was born in Camborne, Cornwall, England, October 18, 1881, son of James and Mary Jane (Champion) Rickard, of Corn- wall. By virtue of his environment, a Cornishman is almost born to a career as a miner. James Rickard was a veteran miner in Cornwall, and on his first trip to the United States he mined copper at Copper Falls and in the old Central Mines. Later he came again to America, and he worked in the copper and gold mines in many sections of the United States. He finally returned to England and lived there until his death in 1908, at the age of sixty-five. His wife never came to the United States, though six of her sons took up their residence in this country.
Samuel Rickard had the advantages of the schools of Cornwall, and at the age of fourteen went into the tin mines of that country, working with his father. Not long afterward he came to the United States and was employed in the old Kearsarge Mines at Calumet, Michigan. Later experiences as a miner took him to Utah, Montana, British Columbia, and in 1901, just after the close of the Boer war, he went to South Africa and helped work some of the gold mines of the Transvaal. Leav- ing that country, he again came to the United States and in 1905 located
Joseph. G. Vilm
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permanently on the Range. He was on the Vermillion Range under Captain Tom Williams, later in the Elba Mines and for the Republic Iron and Steel Company at Gilbert, was transferred to the Monica Mines at Biwabik, then became shift boss at the Mohawk Mine, was employed in a similar capacity by Pickands, Mather & Company at the Belgrade Mine, and since 1915 has been on duty as captain of the Mohawk Mine.
Captain Rickard married Miss Grace Dunstan, February 4, 1901. She is a daughter of John and Eliza Dunstan, and she grew up in the same town in Cornwall as her husband. They have four children, named Sam- uel G., Gwendoline, Vera Dunstan and Albert Ernest. The family are Methodists in religion and Captain Rickard is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Eveleth and Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Biwabik, while in politics he votes as a Republican.
JOSEPH C. HELM. Long continued and substantial associations with Duluth business affairs, an intelligent and public spirited participation in public life, have brought Joseph C. Helm a place of honor and dignity in the community, and he is, in fact, one of Duluth's best known citizens.
A native of Minnesota, he was born at Monticello, April 24, 1865, son of Meredith and Nettie H. (Hill) Helm. His remote paternal ances- tors were French. His father, who was born at Logansport, Indiana. spent his active life as a merchant, having a general store in Monticello, Minnesota, and later one at Nunda, Illinois. He was a thoroughgoing and enterprising business man, and died at Monticello in 1878. He was the father of two children, Joseph C. and a daughter who died at the age of eighteen months.
Joseph C. Helm was only thirteen years old when his father died, and not long afterward he had to make his own work his dependence for self support. After completing his education in public schools he was employ- ed on a farm three years, worked in a wholesale pickle factory at Chi- cago for about a year, followed that with clerking in a store at Ridge- field, Illinois, another year, and for about eight months was again in Chi- cago, employed in a wholesale house.
This was the preparation and experience which he brought with him when he came to Duluth in March, 1886. At Duluth Mr. Helm took up the real estate business on his own account and conducted one of the general busy real estate agencies of the city for about twelve years. He also became interested in local politics, and was elected and served as a city alderman in 1892-93. The City Council appointed him county commissioner. an office he held during 1894-95. From 1905 until 1912 Mr. Helm was in the brokerage business. For two and a half years he kept books for the firm of French & Bassett, and in February. 1915. was appointed supervisor of assessments by the Board of County Com- missioners, and has held that position of public responsibility ever since.
Mr. Helm is a former president of the West End Commercial Club. He is affiliated with Ionic Lodge No. 186. A. F. and A. M., and is also a member of the Scottish Rite bodies and the Mystic Shrine.
In May, 1889, at Duluth, he married Miss Kate B. Swanstrom. daughter of E. G. Swanstrom, long a prominent merchant and business man of Duluth and at one time receiver of the Land Office. Mrs. Helm was educated in the public schools of Duluth. To their marriage were born two children, Viola B. on April 29, 1891, now the wife of Mr. Sid- ney Morterud, of Duluth, and Meredith E. Helm, born January 24, 1893.
The son. Dr. M. E. Helm, was educated at Duluth, graduated from the Duluth Central High School, is a graduate of Northwestern Uni- versity of Chicago, and is now in the active practice of dentistry at Duluth.
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Soon after America entered the war with Germany he enlisted in the Dental Reserve Corps, was called into active service September 13, 1917, and for about eight months was a dental officer with the rank of first lieutenant at Camp Funston, Kansas. He left Camp Funston May 22. 1918, for overseas, accompanying the 355th Infantry of the 89th Divi- sion landing in England and afterwards going to France. He was with his command throughout the war and came home with it. He was on sion, landing in England and afterward going to France. He was with duty during the St. Mihiel Drive and the battle of the Argonne, and after the signing of the Armistice accompanied the 89th Division to Ger- many with the Army of Occupation. While in Germany he was pro- moted to the rank of captain. Dr. Helm returned home June 22, 1919.
ABEL E. PERSON. In the building of the fine homes of Duluth one of the firms that has performed the largest aggregate of service has been Berglund, Peterson & Person, and the strength of that organization has been greatly amplified during Abel E. Person's membership in the partnership.
Mr. Person, who has spent his life in the wood working trades, was born in Sweden October 8, 1879, and came to this country along in 1903. He was reared and educated and learned his trade in his native land. On locating at Duluth he followed cabinet making for six years, and then became a foreman in the factory of the Woodruff Lumber Com- pany, where he remained nine years. He left that to go into business for himself as a partner in the firm of Berglund, Peterson & Person.
Mr. Person is independent in casting his vote, is a member of the Modern Samaritans, Trinity Lodge of Masons and the Duluth Glee Club, being a man of musical tastes and accomplishments. December 19, 1908, he married Miss Anna Peterson, who came from Sweden three years after his immigration. Five children were born to their marriage, the three now living being Grace Wilhelmina, born in 1912, Dagner Char- lotte, born in 1916, and Mary Jane, born in 1919.
ROLAND W. ESTERLY. Duluth is proud of its "One Big Store Only" for watches, diamonds and jewelry, at 410 West Superior street, a busi- ness that has been built up and developed by Roland W. Esterly, a man of expert knowledge in the jewelry trade and well and familiarly known throughout northern Minnesota.
Mr. Esterly was born at Minneapolis July 20, 1885, son of William and Emma (Hyers) Esterly. His father, now retired from business, is living at the age of eighty years. The early ancestry of the family came from Germany.
Roland W. Esterly is the youngest of twelve children, and acquired a: public school education at Minneapolis. At the age of fourteen he was employed as clerk in a grocery store in that city, and later learned the decorating and paper hanging trade with C. H. Andrews, acquiring a proficiency that made him one of the recognized experts in the busi- ness in that city.
He left Minneapolis to come to Duluth and go to work in the jewelry business for his brother, E. Esterly. He became an expert salesman both outside and inside, and while the logging and lumbering industry was still in its high tide in northern Minnesota he visited all the impor- tant camps and sold watches to the laborers, thus developing an immense trade for his brother's establishment. For five years he traveled in this way all over Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. Using his limited capital and his wide experience, he then entered business for himself, and
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for a time operated two stores, but on March 19, 1918, consolidated the two stores into the "One Big Store Only" at 410 West Superior street. This store carries a complete line of watches, imported dia- monds and high class jewelry and is also headquarters for many of the curios found at the Head of the Lakes.
Mr. Esterly has seen his business steadily increase, and in 1919 the aggregate volume was approximately sixty thousand dollars. He is a Republican, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Duluth Boat Club, Automobile Club, and a number of other social organizations. Since coming to Duluth he has built two beautiful residences, his present home being a modern bungalow at 4731 Robinson street.
March 16, 1911, at Duluth, he married Miss Helen Sullivan, a wom- an of fine culture and education, educated in public and normal schools, and a successful teacher before her marriage. They have one son, George Wendell, born September 1, 1914.
FREDERICK C. TALBOYS was one of the pioneer merchants of the Range country, going there nearly thirty years ago. He had the distinction of establishing the first store at Chisholm and also the first at Eveleth. He is now actively identified with a business of great magnitude at Aurora, a complete department store, one of the largest and most lib- erally patronized in that section of the Range.
Mr. Talboys, who acquired a thorough mercantile training while a boy, was born at Osceola, Wisconsin, September 29, 1856, son of Wil- liam A. and Mary Ann Talboys. His father was an Englishman, an early settler in Wisconsin, was in business as a merchant at Osceola and for many years served as county treasurer, taking an active part in Republican politics. From Wisconsin he moved his family to St. Paul and finally to Chisholm on the Range. He was a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church and a Mason, and died at the age of eighty-six, his wife being eighty-seven at her death. Their family consisted of three sons and one daughter. The daughter is Mrs. Adelaide Wood, who for- merly lived at Chisholm and is now a resident of Bisbee, Arizona. The son W. E. Talboys, now deceased, was formerly an editor at Chisholm.
Frederick C. Talboys was reared at Osceola, acquired a grammar school education there, and later supplemented this with a busi- ness course at St. Paul. As a boy he gained familiarity with mer- chandising in his father's store at Osceola, and at the age of twenty- three was proprietor of a country store. He sold this business in 1886 and for seven years was in the wood and coal business at St. Paul.
Leaving St. Paul, Mr. Talboys came to the Range in 1893. That was a panic year and he was then at the lowest ebb of his financial resources, being in debt some six or seven thousand dollars. Many years ago he was able to pay off his obligations, and his abilities have kept him moving ahead to higher stages of progress nearly every year. Mr. Talboys in his mercantile experience has conducted stores in Virginia, Chisholm, Eveleth, Sparta and part of the time two stores. In 1911 he bought the stock of goods of the Aurora Mercantile Company, and with George Schuhmehl as a partner has developed a large department store. carrying a complete line of household furnishing goods, dry goods and clothing, meats and groceries, and everything to meet the demands of town and country trade.
In 1876 Mr. Talboys married Miss Henrietta Hanscomb. They have two sons and two daughters: Arthur W., associated with his father in business ; Henry H., who is with the Ingersoll Rand Company in the zinc belt at Joplin, Missouri ; Mrs. Edward Hatch and Mrs. E. J. Banks, both residents of Eveleth.
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The Talboys family are Methodists, and Mr. Talboys has served as steward and trustee of the church. He holds membership in the Masonic fraternity at Duluth and in politics is a Republican. During his long residence in the Range country he has witnessed all the important changes and transformations, and as a citizen has lent his influence at every pos- sible point for betterment and progress.
JOHN D. LAMONT, a prominent and prosperous civil and mining engineer, and otherwise identified with the progressive movements of Virginia, has been on the Mesaba Range for about thirty years. He was born at Lake Linden, Michigan, February 22, 1870. His father, Neil Lamont, was a native of Scotland, immigrated to Canada in the early '60s, and there settled on a tract of land which he cleared and put into cultivation.
Neil Lamont married Hughina McPhail, who, as well as her hus- band, was born on the Island of Mull-made famous by Robert Louis Stevenson in "Kidnapped"-on the southeast coast of Scotland.
John D. Lamont lived at Lake Linden, Michigan, until he was about twenty-one years old. After he had graduated from the high school at that place he entered the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor and studied civil engineering for two years. At the close of his university course he came to Virginia and entered the offices of C. E. Bailey, a noted mining engineer of that period.
In 1903 Mr. Lamont became vice president of the Cole & McDonald Exploration Company, and has been connected with the same company ever since. This concern has drilled for practically every mining com- pany that has been operating on the Range in all the intervening years. Mr. Lamont, apart from his mining activities, has been interested in many other projects of local import. For some six years he was a mem- ber of the Library Board and served on the board when the present library building was erected. When the city took over the water and light utilities, to be operated for the benefit of the citizens, he became a member of this board, on which he has served for eight years and of which he is now the chairman, and under his guidance the utilities have developed to the advantage of the whole of the people. He also holds a seat on the Board of Directors of the American Exchange National Bank.
Mr. Lamont gives his political support to the Republican party and is a stanch adherent of its policies and principles. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club and of the Masonic Order, in the affairs of both of which he takes a warm interest. In September, 1901, he was married to Mrs. Grace Wilcox. Mr. Lamont is regarded as an enlightened and trust- worthy citizen of Virginia, and in all matters pertaining to the public welfare his advice is sought and freely given. During the World war he was one of the most active supporters with time and money the gov- ernment had in this part of the state.
CLYDE WETMORE KELLY, architect, has been performing some of the capable work in his profession at Duluth and vicinity for the past fifteen years. He has designed many public buildings, and his work speaks for itself and fully justifies the high reputation he has won in his profession.
Mr. Kelly was born December 2, 1880, at Chicago. His father, Charles Herbert Kelly, soon afterward moved his family to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he died in 1884. The younger of two children, Clyde W. Kelly attended the public schools of St. Paul, and acquired his pre- liminary knowledge of architecture while in Washington, District of Columbia, as a draftsman in the office of the supervising architect of the
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Clyde willelly
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treasury department. While working there during the day he attended night courses in architecture at George Washington University. On leaving Washington he was employed for a year in the architectural department of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and in 1905 returned west, spending five months in Winnipeg and then coming to Duluth. Here for a year or so he was in the service of other architects, includ- ing John Wagenstine and the firm of German & Lignell. In 1907 he began practice for himself, and afterward was associated with Mr. Lig- nell, later with O. J. Williams, and since January, 1917, his partner has been Thomas J. Shefchik, under the name Kelly & Shefchik. To a large degree Mr. Kelly's work as an architect has been on public or semi- public structures. He and his firm have designed many schools and other public buildings. One of the most conspicuous of the large school buildings designed by the firm is the Morgan Park School.
Mr. Kelly has been a member of the Naval Militia for seventeen years and practically at the beginning of the World war, on April 7, 1918, was called to duty and was in service until December 16, 1919. During most of the war he had command of the U. S. S. Massachusetts. He holds a license as master of any gross tons steam vessel, upon the waters of any ocean.
Mr. Kelly is a member of the college fraternity Delta Tau Delta, is a 32 degree Mason and a member of Aad Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Elks, a charter member of the Rotary Club, belongs to the Duluth Commercial Club and is a member of the Board of Governors of Ridge View Golf Club. In politics he is a Republican.
HENRY C. DOERR is one of the young bankers of the Range country, cashier of the First National Bank of Aurora. He entered banking as vacation work, finding in it opportunities for advancement and service that satisfied him to make a permanent career.
Mr. Doerr was born in Two Harbors, Minnesota, January 4, 1890, son of Henry C. and Dolena ( Mckay) Doerr, the former a native of Philadelphia and the latter of Canada. They were married in Marquette, Michigan. Henry C. Doerr, Sr., when a young man entered the service of the Duluth & Iron Range Railroad, has been continuously with that company for thirty-five years and is now general foreman of the air brake department. The parents are both active Presbyterians, the father is a Republican and a member of the Masonic Order. They have three living sons: Fred W., a student in the University of Minnesota ; H. H., cashier of the First State Bank of Duluth; and Henry C.
Henry C. Doerr graduated from the Two Harbors High School in 1908. At that time he had his plans fully arranged to continue his edu- cation in the State University. Before the opening of the fall term he went to work in the Commerce State Bank of Two Harbors, and did so well that the officials induced him to remain. Four years later he became assistant cashier of the First State Bank of Two Harbors, and when the First National Bank was organized at Aurora he went there as cashier, a post of duty that gives him exceptionally broad opportunities for banking service in that community.
October 1, 1914, Mr. Doerr married Gretchen Rothfus, daughter of C. T. Rothfus of Two Harbors. They have one daughter. Marjorie. Mr. Doerr is a Knight Templar York Rite Mason and Shriner and is now taking the Scottish Rite degrees. He is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in politics is a Republican.
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NELS ANDERSON has legitimate claims to much of pioneer distinction in the mining regions of northern Michigan and northern Minnesota, and thus there is special satisfaction in according to him merited recognition in this publication. He has played a large and influential part in the civic and material development and progress of his home city of Vir- ginia, has been in the most distinct sense the architect of his own fortunes, and is a strong and worthy citizen who commands unqualified popular respect and good will. He was born in Sweden March 17, 1860, a son of Andrew and Marie Anderson, who passed their entire lives in their native land. Their children were seven in number.
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