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 53
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Mr. Bayha is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Or- der of United Workmen, the Independent Order of Foresters and is a member of the Commercial Club and the Lutheran Church. By his first marriage he had four children, the two living being Fred, Jr., and George E. George had a period of service with the colors during the World
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war. Mr. Bayha by his second marriage has five children: William H., Lois, Robert L., Dorothy and M. F.
JOHN H. JEFFREY is a prominent citizen of Tower and is chief clerk of the Soudan Mine of the Oliver Mining Company. He has the distinction of having been continuously in the service of this greatest iron ore mining corporation of the world since 1888. This service makes him a pioneer of the Iron Range country and he is widely known all over northern Minnesota.
Mr. Jeffrey was born in the county of Cumberland, England, Sep- tember 1, 1864, son of John H. and Frances (Simpson) Jeffrey. When he was about thirteen years of age the family came to America. John H. Jeffrey was also a practical mining man and for a time was em- ployed in the Central Mine of Keweenaw County, Michigan, later moved to Ishpeming in that state, and died when about fifty-five years of age. His wife passed away in 1900, at the age of seventy-three. John H. Jeffrey was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was a member of the Methodist Church.
Of his three children John H. Jeffrey, Jr., is the only survivor. He attended school before coming to America and finished his education in an excellent grade school conducted at the Central Mine in Michigan. When he was sixteen he accepted employment in the mine office at Ishpeming, being a bookkeeper for several years. Mr. Jeffrey came to Tower in 1888, and had successive service with the Oliver Mining Com- pany as timekeeper, warehouseman, surface boss and since 1901 has been chief clerk of the Soudan Mine.
he was about thirteen years of age the family came to America. John
While he has given close and faithful attention to his business du- ties for many years, Mr. Jeffrey has aided at every possible point the welfare and progress of his community. He was a member of the School Board for twenty years and was chairman when the new school house was built. He is independent in politics, is a member of the Episcopal Church, for twenty years has been secretary of Vermillion Lodge of thirty years and is present mayor of Ely, practically grew up in the cop- Masons, and is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
In 1891 Mr. Jeffrey married Matilda Brown, daughter of John Brown, of Ontonagon, Michigan. They have three children : Roy F., an employe of the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad; Edith, a teacher in the Gilbert schools, and Owen T., who is employed at the Fayal Mine at Eveleth.
HENRY CHINN, who has been a resident of northern Minnesota for thirty years and is present mayor of Ely, practically grew up in the cop- per mining district of northern Michigan, and has been identified with some phase of mining operations in Michigan and Minnesota since early boyhood.
Mr. Chinn, who is widely known over the Iron Ranges, was born in the town of Central in the copper district of Michigan November 25, 1866. His parents, James and Mary (Carter ) Chinn, came from Cornwall, England, to America in 1864. James Chinn had been em- ployed in the tin mines of southwestern England, and after coming to America he lived out his life at Central, Michigan, where he was identi- fied with the copper mines. He died in February, 1914, at the age of seventy-two, and his wife passed away in 1910, at the same age. They were active Methodists, and James Chinn was a Republican and a Knight of Pythias.
Of the eight children of his parents Henry Chinn was the seventh in age. The public schools of his native town of Central gave him his early advantages, but at the age of fourteen he was doing regular duty as
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waterboy to the gangs who manned the drilling machines in the mines. For some seven or eight years he was employed in underground work at the mines and acquired a practical and technical familiarity with all phases of mining operations. He finally left the mines to get an edu- cation that would equip him for further advancement and progress, and during 1889-90 he attended the Cleary Business College at Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Mr. Chinn came to the Minnesota Ranges and has been a citizen of Ely since August, 1890. During the first seven years he was supply clerk and then chief clerk for seven years for the Chandler Mining Company. With the organization of the United States Steel Corpora- tion Mr. Chinn was assigned important duties in charge of Fee owners' interests, and in that capacity has been connected with the Iron Range country ever since.
His record as a good citizen is hardly less important than his pro- gressive achievements in business. For two terms he was alderman of Ely and in 1920 was elected mayor. His administration has been characterized by a careful and economic handling of municipal affairs, and by special efforts to raise the standard of public morals through the elimination of questionable resorts.
Mr. Chinn for the past six years has also been an active and inter- ested member of the Ely School Board. He is a member of the Old Set- tlers' Association, is an independent Republican, is a trustee of the Meth- odist Church, and fraternally is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen. In 1892 he married Miss Kate Ivey, daugh- ter of William Ivey. They have two sons, Clarence and Harold. Harold was registered and in readiness for soldier duty when the armistice was signed.
R. RAY KREIS. Without the efforts of the real estate men of any community it would be impossible for it to attain to any prominence, for its growth and development are largely dependent upon their exertions. Without their energy, vim and progressive ideas no locality will move out of the conventional routine; outside money will not be attracted to it, and property will be worth little more year by year. With the advent of an enterprising, experienced man well versed in the realty business comes a growth that is remarkable, and so it is that the work of the realtor is counted as being among the most important factors in the life of any city. Hibbing is no exception to this general rule, and its progress has been greatly enhanced through the operations and public- spirit of the realty firm of Wring & Kreis, of whom R. Ray Kreis is the junior member, and a man of prominence in St. Louis County.
R. Ray Kreis is a native of Minnesota, having been born at Monti- cello February 28, 1878, a son of Robert and Sadie ( Wellcome) Kreis. They were born in Maryland and Wisconsin, respectively, and Robert Kreis was a son of Henry Kreis, who was one of the pioneers of Min- nesota, having come to the state and settled at the trading post of St. Anthony, since developed into the city of Minneapolis. From that point Henry Kreis went to what is now Monticello, but his arrival in that locality antedated the birth of the now flourishing little city. He followed farming until Monticello began its existence, and he then moved with the progress of the times and became a merchant, opening a hardware store and conducting it for twenty years. Later he moved to California, but returned to Monticello, which continued to be his home the remainder of his life. Robert Kreis was but a small boy when his parents came to Minnesota, so he was reared in this state. The greater
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part of his life has been spent in merchandising. He and his wife now reside at Los Angeles, California.
R. Ray Kreis had his early rearing at Monticello and there he at- tended the graded and high schools, and was graduated from the North- western Pharmacy College with the class of 1900, following which he was engaged in the drug business at Monticello, Minnesota, for five years. For the subsequent four years he was in the drug business at Duluth, Minnesota, and then in 1907 came to Hibbing, and until February, 1920, continued in the drug business. In March, 1920, he formed his present connections, and is now engaged in a real estate business, spe- cializing in South Hibbing property.
In August, 1902, Mr. Kreis was united in marriage with Miss Laura Mae Fuller of Monticello, Minnesota, and to them four children have been born, namely: Don, Marjorie, Bertram and Cora Patricia. Mr. Kreis is a Republican, and he has been a member of the School Board of the Independent School District No. 27 since August, 1919, and a member of the Village Council since March, 1920. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Commercial Club. A man of broad vision and open mind, he has been able to see the possibilities of his new line of business and is already making his influence felt in real estate circles, just as he has in civic matters, for he is a man of strong personality and able to ac- complish what he undertakes.
EMIL T. SANDBERG, mayor of Aurora, and generally and affection- ately known as Smalley, is a native of the Vermillion Range and has been one of the hard working, energetic and public spirited citizens of this section of northern Minnesota, earning promotion in his private business interests and contributing an exceptional service in public af- fairs and in many offices of trust and responsibility.
Mr. Sandberg was born at Soudan on the Vermillion Range Decem- ber 1, 1885, son of Charles and Eureka Sandberg. His parents were na- tives of Sweden. On coming to America they first located in Vermont and from there moved to the Iron Range country in 1880. His father was an explorer in northern Minnesota and later established his family there. They were among the first permanent settlers of Soudan and are still living in that town. Charles Sandberg is now serving his sixth year on the Board of Supervisors of Brighton township.
One of the youngest in a large family of children, Emil T. Sandberg finished his school days in Soudan at the age of seventeen. He immedi- ately went to work with a steam shovel outfit in the employ of the Oliver Iron Mining Company at Ely and Sparta. At the age of nine- teen he was proprietor of a confectionery store at Ely. Three years later he moved to Aurora and continued in the confectionery business three years.
Mr. Sandberg served two years as township treasurer, from 1911 to 1913, and since then has been a supervisor of White township and for two years was chairman of the board. He was first elected mayor of Aurora in 1916, and has been at the head of the municipal government for five successive years. For seven years he was a member of the School Board, two years of that time being chairman of the board. He was chief of the fire department thirteen years and has never failed to respond to the extent of his abilities to every call for public duty, whether in times of peace or in war. The material and civic progress of Aurora has been deeply impressed by his sound counsel and judgment. In 1917 he was a candidate for nomination for county commissioner. The
E. ]. Sandberg
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contest resulted in a tie vote and he and his rival drew straws for the nomination, Mr. Sandberg getting the short one.
Fraternally he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, Elks, Mystic Workers, Yeomen, Moose and Modern Brotherhood of America. He and his family are members of the Peoples Church at Virginia. June 9, 1906, he married Miss Clara Rye of Ely. Their two children are Evelyn and Romeo.
P. M. SHAW, JR. Duluth's veteran lumberman, P. M. Shaw, Jr., was for many years closely identified with the lumber industry of northern Minnesota and northern Michigan, and in recent years has extended his operations to the Pacific Coast and to the South Atlantic states.
He was born in Clinton County, New York, June 23, 1863, and when he was six years of age his parents moved to Saginaw, Michigan, where he grew up in the heart of the Michigan lumber industry. He acquired an education in the public schools, and at the age of thirteen was working as a tally boy for a lumber company. Successively reached the position of inspector, and later began the shipping of lumber, the phase of the industry with which he has been especially identified through all the subse- quent years. From Saginaw he came west to Duluth in 1890, and on December 6, 1890, opened a local office for C. II. Bradley, having active charge of the business for three years. He then began operating with his own capital, with offices on the third floor of the Lyman Building. During his career at Duluth he has shipped out approximately 2750 million feet of lumber. Mr. Shaw is now heavily interested in the Moor Land & Lumber Company, with extensive mills in Georgia, and has other important interests in Great Lakes vessels and cargo shipping on the Pacific.
On July 11, 1899, he married Miss Zillah Eaton. They have one daughter, Phyllis, born August 25, 1903, now completing her education in Mount Vernon Seminary at Washington, D. C.
EDWARD F. BURG. The Burgs were among the first families to locate at Duluth, and have been residents of the city for more than half a century. Edward F. Burg is a son of the pioneer, and has had a long and active business career. He is head of E. F. Burg Company, hotel and billiard supplies and soda fountain supplies, a line of business in which he has been engaged for a number of years and in which he is the leader in this section of the northwest.
Mr. Burg was born at Rockland, Michigan, November 24, 1865. His father, Herman Burg, was nine years of age when he came to America from his native Germany, and in 1852 located in Illinois, later moved to Michigan, worked in the copper mines of that state until 1865, then lived at West Superior, Wisconsin, until 1868, and in the latter year moved to Duluth, then a frontier village at the Head of the Lakes. Herman Burg was the pioneer dealer in livestock and retail meats in Duluth. All his cattle were driven overland from St. Paul, and merchandise had to be hauled by ox teams. He continued in the butchering business until 1885, when he retired. He died February 2, 1907, after having lived at Duluth nearly forty years. He took great pride in the growth of the city, was very public spirited, and a man who commanded the esteem of all classes. For two terms he was a city alderman. He was the father of five children, three of whom are still living, Edward F. being the second in age.
Edward F. Burg acquired his early education in the schools of Duluth, also attended a commercial college at St. Paul, and at the age of eighteen left home to see the world for himself. He traveled both east and west, over North Dakota and Colorado, went to Nova Scotia, but his experi-
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ence there convinced him that the people were a hundred years behind the times and he soon afterward returned to Minneapolis and took up the business of bottling soft drinks. He finally moved his business to Duluth, and since 1906 has been in the business of handling supplies for hotels and billiard halls, and his place of business is at 20 West First street.
Mr. Burg is a member of the Shrine of the Masonic Order, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Good Samaritans. He is also an Elk, a member of the Duluth Commercial Club and the Boat Club, is a Repub- lican voter and a member of the Congregational Church. In 1890 he married Miss Sarah Lloyd, a daughter of Joseph Lloyd of Duluth. They have one son, Edward L., who was educated in the public schools of Duluth and in the University of Minnesota.
LESLIE W. PHILLIPS is a native of Duluth, and was one of many active minded and energetic boys who were led by their fascination for automobile mechanics into the automobile business as a permanent career. Mr. Phillips now has a splendid business at Ely, where he is agent for the Studebaker, Kissel and Overland cars.
He was born in Duluth July 16, 1893, son of Cory M. and Sarah Phillips. His father is a veteran railroad man and is now connected with the freight department of the Northern Pacific at West Duluth.
Leslie W. Phillips was educated in the public schools of his native city, and at the age of sixteen went to work as a repair man for auto- mobiles with a Duluth garage. He knows all the intricacies of motor mechanism and automobiles both inside and out, and that knowledge has stood him in good stead as a salesman and dealer in cars. From 1911 to 1913 he was in the automobile business with his father at Duluth. They sold the Michigan motor car.
On coming to Ely Mr. Phillips acquired the automobile business of P. T. Brownell, and has developed an extensive sale of the three standard cars he represents and has done much to organize and popularize the service in this district. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
In 1913 he married Miss Hazel Iola Miller. Her mother, Mrs. Sarah Miller, is a resident of Duluth. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips are Margaret, Leslie W., Jr., and Lola.
WILLIAM G. PRYOR, cashier of the First State Bank of Tower, is a progressive young banker whose experience since he left school has been in banking circles. While a young man, he is one of the oldest native sons of the Tower community, where his family were pioneers in this famous mining section.
Mr. Pryor was born at Soudan March 22, 1886, son of Joseph C. and Alice (Smith) Pryor. His parents were members of the second company of families to locate at Soudan, reaching there in April, 1884. Alice Smith is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Smith, who are still living at Eveleth, the former eighty-eight years of age and one of the veteran inining men of the Range district, having been connected with mines both at Tower and Biwabik. Joseph C. Pryor was born in Cornwall, England, while his wife was a native of Ishpeming, Michigan. He has long been identified with mining activities on the Range. He is now sixty-two and his wife fifty. He is a member of the Good Templars, a Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Joseph C. Pryor and wife had five children: William G .; Anthony D., connected with the Cleveland-Cliff Mining Company ; Dulcie V., wife of Hugh G. Engstrom ; Percival, a railroad man living at Hibbing ; and Murdock G., at home.
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William G. Pryor secured his early education in the public schools at Tower, Soudan and Eveleth, his parents being still residents of Eveleth. At the age of seventeen he went to work with the First National Bank of Eveleth, and quickly familiarized himself with his duties, was appointed bookkeeper, then assistant cashier, and in July, 1913, was called to the First State Bank of Tower as cashier, an office he has filled with complete proficiency and has been instrumental in increasing the prestige of this banking institution of the Range country.
August 8, 1912, Mr. Pryor married Hazel Nancarrow, daughter of Henry Nancarrow, of Eveleth. They have two children, Betty and William Glenwood. Mr. and Mrs. Pryor are members of the Episcopal Church. He is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge at Tower and also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
CHARLES EUGENE EVERETT is the probation officer of St. Louis County with jurisdiction over the Range districts. It is a position involving an important routine of duties, but to that routine Mr. Everett has given a vitality of function that has resulted in beneficial benefits that go directly to the heart of the moral and educational development of the entire community.
Mr. Everett was born on a farm in Martin County, Minnesota, May 24, 1874, a son of Charles Edwin and Lucretia N. (Chapman) Everett. His parents were born in Franklin County, Maine, and the Everetts are a family of Irish ancestry. Charles Edwin Everett went west with his family and farmed for a time in Allamakee County, Iowa, and in 1869 moved to Martin County, Minnesota. His was one of the first six families to settle in Manyasha township in that county. A practical farmer, he also achieved prominence because of his sterling worth and ability demonstrated by service in several county offices. His last years were spent at Hibbing.
On the home farm in his native county Charles Eugene Everett grew to manhood, acquired a public school education and a business college course, and as early as May, 1902, came to Hibbing and with others was engaged in the lumber business for three years. For five years following he was employed in farming in his native county, and for two years lived near Stillwater. The failing health of his father led to his return to Hibbing, and up to 1909 he was bookkeeper and clerk for Johnson Brothers. When the new City Hall was completed he was appointed secretary of the police department, and it was his efficient record in that position that brought him appointment as assistant county probation officer in July, 1912. In 1913 was enacted a new law providing two probation officers for St. Louis County, and since then Mr. Everett has been county probation officer with jurisdiction over the Mesaba and Ver- million Ranges, and with offices at Hibbing and Virginia. Since then he has given practically all his time to his official duties, and has made the interests and welfare of the children of the Iron Ranges the matter closest to his heart. For years he has been a force in behalf of liquor prohibition, and during the World war was active in promoting Liberty loan and Red Cross drives. Unable to enlist himself because of his age, he never- theless volunteered and was accepted as a member of the Home Guard. For his various patriotic services he was granted a medal cast from a captured German cannon by the Government. He was elected and is now serving as a member of Independent School District No. 27 in Hibbing. Through his efforts was inaugurated the $2,500.000 school building ( for college or high school) under construction in South Hib- bing, which will be the largest in the United States.
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Mr. Everett is a Methodist, is affiliated with the Masonic Order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On April 26, 1898, he married Josephine Louise Loomer. They have two children, Lyle Chapman, born April 21, 1902, and Leaette Wilhelmina, born August 11, 1913. ,
MARTIN HOLTERUD is one of the veteran business men of Duluth, and has been identified with the painting and decorating trade and business throughout practically his entire lifetime. Though for many years he was a journeyman, in recent years he has been an active partner in the firm of John Hogan & Company, representing one of the most com- plete and adequate organizations for the handling of all classes of paint- ing and decorating work in Duluth.
Mr. Holterud was born in Norway March 23, 1863. He was reared and educated and learned his trade in Norway, and in 1883, at the age of twenty, came to America. For a time he followed house painting at Pelican Rapids, later at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and in 1887, a third of a century ago, came to Duluth. He continued working at his trade as an individual and journeyman until 1900, when he became associated with Mr. John Hogan and established the firm of John Hogan & Company, painters and decorators. This firm now maintains a complete organiza- tion of expert men and extensive capital and facilities for handling decorating and house painting contracts. Most of their time is devoted to fine residence work and interior decoration of business buildings.
Mr. Holterud is affiliated with the Modern Samaritans, the Sons of Norway and the Order of Woodmen, and in politics is a Democrat. On September 22, 1888, at Duluth, he married Miss M. Larsen. Nine chil- dren were born to their union, but only three are now living: Mabel, Mrs. J. M. Carlson ; Alfrica, milliner ; and Roy, an electrician.
ARTHUR HANFORD is a native son of Duluth and one of its prominent business men, secretary and treasurer of the Hanford Construction Com- pany.
The active head of this business for a number of years was the late Heber H. Hanford, his father. The Hanfords are descended from a in Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1699. Later the family moved to New York, and there were representatives of the name among the soldiers of the Revolutionary war. Arthur Hanford in the maternal line has as an ancestor, Admiral Hopkins, the first admiral in the United States Navy. Heber H. Hanford was a son of Harry Hanford, native of New York state, who in early life moved to Norwalk, Ohio, and followed the busi- ness of cabinet maker. Heber H. Hanford was born in New York state, spent many years in the lumber industry in northern Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and first came to Duluth in 1881. From 1893 to 1908 he was in the real estate business, and in the latter year organized the Han- ford Construction Company, which was incorporated with himself as president, his wife as vice president, and his son Arthur as secretary and treasurer. Heber Hanford died February 23, 1914. He was interested in many enterprises in Duluth and elsewhere. He married Miss Sarah Graves Osborn, a native of Ohio.
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