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 III > Part 10
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Clement M. Tramontin spent his boyhood days at Iron Mountain, Michigan, attended grade schools, and at the age of thirteen was learning the business and paying his way as clerk and general utility boy in a gen- eral store at Ely, Minnesota. The first nine months his wages amounted to his board only. After that he was given $10 a month and board, and by the time he had been with the business seven years his services were valued at $75 a month and board. When he first went there most of the customers upon whom he waited were Indians.
Mr. Tramontin moved to Chisholm in 1907, and was connected with the Jakse general store until the fire of September, 1908. After that destruction the business was resumed in a shack, and he continued with the firm about seven months longer. Then with his brother Louis and the Sartori brothers he opened a general store. The partnership was dissolved at the end of two and a half years, and Mr. Tramontin and his brother Louis then established themselves as merchants, operating a gro- cery and provision store, and still continue that as one of the leading retail concerns of Chisholm.
On February 8, 1911, Mr. Tramontin married Elisa Martinetti, of Soudan, Minnesota. She is of Italian parentage. They have three chil- dren : Frederick E., born February 26, 1912 ; Clementia M., born Novem- ber 23, 1913 ; and William F., born February 15, 1915.
While a hard working business man, Mr. Tramontin has given what time he could spare to civic duties. He was a member of committees and an active salesman during the Liberty Loan campaigns and served as a member of the Home Guard during the war. He is a director and second vice president of the Chamber of Commerce and served as village recorder of Chisholm in 1913, 1919 and 1920. He is affiliated with Lodge No.
Viramontier O.m.
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1334 of the Elks, with the local lodge of Owls, and is a member of the local Italian organization known as Christopher Columbus Lodge. Polit- ically he votes independently and is a member of the Catholic Church.
JAMES A. MACKILLICAN. A mining engineer and mine operator of wide experience whose work has brought him connections in many of the western mining fields, James A. MacKillican is a well known figure in mining circles at Hibbing, being superintendent of the Meriden Iron Com- pany and of the Mace Iron Mining Company.
He was born in Door County, Wisconsin, January 13, 1882, son of George D. and Mary (Foster) MacKillican. His parents were born in Ontario, Canada, came to the United States in 1876 and located in Door County, Wisconsin, where George McKillican was identified with the lumber industry. Later he moved to Escanaba in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where he died in 1890 and where his widow is still living.
James A. MacKillican was about seven years of age when his parents moved to Escanaba and a year later his father died. He managed to acquire a good education in the local schools, graduating from high school in 1903. During the remainder of that year and most of 1904 he was a student in the University of Michigan, and then entered the Michigan School of Mines at Houghton, where he graduated in 1906. Subsequent years were spent in a manner and in places calculated to give him the largest amount of experience and the widest training to supplement his technical education. For about four and a half years he was superinten- dent of a mine in Montana for the Michigan & Montana Development Company. For six months he was superintendent of the Comet Mine at Hailey, Idaho, and another six months were passed with the Utah Copper Company at Garfield, Utah.
After this experience in the far west he returned to Escanaba, where for about eighteen months he was city engineer, and in 1912 he came to Hibbing as assistant superintendent of the Meriden Iron Company. In 1917 he was promoted to superintendent of this company, and also was made superintendent of the Mace Iron Mining Company. His knowledge, executive ability and experience give him every qualification for handling the duties of these offices.
Mr. MacKillican is a vestryman of Christ Memorial Episcopal Church of Hibbing, is a Republican voter, a member of the Masonic fraternity and belongs to the Commercial Club and the Kiwanis Club. April 20, 1908, he married Miss Alfa Snyder, of Escanaba, Michigan. Their two daughters are Laura Jane and Mary Margaret.
EDWARD J. MORRISSEY. The growth and development of any com- munity is largely dependent upon the exertion of those men who devote themselves to the exploitation of real estate. Without their energy, vim and progressive ideas no locality will move out of the conventional rut, outside money will not be attracted to it, and property will be worth but little more as the years go by. With the advent of an enterprising, experi- enced man well versed in the realty business comes a growth that is remarkable. Many communities have proven this, and Buhl has been no exception to the rule, and one of the men who has so materially aided in its advancement is Edward J. Morrissey, one of the prominent realtors of St. Louis County and vice president of the Buhl State Bank.
Edward J. Morrissey was born at Toronto, Canada, February 5, 1873, a son of James and Harriet (Hargrave) Morrissey. James Morrissey was born at Queenstown, Ireland, in 1812, and lived to be eighty-six years old. After learning to be a mason he developed into a contractor in that line of construction work, and as such came to New York state and was
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naturalized. His wife was born in Ireland in 1832, and came to the United States when young. She, too, lived to an old age, dying when eighty-three years old. They had eight children born to them, of whom Edward J. Morrissey was the youngest.
Growing up at Pickering, Ontario, Canada, Edward J. Morrissey attended school until he was fourteen years old, when he was apprenticed to the brick-laying trade, and when he was seventeen went to the Buffalo Iron Works and a year later became a riveter. This firm sent him to Chicago, Illinois, to work as a riveter on the Fine Arts building for the World's Fair, and when he had completed that contract he went with McArthur Brothers, one of the largest contracting firms of that city, and was employed on the Drainage Canal construction work. In 1894 he went to Wisconsin and was with his brother for a short time, but then went into the woods and was a lumberjack for three years. It was then that he first came to Minnesota, and for a time was manager of Miles' Saloon at Hibbing, leaving that position to open a saloon of his own in that city. In April, 1916, Mr. Morrisesy came to Buhl and, buying the Stratford Hotel, operated it until March, 1918, when he remodeled his hotel, and with a group of men organized the Buhl State Bank, of which he is vice pres- ident. He is also largely interested in real estate, handling principally farm properties all over the state. He is at present the president of the village of Buhl, having succeeded himself in this office. Politically he is a stanch Republican. Fraternally he belongs to Hibbing Lodge No. 1022, B. P. O. E., and is a charter member of the Moose and Redmen of Hib- bing. He is a Catholic. During the great war he gave two years of his time to local war activities, and has several testimonial appreciations from the administration. Mr. Morrissey was a member of the Liberty Loan Committees, of the Legal Advisory Board, and helped to organize the American Loyalty League.
In 1896 he was married to Miss Effie Thomas, of Wisconsin, a mem- ber of an old English family, from whom he was legally separated. They had one son, Earl S., who was born in 1898. This son enlisted in the United States Navy for service during the great war, and was sent to the Great Lakes Training Station. He studied radio and finished his course in this at Harvard, following which he was sent to Cape Cod, Massa- chusetts, where he served until that station was dismantled, and is now a chief petty officer in charge of the radio station at Otter Cliff, Maine. In October, 1917, Mr. Morrissey was married to Miss Hilda Schwen, who was born at Mountain Iron, Minnesota. They have one son, Ed- ward J., Jr.
EDWARD C. CLOUTIER. Of all the organizations designed for the well- being of a community none can be of more importance than an effective police department, for its basic duty is the protection of life and property. It is a body with soldierly qualities, disciplined and trained, and pos- sesses the same courageous spirit that leads to the endangering of life in the performance of duty. Every community should take pride in its police, and in testimony thereto see that the chief of this necessary body be a man worthy of his high station, and, furthermore, give this chief adequate material and public-spirited support. One of the fortunate situ- ations in which Chisholm, Minnesota, finds itself is that in Edward C. Cloutier, its police chief, it has a public official who is trustworthy in every particular
Chief Cloutier was born November 5, 1885, at Somerset in Saint Croix County, Wisconsin, the youngest of a family of sixteen children. His parents were Damas and Delia (Vague) Cloutier, both of whom were of French ancestry but were born in Canada, the father in 1822 and the
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inother in 1837, their marriage taking place when the latter was but four- teen years old. Her death occurred in 1902 and that of the father in 1904. In early manhood he had been a sailor on the Great Lakes but later became a farmer in Saint Croix County, Wisconsin.
Edward C. Cloutier remained at home until he was sixteen years old, in the meantime attending school at Somerset and assisting on the home farm. He then went to Stillwater, and being strong and active had no difficulty in finding employment, although only a boy in years, in the lumber regions. For three winters he worked as a lumberjack in the woods, and for three summers rafted logs on the Saint Croix boom. Seemingly his chosen occupations were those that especially developed him physically and gave him the health and proportions that are often favor- ably commented on in his official position today. For three more years he worked as a lumberjack in the woods and in the harvest fields in the summers. His next move was to Duluth, Minnesota, where three winters were spent in the nearby lumber camps and during two of the summers he worked as a helper in a boiler shop. It was here that he became first identified with police duty, serving one summer as special patrolman on the docks. In April, 1908, Mr. Cloutier came to Chisholm and served for four and a half years as police officer for the Oliver Mining Com- pany. After retiring from that connection he was appointed a village patrolman, and in 1916 was promoted to a sergeantcy. He is now serving in his third consecutive term as chief of police.
Chief Cloutier was married July 2, 1912, to Miss Elizabeth Rice, of Ironwood, Michigan. They are members of the Roman Catholic Church. . He belongs to the Knights of Columbus and the Elks. During the great war he was a member of the Home Guard and was active on committees in all the patriotic movements.
ALFRED J. McALPIN. Ably filling an office that calls for personal courage, endurance, good judgment and executive ability, Alfred J. Mc- Alpin, chief of the Chisholm Fire Department, enjoys with the esteem and respect of his fellow citizens a large measure of their sincere ad- miration. The duties of fire chief are never light and the responsibility is always heavy. Under Chief McAlpin's administration the department has been brought to a high standard of excellence, the equipment has been kept instantly available and up to date, and the fire losses have been ma- terially reduced.
Alfred J. McAlpin was born January 6, 1883, at Maple Lake, Wright County, Minnesota, the sixth in a family of ten children born to James and Mary (McDonald) McAlpin. His father was born in Ireland, came to Canada when young, and in early manhood to the United States, where he was naturalized. He has been engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years. The mother of Chief McAlpin was of Irish parentage but was born in Canada. He had educational privileges in the public schools of Maple Lake until fifteen years old, after which for five years he gave his father assistance on the home farm.
In 1903 Mr. McAlpin went to North Dakota, where for a time he was clerk in a hotel, and afterward for about a year operated a grain elevator. Returning then to his home in Wright County, in partnership with a brother he leased and operated a farm for one year. Not being quite satisfied with his future prospects in the farming line, he then went to Minneapolis, in which city he was employed for a year by the Killgon- Peddler Dump Car Works. It was in 1907 that he came to Chisholm to work for the Shenango Furnace and Mining Company on a diamond drill, later going to Hibbing in the same capacity. Once more he returned home, but only for six months, when he went back to Hibbing and for
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two years afterward was a pipe man in the fire department there. In 1909 he again came to Chisholm, and served until 1912 as assistant chief of the fire department here. From 1912 to 1914 he was a patrolman in the police department, at the end of that time being appointed fire chief.
Chief McAlpin was married May 7, 1912, to Miss Mary Seeley, of Cass Lake, who was born at Park Rapids, Hubbard County, Minnesota. Her father was born in New York and her mother in Germany, the latter having been brought to the United States in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Alpin have three children: Russell J., Edith M. and Joseph L., aged respectively seven, four and two years. Chief McAlpin and wife are members of the Catholic Church, and he belongs to the order of Knights of Columbus, and additionally is a member of the Brotherhood of Amer- ican Yeoman and of Chisholm Lodge of Elks, No. 1334.
Otherwise than noted above, Chief McAlpin has been an active and useful citizen of Chisholm. During the entire period of the great war he was a member of the Home Guard body, and freely gave his services on patriotic committees in relation to the Savings Stamps and Liberty Loan drives. For three years he served on the Chisholm Board of Health, and in every way has cheerfully accepted even burdensome responsibilities that in his judgment pertain to the privilege of citizenship and add to the general welfare of the community.
JOHN F. FREDIN has been a resident and business man of Duluth forty years, and during the greater part of that time has been one of the build- ing mason contractors of Northern Minnesota. His name is held in the highest respect and there is an increasing appreciation of the substantial qualities of his work and of his character as well.
He was born in Sweden March 7, 1854. He grew up on the farm of his parents, acquired a common school education, and before leaving Sweden learned the art of masonry in stone and brick. He was about twenty-six years of age when he came to Duluth, and as an individual or as a contractor he has been identified with many of the most important construction enterprises in brick and stone since he came here. He and his organization laid the foundation for the Duluth Union Depot, and a number of the city's best school houses and other public buildings, in- cluding the Central High School. Mr. Fredin is a member of the Old Settlers Association of Duluth and has long been officially identified with the First Swedish Baptist church. He married at Duluth September 3, 1881, Anna Walldenspron, a native of Sweden. Three of their children died in early childhood. 'The seven to grow up were Allgott F., Conrad George, David Herbert, John F., Jr., Esther, Gertrude and Hedvick Vir- ginia. Mr. and Mrs. Fredin gave their children the best educational ad- vantages, and most of them are now well established in homes or occupa- tions of their own. John F. Jr., and Conrad both saw overseas service in the great World war, John in the infantry and Conrad with the en- gineers. Mrs. Fredin passed away on the 16th of May, 1919.
JOHN H. TRESIDER. Thirty years a resident of northern Minnesota, John H. Tresider has abundantly proved his fidelity, his capability and his talents as a factor in the life of the Iron Ranges and has long been one of the trusted and responsible men in the service of the Oliver Iron Mining Company. He is now master mechanic for that corporation in the Chisholm district.
He was born in Ontonagon County, Michigan, August 4, 1875, son of Joel and Susan (Rodgers) Tresider. His father and mother were both born in England. His father came to this country when a young man and for many years followed mining on the northern ranges.
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Youngest of three children, John H. Tresider spent his early life in Greenland, Michigan, where he attended the public schools through the eighth grade. He was only about twelve years of age when his father died, and that event threw him upon his own resources and he has been master of his fate and destiny ever since. About 1888 his widowed mother moved to Tower, Minnesota, and that brought Mr. Tresider to the Range district of northern Minnesota, and his first employment was with the concern that preceded the old Minnesota Iron Company in the capacity of a horse driver at a derrick hoisting ore in the South Lee Mine. Subsequently he had various other working positions, giving him a liveli- hood and presenting opportunities to acquire a broadly diversified knowl- edge of the iron mining industry. He was drill carrier, apprentice in a machine shop and learned the machinist's trade, and about 1900 was promoted machine shop foreman. In 1902 he was appointed master mechanic and in 1905 transferred as master mechanic of the Mountain Iron District. In 1910 came another transfer that was in fact a promo- tion when he was made master mechanic of the Canisteo District at Coleraine. From 1917 to 1920 he was superintendent of the Holman Mine at Taconite and since January 1, 1920, has been master mechanic of the Chisholm District.
Few men know the Mesaba Range more intimately than Mr. Tresider. While his years have been devoted to business, he found time while at Mountain Iron to serve about three years on the Village Council and while at Coleraine was township supervisor four years and for two years a member of the School Board. He is a Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. June 9, 1898, he married Anna McDonald, of Tower. Their three children are named Mae, Margaret and Arline.
ARTHUR R. FOLSOM. Of all of the professions the law, perhaps, requires the largest amount of study along generally uninteresting lines, for the physician is apt to become absorbed in scientific discovery at the beginning of his reading, while the minister starts out with a mind illum- ined and a heart atune. The hard facts of the law that have to be learned by themselves, and so learned that the understanding is quick- ened into a comprehension that may later be drawn upon before judge and jury, have very often discourged a student at the outset and have resulted in his turning to a much easier vocation. Therefore it may be easily seen that the successful lawyer must possess intellectual qualifica- tions, and his logical understanding, his keenness, his tenacity of purpose, and his unrivaled powers of application, all being necessary, must be de- veloped to their utmost. Arthur R. Folsom, whose position at the St. Louis County bar is unquestioned, is a man who has all of these qualities, and never ceases to stimulate them by reading and investigation.
Mr. Folsom was born at Lake Crystal, Minnesota, January 23, 1885, a son of Alfred and Mary S. (Rice) Folsom. Alfred Folsom was born in New York, April 22, 1845, and comes of an old American family, his forefathers having crossed from England to the American Colonies in 1648. His mother was the granddaughter of Ethan Allen. When he was sixteen years old Alfred Folsom enlisted in the Fifty-second New York Volunteer Infantry, and served throughout the war between the two sections of the country. He was wounded at the battle of Cold Harbor and was in the hospital as a result for ten months. Returning home he became a farmer after the close of the war. His wife was born at Potsdam, New York, October 22, 1856, and also came of an old American family. They were married in 1879 at Mankato, Minnesota, and became the parents of five children, of whom Arthur R. Folsom is the third in order of birth. His brother Rufus A. Folsom, who is next younger than
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he, enlisted for service during the great war, and died of influenza at Camp Lewis.
Arthur R. Folsom attended the grade school at Lake Crystal, and was graduated from its high school in 1904. He then entered the University of Minnesota, and was graduated from its law school in 1907, and was admitted to the Minnesota bar that same year. At school he was inter- ested in athletics, and he also belonged to Dillon Chapter of Phi Delta Phi, a legal fraternity, and of Gamma Tau, a chapter of Sigma Nu. Fol- lowing his admission to the bar Mr. Folsom entered the law office of Jaques & Hudson at Duluth, Minnesota, and remained with that firm for six months, leaving it to go with J. H. Morton, county attorney, and that association was maintained until January, 1909, when Mr. Folsom moved 10 Hibbing and opened an office of his own, but in June, 1910, left Hibbing for Buhl, where he has since remained, building up a large and remuner- ative practice. He has been active in local affairs, is a leader in the Re- publican party, and has been village attorney for four terms, attorney for the township of Great Scott six terms and attorney for the village of Kinney four terms. Mr. Folsom belongs to Buhl Lodge No. 1334, B. P. O. E., Buhl Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Buhl Lodge, L. O. M. The Meth- odist Episcopal Church holds his membership. During the great war he was prevented by circumstances over which he had no control from enroll- ing in an officers' training camp until the day before the armistice was signed.
On October 7, 1915, Mr. Folsom was married to Miss Martha E. Gil- christ, of Lake Crystal, whose ancestors date back to Colonial days in the history of this country. She died October 14, 1916, leaving one daughter, Martha G., who was born October 11, 1916. On April 16, 1921, Mr. Folsom married Hazel K. Bean, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. In his practice he is guided by intelligence and sustained and unwavering firm- ness of purpose, and he carries these qualities into everything he under- takes, and for this reason is so often called upon to accept of the respon- sibilities of public office.
EMANUEL T. GRIESE is one of the oldest experts in the service of the Oliver Iron Mining Company in the Iron Range district of northern Minnesota. For many years he has held the post of chief chemist with that company. He is an industrial expert, a highly trained scientist, comes of a family of professional people widely known at Cleveland and else- where, and is one of the invaluable citizens of Hibbing.
Mr. Griese was born at Cleveland, Ohio, November 11, 1862, son of Charles H. and Marie ( Hanson) Griese. Both parents were of Danish ancestry, his mother born in Denmark while his father was born in Ger- many. Charles H. Griese was born April 24, 1821, and his wife was born December 3, 1825. When about twenty years of age Charles H. Griese came to the United States and located at Cleveland, Ohio, where he ob- tained his naturalization papers. Five years later he returned to Europe and completed his education as an architect and builder at Hanover, Ger- many. His master work was completed at Copenhagen, Denmark, and he then resumed his residence at Cleveland, where for many years his work was conspicuous as an architect and builder and his name to this day is one of special distinction in that great Ohio city. For two years Charles H. Griese was a Union soldier during the Civil war. He died April 29, 1909, and his widow died on May 24, 1910. Of their nine children eight are still living, and they also had two adopted children.
Emanuel T. Griese, sixth in order of birth, was reared in Cleveland, and there and elsewhere acquired a liberal education and training for the service he has given in mature years. He graduated from the German
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Lutheran parochial school at Cleveland, spent four years in the Lutheran Seminary at Fort Wayne, Indiana, attended another Lutheran school, Northwestern University at Watertown, Wisconsin, two years, and for two years pursued special studies in chemistry and pharmacy at the University of Michigan. He was a student of chemistry and metallurgy for two years in the Ohio State University at Columbus, and then went abroad for two years, completing his scientific education in Germany, specializing in chemistry and metallurgy in the University of Berlin and Freiburg University
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