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 39
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
Thirteen years ago Mr. Peacha married Miss May Childs. They have three children, William, Mary Ann and Elizabeth.
1192
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
H. H. BORGEN. The gentleman whose name heads this paragraph is widely known as one of the enterprising business men of Duluth, where he has lived for a score of years and has been identified with its commercial interests. His well directed efforts in the practical affairs of life, has capable management of his business interests and his sound judgment have brought him commensurate rewards for the labor he has expended and today he honors and is honored by the community in which he lives.
H. H. Borgen was born on the 21st day of March, 1862, in Norway, and is a son of Mr. and Mrs. B. M. Borgen, the former of whom died in 1885. H. H. Borgen is the first born of the three children which blessed the union of his parents. He remained in his native land until twenty-five years of age, when, in 1887, he came to the United States to make his future home. He first located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he obtained employment as a salesman with the Nelson Tenny Lumber Company, with whom he remained for eight years. He then began to work for the Twin City Paint Company as cashier and sales- man, serving with them for three years. In 1900 he came to Duluth and engaged in the paint and hardware business under the name of the Northwestern Paint and Hardware Company, and from the beginning he has enjoyed a remarkable success, being now numbered among the leaders in his line in Duluth. He deals in paints, oils, varnishes, brushes and wall paper, and also handles builders' hardware, tools, etc., his store at No. 323 West First street being well stocked with a full line of these and kindred lines. At the time Mr. Borgen located where he now is there were but few retail stores in that section, but he has witnessed a wonderful development of that part of the city.
Politically he gives his support to the Republican party, while his religious faith is that of the First Lutheran Church, to which he belongs. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Sons of Norway, the Modern Samaritans, and the Blue Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. He is a member of the Duluth Boat Club and the Retail Merchants Association.
On September 4, 1895, Mr. Borgen was married to Anna Hoegh, who was born in Norway, coming to the United States alone in 1894. To Mr. and Mrs. Borgen have been born four children, namely: Thor- stein, born March 21, 1899; Gudvein, born March 14, 1900; Herbert, born April 21, 1902; and Roy, born November 21, 1910. Thorstein was a student in the Duluth public schools, being in the high school when the United States entered the great World war. He promptly enlisted in the Navy, and on April 7, 1917, was sent to Philadelphia. He was assigned to the battleship division of the Navy and remained in active service until receiving his discharge on February 4, 1919. Gudvein, who completed her studies in the Duluth public schools, is at home. Her- bert, after leaving the public schools, became a student in Waldruff Col- lege at Forest City, Iowa. Roy is attending the Duluth public schools. The success which has come to Mr. Borgen is directly traceable to the salient points in his character, for he started in life at the bottom of the ladder, which he mounted unaided. With a mind capable of plan- ning, he combined a will strong enough to execute his well formulated purposes, and his energy, sound judgment, keen discrimination and per- severance have resulted in the splendid prosperity which he now enjoys.
EMANUEL W. COONS. Soon after the working of the first iron ore deposits on the Mesaba Range Emanuel W. Coons came into the region, went into business as a merchant at Virginia, but for the greater part
1193
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
of twenty years has been actively identified with the mining industry and with contracting. For the past eighteen years as a contractor he has handled many of the large municipal improvements in Hibbing and vicinity.
Mr. Coons was born at Marshall, Illinois, February 22, 1867, a son of George H. and Emma (Brossman) Coons. His father came from a long line of American ancestry and the mother was of Pennsylvania Dutch stock. George H. Coons spent his early life as a farmer, but for several years past has been engaged in the contracting and drainage business, his home being at Washington, Indiana.
One of four children. Emanuel W. Coons was reared on a farm, had a district school education and lived in Illinois until he was twenty- three years of age. In the fall of 1890 he went to Crystal Falls. Michi- gan, where he took up carpentering, his first work being on the Court House of Iron County. Then, in February, 1893, he came to the Mesaba Range in St. Louis County, Minnesota, locating at Virginia, and in March opened a stock of furniture. His business was burned out in June, but he reestablished himself and continued until 1897, when he sold. In February, 1898, Mr. Coons began firing a steam shovel for the stripping firm of the Drake & Stratton Company at the Biwabik Mine at Biwabik. He was in the service of this corporation for four- teen years, but in a rising scale of responsibility, eventually becoming superintendent.
Since 1912 Mr. Coons has made his home at Hibbing and has em- ployed his capital and increasing organization in general contracting under the firm name of the E. W. Coons Company. This firm put down all the pavements in the village of Hibbing, constructed the present res- ervoir and water system, and does a large business over St. Louis County.
Mr. Coons is a Republican voter and member of the Catholic Church. July 5, 1893, he married Amanda Thouin. Their one daughter is Phyllis Margaret. Mr. Coons is deeply interested in public affairs, and has held some official places, serving as deputy county coroner under Dr. J. J. Ecklund and as deputy county clerk under John Owens. He was exalted ruler of his Lodge of Elks in 1919 and is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Algonquin Club.
HARRY P. LEE. The splendid success that has attended his business enterprise in the city of Duluth has fully justified the confidence and good judgment displayed by Mr. Lee when he here established, in 1900, the first cash-and-carry meat market of the city. Excellent service to a discriminating and appreciative patronage has been the secure basis on which the substantial and prosperous business has been built up, and incidentally Mr. Lee has gained place as one of the progressive business men and loyal and public-spirited citizens of the fair metropolis at the Head of Lake Superior.
Harry P. Lee was born in Ireland, September 27, 1866, and is a son of John and Ellen Lee. In his career in the United States he has proved himself a master of expedients and has won success through his own energy and well directed efforts. He acquired the major part of his early education in the schools of Minneapolis, Minnesota, where the family home was established upon immigration to this country from the fair old Emerald Isle, and later he completed a course of study in Upper Iowa University at Fayette, Iowa, where he continued his studies until 1889. Mr. Lee gained in his youth a thorough knowledge of the vari- ous details of the meat-market business and became an expert at his
1194
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
trade. Prior to coming to Duluth he had conducted markets at Lawler and Oelwein, Iowa, and in 1900, as previously noted, he came to Duluth and opened the first cash-and-carry market. His large and well equipped market is established at 205 West First street, with the best of modern facilities and service, and here he has developed a business that has attained to as high an annual aggregate as $250,000. This statement bears its own significance as attesting the unqualified success that has attended the well conducted enterprise.
Mr. Lee is a valued member of the Duluth Commercial Club, is independent in politics and gives his support to men and measures meet- ing the approval of his judgment, and he and his family are communi- cants of the Catholic Church.
At Lawler, Iowa, on the 26th of May, 1891, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Lee to Miss Mary E. Gurnette, daughter of Thomas and Johanna Gurnette, the father having given gallant service as a soldier of the Union in the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have three children : Cletus H., Andrew J. and Harma M. The two sons were gallant young men who represented Duluth in the nation's service in the World war, Cletus H. having been in the marine aviation service and Andrew J. in that of the field artillery. Both of the sons saw five months of service in France.
THOMAS A. FLANNIGAN, general superintendent of the Republic Iron and Steel Company, is one of the best-known men in his calling in north- ern Minnesota, and a commanding figure at Gilbert. He was born at Ishpeming, Michigan, April 19, 1881, a son of Thomas A. and Johanna (Fogarty) Flannigan. The elder Thomas A. Flannigan was born in Ireland in 1831, but came to the United States when he was eighteen years of age, and immediately became identified with mining operations. He was one of the pioneers in the Lake Superior country. His wife was born in Ireland but came to the United States when young, and they were married at Ishpeming, Michigan. They had nine children, of whom the younger Thomas A. Flannigan was the sixth in order of birth.
Growing up at Ishpeming. Thomas A. Flannigan attended its public schools and was graduated from its high school course in 1898. Dur- ing 1899 and 1900 he attended the Detroit Business College and then became private secretary to Captain Walters of the Pittsburgh and Lake Angeline Iron Company, and held that position during 1900 and 1901. Mr. Flannigan then went to Virginia, Minnesota, and became cashier of the Jones and Laughlin Steel Company, and was at the Lincoln Mine as such for four years. In 1906 he began his connection with the Repub- lic Iron and Steel Company as superintendent of the Onandago Mine at Virginia, and after four years in this position was transferred to Gilbert, in 1910, and made superintendent of the Schley and Pettit Mines. Further promotion was accorded in 1911 when he was made superin- tendent of the Mesaba Range Mines of this same company, and is still holding that position.
A man of great force of character, Mr. Flannigan has directed some of his energy to civic affairs, and served Gilbert for two years as village trustee so efficiently that he was re-elected for a term of three years. He has been supervisor of Mesabi Mountain township for eleven years and is now chairman of the county board. He belongs to Virginia Lodge No. 1003, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Duluth Council. Knights of Columbus, and in religious belief is a Catholic. Politically he is a Republican. During the great war Mr. Flannigan was a member of the Home Guards, and served as chairman of several of the local commit-
1
Mor. a Flannigane-
1195
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
tees, having in charge the promotion of the various drives, and he was also a member of the executive committee of the Local Council of Defense.
On June 26, 1917, Mr. Flannigan was married to Miss Foryst Hurt at Des Moines, Iowa. She was born at Neuman, a daughter of Doctor Hurt, and is a member of an old American family. Mr. and Mrs. Flan- nigan have one son, Thomas A., who was born April 9, 1918.
DANIEL B. HAYES. The thriving village of Hibbing made wise and consistent selection when the municipal authorities advanced Daniel B. Hayes to the office of chief of the police department upon the death of the former incumbent, W. J. Dwyer. Chief Hayes had already made an excellent record as a member of the police force of this village, with which he became identified in the year 1912. His effective service led to his promotion to the position of sergeant, and his advancement to the office of chief of police came on the 6th of December, 1920.
Mr. Hayes was born at Negaunee, Michigan, August 20, 1880, and is a son of James and Mary (Harding) Hayes, both natives of Ireland, where the former was born in County Tipperary and the latter in County Limerick, both having been young folk when they came to America and their marriage having been solemnized in northern Michigan. James Hayes gained a measure of pioneer prestige in connection with mining operations on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and he is still living, at the age of seventy-eight years (1921), his devoted wife having passed . to the life eternal on the 5th of March, 1916. The religious faith of the family has ever been that of the Catholic Church. Of eight children, Daniel B., of this review, was the sixth in order of birth.
Hibbing's chief of police gained his early education in parochial and public schools in his native city, attending school until fifteen years of age, and for five years he lived in Ironwood, another of the vital min- ing cities of northern Michigan. He became a locomotive engineer in the employ of the Oliver Mining Company, and in the service of the same company he later became foreman at the Hull-Rust Mine in the Hibbing district of Minnesota. In 1912 he severed his association with the mining company and became a member of the Hibbing police force. in which his efficient and discriminating service, as coupled with his personal popularity, eventually led to his being chosen chief of the department, the office in which he is now giving a most able and satis- factory administration.
Chief Hayes is independent in politics, is interested in all that con- cerns the welfare and advancement of his home village, and is one of the valued officials of Hibbing. Both he and his wife are earnest com- municants of the Catholic Church.
In the year 1917 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hayes to Miss Ethel Summers, of Ligonier, Indiana, and they have two children, Cath- erine Eileen and Daniel Leo.
EDMUND I. CASEY has been identified in a business way with and has had his residence in the Range country of northern Minnesota for thirty years. He is an old time merchant of Chisholm, and was in busi- ness there when the town was destroyed by fire in 1908. He is presi- dent of the C. P. Drug Company, an organization operating a chain of drug stores in several of the Range towns.
Mr. Casey was born in Livingston County, New York, May 25, 1865, son of John Powell and Alida (Burr) Casey. His people were Colonial settlers, lived for several generations at Providence, Rhode Island, and
1196
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
members of the family have been represented in the various wars of the nation. For the most part they have been agriculturists.
When Edmund I. Casey was ten years of age his parents moved to Minneapolis and he grew up and lived in that city to the age of twenty- five. His father was employed in the flouring mills as a wheat inspector. Mr. Casey had a grammar school education and as a boy entered employ- ment in the line which he has followed ever since. He learned the drug business in a wholesale house at Minneapolis, and for about six years was connected with a wholesale drug company at Duluth. It was in 1890 that he came to the Iron Range district as manager of a drug store at Hibbing, one of the first enterprises of that community. In 1906 he became associated with J. J. Hayes in the drug business at Chisholm, and since then has gradually extended his enterprise until the C. P. Drug Company, of which he is president, now has stores at Hibbing, Virginia and Chisholm. Mr. Casey is a director of the Chisholm Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Kiwanis Club, is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner, and a member of the Elks. He is a Methodist. In 1892 he married Emma Johnson, a native of Minnesota. The three children born to their marriage are Roy E., Ruth M. and Anna E. The son Roy as a member of the National Guard served with Company M on the Mexican border, and when America entered the war with Germany he attended the Officers Training School at Fort Snelling, was commissioned a second lieutenant in Field Artil- lery, but was kept in this country for training purposes.
HIRAM S. RANKIN holds a university degree as mechanical engineer and for over ten years has been engaged in engineering work on the Mesaba Range, and since 1916 has been superintendent of the Webb Mine owned by the Shenango Furnace Company.
Mr. Rankin was born at Flint, Michigan, October 5, 1886, only son and child of George H. and Jennie (Smith) Rankin. His father has given many years of his life to railroading and steamboating, and is now anditor for the Pere Marquette line of steamers.
When Hiram S. Rankin was two years of age his parents moved to Milwaukee and he grew up in that city, graduating from the East Divi- sion High School in 1905. He then entered the University of Wisconsin, specializing in the mechanical engineering course, and was graduated in 1909. He at once came to northern Minnesota and was made an engineer for the Oliver Iron Mining Company in the Chisholm district. In 1912 he became mine inspector for the Shenango Furnace Company and four years later was promoted to superintendent of the Webb Mine in the Hibbing district. Mr. Rankin is one of the many high-class tech- nical men on the Mesaba Range, and is also one of the influential citi- zens of Hibbing.
He is a member of the Engineers Club of Northern Minnesota and has taken fourteen degrees in Scottish Rite Masonry. July 2. 1912, he married Marjorie Thompson, of Minneapolis. Their four children are George T., Marion, Harriet J. and Betty Ruth.
WILLIAM J. DWYER, late chief of police of the Village of Hibbing, had enjoyed since early manhood a career of action, incident and expe- rience largely in the great northwestern country. He was born at Minne- apolis, Minnesota, December 12, 1859, son of John and Bridget (Ryan) Dwyer. His parents were both born in Ireland and came to the United States during the fifties. Both the father and mother lived to the same age and each lacked only four months of attaining their ninety-sixth
TILDE
1197
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
birthday. One of seven children, William J. Dwyer grew up in Minne- apolis, attended public schools there, and as a youth gained experiences that brought him a long and continuous connection with some phase of the lumber industry. For years he was a shingle sawyer in an old water power mill in his native city' and later was employed by the lumber firm of Powers & Dwyer, the junior member of which was his brother. During the winter term he kept books for the firm in the woods and in the summers had charge of all the firm's horses.
This was Mr. Dwyer's work in the main until 1900, when he came to Hibbing. Years previously he had traveled over the country and had passed and repassed the site of Hibbing before any effort had been made to plant a village there. For a number of years after coming to Hibbing Mr. Dwyer was in charge of the lumber yard of Powers & Simpson. The office was on the ground now occupied by the present wooden Oliver Hotel. Later for two years he was employed by the Cash Commission Company, and for seven years operated the lumber yard of Peter McHardy.
In 1912 Mr. Dwyer became desk sergeant of the police department and three years later, in 1915, was given well deserved promotion to the responsibilities of chief of police, which position he held at the time of his death, November 30, 1920. He was a member of the Catholic Church and affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. April 17, 1884, Mr. Dwyer married Catherine Hogan, of Allamakee County, Iowa. Ten children were born to their marriage: William, deceased; John, George, William, Lillian, Frank, Anthony, also deceased; Eugene, Harry and Agnes. Two of the sons were with the colors during the World war. John was in Company I of the 21st Engineers. He saw duty at the fighting front in St. Mihiel and the Argonne Forest and received an honorable discharge at the close of the war. The son George also volunteered and was employed in the Spruce Division of the Northwest, helping get out material for aero- plane construction.
WILLIAM PEARSON. During a long period extending over practi- cally four decades the name Pearson has been synonymous with the building industry in Duluth and St. Louis County. William Pearson is the son of a former building contractor of Duluth, and his work for a number of years has identified him with Ely and that section of the Range country.
William Pearson was born at Duluth May 17, 1885, son of Harry and Elizabeth (Fawcett) Pearson. His parents were born in Liverpool, England. His father died at Duluth December 23, 1916, at the age of sixty-two, and the mother lives at Duluth, aged sixty-one. They went to Duluth in 1882, and Harry Pearson employed his skill and his organ- ization as a contractor in the erection of many notable buildings in that city, including the Public Library as one outstanding example. He was a thirty-second degree Mason and a Republican. His six children are named as follows: Thomas, assistant claim agent of the D. M. & N. Railroad; John, with the Duluth Electrical Supply Company; Harry, associated with his brother in business at Ely; Arthur, in the hardware business at Duluth; Douglas, who lives with his mother at Duluth.
William Pearson, the third child, was well educated at Duluth, attend- ing the public schools to the age of seventeen, after which he went on the payroll of his father and applied all his time and energies to getting skill and knowledge of the building trades. His service as a contractor has resulted in some construction at Duluth, and in 1914 he began build-
1198
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
ing houses on the Range. Since 1916 he has made his permanent head- quarters and home at Ely.
In 1904 Mr. Pearson married Martha Hanson, daughter of Nels Hanson. They are Presbyterians and Mr. Pearson is affiliated with the Lodge of Masons at Ely, the Knight Templar Commandery at Duluth, is a member of the Moose and in politics is independent.
BARTHOLOMEW D. COFFEY, better known as Bart Coffey, chief of police of Ely, is a pioneer of the Range country, and has given a great deal of hard work to his own business affairs and to several public offices in which he has served. Mr. Coffey is one of the rare men who show a willingness at all times to shoulder their burdens with a smile and turn a cheerful countenance to every fate. His dominating personal charac- teristic is cheerfulness, and his genial personality has won him a host of friends.
Bart Coffey walked into the Iron Range district with his father from Two Harbors over the railroad right of way before the steel was put down. This was in June, 1884, at which date few of the now flourishing cities of the Range country had any existence at all. Bart Coffey was born at Greenland in Ontonagon County, Michigan. June 22, 1868, son of Bar- tholomew and Julia (Heley) Coffey. His father was born near the lakes of Killarney, Ireland, and died at Ely in 1907, at the age of sixty- eight. The mother was born at Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and died at Ishpeming, Michigan, when her son Bart was a child. The elder Mr. Coffey on coming to this country and landing at Boston made his way on foot and on lake vessels to the Michigan mining district. He and his wife were the first couple to be married at the Taltic copper mines in Ontonogan County. Besides doing his work as a miner he served as justice of the peace at Greenland and also at Ishpeming, and was the second to fill the office of judge or magistrate at Tower, Minne- sota. In Minnesota he was employed in the Soudan Mine, and in 1885 moved to Ely, where he became surface boss at the Chandler Mine. He and his son Bart came to Minnesota about a year before other members of the family arrived. There were four children altogether: Kate, widow of Michael Vail, of Nashwauk, Minnesota; Michael, who was a member of the Minnesota police force and died at Ely ; Mollie, wife of E. J. Morcom, of Tower; and Bart.
Bart Coffey was sixteen years of age when he made his historic journey with his father into the Minnesota Iron Range. In the mean- time he had attended school at Greenland, Michigan. For a year after coming to Minnesota he worked in the Tower Mine, and for two years was an employe of John Grube in his meat market at Tower, and he also worked at the Tower Depot for the Range Railroad. He was clerk for the City Hotel at Tower, and after removing to Ely was employed by a steam shovel outfit in the Chandler Mine. He was also in business for himself a number of years. Some years ago he served a term as night police at Ely. In 1917 he was appointed chief of police and also deputy sheriff of St. Louis County, and to the duties of this office he gives his full time.
At Two Harbors in 1895 Mr. Coffey married Minnie Smiley, daugh- ter of William Smiley, whose wife was a Van Brunt. Mr. and Mrs. Coffey have four living children. Their three sons were all in the Gov- ernment service during the war, Ray being a musician at Camp Grant and Camp Logan, Guy was at Camp Meade, and Glen left high school to volunteer and saw six months of service in France. The only living daughter, Blanche, is attending the Normal School at Superior, and the other daughter, Ruth, died at the age of thirteen.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.