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 4
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sylvania. Here a beautiful new building and equipment was turned over to Mr. Wilson, and for four years he was in full charge, his ability, natural and acquired by experience, then securing his promotion to Bridgeville, near Pittsburgh, where he opened two new stores for the corporation, and successfully managed them for thirteen years.
On leaving Bridgeville to come to Duluth, the Carnegie Signal Item of December 30, 1915, published the following leader article: "C. Z. Wilson, an employe of the United States Steel Corporation for seventeen years, has been very highly honored for his faithful services by being appointed to a responsible position for the same company at Duluth. Mr. Wilson came to Bridgeville twelve years ago from Scottdale, a son of the late Perry B. Wilson, who was a member of the 85th Pennsylvania Volun- teers in the Civil war. C. Z., as he is familiarly known, had charge of the mercantile interests for the Union Supply Company at Sygan, Penn- sylvania. His personality, honest, upright dealings in business with all classes of pepole had won for him the real friendship of everyone in the Millers Run district, and all are sorry to see him leave. Mr. Wilson will be missed among the poor, as he was always mindful of looking after the sick and needy. Enthusiasm with proper direction and keen interest in all matters of business and otherwise gained success for him during the twelve years of service in our neighborhood. It would be considered selfish to not wish him well in his new field, knowing full well that he is a man to make friends wherever he goes. Mr. Wilson was school director of South Fayette township and re-elected at the last election by the largest vote cast for any one candidate on the ticket. The editor has had the pleasure of visiting Mr. Wilson several times at Christmas and see him handle the hundreds of children and grown people that it was the custom for years to make happy at Chritsmas with the treat furnished for the purpose by the Union Supply Company."
In November, 1915, Mr. Wilson reached Duluth for the purpose of taking charge of the Lake View Store at Morgan Park. In half a dozen years he has achieved something worthy of a long memory in St. Louis County. Through his management of the Lake View store at Morgan Park he has gained a wide and admiring following of friends. He pos- sesses an inspiring personality, never failing geniality, patience, tolerance and charity, and firmly believes that no man is big enough to be independ- ent of others. In less than a year after coming to Duluth he supervised the building, planned and purchased the entire equipment and stock of merchandise for all departments, systematized the plan for operating and organized a sales force for handling the business. This is now an institu- tion known throughout the state, and people come from far and near to learn the systematic operation of the store, where well trained employes and discipline give efficiency in every department. As a merchant Mr. Wilson caters to the patrons' requirements, anticipates his merchandise wants well in advance, and has a thorough knowledge of merchandise and market conditions. Traveling salesmen have frequently expressed them- selves in praise of this Minnesota merchant because of his congenial and diplomatic manner of handling all matters pertaining to a store. Though a very busy man, everyone is extended a courteous welcome to his private office. He realizes one important definition of a successful executive, being prompt in decision and quick in action, and through experience makes few mistakes. When his word is given it is as good as a Govern- ment bond. He is happy and cheerful, and this quality of his disposition radiates over everything and everyone with whom he comes in contact. Faithful to every trust and duty, by strict application to business for many years he has realized a very high standard of efficiency and also a broad
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knowledge of the complicated problems involved in successful merchan- dising.
Mr. Wilson is active in social and fraternal affairs, thoroughly public spirited, and a worker for everything that makes a better community. He is affiliated with Lafayette Lodge No. 652, F. and A. M., at Carnegie, Pennsylvania ; Gourgas Lodge of Perfection of the Scottish Rite at Pitts- burgh, Aad Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Duluth, was one of the organ- izers and charter members of Duluth Forest No. 47, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, a member of the New Duluth-Gary Commercial Club, Morgan Park Club and Good Fellowship Club of Morgan Park. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Duluth, his letter having been transferred from the Bethany Presbyterian Church of Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, a short time after he moved to Duluth.
During the World war he was active in promoting all movements in- cluded in the Government plan of prosecuting the war to success. He was appointed United States food administrator as merchant representa- tive of the Food Administration for the Morgan Park Division for Duluth, including Smithville, Fond du Lac, Gary and New Duluth. The Duluth Evening Herald said: "Mr. Wilson's appointment was due to the way in which he had been carrying out the ideas of the Food Administration. On his own initiative he undertook educational work and prepared in- struction letters which he sent out to the people in his section. His work has been both patriotic and efficient, Food Administration officials declare."
At Cumberland, Maryland, October 16, 1903, Mr. Wilson married Daisy Dean McDowell, of Pleasant Unity, Pennsylvania. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson is at 126 North Boulevard, Morgan Park. Mrs. Wilson is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank McDowell. Her father up to the time of his death in 1900 was a professor in Indiana schools. Her mother makes her home at present with Mrs. Wilson.
PETER L. DEVOIST is a man of wide business experience, not only in general commercial operations but particularly in the timber industry. He has handled the timber operations of a number of corporations in the Range country of northern Michigan and Minnesota, and is in charge of that department for the Mesaba-Cuyuna Iron Land Company, with offices in the Sellwood Building at Duluth.
Mr. DeVoist, who is of Huguenot descent, was born in New York state January 12, 1857, and was about thirteen years of age when he came west to Michigan. He finished his education in that state and there for twelve years was in the mercantile business. From there he came to Duluth and became chief clerk in the timber department of the Oliver Iron Mining Company. For a time he was an employe in a mercantile house at Duluth, and then became superintendent of the Mashek Lumber Company at Chisholm. Since 1918 he has been in charge of the mineral and timber lands of the Mesaba-Cuyuna Iron Land Company and has arranged for the leasing of valuable properties on the iron ranges.
Mr. De Voist was married December 31, 1890, to Miss Ida E. LeDuc, of Michigan. Her father moved to Michigan from Quebec, Canada, her mother being of German descent.
JOHN E. PORTHAN is a merchant and is manager of the Finnish Stock Company of Ely.
This company was organized in March, 1899, to do a general merchan- dise business. Its organizers were John E. Porthan, Andrew Watilo and Eric Lund. Their joint capital was only thirteen hundred dollars. The business has grown and expanded, and the company is now one of the
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most prosperious of those performing a mercantile service in the Range district. The company owns its fine storeroom and warehouses.
John E. Porthan was born in Finland in 1871. He acquired his edu- cation in Finland and was unable to speak a word of English when he reached the United States in 1890, at the age of nineteen. His first loca- tion was at Lead in the Black Hills of South Dakota, where for six months he was a railroad laborer. In February, 1891, he arrived at Ely and went to work in the Chandler Mine. For the next eight years his was a process of earning and saving, a growing knowledge of American life and ways, and a broadly extending acquaintance with the men of his district. Thus he was well qualified to prosecute to success the business of which he has been manager since 1899.
Mr. Porthan also served as a member of the City Council at Ely for four years. He is a member and one of the trustees of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church, is a member of the Finnish Society K. R. and the Temperance Society.
In 1893 he married Edla M. Kinnari, also a native of Finland. They have a large family of eight living children. Their son George E. joined the Third Minnesota Regiment in 1917, was trained at Camp Cody, New Mexico, and thence sent with six hundred replacement troops to France in June, 1918. He was in the battles of the Aisne and the Argonne Forest, and wounds received at the battle front caused his death Feb- ruary 3, 1919. He had been transferred from the Third Minnesota to Battery B of the Artillery and later to the Infantry. Another son, Matt, was a member of the Students Army Training Corps at the State Uni- versity.
ALFRED S. DIEHL is a graduate engineer from the University of Wisconsin and left the university to become identified with the Oliver Iron Mining Company. In the service of that great corporation he has risen to the post and responsibilities of chief engineer of the Hibbing district.
Mr. Diehl was born at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, October 30, 1877, son of Samuel and Annie (Dorner) Diehl. His parents were both born in this country of remote German ancestry. Samuel Diehl was a machinist by trade and during the greater part of his active life was employed in railroad work. He died in 1890 at the age of forty-two.
One of four children, Alfred S. Diehl was thirteen years old when his father died. In 1894 he graduated from high school at Elroy, Wis- consin, and almost immediately had to secure work and from boyhood has depended upon his own exertions and has relied upon himself to realize his plans and ambitions. Up to the age of twenty-one he worked at whatever employment offered the most money and the most oppor- tunity. In 1898 he went into the United States railway mail service, and continued therewith for five years. Realizing that this service offered no advancement for a future worth while, he resigned and used what . capital he had been able to accumulate to put him through the University of Wisconsin. In 1907 he graduated in the civil engineering course and already had become identified with the Oliver Iron Mining Company. During the summers of 1905 and 1906 he was connected with the engi- neering department of that company at Coleraine, Minnesota. A few months after graduating Mr. Diehl returned to Coleraine in August, 1907, and was on the engineering staff of the company in different capac- ities until 1912, when he was appointed chief engineer of the Canisteo District. In May, 1920, he was transferred to his present duties as chief engineer of the Hibbing District.
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Mr. Diehl is a member of the Engineers Club of Northern Minnesota, and also the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the Congregational Church and a Republican voter. On August 24, 1915, he married Miss Bonnie Jones, of Coleraine, Minnesota.
FRANK AUGUSTINE WILDES of Hibbing, well known in the Range country both as a lawyer and mining engineer, has spent most of his life in Minnesota and was a teacher before he began the practice of law.
He was born at Phippsburg, Maine. May 28, 1871, son of Frank A. and Emily Virginia (Burke) Wildes. Both his father and his maternal grandfather fought as soldiers on the Union side during the Civil war. His ancestry goes back to England but the family was planted in the Colonies of Massachusetts and Maryland, and some of the family were represented by soldiers in the Revolutionary war.
Frank A. Wildes attended the common schools of Minnesota, and after graduating from the State Normal School of Mankato in 1894 pursued the vocation of teaching for a number of years as a superin- tendent of public schools. In the meantime he took up the study of law, and in 1904 received the LL.B. degree from the University of Minne- sota. Since coming to the Range country much of his work has been done in organizing and developing the Mineral Lands Department of the state of Minnesota, and he has served as superintendent of mines in that department.
Mr. Wildes is a director of the Minnesota Federation of Architects and Engineers Society, is a member of the Engineers Club of Northern Minnesota, the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engi- neers, belongs to the Bar Association, the Hibbing Commercial Club, the Hibbing Kiwanis Club, and to the University of Minnesota Alumni Asso- ciation. Mr. Wildes is an honorary thirty-third degree Scottish Rite Mason, served as master of Mesaba Lodge No. 255 at Hibbing in 1913, and was venerable master of Iron Range Lodge of Perfection No. 8 at Hibbing from 1909 to 1912. He is a member of the Shrine and Acacia Fraternity. Politically he is a Republican.
On September 7, 1909, at Hibbing, he married Edith Lany Bush, daughter of Hezekiah and Helen M. (Childs) Bush. Her father was a Civil war veteran. Mrs. Wildes, who is a graduate of Carleton College, is the mother of one daughter, Helen Virginia Wildes.
ALLAN R. MACAULAY. One of the leading business men and best known citizens of Duluth is Allan R. Macaulay, manager of the firm of Logan and Bryan, dealers in stocks, bonds and grain, with offices in Duluth, and all principal cities in the United States and Canada. Mr. Macaulay has succeeded in his business because he has been persist- ent and energetic and honorable in his dealings with the public, and he has therefore had the confidence and good will of all, which are indispensable factors if one succeeds in any line where the public has to be depended upon.
Allan R. Macaulay was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on April 24, 1886, and at the age of two years was brought to the United States by his parents, who located in Duluth. His father first became a partner in the Messick Commission Company, under the firm name of Messick & Macaulay, which association lasted for eight years. He then formed a connection with the Victor Commission Company, with which he re- inained identified until 1912, when he retired and is now living in Duluth, at the age of fifty-eight years. He is the father of six children, all of
F.C. Wildes
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whom are living and of whom the subject of this sketch was the first born.
Allan R. Macaulay received his educational training in the public schools of Duluth, having reached the Junior High School. After leaving school he started to work for the North American Telegraph Company as a messenger boy, and afterward learned telegraphy. He then turned his attention to baseball, in which he became a professional player, first around Duluth and then in the Western Canadian League, with which he played for two years, or up to 1913, as second baseman and outfielder. He then again took up telegraphy, working for the Associated Press until 1917, when he engaged in the stock brokerage business with the firm of R. W. Harrington, with whom he remained about a year. He then organized the Culbertson-Macaulay Company, dealers in stocks, bonds and grain, Mr. Culbertson being later succeeded by .M. Bliss Rob- inson, under the style of Robinson-Macaulay Company, and they con- tinued in this business until 1920, when Logan & Bryan opened their office here, with Mr. Macaulay as manager. Mr. Macaulay has been deeply interested in the growth and development of Duluth, having assisted in the promotion of various business enterprises. He is also one of the promoters of the Inter-Southern Oil and Refining Company.
Politically he is a Republican, while fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (Blue Lodge and Chapter), the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Clan Stewart. He is also a member of the Kiwanis Club, the Duluth Curling Club and the Duluth Boat Club. His religious membership is with the Presbyterian Church.
On June 15, 1914, Mr. Macaulay was married to Marie Smith, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Smith, of Superior, Wisconsin, in the public and high schools of which city she received her education. To them have been born two children, namely: Jane, born March 9, 1915, and Donald, born on April 7, 1918. Mr. Macaulay has been distinctively a man of affairs, wielding a wide influence among those with whom he has been associated, ever having the welfare of his community at heart and doing what he could to aid in its advancement. Sound judgment and keen discrimination have characterized his business actions, and he enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
C. RAY PATTINSON. Among the recent acquisitions of the realty business at Duluth is C. Ray Pattinson, who during a short but remark- ably active and progressive career has advanced steadily to a leading position among the younger generation of operators of the city. He was born July 31, 1886, at Duluth, a son of Charles D. Pattinson.
Charles D. Pattinson was born at Carlisle, Cumberland, England, and as a young man came to the United States, where he first found employment in the locomotive shops at Pittsburgh. Later he turned his attention to railroading, which he followed for about thirty-five years. He operated one of the first trains that ran into Duluth on the Northern Pacific Railroad, at that time the old St. Paul & Duluth, and was the first yardmaster for the Northern Pacific at the West End yards and helped lay the foundation for the terminal at that end of the city. He took up his permanent residence at Duluth in 1908, but is now retired from active pursuits and resides at the Metropole Hotel, being seventy- six years of age. Of the five children two daughters and a son still survive, the daughters having been formerly teachers in the public schools of Duluth.
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The youngest of his parents' children, C. Ray Pattinson secured his education in the public schools of Duluth, and after graduating from the Central High School went to work for the Duluth Water and Light Company. There his industry, ability and fidelity gained him promotion to the office of assistant secretary, but in 1917 he resigned this position and entered the real estate business with Prindle & Company, a concern with which he remained two years. When Earl E. and Harold H. Pat- tinson, sons of the late W. H. Pattinson, returned from service in the United States Navy, C. Ray Pattinson joined them, March 1, 1919, in the formation of the Pattinson Realty Company, which operates the Pattinson Estate, representing about $1,000,000 worth of property in the Twin Ports, and also handles other rentals for apartment houses and represents several insurance companies. During the first year of its business life this concern transacted about $1,500,000 worth of business, the largest sale being that of the Lyceum Theatre Building to the Clin- ton-Meyers Company for a consideration of $325,000. Mr. Pattinson was one of the promoters of the Pioneer Improvement Company for the purpose of building an apartment house on East London Road, an enterprise which will be completed within another year. He was like- wise the promoter of the Duluth Office Men's Association, of which he was elected president, an organization consisting of about 200 profes- sional and office men. He has belonged to the Masons since 1906 and has attained the Scottish Rite degree, and belongs to the Lions Club as a member of the Board of Directors. His religious affiliation is with the Episcopal Church and his political tendencies make him independent in his support of candidates and principles.
Mr. Pattinson was married April 14, 1911, to Miss Gladys Rees, of Pittsburgh, whose parents were natives of Wales, her father being a veteran of the Civil war. Prior to her marriage she had been a stenog- rapher in the employ of the United States Steel Corporation.
F. D. ORR for upwards of forty years has been doing business in the mining districts and ranges of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, pri- marily in the sale of explosives used in mining operations. For many years past he has been manager of the Duluth headquarters of the DuPont industries.
Mr. Orr was born in Oneida County, New York, January 26, 1857. His grandfather came to this country from Ireland. The father, Charles Orr, was also born in New York, was a mechanic by trade, and died in 1874. He was the father of three sons and two daughters, and all but one of the sons are still living.
Second in this family, F. D. Orr was reared and educated in the east, and was about seventeen years of age when his father died. He then went out to live with an uncle on a farm at Northfield, Minnesota, attended school for a time, and for five years worked in a cheese fac- tory. In 1881 Mr. Orr went to Cleveland, Ohio, and after a brief serv- ice as clerk in a store was sent to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, selling townsites for an iron company.
He left the townsite business to become salesman for the Atlantic Dynamite Company, selling explosives in the Gogebic Iron Range. That was the beginning of the business which he has followed ever since. Many years ago he entered the service of the DuPont Company. While the name DuPont is most familiarly associated with powder and other explosives, yet is, as a matter of fact, synonymous with a diversified industry comprehending a tremendous range of products, including explosives, chemicals, coated textiles and other materials and commodi-
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ties. Since 1914 Mr. Orr has been manager of the Duluth office of the DuPont Company in the Hartley Building. Through this office more explosives are sold than in any other office of the DuPont Company, and thus Mr. Orr has a special post of honor and consideration with this great American industry. As an auxiliary of the Duluth service there is maintained a special fleet of motor trucks for the expeditious and prompt handling of explosives required on the iron ranges.
Mr. Orr has been a resident of Duluth for many years and takes much pride in the city and is closely identified with civic organizations, including the Duluth Commercial Club, the Northland Country Club, the Kitchi Gammi Club and the Duluth Boat Club.
HENRY JOHN MERDINK is a capable lawyer at Ely, where he has been in active practice since 1915. Thoroughly equipped and trained for the legal profession, he is a man of leadership as well in community affairs, and his devotion to the common welfare has been abundantly proved since he began his professional career in the Range district.
Mr. Merdink is a native of Minnesota, born at Stephen, June 11, 1891, son of John Henry and Jane (Sangster) Merdink, the former a native of New York state, of Holland Dutch ancestry, and the latter born in Scotland. Mr. Merdink's grandfather moved out to Wisconsin before there was a single line of railway west of Chicago, and home- steaded land within the limits of the present city of Milwaukee. He was a farmer, and not finding the land fertile enough he abandoned that locality and moved to what is now Baldwin in St. Croix County. Sub- sequently Grandfather Merdink enlisted as a Union soldier, and he died from wounds received at Gettysburg.
John Henry Merdink grew up on a farm, spent many years as a practical farmer, and after moving to Stephen, Minnesota, established a feed and flour mill. He is still living there at the age of seventy, and his wife is sixty-four. He is a Republican, has been a delegate to vari- ous conventions of his party, has served as president of the village and a member of the Council and on the School Board. John Henry Merdink and wife have three children : Mary J., wife of David L. Eastburn, of Circle, Montana; George W., a farmer at Stephen, Minnesota; and Henry John.
Henry John Merdink graduated from the Stephen High School in 1908. Soon afterward he entered the University of Minnesota, pursuing the literary and law courses, and was graduated in 1913. The same year he removed to the Range to practice law and for a time was in partner- ship with Judge R. J. Montague at Virginia. There he was assistant city attorney and in April, 1915, moved to Ely, where in addition to a general practice he was city attorney from 1916 to 1920 and also from 1916 has been secretary of the Commercial Club and has had much to do in making that an effective instrument to promote the commercial and civic welfare of Ely.
While in school Mr. Merdink was an all-around athlete, and was a member of the hockey, baseball, football and basketball teams, and at the university was a member of the track and cross-country teams and held the state record in the mile run. He was one of the very enthu- siastic men of St. Louis County in promoting the objects of the Gov- ernment during the World war. A defect of the eyes prevented his early enlistment. Subsequently he had the defect cured. In the meantime he was instrumental in the organization and served as color sergeant of the Home Guards and as advisor and United States appeal agent for the local Draft Board. In 1918 he waived deferred classification and
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