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 44
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In 1913 he resigned as superintendent of the Virginia schools, at a time when his work was beginning to attract nation-wide attention, as witness about that time the interest in his system manifested by the pub- lishers of the Century magazine and other agencies. That a good man can leave his impress on a system for years after his departure, has been proved in Virginia. The almost automatic operation of a well-developed school organization can be of tremendous assistance to a successor. By the same token a poor school man leaves a bad heritage for those who immediately follow. That Virginia could ill have afforded to lose him in 1913 was indicated in the alacrity with which proffers were made to Judge Bliss by representatives of school boards in some of the most important and most highly-populated cities in the United States. He has
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refused all such offers, fidelity to this section causing him to appreciate the consistency of remaining in a single community and there fulfilling the functions that are the duty and pleasure of a good citizen. Several important laws for the advancement of education in Minnesota were made part of the statutes while he served on the legislative committee of the State Educational Association.
As a man of broad intellectual ken and civic loyalty, he has naturally taken a lively interest in political and economic matters, and has been a delegate to various Republican conventions. Judge Bliss is a staunch advocate of the basic principles and policies sponsored by the Republican party, but in local affairs, where no definite general issues are involved, he is not constrained by partisan lines. He was a member of the com- mission that prepared the present city charter of Waseca, Minnesota, and personally wrote much of that document, and is a member of the present charter commission of Virginia. While a resident of Waseca he was for some time the editorial writer for the Waseca Journal-Radical, the lead- ing newspaper of Waseca County. During the period of his residence in Virginia he has been indefatigable in his efforts in directions of public good, his work in the field of education and his furtherance of com- munity progress being markers that will ever reflect honor upon his name. It was primarily through his labors that school playgrounds were provided in Virginia, and in the establishment of the public library he was a chief figure, later serving for a number of years on the library commission, for three years being president of the board. Mrs. Bliss, a woman of culture and gracious personality, has proved a helpful and inspiring coadjutor. They were married in Mantorville, Minnesota, where Judge Bliss taught his first school. Mrs. Bliss was a daughter of one of the highly respected families of southern Minnesota, Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Cohoon.
In the great war Judge and Mrs. Bliss aided in the many undertakings designed to help their country and her allies win. He was a member of the first registration board in Virginia, and gave especial attention to stimulation of local Red Cross work. In 1920 he was elected municipal judge for Virginia and it is certain that he will exert a kind influence in that capacity, a path that he is now well on. It is his first political office. Justice is dispatched without superfluous condiments, mature judgment brought to bear in every instance. One individual gets no consideration that all do not get. It is natural that Judge Bliss should take his duties seriously and discharge them so rightly and impartially. The elevation to this office is a public testimony of the people's esteem. Previous to assuming this post he was engaged in the investment securities business, taking to it after leaving active school work. Being a man of strength in mind and body, many years of useful work in behalf of the common good is predicted for him. He is a charter member of Virginia Lodge No. 264, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and a Congregationalist in church affiliation. He is also a member of the Adelphic Society of Carle- ton College, and the Phi Kappa Psi College fraternity.
FRANK L. COWAN has been prominently identified with the business affairs of northern Minnesota for a number of years, formerly as a banker, but is now head of a large and liberally patronized furniture and rug establishment at Duluth, a business that has specialized in high class wares and has catered to the best tastes of the public in such lines.
Mr. Cowan was born in Ontario, Canada, June 13, 1867, youngest of the five children, four of whom are still living, born to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Cowan. His father brought the family to the
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United States and located at Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, where he followed his trade as a shoemaker until his death in 1900.
Frank L. Cowan was educated in the public schools of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, and at the age of nineteen became an employe in a bank of that city. After acquiring a technical knowledge of banking and achiev- ing the confidence and good will of other capitalists he established a small bank at Cooperstown, Wisconsin, and was its cashier and active · manager for four years. From there he came to Ely, Minnesota, and was for seven years teller in the Security Bank of Ely. He was similarly identified with the First National Bank of Ely until 1910, when he came to Duluth and engaged in the furniture and rug business. He has a large and well stocked store, one department being devoted to pictures, and he has other special lines of house furnishings. Mr. Cowan is a member of the Congregational Church
January 4, 1895. at Duluth, he married Miss L. Boyden, a daughter of Ivan Boyden. They have two daughters, Alice M., born March 26, 1900, and Reginald L., born September 3, 1903.
BUHL PUBLIC LIBRARY. One of the important adjuncts to the cul- tural development of any community is afforded through the medium of a public library, and it is safe to say that where it is absent the lack of its influence is very clearly shown in the people themselves. Recognizing this fact the majority of the smaller cities of the country have made strenuous efforts within recent years to secure the advantages furnished by such an institution, and one of them which has seen these ideas mate- rialize in a substantial form is Buhl, when on June 10, 1918, the Buhl Public Library was opened to the public during the administration of Mayor Rauchstedt, and organized by Miss Enid Stafford, librarian, and Miss Fannie Kerr, children's librarian.
The library building is a beautiful structure of tapestry brick with terra cotta trimmings, and is in the midst of an attractive lawn and flower beds. The interior is of silver gray oak, is light and well venti- lated. The main floor consists of one large room, at either end of which is a panel painting by Rosencranz, an office and a reference room. In the basement there is an auditorium, with a stage, a men's smoking room, cloak room, staff room, and an unpacking room. Much use is made of the building for community purposes.
The library contains 9,047 volumes, covering a wide range of sub- jects, and the current magazines. During the year ending May, 1921, there were 1,156 borrowers.
Miss Hazel Laing, who has been librarian since February, 1919, was born at Gladstone, Michigan, where she attended school, and was gradu- ated from the high school course in 1912. She is also a graduate of the library school of the University of Wisconsin, class of 1917. Prior to taking her present position she was assistant to the librarian of the Hib- bing, Minnesota, Public Library, for eighteen months.
HAMILTON M. PEYTON. As a lumberman and banker the name of Hamilton M. Peyton has been closely identified with northern Wiscon- sin and northern Minnesota for more than half a century, and his resi- dence of sixty-three years at Duluth and Superior makes him one of the veteran business men of that city. For fully forty years Mr. Peyton has been at the head of one of the large banks of the city, and no citizen is more honored for his commercial integrity and his public spirit than this pioneer of the north country.
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Born in Geneva, New York, March 17, 1835, Hamilton M. Peyton is a son of Rowzee and Eliza (Murray) Peyton. His father, a native of Virginia, was a planter in that state, and afterward lived at Geneva, New York. The mother was a native of New York city. Hamilton M. Peyton was liberally educated, spending two years in Hobart College, beginning in 1851, and in 1855 was graduated Bachelor of Arts from Rutger's College at New Brunswick, New Jersey. His primary business experience was in a manufacturing establishment at Chicago up to the spring of 1857. His brother-in-law was at that time registrar of the land office at Hudson, Wisconsin, and in 1858 Mr. Peyton took charge of the office, and after the transfer of his brother-in-law was so well pleased with the north country that he remained. In 1858 he opened a private bank at Superior, Wisconsin. In 1859 Mr. Peyton engaged in lumber manufacturing, building a small sawmill on Connor's Point. In 1881 the firm of Peyton, Kimball & Barber was created. They built a large sawmill, and continued successfully in lumbering until 1905.
Mr. Peyton has been a resident of Duluth since 1873. When the American Exchange Bank, now known as the American Exchange National Bank of Duluth, was organized in 1879 the directors chose him for the office of president, and his name has headed the official directory of that institution ever since. As a banker he is one of the oldest in northern Minnesota, and his influence for forty years has been steadily directed to the improvement and advancement of Duluth as a great com- mercial center. Mr. Peyton is also a director in the Gowan, Lening, Brown Company, wholesale grocers.
His social relations are with the Kitchi Gammi Club, the Duluth Country Club, the Commercial Club and the Delta Phi College Fraternity. He is a vestryman in St. Paul's Episcopal Church. In 1864 he married Miss Martha Newton, a native of New York state, and they are the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters.
JOHN J. EKLUND, M. D., has not only gained definite prestige as one of the representative physicians and surgeons of northeastern Minnesota, but he is also known as one of the most loyal and progressive citizens of Duluth, where he controls a large professional business and makes a specialty of surgery, in which his skill and experience have given him high reputation. His offices are at 7 East Superior street and his resi- dence at 224 North Twenty-fourth aveune, East.
Doctor Eklund is a representative of the best type of the fine Scandi- navian element that has played a most important part in the development and upbuilding of the state of Minnesota, of which state. he has been a resident since his childhood days. He was born in Sweden on the 13th of March, 1861, and is a son of Nels and Wendla J. Eklund, who immi- grated from their native land to the United States in the spring of 1866. They came forthwith to Minnesota, and the father became one of the pioneer farmers of Chisago County, where he obtained land and reclaimed the same to cultivation. He developed a valuable property, and con- tinued his residence in that county for many years. He finally disposed of his farm and removed to South Dakota, where he continued to be suc- cessfully identified with agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1898; his wife, who has been a devoted helpmate, having passed to eternal rest in 1894. They were folk of sterling character and strong mentality, and in the United States made good use of the opportunities afforded them, so that their measure of success was not stinted and they won that independence which was their just desert. Both were devout members of the Lutheran Church.
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Doctor Eklund was about five years of age at the time the family came from Sweden to the United States, and his boyhood and early youth were passed on the homestead farm in Chisago County, Minnesota. The public schools of that section of the state afforded him his early educa- tional advantages. His higher academic training was acquired in Gus- tavus Adolphus College at St. Peter, this state, and in preparation for his chosen profession, which is one of the most exacting and responsible to which a man may turn his attention, he entered the Minnesota Hospital Medical College, now the medical department of the University of Minne- sota, in which institution he completed the prescribed course, with close and earnest application, and was graduated as a member of the class of 1885. After receiving his well earned degree of Doctor of Medicine he forthwith established his residence in the city of Duluth, where he has since continued in successful practice-his zealous and self-abnegating services having covered a period of over thirty-five years and his practice being now substantial and of representative order. In later years he has specialized in surgery, as already intimated. In 1895 and 1896 Doctor Eklund further fortified himself for his profession by completing a thorough post-graduate course in the New York Polyclinic, where he devoted special attention to surgery in order to concentrate his efforts largely along that line. He is now a member of the surgical staff of St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth.
Doctor Eklund served ten years as coroner of Duluth; for three years was a member of the municipal water and light board; and has other- wise taken deep interest in local affairs of public order. He accords unequivocal allegiance to the Republican party and was a delegate from Minnesota to the Republican National Convention which nominated Presi- dent Mckinley for a second term. In 1908 he was presidential elector at large and was especially honored in being chosen to convey the vote of Minnesota to the national capital. The Doctor is a director of the Northern National Bank of Duluth and is president of the Duluth State Bank. He is a member of the Duluth Commercial Club and an earnest supporter of its progressive civic ideals and policies. He is a zealous member of the Lutheran Church, of which his wife, now deceased, like- wise was a devout communicant, and for many years he served as an official of the Duluth Church, with which he is still identified in an active way.
In 1888 was solemnized the marriage of Doctor Eklund to Miss Nannie Asp, of St. Peter, Minnesota, and the supreme loss and bereave- ment of his life came when his cherished and devoted wife was sum- moned to the life eternal in 1905. She is survived by one son, William . J., who graduated from Rush Medical College in the city of Chicago with the class of 1916. He served in the late war as first lieutenant in the medical department overseas and is now practicing his profession of medicine and surgery with his father in this city.
FREDERICK R. KANE. The Republic Iron and Steel Company has been fortunate in securing as men in authority some of the best in the country for the positions they occupy, and through their energy and practicality the Mesaba Range has been developed in a remarkable man- ner. One of these men who has risen through his own ability to be foreman of the Kinney Mine owned by this company, and second only to Assistant General Superintendent Cash, is Frederick R. Kane.
Frederick R. Kane was born at Clarence, Iowa, July 9, 1879, a son of John J. and Ellen (Doyle) Kane. John J. Kane was born in Roscom- mon, Ireland, in 1846, but came to the United States and became a rail-
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road man. His wife was born in County Wexford, Ireland, in 1844. They were married July 2, 1865, and had six children, of whom Frederick R. Kane was the youngest.
Growing up at Clarence, he received a grade school education and then took up the high school course, being graduated in it in 1898, and for the subsequent three years was engaged in teaching school. For two years he was a student of the law school of the University of Illi- nois, but decided upon a more active career, and so left the university. For about three years he was fireman on the locomotive at the Stevenson Mine at Stevenson, Minnesota. Following that he went with the Oliver Mining Company as timekeeper at the Burt Mine at Hibbing, and then from 1908 until 1910 was track boss at the Rust Mine. His next promo- tion made him night foreman of this mine, and he held that position until the spring of 1911, when he was engaged to open the South Uno Mine, and remained with it until September, 1912, when he accepted his present position, and has held it ever since.
On September 29, 1909, Mr. Kane was married to Miss Laura Gereau, of French ancestry. They have two children, namely : Frederick G., who was born in September, 1910; and John J., who was born in June, 1912. Mr. Kane is independent in his political views. He is a Catholic. Dur- ing the great war he took active part in promoting the Third, Fourth and Victory Liberty Loans, and he also sold War Saving Stamps and was a member of the Home Guard. A man of long and varied experience, he thoroughly understands his work, and having risen from an inferior position, knows how to direct his men so as to get a fair amount of work from them and at the same time accord to them absolute justice. He has taken a strong interest in local affairs since coming to Kinney, and has been on the village board of trustees two different terms.
WILLIAM P. CURLEY, who is assistant superintendent to Leo C. Mitchell of the Chisholm district of the Oliver Iron Mining Company, was a boy worker in the iron ranges of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minne- sota, and had something of a practical knowledge of the great industry before he took his technical training and university course to qualify as an engineer.
Mr. Curley was born at Negaunee, Michigan, June 5, 1885, one· of seven children, six of whom are now living. Their parents were Patrick and Mary (Lyons) Curley, now deceased. Both were born in Ireland and Patrick was reared and given a liberal education. Shortly after his marriage he came to the United States and made his home at Negaunee, where he found employment in a foundry.
As a boy in his native village of Negaunee William P. Curley attended public school, graduated from high school in 1904, and soon afterward came to the Mesaba Range of northern Minnesota, and his first employ- ment by the great corporation, the Oliver Iron Mining Company, was as a clerk in the company's offices in the Mountain Iron district. Later he went with the engineering department of the Canisteo district, and made use of every opportunity to acquire a practical knowledge of the technical details of iron mining. He also carefully husbanded his resources and savings, and used his capital to carry out a purpose he had long cherished. He entered the Michigan College of Mines at Houghton, and remained until he graduated as a mining engineer in 1910. With this additional training and qualification he returned to the Canisteo district at Coleraine, and was in the service of the mining department of the Oliver Company there until August, 1918, when he was transferred to Hibbing. There he had charge of some of the operations of moving the houses of Hib-
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bing to the new location in South Hibbing. At the same time he helped in the operation of the Morris Crushing and Screening Plant. In Decem- ber, 1919, Mr. Curley took up his present duties at Chisholm.
He is a member of the Engineers' Club of Northern Minnesota, is a Republican and a member of the Catholic Church.
FRANK HIBBING. Although seventeen years have passed since the death of Frank Hibbing, there are few men now in the prime of their powers whose activities have more the character of permanence than the interests which have endured to perpetuate the name of this honored citizen of northern Minnesota. One of the most prosperous little cities 'in the iron district bears his name, he was widely known in business and financial circles, and in the early days was one of the most expert lumber- men. While death interrupted his career at the age of forty, he had already accomplished achievements that would satisfy the ambition of most men at the end of threescore and ten, and left behind him not only a faultless record for business integrity but the memory of many good deeds and kindly actions and the love and esteem of friends and acquaint- ances everywhere.
Frank Hibbing was born at Kirchboitzen, Hanover, Germany, Decem- ber 14, 1856, and spent his early life and received his education in his native country. At the age of. eighteen, having determined to seek his fortunes in the United States, he immigrated and first located at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. He was without capital, and had only the strength of his hands and the courage of his determination to commend himself to others. He worked for a time on a farm and then for some time in a shingle mill, where he met with an accident which took off three fingers from his right hand, leaving on the thumb and little finger. He then went into the law office of Mr. W. W. Hazeltine at Stevens Point, Wis- consin, but becoming convinced that he was better adapted to business than to professional life he abandoned the study of law. He found a congenial work, in which he became particularly skillful, in timber cruis- ing, and in 1885 went to Bessemer, and while there laid out the north side of Bessemer Town for Dan Merritt. He acquired his early experience as an iron ore prospector while there, and in 1887 located at Duluth, embarked in the real estate business, and for about one year was also engaged in exploring on the Vermillion Range. In the meantime he had experienced many of the vicissitudes of fortune, had worked hard and made money, but had lost by reverses, and was consequently at the bot- tom of the ladder when he became identified with the range country about Duluth.
After some discoveries of iron had been made on the eastern Mesaba Range Mr. Hibbing undertook extensive exploration work in the same district, tramping over the entire Range, then a dense wilderness, and carrying his supplies and tools in a pack on his back. While others were directing their attention to the east end of the Mesaba, he pushed on farther west and soon discovered surface indications which led him to believe in the existence of extensive iron deposits. Tests were made which confirmed his theory, and in association with Mr. A. J. Trimble he proceeded at once to secure options for leases on a large tract of land in that vicinity. In the face of the important discoveries at Mountain Iron, Biwabik and Virginia, the field in which Mr. Hibbing was operating was neglected and he was about the only one that had faith in the pros- pects. On January 12, 1892, he headed a party through the wilderness to reach the location of his new discoveries in section 22, 58-20. There were many who deemed his confidence unwarranted and considered his
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1
movements those of a mere adventurer. He possessed the courage of the true pioneer, and eventually the land secured by him and his associates. became the site for the now famous group of mines known as the Lake Superior Group, which were discovered and later developed by Mr. Hib- bing and others. In July, 1893, the town site of Hibbing was platted, and the name was given in honor of the discoverer of the mines in that section, and in view of later developments it can be asserted that few "fathers of towns" stood by a community more loyally and liberally than the late Mr. Hibbing. He had established the first sawmill for the manu- facture of lumber, and from that time until his death was liberal in his dealings with the community and took a personal interest and pride in building up the town. In January, 1894, the citizens realized the press- ing need of a water plant, and in the absence of funds and credit by which the village might provide such an improvement Mr. Hibbing himself advanced the money for the erection of the plant, and also used his per- sonal means in many other ways to provide needed improvements, includ- ing the construction of an electric light plant. He also built and owned the first hotel, and in association with Mr. Trimble established the first bank and erected a bank building.
The editor of the Hibbing News, who had become acquainted with Mr. Hibbing soon after the town was started, has recalled some of the personal characteristics which, in addition to his generosity, well illus- trate the reason for his lasting popularity in the community. He says : "As I remember him then, on the eve of the most prosperous period of his life's history, he was the same good-natured, big-hearted, genial man that his friends have ever since found him to be. He was ambitious to obtain a competency sufficient to make himself and family comfortable in after years; but when this had been accomplished he was satisfied. His success did not turn his head nor cause him to look with disdain upon his friends who had been less fortunate in their financial ventures ; he bore the honors of his good fortune manfully and without any of that pompous display of vanity so characteristic of human weakness and selfish pride. He had ever taken a personal interest and pride in the upbuilding and advancement of Hibbing, and his has been. the most suc- cessful and liberal policy adopted in the conduct of any of the towns on the Mesaba Range. There are many people engaged in successful busi- ness here today who are indebted largely to Mr. Hibbing for the measure of success they have achieved."
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