1921 Duluth & St Louis County MN, Van Brunt.pdf - Garon.us

DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 761
Peter L. Morterud, the youngest of the family, had only the
advantages of the common schools and as a boy worked on farms at
small wages. He also clerked in a general store at Whitehall, Wisconsin.
On coming to Duluth he became a clerk for his brother in
the clothing business, and for twenty years was actively associated
with his brother, eventually acquiring a third interest in the store.
In 1908 he organized the present firm of the Morterud-Koneczny
Company, which was incorporated the same year. He has given all
liis time to the management of this enterprise, and does an extensive
Imsiness as a retail merchant in clothing, shoes and furnishing goods,
rhe store is at 2101-2103 West Superior street and draws a large
trade not only from the West End, but from many other sections of
Duluth and surrounding territory.
^Ir. Alorterud is a member of the Norwegian Methodist Church.
He has always stood as a stanch advocate of prohibition. May 27,
1891, he married ]\Iiss Mary Peterson. They have had four children.
Hazel v., Ernest (deceased), Leslie M. and Olive M.
A. A. Kerr, represents at Duluth one of the largest firms of food
product makers in America, the Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company. This
lias lieen his line of business for thirty or forty years, and to a large
degree he is personally responsible for the great volume of business
that flows to his corporation from the Duluth district.
Mr. Kerr was born at Berlin, Wisconsin, August 18. 1860. son of
Robert and Elizabeth (Ray) Kerr. His parents were both natives
of vScotland. His father came to America in 1854, lirst located at
^lilwaukee. where he followed his trade as a carriage trimmer; from
there moved to Berlin, Wisconsin, and during the pericjd of the Civil
war lived in Chicago. His next home was at Peoria. Illinois, and he
spent his last years at Monmouth in that state. Of his famih- of
nine children A. A. was the third in age.
He acquired his early education in the public schools and at tlie
age of twelve was clerking in a grocery store. After c(jnsideral)le
training in merchandising he entered the service of the F. A. Kennedv
lliscuit Company as a traveling salesman and continued with that
concern until the National Biscuit Compan\- absorbed the Kennedy
Company. He eventually was made local manager for that noted
concern. In 1906 he joined the Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company as
local manager at Duluth, and has been in charge of the local offices
and warehouses at 308 West Michigan street since that time, 'i'he
Loose-Wiles ])roducts are now sold and distributed in great (|uantities
all over Duluth. the Head of the Lakes district and the iron ranges,
and the business for this entire district goes through Mr. Kerr's office.
Mr. Kerr l)ecame a charter member of the L'nited Commercial
Travelers in 18*^2. ."since coining to Duluth he has been generous
of his ctTorts and influence in behalf of good citizenshij). He is a
memlxr of tlie COmmercial ( lul), I\otar\ Chfl'), CiU'Iing Club, and a
Kepublican in politics, lie married at Washington. Iowa, September
7, 18*>2. and has two ehildri'ii. \ i\ii'nne and Robert.
I\ohi;kt !'). Wii rri'.siDi:. I'opular re])uiation accords to Robert B
Whiteside of Duluth the title of cijiitalist. Wlu-n iie first came to
the district of .Northern Minnesota his cajjital .aggregated onlv $3,500.
lie li.is in truth bei-n a capitalist in more than one sense. The great
resources of his career have been represented not so much hv money
.as by physical powi-r ,ind cndur.anci'. judgment, determin.ation. and a