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

DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 779
his studies three years, specializing in civil engineering and in the meanwhile
depending upon his own exertions and resources in defraying his
incidental and college expenses.
In the spring of 1900 Mr. Chamberlain came to St. Louis county, Minnesota,
and after remaining a few weeks at Eveleth he became in 1901
engineer of the Soudan Mine at Soudan, this county. In 1905 he was
advanced to the position of assistant superintendent of this mine, and he
retained this incumbency until 1910, when he resigned. Thereafter he
passed about three years in the west, principally in mining districts, and
in 1914 returned to St. Louis county and at Virginia became underground
foreman in the Alpena Mine, owned and operated by the Oliver Iron Mining
Company. Thereafter he held the position of night mining-captain,
and in the spring of 1917 began to give special attention to the developing
of the mutuality plan or system in mining enterprise, a plan which
was finally adopted by the Oliver Iron Mining Company and in connection
with which he has since served most effectively as mutuality chairman.
This department was established for the purpose and as a medium
of adjusting all labor troubles arising between the company and its
employes, and has proved a most effective agent in maintaining harmonious
and mutually satisfactory relations. Air. Chamberlain is a member
of the Engineers Club of Northern Minnesota and is affiliated with
the Virginia lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His
political allegiance is given to the Republican party, he is a loyal and
progressive citizen who has secure place in popular esteem in his home
community, and during the nation's participation in the World war he
was active and influential in the local drives and campaigns in support
of the various Governmental loans. Red Cross work. etc.
In 1901 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Chamberlain to Miss
Marguerite Harbaugh, of Virginia, and they have two children—Pauline
and Ross.
Fred Lercii is a member of Lerch Brothers, chemists, pioneers in
their profession in the Iron Range district, head of what is said to be
the largest inde])endent organization of industrial chemists in the world.
Fred Lerch has for many years been an honored citizen of Virginia, while
George Lerch, his brother, lives at Hibbing. Concerning the latter a
s|)ccial sketch is written elsewhere.
Fred Lerch was born at Easton, Pennsylvania, November 10, 1869, son
of David and .Sarah (Young) Lerch. His father was a contractor in
business. He died in 1910, at the age of eighty-eight.
Fred Lerch grew up in his native town, attended public schools, and^
graduated in 1891 from Lafayette College, just two years after his
brother. He received the degree of mining engineer, and for six months
after graduation filled the post of instructor in inorganic chemistry at
Lafayette College. He then went to Cuba and for ten months was a
chemist and mining captain. Returning to tlie I'nitcd .States in November,
1892, he and his brother, George, in December, started for the Mesaba
Range in Northern Minnesota to make their professional skill available
to that newly discovered mining district. VVom Duluth they took cars to
Mountain Iron, which was the raihvav terminus, and the stage driven by
H. J. Eaton brought tliem to \'irginia. then :i hamlet of two or three hundred
people. The Lerch Brothers ui)on their arrival opened a small
laboratorv as chemists. Their first customer was the Oliver Mining Companv.
With the exception of one year thev have maiiUained an otTice in
Virginia ever since. .\t the opening of the Mahoning Mine at Hibbing,
and soon after the first shipping was started, in 1895 Fred Lerch, who