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

826 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Nels Anderson has legitimate claims to much of pioneer distinction
in the mining regions of northern Michigan and northern Minnesota, and
thus there is special satisfaction in according to him merited recognition
in this publication. He has played a large and influential part in the
civic and material development and progress of his home city of Virginia,
has been in the most distinct sense the architect of his own
fortunes, and is a strong and worthy citizen who commands unqualified
popular respect and good will. He was born in Sweden March 17, 1860,
a son of Andrew and Marie Anderson, who passed their entire lives in
their native land. Their children were seven in number.
Nels Anderson attended the schools of his native place when opportunity
made this possible, but he was only six years old at the time of
his father's death, and at the age of twelve years began to provide his
own support. He continued to be employed in the timber districts of
Sweden until he had attained manhood, and shortly after reaching his
legal majority, in 1882, he came to America. He soon made his way
to the Marquette Range of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where he
found employment in the mines, besides which he was for a short
period engaged in railroad work. In 1884 he became a pioneer in the
mining region of St. Louis County. Minnesota, by establishing himself in
the little village of Tower, which was then a somewhat obscure mining
camp, with no railroad facilities, so that in proceeding to the town
Mr. Anderson completed the final stage of his journey by walking, a
distance of about thirty miles. He found employment as a driller in
the mines, and continued his headquarters at Tower until 1892, when
he removed to X'irginia. where he built and conducted the Tower Hotel,
on the site of the present Ormonde Hotel. His hotel was destroyed
twice, in the disastrous fires that virtually obliterated much of the town,
but he met these reverses with courage, continued the business and
became one of the valued men of the community. In 1897 he sold his
hotel property. In the meanwhile he had become firmly impressed with
the belief that \'irginia was destined to become a place of importance,
and his confidence in its development and progress was such that he
here made judicious investments in land in and near the town. From
property thus acquired he has platted and developed three additions to
the city of Virginia, and through his enterprise and well ordered activ'ties
has achieved substantial and worthy success. In the mineral range
of northern Minnesota he is widely known, and such is his character
and personality that it may consistently be said that his circle of friends
is limited only by that of his acquaintances. He is a Republican in
politics, is liberal and progressive as a citizen, and in his home city is
affiliated with the lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
and is also a member of the S. H. E. F. No. 28, of Virginia. In 1885
Mr. Anderson married Miss Christina Swanson. who likewise was born
in Sweden and who came to the United States in 1883.
Northern Drug Company. While not one of Duluth's oldest
concerns, the Northern Drug Company has done much to broaden the
prestige of the Zenith City as a distributing center, and is now easily
one of the largest drug houses in northern Minnesota.
The company was organized and incorporated under the laws of
Minnesota December 15. 1913. The first officials were R. M. Sellwood,
LaRue S. Mershon and G. G. Hartley. While there have been some
exceptional circumstances and many adversities to contend with, the
company has steadily grown. Being close to navigation and railroads, it
has certain natural advantages permitting high class service, and even