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

DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 833
Mr. Welles was born in Michigan and came to Diiluth in April, 1892.
His first business service here was as auditor in the old Chapin-Welles
Company, now the Marshall-Welles Company. In 1895 he and associates
bought the old J. J. Costello Hardware Company, which in June, 1896,
became the Kelley Hardware Company and is now the Kelley Duluth
Company. In 1902 the Kelley-How-Thomson Company was organized,
Mr. \\^elles participating in that organization, and he is now secretary and
manager of this corporation, one of the largest wholesale houses in the
northwest.
Mr. Welles was born at Hortonville, Michigan, July 17, 1872, and had
a public school education, coming to Duluth shortly before his twentieth
birthday. He is a son of Nelson and Achsah (Graves) Welles, the former
a native of New York and the latter of Connecticut. George W. Welles
was left an orphan at the age of five, and from that time until he was
seventeen lived with his mother's sister. Mrs. Edward Sleeger. His
0])portimities have been largely of his own making, and good natural
abilities, combined with continuous hard work, have been responsible for
the gratifying measure of success he has achieved.
Through many years Mr. Welles has had a part in the civic development
of modern Duluth. He is a member of a number of local clubs and
organizations and is a Republican in politics. During the World war he
was chief of metals and heavy hardware procurement. Branch No. 1,
General Supplies Division of the Purchase, Storage and Traffic Department
of the \\'ar Department. As an expert in his line he rendered valuable
service in this work from June, 1918, until February, 1919.
September 4, 1901, Mr. W'elles married Jane M. McLennan, a native
of Duluth, where her i)arents, W. L. and Julia (McLeod) McLennan,
were pioneers. The two sons of Mr. and Mrs. Welles are George W., Jr.,
and Donald R.
John Costin. The name of John Costin recpiires but little introduction
to the people of Virginia, where he has been residing for about
twenty-eight years, and throughout that ])eriod has been prominently
identified with the industrial development of the city and surrounding
district. He is the largest stockholder of the Chandler Mining Company.
Virginia, the Chandler Mine being located at Ely.
Air. Costin was born at Hancock, Michigan, December 25, 1866. His
parents, John and Catherine (Ronan) Costin, were natives of Ireland and
each came to the United States in early childhood, grew up in this country
and here married. The father was an iron ore miner and was one of the
early miners on the Marquette, Menominee, Gogebic and other ranges in
Michigan, and in this occuj)ation he spent all his active life. Mrs. Costin
died about 1874, and her husband survived her for manv years, his death
taking place in 1918, he having then reached a good round age.
Some time after the death of his mother John Costin, the subject of
this sketch, began working on his own account. He completed his school
course at the Northern Indiana Normal School. Vali)araiso, Indiana, from
which he emerged well ecpiipped with all the recpiirements of a first-class
training. In January. 1893, Mr. Costin moved to \'irginia ami established
himself in the fire insurance and real estate business, finally building up a
splendid connection along that line, and here he has been residing ever
since. In 1897-98, along with his insurance business, he began exploring
for iron ore, and gradually this enterprise began to absorb the greater
part of his attention. During this period, in conjunction with others, he
discovered the Holman Mine near Colerain ; the Hobert Mine near Gilbert,
and other smaller properties. In November, 1909, he took an option