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

DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 843
1893. Returning to Duluth, he was connected with the mechanical offices
of the Duluth Evening Herald about two years, and in September, 1894,
first engaged in the job printing business under the firm name of Rankin
& Greer. The partnership was continued until the fall of 1896, their
modest plant being in the basement of the Torrey Building. When
Mr. Rankin withdrew from the partnership A. H. Moore took his place,
and the firm Greer & Moore continued until 1898. Mr. Greer then
resumed his trade in the office of the Daily News Tribune for one year.
Thereafter he established the pioneer enterprise of the kind, operating a
plant of Mergenthaler linotypes for typesetting for job printers. This
was the first effort in that direction made at Duluth. Mr. Greer made
this his exclusive business until February, 1911, at which date the Greer
Printing Company was established. This is owned and controlled by
Mr. Greer, and at 14 and 16 West First street the company maintains a
complete plant and all the facilities for its work and service.
Mr. Greer is well known in Duluth social and business affairs, though
practically all his time and energies have been devoted to one business.
He is a member of the Duluth Typothetae, United Typothetae of America,
the Advertising Club, Commercial Club, Boat Club and Young Men's
Christian Association, and fraternally is a member of Palestine Lodge
No. 79, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, North Star Lodge of Perfection
of the Scottish Rite, and Aad Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and
is also a member of the Modern Samaritans. He casts his vote independently
and is a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Ernest E. Burns. For many years a prominent lumber concern of
Minnesota has been the Burns Lumber Company. This corporation has
two large yards in Duluth, and the Duluth business of the corporation is
under the direct supervision and management of Ernest E. Burns, a son
of the founder of the business.
His father was William H. Burns, who was born in Ireland and
came to America in 1857. As a young man without capital or special
resources he took advantage of the Cooper Institute in New York city
as a means of acquiring a useful mechanical trade, and learned cabinet
making. On the 19th of April, 1861, he volunteered as a member of
Company H, Hawkins Zouaves. He was three years in the Union army
in the Army of the Potomac, served in the battle of Richmond and many
other engagements, and after being wounded was placed on detached
guard duty at Washington until the war ended. After the war he continued
to live in Washington until 1871, when he moved out to Iowa,
was in that state until 1886 and then moved to St. Paul and engaged in
the lumber business. His partner was Mr. Shaw, and they were in business
under the firm name of Burns & Shaw from 1886 imtil 1896. In
the latter year William H. Burns with his sons organized the Burns
Lumber Company. The St. Paul business of this company is conducted
by another son. h'loyd W. Burns.
Ernest E. P>urns was born in Iowa .April 26. 1871, and was fifteen
years of age when brought to Minnesota. He finished his education in
St. Paul and lor a number of years past has been secretary and treasurer
of the Burns l.uiubi-r Company. The company operates two other branch
offices besides tiiose at Duluth and St. Paul. Ernest E. Burns is active
in the Masonic Order, being afiilialed with the Knights Templar and
Shrine, is a member of the Modern .Samaritans, tiie Royal .\rcanuni. and
in politics is a Republican. .September «*>. 18')7, he married in Iowa Miss
Anna Fitz. Tliev arc the parents of six children: Margaret E.. born
July 3. 1898; William 11.. born October 1. 1S