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

DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY S73
the leading grocer and meat merchants of Proctor. Mr. Eklund was born
in Sweden September 18, 1882, a son of Albin Anderson Eklund. In
1883 Arthur Eklund was brought to the United States by his parents, his
father locating at Spring Lake, Michigan, and embarking in a sawmill
business which would have developed into large proportions had he not
died in 1884, leaving two sons, Arthur and his brother Albert. The
widowed mother took her sons to Muskegon, Michigan, and there Arthur
Eklund was reared and given a public school education till nine years of
age when his mother took him to Sweden, but at the age of eighteen he
returned to Duluth.
After completing his schooldays Mr. Eklund came to St. Louis County,
Minnesota, and for some years was engaged in a sawmill, but then moved
to Duluth and was employed in a grocery and meat business for three
vears. In 1908 he moved to Proctor and opened his present grocery and
meat market, and has since been occupied in conducting this business.
His stock is a large and varied one, and he takes a pride in keeping
everything thoroughly up-to-date. His trade is a valuable one. many of
his customers having remained with him since he first opened up for
business. In addition to his store and meat market he has other interests,
and among other things is vice president of the Mesaba National Bank
')f Proctor.
Social by nature. Mr. Eklund has connected himself with a number
of fraternal and benevolent organizations, and among others maintains
membership with the Independent Order of Odd Eellows. Loyal Order
of Moose and Royal League, and is very popular in all of them. (Connecting
himself with the Lutheran Church when young, he has always
continued his membership in it, and is one of the valued members of
the local congregation of that denomination. Mr. Eklund always votes
independently. Since coming to Proctor he has been interested in the
progress of the community, and has borne his part in all of the civic
movements of value, and is recognized as one of the dependable men of
the city and St. Louis County.
William E. V.w. To do any one thing well is to advance far on
the road that leads to ultimate success. It matters but little in what
line a man directs his abilities, but it is important that he gives his whole
attention to making the best of his opportunities and securing his fair
share of business. These are truths early recognized by William E. Pay.
one of the dependable merchants of Proctor, and acting in accordance
with them he has built up a large and flourishing mercantile establishmeiU
which is a credit to his section of St. Louis Countv.
William E. Fay was born at Saint Peter. Minnesota. January 1, 1883.
a son of Peter Fay. a native of Ireland, who upon coming to the I'nited
States became a farmer, and for a number of years prior to his death,
which occurred in 1903. was a highly respected agriculturalist of St. Louis
County. He and his wife had a family of seven sons and two daughters,
all of whom are living, and of them all William E. Vny was the eighth iti
order of birth.
After being a student of the public schools of Saint Peter William
E. Fay took a two-vears' collegiate course, and then was employed in thiwholesale
hardware trade at Sioux City. Iowa, and continued in it a
year. Then for a time he was in a cigar business at Duluth. Minnesotjj.
but it uas not until he came to Proctor and embarked in his present business
that he felt that he had found the line of business in which he could
give expression to his ideas and capabilities, and since then has fully
justified his action in taking the steps he did. Mr. I'ay carries a full