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

886 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
ber of years. One of his brothers, Norris J. Colvin, lives at Gilbert,
St. Louis County, and is also a well-known man in this region.
Frank S. Colvin attended the schools of Anoka, and then for seven
years worked at making pressed brick in that place. Later he was
employed in lumber manufacturing at Anoka, where he remainded until
1890. In that year he came into the Iron Range as bookkeeper and manager
of the Mesaba Lumber Company of Mesaba, and had charge of the
company's store at that point for two years. He then came to Biwabik
and went into partnership with J. A. Robb, organizing their present business.
The young men had a very limited capital, but they were excellent
business men and knew^ how to develop with the Range, and today have
five lumber yards on the Range, one in Superior, Wisconsin, and another
at Duluth. From 1894 until 1905 they operated mills at Fairbanks, but
then distincontinued that branch of their business. This firm ranks
exceedingly high among the reliable lumber concerns of the Mesaba
Range, and the present prosperity is entirely due to the energy, foresight
and fair dealing of the partners.
In 1902 Frank S. Colvin was married to Janet Carmichael, a daughter
of William Carmichael, and she was born at Negaunee, Michigan.
Mr. and Mrs. Colvin became the parents of the following children :
Doro-
thy, Jean. William and George. Mr. Colvin has always been very active
in politics, operating as a Republican, and has been the delegate of his
party to county and state conventions upon many occasions. Locally he
has served in several offices, including that of treasurer and mayor of
Biwabik, and while serving in the latter gave the city a business-like
administration that resulted in a rapid growth, and much of the present
improved condition here is due to his efforts. Having spent the best years
of his life in this region, he is naturally interested in it and the remarkable
advan9e made here within the past few years, and he is proud of
the fact that he has borne so constructive a part in all of this work.
Ralph Norris Marble. An officer in the United States Navy during
the period of the Spanish-American and Philippine wars, later in the
World war, Ralph Norris Marble in the intervals of his service graduated
as a mining engineer and for the past ten years has been active in his
profession in the Minnesota Iron Range. He is general superintendent
at Hibbing for the Mahoning Ore & Steel Company.
Mr. Marble was born at Harrisville, Alcona County, Michigan, March
7, 1879, son of Ralph N. and Belle L. (Mead) Marble. His mother is
still living at Duluth. Ralph N. Marble, Sr., who died July 18, 1919, was
for many years prominent in St. Louis County. In 1882 he came to
Duluth to look after some titles to large tracts of lumber lands for Saginaw
and Detroit syndicates. He had previously served as registrar of
deeds in Alcona County, Michigan. On coming to Duluth he formed a
partnership with M. H. Alsworth in the abstract business, and became
thoroughly versed in the land titles of St. Louis County. It was that
w^ork which led him to engage in law practice, and in 1886 he was
appointed registrar of the United States Land Office at Duluth by Grover
Cleveland. During his administration of this office occurred the big run
on the office following the rumors of discovery of ores. He left the land
office in 1890 and thereafter was chiefly engaged in the practice of law
until his death. The village of Marble, Minnesota, was named in his
honor.
Ralph N. Marble, Jr., grew up at Duluth, acquired a public school
education, and in 1894 was appointed a cadet in the United States Naval
Academy at Annapolis. He graduated with the rank of Midshipman