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

DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 913
the parents speat the rest of their days in that community. Three other
children were born- after the family came to America. John K. Maki,
Sr., naturalized as an American citizen and was a staunch factor in the
life of his community, serving as township supervisor for about fourteen
years.
John K. Maki acquired a limited education in his native country and
w^as about fourteen when he crossed the Atlantic Ocean to join his father.
For a time he worked in the Wyoming coal mines and also on the homestead
in Ottertail County. While living in the country community, on
March 31, 1894, he married Miss Anna Katharine Hyrkas, a native of
I'^inland, and who came to the United States in 1891. They began housekeeping
at West Superior, Wisconsin, and from there in December, 1896,
moved to Hibbing, where they have ever since had their home. In the
Range country Mr. Maki worked at lumbering, then as an employe of the
Oliver Iron Mining Company, was clerk in a grocery store, and subsequently
joined his two brothers-in-law, Oscar Bay and Mike Salminen, in
the grocery and meat business. Their first establishment was on Pine
street, and later they developed a large market house on Third avenue.
Mr. Maki also helped to organize in 1910 the Merchants Warehouse
Company. He was interested in the operations of the firm, including a
branch feed store, and in 1915 in the organization of the largest retail
grocery house in Chisholm, where they also conducted a wholesale department.
At Keewatin they also embarked in the retail grocery business.
With these various enterprises Mr. Maki was actively identified until
June, 1920, when he retired and now confines his attention to his various
private interests. He is erecting a Ijuilding at the corner of McKinley and
Third avenue.
For two years he served as a member of the Village Council at Hibbing,
is a member of the Commercial Club, a Republican in politics, is
affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and his family
are members of the Finnish Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Maki had
seven children: John Albert, who died in infancy; Sadie Anna, wife of
John Merton Moore, of California; Lydie Effie ; Eleanora Frances;
Esther Elvera ; Arthur Rudolph, who died at three years ; and Hugo
William.
Jacob B. Messner as a result of experience going back into boyhood
is an expert in every phase of the provision business, and for several
years past has been general manager of the wholesale and retail grocery
house of Burrows-Lamson Company of Hibbing.
Mr. Messner was born in Calumet, Michigan, February 2, 1872, son of
John and Barbara (Kohler) Messner. His parents were both born in
(Tcrmany and are now deceased. John Messner came to the United
States about 1852, for a time was employed in some of the Michigan
mines, and in order to give his children better opportunities educationally
and socially moved out to North Dakota and became a farmer. Finally
he sold his property there and moved to Hibbing, Minnesota, where he
now lives retired, his wife being deceased. Here he became a naturalized
American, and has reared his family in full fidelity to American principles
and ideals.
Jacob B. Messner accjuired his early education in public schools, chiefiv
at Fargo, North Dakota. After leaving school he learned the meat business
as a technical trade and as a business in every feature and detail, and
for a number of years was in the retail meat business at Climax, Minnesota.
.\bout 1906 he came to Hibbing and has lived in that city of the
Iron Ranges ever since. .Xt first associated with his brothers, John, Christian
and Andrew, under the name Messner T.rothers, he engaged in the