St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-28
BY II. NJ. NEwsoS.
Article XLV.
FERDINAND KEArFr

clOOlS Oh LuAt country; came 10 America IN
ls45 and worked at the carpenter business
In Quincy one year and in St. Louis three
years; arrived at Paul in 1850, aud continued
his trade on Seventh street, up to 1860, when
he abandoned the business and became
A sCHooLBoY
at the age Of SO years, and with his books
under his arm trudged along TO the Com
mercial college, then kept by Q. F. Carver on
Third street, anxious TO obtain business
education, which ne successfully accom-
plshed. In 156i be commenced the grocery
trade in a little store on the corner of Sew
enth and Olive streets, (naving in the year
1850 erected the building,) ard continued
up TO 1870, when he turned the stock over to
his son and his sol -ih-law, and thought he
would take the world easy, but his active, in
dustrious life would not permit him 10 do so,
and he again entered business in 1870 with a
partner named Carl Ahrendt, but
his partner had too much theatrical
ability about him TO suit Knauft, who dealt in
matters of fact and so, in the year 1874, he
bought him out and has ever since run the
business (hardware) alone, until 1884, when
he gave his young son, Benjamin, half in
terest in the store, and the firm now is really
Knauft & Son.
INCIDENTS.
lie was induced 10 come to st. Paul he
cause it was the heighth Of his ambition to
real estate, and here he could get it with
such means as he had at hand, while in St.
Louis he could not, so be came
to this city. In his then youthful estima-
ton, to own property was to be a king.
When be first came mere, he and J. H. Schur-
meier were employed to build log cabin for
wv. Bass, in Reserve township, and then he
threw out his small sign: Carpenter Work,
shes, Doors and Blinds, made to order, aud
went at the business in earnest AT the
time he built on thsscorner of Seventh and
Olive streets, in 1850, there were only few
houses in that whole section of the
city, and on the opposite corner
was blacksmith's shop and an
old inn, where the Indians used to procure
whisky. He resided on Seventh street thirty
four years, and now massive blocks of brick
lots.
PROPERTY.
In 1850 Mr.. Knauft purchased lot on the
corner OF Seventh and Rosabel streets, Q50
Eeet on Seventh and,ffty feet on RosabeD,
for which he paid $500; worth now $50, 600;
lot on the corner of Pine and Seventh, paid
$500; worth $50, 900; three lots on Seventh,
adjoining his corner lot, cost him 81, 500;
worth 500, 900; 100 feet on Tenth street:
cost 81, 600; worth 5000. He has other
property in various parts of the city, but the
above is sufficient to demonstrate his early
idea, that the man vino owns real estate, is a
King. Knauft's Kingl ''Long live the
Ringi" He has four outside buildings be-
side his recent purchase of Adam Gotzian's
residence on Dayton bluff, for which he paid
$4,000, and where ne now resides His
brick block on Seventh street is 200 feet
long by 100 deep; has some twelve stores
and thirty rooms in it, all bringing him in
handsome rental. The cost Of this block was
about $4,000.
OFFICES.
Mr.. Knauft was a member of the Terri
tOrias Legislature in 1856; also member of
the Common Council for three years. Since
then le has had no taste for politics., and has
no desire to occupy any political position.
He has been married three times and nine
children have graced the household. six OF
whom are now living. lie isAorth, at least
$250,O0O. e
PERSONAL.
Thirty-one years ago we remember Mr.
Knauft as a small, thin, spare, apparently
sicky man, with u long face, weigh
ing not more than ninety pounds.
He was then quiet, modest, industrious,
pleasant gentleman. Now We find him with
ruddy cheeks, full, round face, rotund
form, and carrying down the scales at 225
pounds. He is still the careful, prudent,
good natured, plodding business man of
over quarter of q century ago, yet we no.
lice less elastic step than formerly, more
moderate movement than in the years gone,
still he has reached the throne of his ambi-
ton, and sits there,-"every inch a kingp'
"a king because financially above want
and every incha man, because possessing
the elements that make one.
FREDERICK GUIoN
Was born in Missouri in 1881; learned the
trade of an engineer; came to st. Paul in
1S52s'was engaged as an engineer on IL
river up to 1875, when he was appointed
gineer Of the tire steamer Hope No. 8, viii,
position he held with credit to himself an
to the department for many years. Married
Miss Denoyer in 1889. Eight children made
the family circle, one of whom is dead. Mr.
Guion is the son OF one of the oldest French
settlers, Of whom we have
made mention, and is a
gentleman esteemed for his ability as an en-
gineer and for his many good qualities.
JOHN AND ABNER HANCOCK.
We think Mr. Eaycock is son OF the late
Captain John Haycoek, who came 10. st. Paul
in lS4S,- He Was Formerly captain on a
river ST. amer, and then opened wood ward
on Robert street, where he carried on bust
ness for number of years. Capt. H. was
t2ll, quiet man, and at the time of his death,
must have been sixty years old.
Abner, his son, was born in St. Paul in
$780, and received his education at our COM
mon schools, and then succeeded his father
in the wood business. Prior to this, however
in 1870, up 10 1873, he was engaged in the
grocery trade. He married Miss Haley in
1878, and though still in the vigor of man
hood, he may vel count himself as AN old
settler,.and one whose experience in this
country ought to be of some service to him
before ne peaches ''the sere and the yellow
Leaf
HARRY S. POTTS.
Born IN st. Pax; in 1850, Mr..
Potts was raised and educated in
this city, and learned civil en-
gineering and surveying, but for many
years past has been an express messenger on
the Northern PACIFIC railroad He is steady,
trusty, middle aged man.
WI. TINKER.
Mr. T. was born in Connecticut in 1913;
came TO ST. Paulin 1849; opened tallor's
shop On Third street and continued the bust