St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-28
BY T. NJ. NEwsoS.
article KY.
FERDINAND KxAUrr.

cpoois Oh tnat country; came TO America ia
IS45 and worked at the carpenter business
an 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 Iudged along to the Com
mercial college, then kept by 0. F. Carver on
Third street, anxious 10 obtain a business
education, which ne successfully accom-
plished. In 1861 be commenced the grocery
trade in a little store on the corner of Sew
enth and Olive streets, (having in the year
1880 erected the building,) ard continued
up to 1870, when he, turned the stock over to
his son and his son - law, and thought he
would take the world casa but his active, in
dustrious life would not permit him 10 do so.
and he again entered busihess in 1870 with a
partner named Carl Ahrcndt, 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
e~eNSb a. ehS oNCiS3 ohtA VIZ MN NV - ASoAAs
Knauft & Son.
INCIDENTS.
He was induced TO come to st. Paul be
cause it was the heighth Of his ambition to
own real estate, and here he could get it with
such means as he had at hand, while in St.
Louis he could not, so he 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
J.W. Bass, in Reserve township, and tnen he
threw out his small sign: Carpenter Work,
S shes, Doors and Binds, made to order, !" aud
went at the business in earnest. AT the
time he built on thescorner of Seventh and
Olive streets, in 1850, there were only a 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
are taking the places Of shanties and vacant
lots.
PROPERTY.
In 1850 Mr. Knauft purchased lot on the
corner OF Seventh and Rosabel streets, 15O
feet on Seventh and-ffty feet on RosabeD,
for which he paid $500; worth now $50, 900;
lot on the corner of Pine and Seventh, paid
$400; worth $50, 600; three lots on Seventh,
adjoining his corner lot, cost him 81, 500;
worth $4,000; 100 feet on Tenth street:
cost 81, 600; worth So, OOO He has other
property in various parts of the city, but the
above is sufficient TO demonstrate bis early
idea, that the man who owns real estate, is a
King. Knauft's Kingl 'Long live the
Kng!n 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 he 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 a
handsome rental. The cost of this block was
about s7o,e coo.
OFFICES.
Mr.. Knauft was a member of the Terri
toriaE Legislature in 1856; also a member of
the Common Council for three years. Since
then lie 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 graeed the household, six oil
whom are now living. He isAprth, at least,
S250,00O. ~
PERSONAL.
Thirty-one years ago we remember Mr..
Knauft as small, thin, spare, apparently
sickly man, with 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, Flooding business man of
over quarter of century ago, yet we no.
uce less elastic step than formerly, a more
moderate movement than in the years gone,
still he has reached the throne OF his ambi-
ton, and sits there, -t'every inch kingp'
"a king because financially above want
and every incha man, because possessing
the clements that make one.
FREDERICK GUIoN
Was born in Missouri in 1881; learned the
trade of an engineer; came to st. Paul in
lS52;was engaged as an engineer on tn
river up to 1875, when be was appointed
gineer of the fire steamer Hope No. 8, viii.
position he held with credit to himself an
TO thesdepartment-f 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 r 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 HAYcocK.
We think Mr.. Eaycock is son OF the late
Gagtain John Haycock, who came 10. st. Paul
in lS4s,- He--@as formerly captain on a
river steamer, and then opened wood yard
on Robert street, where he carried on bust
ness for number of years. Capt. H. was |
tail, quiet man. and at the time of his death,
must have been sixty years old.
Abner, his son, was horn in st. Paul in |
1850, 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 70 1873, he was engaged in the |
grocery trade. He married Miss Haley in |
1873, and though still in the vigor of man
hood, he may sell count himself as An old |
,stttler-And one whose experience in this |
country ought 10 be of some service to him |
before ne peaches ..the sere and the yellow
leaf. =
HARRY s. POTTS.
Born in St. PsGs, in 1850, Mr.. /
Potts was raised and educated in
this city,e 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,
tFusty, middle aged man
WI. TINKER.
Mr. T. was born in Connecticut in 1913: |
came 10 81. Paul in 1919; opened a tallor's |
ahon m, THIRD street and oontinnal tho ~. |