Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-07-27

sketch. is prominent among those men
who composed the Chicago Worlds
Fair delegation to Washington which
10 successfully overcame all obstacles
aud enabled this city to hold within
Its confines the greatest worlds expo.
sitiOn ever known to the world.
He was born In Norway In 1880. ana
In that country he remained until his
9th year. at which age he accompanied
his parents to the United States. and
after the usual journey located In Chi.
cagO, which nj that time lin 1SiS). was
u city Of 10000 Inhabitants.
The trip to Chicago from New York
ut that early date was made entirely
by water: ON the Hudson to
Albany. by Eric Canal from
Albany to Buffalo. and by the lakes
from Buffalo to Chicago. From 1913
to 1854. at the end Of which time he
had reached the age Of IL. he attended
the public schools Of Chicago.
AZ his parents We're poor he left
school ana learned the carpenter ana
lnthing trade. and continued working
In that business until he was Is years
old. when he engaged In business for
himself. During the time hc was on.
gagged In the carpenter business. the
disastrous panic Of 1857 with Its II.
fects caused all improvements In the
city Of Chicago to be abandoned. cOnse-
quently he determined to better his
Snu.1txl.,s, - sn,-l0,1s, aud ,.l.l<.,.l mn
enwOrth. Kansas. In 1858. Here he re-.
maincd short while. after which he
returned to Chicago.
In 1862 he purchased lake vessel,
the Hercules. ana ut once became sue
cessful ~ a ship owner, No much 10 In
fact that within the next five years he
Ind accumulated quite fleet, which In
1897 contained six vessels. most Of
which were grain carriers. In $500.
although Interested In lake trnnspOrta.
ton. he became identified with the lum-
Der business, and In 1871 became large.
~ Interested In saw mills. In Septem.
Der. 1875, he received u telegram from
his superintendent informing him that
his mill ana plant had been totally de-.
strOyctl by fire. He had invested all Of
his resources In the plant. ana. having
little Insurance. II left him u financially
ruined man. Hut being a true Chica.
gOsln. he did not remain this way long.
At present he II largely interested
financially In u number Of mills. And,
In addition TO devOting himself to the
lumber business, In also engaged In the
manufacture Of mOuldings, castings,
ETC.. ana sashes and doors. He In the
senior member Of the firm Of =. 4. Gun.
dersOn 4 Son, manufacturers Of mould.
ings. castings, etc.
Mr.. GundersOn has q masonic record
Of more than usual prominence. He
was made a Mason In 1893 In Kilwin.
Ing Lodge. No. III. i. A. NJ, he has
advanced through the various degrees,
and II now a member Of the Washing.
ton Chapter. Chicago C0mmandery.
No. I'D. and Oriental COnsistOry, q. p.
II. H.. I'D degree. and the Medinah
Temple Of the Mystic Shrine He was
one OF those benevolent members OF
tine craft who founded the Illinois Ma.
sonic Orphans Home. Of which institu-
tion he was a trustee for three years.
He Is a member Of the MenOken Club.
Lincoln Club. Acacia Club. Sunset
Club, and the Scandinavian Literary
Club. and the Eagle River Fishing and
Shooting Club.
He has ever been affiliated with nhe
Republican party, ana has always