The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1906-12-29
OUR PIONEERS
Crystal Falls Unqualed by Any
Other New Town in the Ex-
cellence OF It's People.
Pioneers Biographies Dished up
In Brief Form for Home
Readers.

Probably no new town in the Yves
can lay claim TO the possession OF a
fine class OF people as Crystal Falls
The residents Of this place, and 90
pecially our pioneers, are, as a rule
energetic. patient and persevering, anc
will in time make this pleasant turl
as desirable place to reside in as ex
lists in the Upper Peninsula. The
founders of the town. s. ID. Hollister
ST.. and George Runkel. are men toe
fine for praise. Messrs. Hollister and
Runkel arrived here Sept. IL, 1880.
They found in operation a small ex.
ploring camp now the Crystal Falls
mine. They intended going TO Ago
gebi. but Henry Maltby, who was
Largely interested in the mine, induced
them to remain. Seeing that this re-
gion would. in time. become new
mining section. they succeeded In
effecting the organization of the
Crystal Falls Iron Company What Is
now the town site was purchased, and
in the summer Of 1881 commenced lay
ing out lots Mr.. HOLSTER was born
in Burnt Hills, Saratoga County. n.
y. April 16, 1888. He moved to
Tomah. Wis. in 1856, and was one OF
the pioneers OF the place. He resided
at Tomah and Sparata about twenty
years and was clerk Of Monroe county
for six years. He moved from there TO
Chicago, and then came TO Crystal
Falls. He moved his family up here
in September, 1881. Mr.. Hollister g
family consisted of two sons and three
daughters, who are now young men
and women. The eldest, Cady, was
born August 10, 1859. He is now in
Dakota.
$. ID. Jr, now employed by the
Great Western in the capacity Of
book keeper. was born July 2l. 1861.
He should also be mentioned among
the pioneers. having come to Crystal
Falls in June. 1881. The oldest
daughter, Nellie, was born Jan. 20,
1864. She is now the wife Of ]. l..
Kimball. Matte was born February
20, 1868. and Zilpha June %, 1870.
Mrs HOLSTER is a very amiable and
excellent woman.
George Runke is about SO years old.
and is native OF Germany. Previous
70 coming here he lived in Bellevue,
Iowa. He is now in Pierre, d. I. He
has five children, all with him except
Mrs S. d. HOLSTER Jr.
H. G. Kimball. our worthy and eff
cient physician. came in April, 1891,
from Colon, st. Joseph County, Mich.
He was one of the first 10 erect build
ing of the town site. and was the first
person TO erect frame building in the
vicinity. The lumber was drawn by
team from Florence. a distance of
seventeen miles. He opened drug
store here Immediately, which was one
Of the first drug stores In the town.
He was the first person 10 lay sidewalks
in the town. and has always taken a
great interest in everything pertaining
10 the town more so. prehaps, than
any other man In the place. He has a
large practice AS physician. and for
long time was physician TO all the
mines in this vicinity He was APP
pointed Postmaster by President
Arthur last March. and has efficiently
filled the position since. He was a
trustee for the school district during
the erection Of our present costly school
house was also treasurer OF the School
Board for about two years, and during
that time about $40. 600 passed through
his hands He was born in Livingston
County, New York. in 1887, came
West with his parents in 1894, and set
tied in Southern Michigan. Mrs.
Kimball arrived in Crystal Falls June
10. 1881. aud was the first lady to
make the Falls her home She has re
sided here continuously since then.
only being absent once on short visit
10 Escanaba Mrs Kimball not only
deserves the honor Of being the first
lady in the Falls. but she should also
he given the credit for being true
pioneer of the place. Her trip up from
Florence was made with blackboard,
and, Mt the time OF her arrival no tim
Der whatever had been cut on the town
site. The hardships to be endured in
the new town were numerous, but she
bore them gladly, and even lent help
ing hand in the establishment OF her
husbands business here Mrs Kimball
ia the mother OF three children-a
dauhgter. Nettie. now residing in
Southern Michigan J. l. who IL In
the drusSbusiness with his father; and
Ray, aged rs, who 10 attending school