Edward Larson
Occupation:
1902 City Directory. Edward Larson worked as a blacksmith on the Capitol.
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is an individual who makes or repairs objects made from iron or steel. Blacksmithing is a very old occupation-objects made from iron have been found dating from ancient Greece and blacksmiths are a part of the mythologies of many ancient civilizations. Later in medieval Europe, blacksmiths could be found in towns and villages producing an array of tools and other hardware. Blacksmiths were employed during the years of the Capitol construction, making and repairing tools and probably shoeing horses.
For more information see:
The Guild of Metalsmiths at: www.metalsmith.org/pub
William Jones
Occupation:
1902 City Directory. William Jones worked as a blacksmith on the Capitol. This boarding house hosted many Capitol workers.
Andrew Johnson
Occupation:
1904 City Directory. Andrew Johnson worked on the Capitol as a blacksmith.
Charles Heuss
Occupation:
1902 City Directory. Charles Heuss worked on the Capitol construction as a blacksmith.
Arvid Wahlberg
Occupation:
1905 Payroll and 1903-1905 St. Paul City Directories, family account. Arvid Wahlberg was born in Sweden in 1875 and emigrated in 1901. He married Clara Mathiason. Clara made lace curtains for the governor's residence, 25 University Ave. W. in St. Paul during William Rush Merriam's term (1889-1893). Her granddaughter, Mary Jane Wahlberg Hand, recalls that Clara was lacemaker for the King and Queen of Sweden before emigrating. Arvid and Clara's son Lloyd Arvid Wahlberg was born in 1912.
Thomas Walsh
Occupation:
This was a popular rooming house for Capitol workers. John Westlund, Edward Ecklund and others lived here.
John Gobeil
Occupation:
John Gobeil worked for Butler-Ryan for a short time in 1898. His usual occupation was shoemaker. His brother Adolph was a President of the Local Cornice Makers Union.
August Curran
Occupation:
1899 City Directory. French Canadian August Curran (or Currin) was born 1838 and came to the U.S. in 1846. He worked on the Capitol as a blacksmith and his son worked as a laborer.
Edward Ecklund
Occupation:
1899, 1901 and 1902 City Directories. Edward worked as a blacksmith and toolmaker and his son was a messenger. Fellow Capitol workers Andrew and John Swanson and John Westland also lived here.
Andrew and John Swanson and John Westland also lived here.
John Acker
Occupation:
Blacksmith John Acker (1852-1919) was born Jun. 22, 1852 in Rogaland fylke, Norway and emigrated with his wife Bertha Karine Kolbeinsdatter Acker (1851-1916) from Norway in 1881. They raised a large family in their house at 757 Cook Ave. John died in St. Paul on February 10, 1919.
Most of the workers who constructed the Minnesota Capitol belonged to unions. A specific union affiliation has not been found for this particular worker, though other Capitol blacksmiths were organized in St. Paul at the time the Capitol was built, so it's probable he was a union member.
Acker grave stone, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Maplewood, MN
Photo courtesy of Angels All Around Us
John Acker grave inscription
Photo courtesy of Angels All Around Us
