Executive

A senior manager in a corporation, labor union, or other type of organization

George J. Grant

Occupation: 

Dale and Bumgardner Payroll. George J. Grant was the contractor for the foundation of the Capitol in 1896. He is also listed in Dale and Bumgardner's payroll as having supplied 2 teams for the grading of the grounds in 1905. Grant was born in Canada in 1841 and he and his wife, Theresa, moved to Minnesota in 1881. They raised a family here as George kept his successful contracting business going. George died in 1924, and the firm was taken over by his descendants who eventually sold it. However, it still exists today.

George J. Grant Construction Company, office interior
George J. Grant Construction Company, office interior
Image courtesy Minnesota Historical Society. Used with permission.

Cass Gilbert

Occupation: 

(Heather Drive was called Floral Drive when Cass Gilbert lived here.) Gilbert was the architect of the Capitol and had grown up in St. Paul. By 1900 he had moved to New York City where he spent the rest of his life.

In September 1904 as the end of the Capitol construction was drawing near, William Butler, then president of the Butler Brothers Construction Company, gave an interview to the St. Paul Globe newspaper.  This is a pdf-document of the entire article in which he describes the work he and his company supervised. 

Please click on the title of the article below to view it. You will be able to enlarge the image clicking on the image tools that appear at the bottom of the article. 

Cooley Butler

Occupation: 

Cooley Butler was the fifth Butler Brother. Born in 1868, he held the positions of company vice president from 1902-1927, president from 1927-1936, and chairman of the board in 1936. The address listed here was of the Astoria Hotel which was the address Cooley Butler used as his residence.

John Butler

Occupation: 

John Butler was the second Butler Brother. Born in Minnesota in 1861, was secretary of the Butler Brothers Construction Company. He was involved in many of the company's more prominent projects including the quarrying activities for the marble facing on the Minnesota State Capitol Building. John Butler's (1861-1926) official position was secretary of the Company during the construction. In 1898 he moved to Tate, Georgia and managed the quarrying of the marble for the Capitol. John Butler passed away in 1926.

William Butler

Occupation: 

William Butler was the third Butler brother. Born in 1864, William held the position of manager of general contract operations and also treasurer from 1894-1916. William Butler passed away in 1916. He and his brother Walter were founding members of Bricklayers Local 1 in St. Paul, but as an owner of the company employing workers on the Capitol project, he would not have been an active member of the union at that time. William was the on-the-ground manager of the State Capitol construction.

Walter B. Butler

Occupation: 

Walter Butler was the oldest Butler brother and the first president of the Butler Brothers Construction Company, the general contractor for the construction of the Capitol. Born in 1858, he began as a bricklayer and union activist in the Bricklayer's Union, having served as union president of the Bricklayer's Benevolent Union Local 1 in 1884 and 1885. As the employer of the capitol project, he would not have been an active union member at that time.

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