Oscar Erickson
Occupation:
Stone planer
Stone workers and stonemasons have created buildings, monuments, roads, and many othe types of structures since before the existence of civilization. Examples of stone work and stonemasonry can be found world wide. It utilizes a number of different types of stone and methods for creating foundations, walls, and covernings on buildings. Modern stonemasons learn their craft by serving an apprenticeship and they learn how to measure, cut, and install stone materials by using both hand tools and pneumatic power tools. The Minnesota State Captiol building was largely built by stone workers who used steam powered saws and polishing machines, and hand tools.
There are numerous photographs on this website that show stonemasons, stone materials, and the tools that were used in the Capitol construction. For other information about stonemasonry and stonework see:
Bricklayers and Allied Craft Workers, Local 1 of Minnesota and North Dakota at: http://www.bac1mn-nd.org/
Wikipedia "Stonemsonry," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonemasonry
Stone Quarries and Beyond at: http://quarriesandbeyond.org/stone_workers_union/stone_workers_union-res...
George Wolford
Occupation:
George Wolford (Wofford in the CD) was born in Georgia in 1876 and came to St. Paul with the marble. In January of 1900 the toes of his right foot were crushed in an accident on the job. In January of 1901 he joined the Tilelayers Union.
William Mullinox
Occupation:
French Canadian, William Mullinox was born in Canada in 1870 and came to the U.S. in 1885. John McAteer also lived at this address.
Gustave J. Bergman
Occupation:
Gustave J. Bergman was born in Sweden in 1875 and emigrated in 1889. He raised a large family here in St. Paul while working as a machine operator in the stone industry. Alfred Mortenson also lived at this address in 1899.
William M. Benson
Occupation:
1900 City Directory. William Benson was born in Sweden in 1866 and emigrated in 1881. His wife and two youngest children were born in Georgia and he came from there to St.Paul in 1900 to work on the Capitol as a "sawyer,"planer" and "turner".
John Westlund
Occupation:
John Westlund was born in Sweden in 1870 and came to America in 1888. Edward Ecklund and the Swansons also lived at this address.
John Swanson
Occupation:
John Swanson was born in Sweden in 1869 and emigrated in 1885. The 1900 Census has him living with his wife and two children at 106 Viola with fellow stone cutter, Jacob Zadow and his family.
Peter G. Larson
Occupation:
1898 City Directory. Peter G. Larson worked with the machines in the stone cutting shed. The map location is about where 531 13th St. would have been.
Joseph Green
Occupation:
George Gray
Occupation:
