Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, March 27, 1909, Page 105

BEMIDJI, BELTRAMI COUNTY AND NORTHERN MINNESOTA. J. M. PHILLIPPI. S. D., being assistant superintendent of the government school at that place for eight years; and all his life he has been prom- inently identified with public affairs, always with great credit to himself. Mr. Phillippi is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and one of the enjoyments which he characterizes as a real pleasure is meeting with the local “boys in blue,” at their campfires at Be- midji. Mr. Phillippi ‘“saw service” of the trying kind with the Union army, and he re- ceived injuries during the great struggle between the North and the South that have been considerable trouble to him in recent years. When he came to Bemidji, Mr. Phillippi filed on a homestead and after he had proved up (four years ago) he took charge of the Beltrami county poor farm, where he held the position of superintendent until the present time, gaining more friends by the admirable maner in which he conducted the farm. Mr. Phillippi is a progressive, liberal citi- zen who is honored and respected by all who know him, and especially is he well liked by his neighbors and comrades. M. D. STONER. City Engineer Stoner, though still a Young man, is one of Bemidji’s oldest set- tlers, so to speak. - He settled here when this city was a village, coming here trom Onio. He took up a timber claim in this county, and since his advent here he has been one of the guiding factors in the city’s destinies. As an expert civil engineer, Mr. Stoner has had to do with all public con- struction work in Bemidji; he has assisted in building all railroads which penetrate the city, and through private survey, he was chiefly instrumental in attracting the Great Northern railroad officials, with the result that they directed the main line of that great system through this city. Mr. Stoner also made the preliminary survey for the M. & I. out of Bemidji, and the responsible position of chief engineer during the con- struction of the Minneapolis Red Lake and Manitoba railroad. At present, Mr. Stoner is engaged in building twenty miles of railroad in Kittson county, this state. He has located and built nearly all the logging spurs located on the M. & I. from Walker to Blackduck, and has been entrusted with numerous other im- portant undertakings, all of which he com- pleted with comprehensive management and dispatch. As city engineer, Mr. Stoner has made himself as popular as he was when he was engaged in completing the extensive im- provements above enumerated. He is an adept as a surveyor and civil engineer; he is especialy esteemed by the rank and file as well as by the property owners ot the county, and it is safe to predict that his retention in his present office is an assured fact so long as he desires to hold the same. GEORGE T. BAKER & CO. Mr. Baker, the manager of this concern, has been a prominent business man of Bemidji for about five years. He is an- other of our thrifty business men who sought this section owing to the glowing opportunities offered by its scenic beauty as a pleasure resort, its virgin soil, and its situation as a key city. His conclusions along this line have resulted in his present possession of the largest manufacturing jewelry establishments and jewelry stores in north-central Minnesota. They carry an elegant line of the popular makes of watches; natty things in chains, INTERIOR GEO. T. BAKER & CO.'S JEWELRY STORE. bracelets and jewelry novelties, rings of every price, precious stones of all descrip- tions and art goods of numerous Kkinds. They are also experts in repair work, and have every facility for disposing of such work. This is evident from the fact that they are official time keepers for a great number of the railroad men who reside here. They also receive a vast patronage from towns from all the surrounding country, and have earned a reputation in their chosen line that is to be appreciated. Mr. Baker, the manager, is not only an exemplary citizen, but a prosperous one. His extensive business serves as another example of how business men succeed when they locate here. As a member of the Bemidji Commercial Club he shoulders his share of labor in advertising the city, and we are glad to mention his name in connec- tion with other patriotic citizens who are responsible for Bemidji’s greatness. J. PETERSON, JR. Bemidji is also large enough to loyally and liberally support an exclusive confec- tionery and fruit parlor and notion head- quarters, which is the enterprise conducted by J. Peterson, Jr., the veteran confectioner of this city. : Mr. Peterson began his business career in Bemidji with a small but neatly-conducted J. PETERSON, JR. fruit and confectionery stand, which at once became popular, through the square treat- ment accorded patrons by the proprietor and also to the fact that nothing but the very. best stocks were kept on hand. After two years in the small stand, Mr. Peterson’s trade grew to such proportions that he was of necessity compelled to seek newer and larger quarters, with the result that he leased a prominent stand in the center of the business section, which he had reno- vated and arranged especially after his own ideas, and where he now has the most com- plete fruit and confectionery stand.in north- central Minnesota. Mr. Peterson’s aim has always been to excel in his particular line, and in his efforts he has attained a great measure of success. It is the consensus of opinion of those who visit Mr. Peterson’s store that he has the finest establishment of its kind in this part of the state, outside of Duluth. In connection with the fruit and confec- tionery business , Mr. Peterson handles cigars and tobaccos of the best-known brands, toys and books, and also conducts an up-to-date news stand. Mr. Peterson has stood steadfastly by the mottoes which he adopted when he first en-