Individual Stories

Patrick Wheeler

Occupation: 
Mason

1897 Payroll and City Directory. Stonemason Patrick Wheeler was born in Ireland in 1863 and emigrated in 1883. He worked for George Grant on the construction of the foundation of the Capitol. Wheeler was an early member of the Stonemasons' Union. He and his wife, Nora, raised a large family here in St. Paul.

George Williams

Occupation: 
Teamster

Dale and Bumgardner Payroll. George Williams worked as a teamster grading the Capitol grounds. He was born in England in 1865 and moved to Minnesota in 1891.

Most of the workers who constructed the Minnesota Capitol belonged to unions. A specific union affiliation has not been found for Marquart, but other Teamsters were organized in St. Paul at the time the Capitol was built, so it's probable he was a union member, like Teamsters Local 120 founder John Geary, who also did grading work on the Capitol grounds.

William Wilson

Occupation: 
Carpenter

1905 Payroll, 1903-1905 St. Paul City Directories. William Wilson was born in Ireland in 1872 and moved to Minnesota with his wife, Lena, in 1900. He was a member of Carpenters Local 87 and served as a Trustee of the local in 1902.

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