Title: A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its
people;.
Author: Sawyer, Alvah L. (Alvah Littlefield), 1854-1925.
Publication Info: Chicago, : The Lewis publishing company, 1911. Page
1018 - 1019
CAPTAIN ARVID BJORK - A man of excellent character and
undoubted executive ability, Captain Arvid Bjork, now serving as mayor
of Crystal Falls, has served as superintendent of the Bristol Mine for
a number of years, and by his thorough mastory of his calling,
fidelity to his trusts, and his special aim to give to every man a
square deal, has won the respect and esteem of those with whom he is
most closely associated, both in business and in social circles. He
was born, October 17, 1866, in Central Sweden. His father, a life-long
resident of that country, served for thirty years as a soldier in the
Swedish Army. He reared five sons and one daughter, namely: Carl J.,
Andrew E., Gustave A., August F., Arvid and Anna, all of whom, with
the exception of Carl J., emigrated to America. Brought up in his
native land, Arvid Bjork, who was naturally an apt scholar, acquired a
practical common school education. Coming to America in 1885, he found
himself a stranger in a strange land, with no knowledge of the English
tongue. Joining two of his brothers in Florence, Wisconsin, he
subsequently secured surface work at the Stambaugh mine, and having
acquired a good insight into the methods there employed was made shift
boss at the Aragon mine, later becoming night captain. During all of
that time he was devoting every minute of his spare time in studying,
and after spending two years at the Aragon mine went to Minneapolis
where he attended a private school for a year. Returning then to
Florence, he was timekeeper at the Florence mine for a time, and then
at the Commonwealth mine was both timekeeper and general clerk. A year
later Captain Bjork was given charge of an exploring party on the
Marquette Range, and at the completion of that work, was made cashier
at the Aragon mine. In 1899 the Captain was transferred to Crystal
Falls, where he has since served most ably and acceptably as
superintendent of the Bristol mine. Captain Bjork married, in 1891,
Alma S. Anderson, who was born and bred in Central Sweden, and, after
the death of her mother, came to America to join her father, then a
resident of Chicago. Six children have blessed the union of Captain
and Mrs. Bjork, namely: Rose E., Edna S., Mabel E., Clarence A.,
Dewey, and Norman S. Mr. and Mrs. Bjork were reared in the Lutheran
faith, but are now attending the Methodist Episcopal Church. A
steadfast Republican in politics, the captain served as township clerk
while living in Commonwealth, and has been a member of the County
Board of Supervisors, and of the Crystal Falls Board of Education, and
is now rendering fine service as mayor of the city. Fraternally he is
a member of Crystal Falls Lodge, No. 385, F. & A. M.; of Crystal Falls
Chapter, No. 129, R. A. M.; of Hugh McCurdy Commandery, No. 43, K. T.;
and of Ahmed Temple, Mystic Shrine. |
