8
CHRISTEN KRYGER Source: "Biographical History of Northern Michigan" There is both lesson and inspiration offered in a consideration of the career of this well-known and highly honored merchant of Kalkaska, for he came to America as a young man without capitalistic resources and further handicapped by a lack of knowledge of the English language, and here he has worked out his own fortunes and gained a position of solidity and no little precedence in the business world, while his integrity of character has brought him into the favorable regard and unqualified confidence of all with whom he has come in contact. He is today conducting a representative business in Kalkaska, having and attractive store and handling dry goods, clothing, mens furnishing goods, and shoes, while his is one of the leading business houses of the thriving little city. Mr Kryger is a native of Denmark, where he was born on the 9th. of June 1859, and where he was reared to manhood securing good educational advantages in the excellent national schools. He also learned to speak and read the German language and accumulated a good colloquial knowledge of the Swedish and Norwegian tongues, and this same knowledge proved of distinctive value to him in his future career, as he was placed largely among foreigners of the dorts noted upon coming to America. In 1879, at the age of 20 years, Mr. Kryger severed the ties which bound him to home and native land and set forth to seek his fortunes in the United States. He made Michigan his destination, locating in Kalkaska county, where he passed the the first five years in labor of the most strenuous order, since he assisted in the clearing of land, cutting ties and logs and in general farm work. He found that his progress within these five years had been very slight so far as ambition and self-reliance led him to see other fields of endeavor. In 1879 he came to Kalkaska county where he worked in the woods during the first winter and later was employed at farm work for two and one-half years by A.E. Palmer. He then secured a clerical position in the grocery establishment of Kellog and Wooden, of Kalkaska, and later was for seven and one-half years a faithful and popular salesman in the dry good store of the firm of Palmer and Gibson. In the meanwhile he had been frugal andeconomical and had succeeded in saving seven hundred dollars from his wages. With this sum he determined to engage in business on his own responsibility. Accordingly, in 1897, he rented a small store in Kalkaska and in the same installed a modest stock of dry goods, clothing, etc., utilizing all his available funds and also his credit in buying his little stock which even then proved hardly adequate to consistently cover the shelves of his store, so that a number of vacant places were discreetly concealed from sight by a judicious use of oil cloth and other disguises. From this modest nucleus he has built up a splendid business, now having large and attractive salesrooms and comprehensive and select stock in each of the departments. An investment of about sixteen thousand dollars is represented, and the annual transactions on a cash basis have reached the notable average aggregate of twenty eight thousand dollars In the spring of 1903, Mr. Kryger opened a branch store at Boyne City, Charlevoix county, and here a very nice business has already been built up. Mr. Kryger has made it an insistent point to offer goods upon their absolute merits and to permit no misrepresentation, while his prices have been ever reasonable, so that he has caused his establishment to appeal to the best class of patrons while his reliability and honor are proverbial. In politics Mr. Kryger is a staunch Republican, and he served 2 years as Village Treasurer, while he was also a member of the Village Council for two terms. In a fraternal way he is identified with the local organizations of the Knights of the Macabees, of which he has been finance keeper for the past 12 years and with the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, enjoying distinctive popularity in both business and social circles. Mr. and Mrs. Kryger are members of the Methodist Church. On the 13th. of March, 1890, Mr. Kryger was united in marriage to Miss Mary McKee Wheeler, who was born in Lagrange, Indiana, and who was reared in Mount Pleasant, Iowa and Capac, Michigan, having been engaged in the dressmaking business in Kalkaska at the time of her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Kryger have been born three children, Elton C. and Dannia M., who lend cheer and brightness to the home circle; and Vernon C., who died at the age of 2 years, as the result of injuries recieved by his clothing having been set afire. Publisher: B.F. Bowen & Company, 1905, page 369
Best viewed at
1024x768 with MS Explorer 5.5 or higher, |
