Bio of COLBURN, Richard R. (b.1884), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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R. R. COLBURN (Richard R. Colburn) - Vol III, pg 367-368
Few men are more prominent or more widely known in the enterprising city of
Minneapolis than R. R. Colburn, secretary, treasurer and general manager of the
Reliance Brick Company. He was born in Detroit, Minnesota, on the 22d of May,
1884, a son of R. R. and Lettie (Terry) Colburn. The father was a manufacturer
of spices and was one of the well known business men of his day. His demise
occurred in 1912. Mrs. Colburn is a native of Minnesota, and is still living, at
the age of sixty-seven years.
In the acquirement of his education R. R. Colburn attended the public schools of
Minneapolis through the eighth grade. He then put his textbooks aside and
started out in the world on his own account. He went to Idaho and there worked
on a cattle ranch for a time, but later he engaged in gold mining in that state
and subsequently went into business for himself, freighting supplies to mining
camps. He located a ranch of three hundred and twenty acres in Idaho, brought it
to a highly improved state and resided thereon for one and one-half years.
Ranching, however, did not appeal to him as a life work and in 1901 he returned
to Minneapolis and accepted a position as clerk for the Hydraulic Pressed Brick
Company, remaining in its employ for twelve years. At the termination of that
time he went to Hebron, North Dakota, and reorganized a company there, doubling
the capacity in seventeen months, and raising the capital to five hundred
thousand dollars. Returning to Minneapolis in 1915, he organized the
Colburn-Murray Brick Company, jobbers, with a capital of twenty-five thousand
dollars. The following year the company was reorganized, the name was changed to
the Colburn Brick & Tile Company, and Mr. Colburn became president and manager.
He devoted his entire time and attention to promoting the success of the
enterprise and raised the capital stock to four hundred thousand dollars. At the
time of his resignation, in September, 1921, the company was putting out over
thirty thousand tons of hollow building tile a year. During the year 1919 Mr.
Colburn realized the need of a selling organization to handle the products of
the Colburn Brick & Tile Company, as well as other allied lines. In January,
1920, he organized the Reliance Brick Company, of which he is secretary,
treasurer and manager. Mr. Colburn possesses untiring energy, is quick of
perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution. These
characteristics, together with his close application to business and his
excellent management, have brought to him the high degree of prosperity which is
his today.
On the 4th of February, 1915, in Hebron, was celebrated the marriage of Mr.
Corburn to Miss Ethel L. Conley, whose father was for many years engaged in
agricul­tural pursuits in Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Colburn have a son, Richard,
six years of age. Mrs. Colburn is a woman of culture and refinement and she is
socially prominent.
In his political views Mr. Colburn is a republican and is a firm believer in the
principles of that party as factors in good government. Although he has never
sought nor desired political preferment, he is public-spirited, and his
interests are thoroughly identified with those of Minneapolis. He is at all
times ready to lend his aid and cooperation to any movement calculated to
benefit this section of the state or advance its wonderful development. His
religious faith is evidenced in his membership in the Congregational church and
he is a generous contributor to its support. Fraternally he is identified with
the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Socially he holds membership in the
Minneapolis Athletic Club and the Lincoln and Automobile clubs. For recreation
Mr. Colburn turns to the great out-of-doors and he spends much of his spare time
in hunting, fishing and motoring.