Bio of HONSTAIN, George T. (b.1858), Hennepin Co., MN ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Laura Pruden Submitted: June 2003 ========================================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ======================================================== submitted by Laura Pruden, email Raisndustbunys@aol.com ======================================================== 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 GEORGE T. HONSTAIN - Vol II, pg 631 One of the substantial business men of Minneapolis is George T. Honstain, chair­man of the board of directors of the Western Crucible Steel Casting Company, one of the representative manufacturing interests of the Northwest. A native of Wisconsin, his birth occurred in Grant county, on the 23d of June, 1858, a son of Edward E. and Amanda (Logue) Honstain, the former born in New York state. He passed away on September 18, 1922, at the age of ninety-seven years. Three generations of the Honstain family are now residing in Minneapolis. The family originally resided in Holland and the progenitor in this country was John Honstain, grandfather of George T. The public schools of Wisconsin afforded George T. Honstain his education and at an early age he learned the carpenter's trade. He was engaged in contracting and building for thirty years and achieved substantial success. On the 12th of August, 1878, he came to Minneapolis and built many grain elevators here. He likewise built a number in North Dakota, where he resided for a few years during the late '80s. Minneapolis, however, has been his headquarters since 1878. In 1896 George T. Hon­stain, in association with J. H. Hopper and Ray Merritt, organized the Western Crucible Steel Casting Company. Mr. Hopper and Mr. Merritt withdrew from the business at the end of two years and since that time Mr. Honstain has been sole owner and was president of the company from the time of its organization to January 28, 1923. In his- business life he has been a persistent, resolute and energetic worker, possessing strong executive powers, and, added to a progressive spirit, ruled by more than ordinary intelligence and good judgment, there has been a native justice which has expressed itself in correct principle and practice. The Western Crucible Steel Casting Company manufactures high alloyed electric steel castings and enjoys a trade extending from coast to coast. The company's plant is located on Grand avenue, between Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth streets, South, and is well equipped and efficiently managed. On the 18th of December, 1879, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Honstain to Miss Hattie O. House, a native of Minnesota. To their union one son has been born, Vernon Germain, who is now president of the company. Mrs. Honstain is a woman of much culture and refinement and is socially prominent. The political allegiance of Mr. Honstain is given to the republican party and the principles for which it stands. Although he has never taken a particularly active part in party affairs, he is ever cognizant of the duties and obligations of good citizenship and his aid can always be counted upon in the furtherance of any movement for the development and improvement of the community. Fraternally he is a Mason, holding membership in Hennepin Lodge, No. 4, F. & A. M., of Minneapolis; Minneapolis Con­sistory and Zuhrah Temple of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Honstain is likewise affiliated with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is an active contributor to the Civic & Commerce Association, the United Commercial Travelers and the Citizens Alliance Club.