Bio of NOTT, William S. (b.1853 d.1923), 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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Vol II, pg 94-97
WILLIAM S. NOTT
During the many years of his residence in Minneapolis, William S. Nott,
president of the W. S. Nott Company, wielded a great influence for good and no
man in this city stood higher for integrity and sterling worth. When called to
his final rest on the 5th of May, 1923, he had completed the Psalmist's allotted
span of three score years and ten. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, on the 9th of
July, 1853, a son of Henry and Louisa (Nott) Nott. At the age of five years he
was brought by his parents to the United States and located with them in
Chicago. He obtained a limited academic education in the schools of that city
and entered upon his business career as an employe of E. B. Preston & Company,
manufacturers of belting and rubber goods. He remained in the employ of that
company, rendering it excellent service, until 1879 and during that time took
advantage of every opportunity offered him to learn the business. He was a young
man of laudable ambition and there was that within him which called him to a
mastership of whatever work he was engaged in, consequently in the last
mentioned year he came to Minneapolis and founded the W. S. Nott Company. The
business was first established under the name of Preston & Nott and in 1880
occupied the building at 203 Nicollet avenue, near the corner of Second street.
In 1887 the company was incorporated under the name of the W. S. Nott Company
and the following year moved to larger quarters in the newly constructed Mutual
building on Second street between Nicollet and First avenues South. The company
was in business there for about five years when, the quarters having become too
small, they moved across the street to the remodeled Brackett building,
southwest corner of First avenue South, and Second street, where they remained
for eighteen years. The business gradually expanded until it was found necessary
to move into larger quarters and in 1910 they bought the property at the corner
of Second avenue North, and Third street, and during the year erected the
building now occupied. The company has a frontage of one hundred and thirty-two
feet and a depth of one hundred and sixty-eight feet, with six stories and a
basement. It also has a warehouse at 1620 Central avenue, consisting of two
buildings, one of which is three hundred and fifty feet long and one story in
height, and the other one three hundred feet long and two stories in height,
with trackage facilities. In this the firm carries its roofing and building
materials and also manufactures pipe covering. The officers of this mammoth
business were: William S. Nott, president and founder; Frederick H. George, vice
president, who has been associated with the company since 1882; E. M.
Goldsborough, second vice president and general manager, who joined the
organization in 1885; Wilbur C. Fiske, secretary; and L. M. Powell, treasurer.
The last named officers have also been identified with the company for many
years. Forty-three years have marked the growth of Minneapolis from village to
metropolis and in the same length of time the W. S. Nott Company has grown from
a small institution to the largest of its kind in the United States. As
manufacturers and jobbers of leather belting, leather specialties, pipe and
boiler covering, mechanical rubber goods, thresher-men's supplies, roofing
materials, automobile tires and accessories, the company has attained merited
leadership. Mr. Nott early proved himself a business man of ability and he was
well calculated to inspire all with his splendid character and manly qualities.
He was a man universally liked and admired for his marked business acumen and
his influence was felt in every movement in which the general welfare of
Minneapolis has been benefited. His energy and capacity in business called him
to leading positions in other enterprises and he became vice president of the
Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company and was also connected with other
industrial and financial institutions of great value to the community in which
he lived.
On the 20th of June, 1888, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Nott and Miss
Jessica Cory, a native of Iowa. To their union one daughter was born, Charlotte,
who is now the wife of Conrad G. Driscoll of this city, and they are the parents
of three children: Charlotte, William and Conrad, Jr.
Politically Mr. Nott always gave his allegiance to the republican party and the
principles for which it stands. Although he never sought nor desired public
preferment, he was a close student of the living issues of the day and ever
cognizant of the duties and responsibilities as well as the privileges of
citizenship. Socially he was identified with the Minneapolis, Lafayette and
Minikahda Clubs and as a public-spirited citizen he was active in the affairs of
the Commercial Club. Mr. Nott was in every sense of the word a self-made man.
Starting out into the business world on his own account at an early age, he
rapidly forged ahead until he was one of the outstanding figures in the history
of business development in Minneapolis.