Jefferson County Online A part of the IAGenWeb and USGenWeb Projects Who's Who in Jefferson County, 1931 Anton Robert Carlson

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Friday, July 17, 1931
Front Page

Who's Who In Jefferson County
By Herbert F. McDougal

Anton Robert CARLSON

After he had been a banker for fifteen years, Anton Carlson decided he'd rather handle a little money of his own than a great deal that belonged to other peole (sic). So he resigned his position as cashier in the First National bank and bought the old-established Richardson Hardware company store. He thought he would like hardware because he had been brought up on the farm where much machinery is used, and he knew a great deal about it. He has learned a good deal more about it since.

He had another theory in business--merchandising. He didn't intend to buy stock for keepsakes, but to sell. He was really pretty cold-blooded about it. Ther esult (sic) is that he keeps his stock attractive, forms no permanent attachment for the articles therein, but esteems them as they move quickly to the ultimate consumer. It was back in 1919 that he quit banking for hardware, and year by year he has built up the business.

Mr. Carlson was born near Vadstedna, Sweden, January 26 1880. The family came to the United States the next fall, making for New Sweden, where his father's uncle, Carl Edickson lived. His father engaged in various activities to get a start in the new country. He cut wood on the Jordan farm, farmed burned tile. For twelve years he was an expert tile-burner for the old Messenger tile works. At the same time he farmed a little tract of land northwest of the city adjoining the fairgrounds. he next moved to the Nat DuBois farm, a mile north of the city where the family lived for twenty years.

Anton went to country school then worked on farms. By 1902 he had decided upon a business career and entered Elliott's Business college in Burlington. When he finished there he was bookkeeper in a grocery house in Burlington for a time. It was in 1904 that he entered the employ of the First National bank here as a clerk. Litle (sic) by little he advanced in the business--bookkeeper, teller, assistant cashier, and finally, for the last year, cashier.

He is community minded and takes an active part in civic matters. He was a member of the old Retail Merchant's association, and its last president. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, a Rotarian and a member of the Walton club. He is prominent in the affairs of the Lutheran church.

He married Miss Susie (sic - Clara Susanna) Johnson of Fairfield July 27, 1904. They have one child--Robert, 8 years old.