Edward Wellington Backus

Notes:

Courtesy of the Fort Frances Museum
Obituary:
Edward Wellington Backus
Born 1861
Married Elizabeth Horr Backus Died October 29th, 1934
Mr. Edward Wellington Backus, of Minneapolis was noted as a modern Napolean of finance, diplomacy and astuteness. Backus was among the leaders in the newsprint and timber industry. An empire builder he envisioned the possibilities of power, timber and natural resources. He was the first capitalist to show his faith in the industrial future of Fort Frances by putting up his money and every dollar he could get from outside resources to develop water power.
In 1882 Backus began his lumbering career at the age of 21 with the Lee and McCullock company, buying out the interest of the junior partner the following year. The firm of Lee and Backus was succeeded in 1885 and in 1899 changed to the Backus-Brooks Company.
In 1892, with a timber cruiser, Backus walked 200 miles through deep snow to arrive shortly after midnight at a Huddon's Bay company Post, now Fort Frances. In the crisp clear moonlight he viewed the majestic Falls and envisioned the future of power developments, paper mills and sawmills, staff support in the existence of two large towns, with footpaths being supplanted with railroads.
Mr. Backus was noted as "a man of splendid physique... he had the head of statesman and shoulders of a gladiator. His beaming eyes denoted his keen intellect and his retentitive memory... Or commanding appearance, he was a man of note whether in village circles or in the financial centers of the east... He devoted his time and energies to the development of his industrial enterprise."
Mr. Backus, like many other financiers over-extended his activities during the prosperous period following World War I. Suffering severe losses, his endeavors to recoup his losses and advanced aged were factors in his death in 1934 when he succumbed to a heart attack in New York.

See also:
http://www.angelfire.com/mn/thursdaynighthikes/lakeisles_arch1.html

Edward married Elizabeth Horr in . Elizabeth (daughter of Augustus Horr and Emily Leavitt) was born about 1862 in Maine, USA; died on 24 Nov 1956 in ; was buried in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co, Minnesota, USA (Lakewood Cemetery). [Group Sheet]

1. Edward Raymond Backus was born about 1891; died on 26 Aug 1912 in International Falls, Koochiching Co, Minnesota, USA.
2. Seymour Wellington Backus was born on 1 Oct 1895 in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co, Minnesota, USA; died on 30 Jun 1936 in Miami Beach, Dade Co, Florida, USA; was buried in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co, Minnesota, USA.

Abel married Anna Anderson. [Group Sheet]