Guthf
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
FRANK J. GUTH is one of the leading
merchants in Odessa, where he has resided since the town was started.
He was born in Mankato, Minnesota, the son of Arnold and Mary Guth, natives
of Germany. They came to Minnesota in 1856 and settled on land near
where Mankato now stands. The father became very wealthy and is a
prominent citizen there. Our subject was educated in the public schools
and remained with his father until his majority, then he took a position
with S. Larson & Company in Madelia, where he remained four years.
In 1899, he came to the Pacific coast and spent sometime in looking over
the country, finally deciding to locate in Odessa. For one year,
he was in the implement house here and in the fall of 1901, he engaged
as partner with L. P. Zimmer, the owner of the implement house. They
soon added a large line of hardware and the next August bought out the
former owners of the Odessa Hardware Company, John Shaffer and Frank Ardolf.
They carry a full line of hardware, implements, and so forth and
are doing a large business.
Mr. Guth is a member of the I. O. O. F. and
is a popular man. He is possessed of sterling energy and has shown
first class ability in building up and handling the business which he now
owns. He has gained wealth in his labors and although starting with
no capital whatever, he has met with the success that faithfulness and
integrity merit.
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