E.J. Longyear Company (Minneapolis, Minn.)

Edmund J. Longyear was born in Grass Lake, Michigan, November 6, 1864. After attending the University of Michigan for two years, he entered the office of his cousin, John Munro Longyear, Marquette, Michigan. He worked in John Munro Longyear's office for a few months and in 1886 became a rodman on the survey for the Marquette, Houghton and Ontonagon Railroad. In 1887 he became a timber and iron ore cruiser for Edward G. Kingsford. After this he entered the Michigan Mining School at Houghton, from which he was graduated in 1888. John Munro Longyear then hired him for test pitting on the Upper Peninsula's Gogebic Range and at Metropolitan, Michigan. He married Nevada Patten in 1890, the same year John Munro Longyear sent him to Minnesota to drill on his recently acquired lands. Between 1890 and 1901 Edmund J. Longyear centered his drilling activities on the Mesabi Range and made his home in Hibbing. During his drilling work he acquired interests in mineral leases and mineral lands.

In 1901, when he moved to Minneapolis, he left a local organization in Hibbing to manage the drilling and other business interests in northern Minnesota. Longyear & Hodge, a partnership formed in 1903 with John E. Hodge (Marquette, Mich.) took charge of the expanding business outside Minnesota. In 1911 he incorporated the E.J. Longyear Company to encompass all the drilling business and to manufacture diamond drills at Marquette. His interests in mineral lands, mines, mineral leases and townsites were reflected in other companies in which he was shareholder, officer, and director.

In the years between the incorporation of the E.J. Longyear Company and Edmund J. Longyear's retirement from the presidency in 1924, the company's business became world-wide. The scope of business continued to widen during the presidency of his son, Robert Davis Longyear, who retired in 1960 to become chairman of the board of directors. The company had drilling and shaft digging contracts, provided professional geological and mining engineering services, and sold drilling equipment in almost every state in the United States, including Alaska, as well as in Africa, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, China, Cuba, San Salvador, France, India, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Russia, Spain, Sweden and Venezuela. The minerals the company drilled for or analyzed were coal, gold, nickel, cobalt, copper, iron, pyrites, oil, molybdenum, bauxite, tungsten, manganese, asbestos, potash, salt, asphalt, lead, zinc, silver, titanium, sulphur, clay, marble, granite, aluminum, silica, quartzite, lithium, chromium, trona, phosphates, and barium. The company also did soil sampling and foundation testing.

As the activities became more complex and far-flung, the business organization was changed to meet new needs. The E.J. Longyear Exploration Company, incorporated in 1922, took charge of exploring and prospecting. The E.J. Longyear Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1922, manufactured and sold diamond drills and other equipment. The E.J. Longyear Development Company, incorporated in 1922, took charge of shaft sinking, tunneling, and mine development. To the E.J. Longyear Company, as the parent, remained the function of supervising and coordinating corporate and financial matters and operating results for the three subsidiary companies. The Longyear Holding Company was incorporated in 1928 as a personal holding company, to own and manage the personal holdings of Edmund J. Longyear, including mineral lands and other investments, and to perform all keeping of records and execution of financial transactions.

The only foreign subsidiary was Canadian Longyear, Limited (North Bay, Canada), incorporated in 1931 during the period covered by these papers.

Sales agencies were as follows:

Austin Hoy and Company, Ltd., London, England

Atkins, Kroll & Company, Manila, Philippines, and San Francisco, Calif.

The Clarence L. Boyd Company, Ltd., Tulsa, Okla.

W. R. Grace & Company, New York, N.Y.

Brooks Equipment & Mfg. Company, also known as: Brooks-Payne-Osborne Equipment Company, Knoxville, Tenn.

J. P. Bonardi, 1775 Broadway, New York, N.Y.

Cia. Importadora de Maquinas, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Carolina Engineering Company, Charlotte, N. C.

J. F. Comer Company, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Dominion Distributors Company, St. John's New Foundland, Canada

The Dominion Construction Company, Wellington, New Zealand

The Denver Rock Drill & Machinery Company, Ltd. (or) The Denver Machinery Company, Ltd., Johannesburg, South Africa

H. W. Foester, Inc., El Paso, Tex.

Gildemeister, Meltzer, Ambor, Cia. Ltda., Santiago, Chile

International Machinery Company, Lima, Peru, Santiago, Chile, Antofagasta, Chile, Oruro, Bolivia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Kipp-Kelly, Ltd., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Lewis Brothers Company, Tulsa, Oklah.

Lynn Mac Cleod Engineering Supplies, Ltd., Thetford Mines, Quebec, Canada

R. S. McClintock, Spokane, Washington

The Mine & Smelter Supply Company, Denver, Colorado, and Salt Lake City, Utah

Mine & Contractors Supply Company, Ltd., Birmingham, Ala.

Northern Commercial Company, Fairbanks, Alaska, Anchorage, Alas.

Perrault Brothers, Tulsa, Okla.

Jorge A. Perry & Alberto Lobo-Guerrero, Bogota, Columbia

John Rieckermann, Kobe, Japan

Purves E. Ritchie & Sons, Ltd., Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Salmon & Cowin, Birmingham, Ala.

Western Machinery Company, Ltd., Perth, Australia

The companies in which E.J. Longyear had interests as stockholder, officer, or director are as follows:

American International Corporation, New York. Incorporated in the early 1900s. Edmund J. Longyear was a stockholder. The business of the company consisted of investment and financing.

Bovey Company. Real estate, village lots in Bovey, Minnesota.

Brazilian Iron and Steel Company. Incorporated in 1910. Edmund J. Longyear was a stockholder. The business of the company consisted of exploration for and development of iron ore in Brazil.

The Cascade Corporation. Incorporated in 1908. Edmund J. Longyear was president from 1908 to 1932. The company was a "pool" for the development of ore bodies around Palmer, Michigan. In 1955 the properties were leased to Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company and other mining interests. Taconite operations were scheduled to begin in 1962.

Cascade Land Company. Incorporated in 1912. Edmund J. Longyear was a stockholder. The business of the company was ownership of certain lands in the vicinity of Palmer, Michigan, in particular, an undivided one-half interest in the fee of a 160-acre tract, which, with the other lands, was leased to the Cascade Corporation.

Cascade Mining Company. Incorporated in 1912. Edmund J. Longyear was a stockholder. The company was organized to carry on mining operations on the property of the Cascade Corporation, in particular the Isabella Mine, which shipped a total of 42,000 tons and closed down in 1920 due to unprofitable operation.

The Division Company, Minneapolis. Incorporated in 1913 by Edmund J. Longyear, John E. Hodge, Frank G. Jewett, Rollin N. Dow, Marshall E. Pearce. The business of the company was property acquisition and management.

Edmund Iron Company.

The Extension Company, Minneapolis. Incorporated in 1916 by Edmund J. Longyear, Frank G. Jewett, John E. Hodge, Marshall E. Pearce, Rollin N. Dow. The business of the company was acquiring title to land, land contracts, personal property, and stock of other corporations.

Falconbridge Lands, Limited. Incorporated in 1918 as a Canadian firm to take over the Sudbury nickel properties and other Canadian lands of the Minneapolis and Michigan Development Company. Fred B. Snyder was president. Edmund J. Longyear and E.J. Longyear Company recognized the possibility of buried nickel-copper deposits in the Sudbury, Ontario, nickel district and presented this possibility to Falconbridge Lands, Ltd. This was followed by diamond drilling which proved up a commercial ore body of approximately 6,000,000 tons. This was then submitted to Thayer Lindsley of Toronto and subsequently led to the organization of Falconbridge Mines, Ltd., now one of the leading nickel producers of the world.

First National Bank of Minneapolis. Edmund J. Longyear was a stockholder.

First Security and National Bank, Minneapolis. Edmund J. Longyear was a stockholder.

Judson Land Company, Chicago. Edmund J. Longyear was a stockholder. Incorporated in 1912. When exploration work was done on the lands of the Nevada Land Company, it was found that ore bodies existed on adjoining lands. The Judson Land Company was founded to take options on the lands and explore them. Fifty-year leases were taken out from the fee owners. The Mastodon property on the Judson lands was leased to the Balkan Mining Company. Other portions were leased to the Judson Mining Company.

Judson Mining Company, Chicago. Incorporated in 1913. Had an office in Crystal Falls, Michigan. Edmund J. Longyear was a stockholder. Operated mines on lands leased from the Judson Land Company.

Kearsarge Land Company. Incorporated January 26, 1906. E.J. Longyear was a director, 1906-1927.

Keewatin Mining Company, Hibbing, Minnesota. Incorporated July 16, 1912. E.J. Longyear was a director, 1912-1928.

Kona Iron Company, Minneapolis. Organized in 1929 by R. M. Bennett, E. J. Longyear and John R. Van Derlip to take title to certain mineral lands on the Cuyuna Range, Minnesota.

Longco Oil Corporation. Incorporated in 1916. Edmund J. Longyear was president. On the board of directors were Russell M. Bennett, Fred B. Snyder, Wilbur L. Ball, John E. Hodge, and Rollin N. Dow. Frederick Ayer was a large stockholder. The E.J. Longyear Company turned over to Longco for development properties with oil prospects and for exploration and development certain properties with oil possibilities. The E.J. Longyear Company held half of the common stock. P. W. Donovan was general manager.

Longyear Mesaba Land and Iron Company, Jackson, Michigan. Organized in 1887. Edmund J. Longyear was a stockholder; John Munro Longyear was president. The business of the company was dealing in timber and mineral lands and exploration of mineral lands.

Meriden Iron Company, Hibbing, Minnesota. Russell M. Bennett was secretary-treasurer and Oscar B. Warren, general manager. Incorporated September 15, 1903.

Minneapolis and Michigan Development Company, Minneapolis. Incorporated November 12, 1912 to own, lease, explore, and develop mineral properties in Minnesota, Michigan, and elsewhere in the United States and Canada. E. J. Longyear was a director, stockholder, and participant in exploration. The company was dissolved July 16, 1941.

Minneapolis Industries Association, Minneapolis. Organized in 1916 to promote an industrial area in Minneapolis. Edmund J. Longyear was a stockholder.

Molybdenum Products Corporation. Incorporated in 1917 to develop a molybdenum mine near Denver, Colorado. Edmund J. Longyear was a stockholder. General manager was M. S. McCarthy, Wilbur Ball and C. F. Clay were also heavily interested in the company. The E.J. Longyear Company became owner of the assets of the corporation in 1921.

Nashwauk Company.

Nevada Land Company, Chicago. Organized around 1911 to develop ore properties on the Menominee Range in Michigan, called the "Porter" Lands. It leased some of the property to the Judson Mining Company, other portions to the Balkan Mining Company and to the Nevada Mining Company. The company founded on its property the town of Alpha. President of the company was G. G. Hartley, secretary-treasurer was George F. Porter, vice president was H. H. Porter, and assistant secretary-treasurer was C. L. Buehl (1915).

Nevada Mining Company, Chicago. Organized in 1915 to develop the Amasa-Porter mine on lands of the Nevada Land Company. The officers were the same as those of the Nevada Land Company.

Sargent Land Company. Organized the townsite of Keewatin in Itasca county, Minnesota. Incorporated January 26, 1906. E. J. Longyear, a director, 1906-1927.

Southern Townsite Company.

Standard Rock Products Company. Rock aggregate and gravel company. Operated in California about 1918-1919. Discontinued because of unprofitable operation.

Standish Iron Company. Edmund J. Longyear was a stockholder.

Sutton Land Company.

Tri-State Development Company, Limited.

In addition to the companies in which he had a financial stake, Edmund J. Longyear was interested as a businessman in a large number of civic, trade, and professional, social, and other nonprofit organizations. Prominent among them were the following:

Aero Club of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

American Committee of Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Americanization)

American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, New York.

American Mining Congress, Washington, D. C.

American Petroleum Institute, New York.

Associated Charities, Minneapolis.

Automobile Club of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Trinity Baptist Church, Minneapolis.

Bureau of Legal Aid, Minneapolis.

Chamber of Commerce of the United States.

Civic League of Minnetonka, Minnetonka, Minnesota.

Council of Social Agencies, Minneapolis. (Also listed as Minneapolis Council of Social Agencies, Inc.) Edmund J. Longyear was member of the budget and distribution committee.

Diamond Core Drill Manufacturers Association. (company membership.)

Duluth Bethel Society, Duluth, Minnesota.

Excelsior Fruit Growers Association, Excelsior, Minnesota.

General Fresh Air Fund Committee, Minneapolis.

Infant Welfare Society, Minneapolis.

International Committee of the YMCA.

Iron County (Michigan) Welfare Association. (Purpose was prohibition.)

Juvenile Protective League of Hennepin County, Minneapolis.

Lafayette Club, Minneapolis.

Lake Superior Iron Ore Association, Cleveland, Ohio.

Lake Superior Mining Institute, Ishpening, Michigan.

Lowry Hill Improvement Association, Minneapolis.

Lowry Hill Protective Association, Minneapolis.

Machinery and Allied Products Institute, Chicago.

Maternity Hospital, Minneapolis.

Minikhada Club, Minneapolis.

Minneapolis Athletic Club.

Minneapolis Civic and Commerce Association.

Minneapolis Club.

Minneapolis Humane Society. (Social welfare, women and children.)

Minneapolis Industries Association.

Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts.

Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra.

Minneapolis Working Boys' Band Association.

Minnesota Anti-Saloon League, Minneapolis.

Minnesota Employers' Association, St. Paul.

Minnesota Game and Fish Protective League, Minneapolis.

Orchestral Association of Minneapolis.

Prohibition State Committee, Minneapolis.

Union City Mission, Minneapolis.

University of Michigan Alumni Association.

Voters' League, Minneapolis.

War Chest, Minneapolis. (World War I)

YWCA, Minneapolis.

In the 1950s the company began to expand its international operations with the opening of offices and manufacturing facilities in Europe, Mexico, Central America, Australia, Japan, and other places.

E.J. Longyear Company had from the beginning been a family-owned corporation. In 1964, however, a 25% stake in the company was sold to FACTS (Finance, Accounting and Technical Services), a holding company that controlled Boart International.

The name of the corporation was shortened to Longyear Company around 1970. In the mid-1970s Boart became the sole owner of the company, and Longyear became a manufacturer of diamond bits as well as a provider of contract drilling services.

Following a collapse in prices for base metals and in demand for minerals in the early 1980s--and a consequent decline in the company's business--a period of retrenchment set in. Longyear's Minneapolis plant was closed, and its operations transferred to its plant in North Bay, Ontario. The company then sought to diversify and broaden its base, and a series of corporate acquisitions were undertaken.

In 1988 the corporate headquarters was moved to Salt Lake City, Utah.

From the guide to the E.J. Longyear Company records., 1883-1990 (bulk 1890-1975)., (Minnesota Historical Society)