John A. Gaunt, manager of the Cascaden Manufacturing Company’s branch in Grand Forks, North Dakota, was born on December 3, 1863, in demons Grove, Iowa. His father passed away when he was nine, limiting his education to a few winter terms. Gaunt began his career as a collector for the McCormick Harvester Company in 1883, then worked for several other companies before becoming manager at Cascaden in 1905. A successful auctioneer for twenty years, he was also a member of the Masonic Lodge. Gaunt married Leota Springer on December 2, 1888, and they had two children, Ray S. and Wanda Ilene.
John A. Gaunt, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, manager of the branch house of the Cascaden Manufacturing Company, Waterloo, Iowa, was born at demons Grove, Marshall county, Iowa, December 3, 1863, son of John W. and Mary S. Gaunt. Father’s family came from Wales in 1720 and mother’s family came from Scotland in 1753; first settled in Kentucky, afterwards moved to Indiana, and in 1853 went to Iowa.
Our subject’s father died when he was nine years of age, so that his time at school was limited to a few terms in winter, commencing in a neighbor’s woodshed as his first school building. Afterwards a schoolhouse was erected some distance from his home, at which he spent four terms. He commenced his business career as collector for the McCormick Harvester Company in 1883, remaining with this firm till 1892; was then with Aultman Miller Company, 1892 to 1893; Reeves & Co., 1893 to 1896; Gear, Scott & Co., 1896 to 1901; Advance Thresher Company, 1901 to 1905. Since which time he has been manager of the Cascaden Manufacturing Company at Grand Forks. In addition to the above responsible positions held by Mr. Gaunt, he has been a successful auctioneer for the past twenty years. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge.
Mr. Gaunt was married December 2, 1888, to Miss Leota Springer at St. Anthony, Iowa; they have two children, Ray S. and Wanda Ilene.
Source
C.F. Cooper & Company, History of the Red River Valley, Past And Present: Including an Account of the Counties, Cities, Towns And Villages of the Valley From the Time of Their First Settlement And Formation, volumes 1-2; Grand Forks: Herald printing company, 1909.