Shelain, Frank G.

Frank G. Shelain

supt. of Nelson Knitting Co. has been associated with firm for 55 years he joined the Nelson Knitting Co. in 1883, five years before the Rockford Morning Star put out its first issue he joined the firm as a machinist  he joined the firm 2 years after coming to Rockford from Sweden.

Source: Rockfordiana – Knitting – Industries

Tuve J. Floden

Tuve J. Floden

Died June 16, 1970 of an apparent heart attack in Rockford Memorial Hospital at age 76

Residence: 2529 Barrington Place

Born November 16, 1893 in Chicago, Illinois

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Floden

Lived 66 years in Rockford

Graduate of Rockford Central High School

Graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1915

Married the former Lea Gordon in Rockford, April 6, 1921

He was President and Chairman of the Board of Nelson Knitting Company for 20 years

Commander of Craig Post of the American Legion since 1921

Member of the first Draft Board in Winnebago County

Commander of Rockford Citizens Defense Corps, War Man-Power Committee

Chairman of the Fire and Police Board

Funeral will be at Gordon Chapel, Second Congregational Church

Arrangements by Long-Klontz Funeral Home

Survived by his wife, Lea Floden; two sons, Robert Floden of Rockford and John Floden of Appleton, Wisconsin; one daughter, Mrs. Jill DeYoung of Ohio.

Three sisters survive, two of Rockford: Mrs. Florence Sanders and Ethel Floden

 

Source: Rockford Morning Star, 06/17/1970

Rockford’s Hosiery Mills in WWII

“Hold Existing Stock for Army; U.S. Calls on Knitting Firms for Inventory of Supplies on Hand”

Silk Famine to Curb Hosiery Mills

“The order, expected within a short time, will probably provide for a deep initial cut in silk consumption, followed by gradually diminishing allocations to mills until the civilian use of the imported fibre is virtually halted, it was said.”

“The BZB Knitting company, 330 So. Wyman St., and the Contour Hosiery Mills, 1618 So. Main St., would be directly affected by any curb in the distribution of raw silk: Both firms are users of raw silk.”

“Jobs of 360 workmen in the two plants would be endangered if a silk ban were made effective.”

“Burson Knitting company, South Main and Cedar streets, also will be affected by the priorities order, but probably will not feel the pinch as soon as the Contour and BZB firms do because the Burson company uses spun, or waste silk rather than raw silk. The Burson firm has between 300 and 400 employes.”

“Nelson Knitting company, Forest City Knitting company and Rockford Mitten and Hosiery company would not be affected by a silk ban.”

“Military uses, including parachutes and power bags, normally account for only about 5 or 6 per cent of this consumption, and both war and navy department have reported that stocks appear ample, considering that rayon or other substitutes could be adapted for parachute use.”

The actual article is much longer.  Rockford Republic newspaper, July 31, 1941