Charles Edward Albrant was born in Dundas, Ontario, in May 1869, the son of Ezra and Susannah (Johnston) Albrant. He came to Bemidji about 1899 and entered the laundry business. He was married to Milla Albrant and raised seven\u00a0children in early Bemidji. The children were Reta, Lewis, and Vera, who were born in North Dakota; \u00a0and Gracie, James,\u00a0Drummond and Myrtie who were born at Bemidji.\u00a0 His daughter Reta graduated from 8th grade on May 29, 1908\u00a0along with\u00a0Bertha Dicaire, Gladys Hazen and Hilda Galchutt.<\/p>\n
Albrant Bros purchased the Bemidji Steam Laundry about 1900. As the Bemidji Pioneer<\/em> reported on June 14,\u00a01900, \u00a0“The\u00a0steam laundry has recently been\u00a0equipped with new and important machinery, making it in every particular\u00a0a first-class establishment. The proprietors, Albrant Bros., bought this\u00a0laundry of D. B. Thompson. It had\u00a0changed hands several times \u00a0previous, but we believe it is now where\u00a0it will stay. A good laundry is a\u00a0necessity to a\u00a0town’s future.\u00a0With their new machinery, it will give general\u00a0satisfaction to their patrons.”<\/p>\n On Jan 1, 1902, \u00a0Albrant Bros announced that they would\u00a0no longer run the steam laundry In partnership. Charles E. Albrant assumed sole charge, although his brother\u00a0assisted\u00a0as\u00a0before. The newspaper commented, “This laundry continues to do a big business, and the public would dislike to see either leave town.”<\/p>\n Charles\u00a0moved to Minneapolis about 1909 and became\u00a0manager of the Profit Sharing Laundry. \u00a0Milla moved to Benton in Lake County,\u00a0Illinois with the children and they divorced. By 1913, Charles\u00a0moved to\u00a0\u00a0St. Paul\u00a0\u00a0and continued in the laundry business. By 1920, Charles\u00a0was president of the Franklin Wet Wash Laundry in St. Paul. By 1927, he had moved to Minneapolis and was secretary of the Minneapolis Laundry Machine Co. In 1957, he was living in Owatonna.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"