Saturday, August 13, 2016

On This Date in Minnesota History: August 13

August 13, 1913 – Seven of a total of 23 persons in a launch party were drown in St. Louis Bay today when a flimsy top, used for seats on the launch Dauplaise gave way and the 14 people riding there were thrown into the water.

Seven people were taken from the water by tugs and by the U. S. government launch Nemadji.

The accident occurred shortly after the launch had gone through the drawbridge of the Northern Pacific railroad and about 100 feet from the end of a dock. The tug Sinclair came up behind the launch, causing a heavy swell. The Dauplaise was caught in the swell and the rocking of the boat threw the passengers on the canopy top to the side, causing the supports to give way, throwing the people into the water.

As the engineer of the launch attempted to reverse the boat so as to get relief from the swell the clutch to the engine broke, causing the launch to run about 150 feet from those in the water.

Men on the tug Sinclair went to the rescue, as did men on the tug Crosby, which was following the launch.

H. C. Bellinger, engineer in charge of the launch Nemadji, went to the scene after notifying life savers.

Negligence and carelessness is charged by Mr. Bellinger as being the principal cause for accident. He stated that the top of the boat had been flimsily fixed and that only small bolts held the affair in place. He also stated that he had not seen any life preservers on the launch.

Members of the party who were rescued went into hysterics and had to be restrained from jumping into the water by the government officials. Many of the rescued had to be taken to the hospital.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “7 Persons Drown When Launch Top Gives Way. Minneapolis Girl One Victims of Accident Off Duluth. Rocking of Boat in a swell Causes Upper Deck to Collapse. Rescued Go Into Hysterics and Attempt to Jump Into Water.”; Aug. 14, 1913; p. 1.




http://www.health.umn.edu/about/living-minnesota/duluth

               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MNHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
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Friday, August 12, 2016

On This Date in Minnesota History: August 12

August 12, 1913 – The Wash. State Supreme Court today upheld the conviction of Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard, known as the “starvation doctor.” She was tried for first degree murder in having caused the death of Miss Claire Williamson, an English heiress, convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to from one to 20 years in prison. Mrs. Hazzard appealed the verdict, which was returned at Port Orchard on Feb. 4, 1912.

The court said that in fixing sentence at from one to 20 years the trial judge “tempered justice with mercy.”

Miss Claire Williamson and her younger sister Dora, wealthy spinsters who were touring the United States, read of Mrs. Hazzard’s starvation treatment for various ailments and went to her for treatment in Feb. 1911. In a few weeks the sisters were helpless from lack of nourishment and were removed by Mrs. Hazzard from Seattle to her sanitarium. A month later, Claire died.



Dr. Hazzard’s 100 room Sanitorium1

 Mrs. Hazzard had herself appointed administratrix of Miss Williamson’s estate and was proceeding to take charge when the British vice consul at Tacoma intervened and the prosecution was begun under direction of special counsel employed by the British vice consul.


Mrs. Hazzard formerly was well known in Minneapolis as a lecturer and fasting specialist. She married ex-Lieutenant Samuel C. Hazard, a former U. S. army officer, who had been dropped from the army rolls for desertion. After the marriage, Hazzard was prosecuted for bigamy and served a term in the Stillwater penitentiary.



Sam Hazzard Mug Shot1


The Minneapolis Morning Tribune
; “Conviction of Dr. Hazzard Upheld by Higher Court. Washington Tribunal Decides Woman Must Go to Prison for Causing Death of Heiress. Former Minneapolis Fasting Specialist Given Indeterminate Sentence.”; August 13, 1913; p. 1.

1http://www.historyandwomen.com/2012/11/linda-hazzard-and-her-killer-cure.html


Dr. Linda Hazzard, formerly of Minneapolis, Minn., charged with murder in the first degree, was unable to obtain $10,000 bail; see Aug. 7, 2016 blog.

 

               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MNHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 



Thursday, August 11, 2016

On This Date in Minnesota History: August 11

August 11, 1857 - In 1854, settlers Peltier, LaValle, and LaMotte laid out and platted the town of Centerville in Anoka County. They chose the name Centerville because of its central location from St. Paul, Stillwater, and Anoka. The City was officially established on this date when Minnesota was still a territory.

“The settlers in the village and vicinity were mostly French, and this became known as the French settlement.”1

http://www.centervillemn.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BE2B26889-1739-403F-B6FF-9F79A30D0E82%7D

1
Upham, Warren; Minnesota Geographic Names, Their Origin and Historic Significance; Minnesota Historical Society (St. Paul, Minn., 1969); p. 23.




http://www.safeguardinspectserv.com/files/IMG_794.jpg
               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including: census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MNHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com ® click on Family History


Contact me at: pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com   




Wednesday, August 10, 2016

On This Date in Minnesota History: August 10

August 10, 1920 – What is believed to be the largest still ever confiscated in the state was taken today near Hibbing by Game Warden Wood and United States Revenue Officer Arthur Coen.

Following a gun battle with four moonshiners in a swamp near Dupont Road, the policemen arrested Pete Godenivich. Three others made their escape through the woods.

In a cabin in the woods the officers found two copper ranges with fireplaces, two complete copper stills in full operation, more than 700 gallons of corn mash, raisins and figs in process of cooking and a quantity of moonshine whiskey.

Remains of deer and partridge evidently shot out of season also were found.

The Bemidji Daily Pioneer; “Police Raid Huge Still Near Hibbing”; Aug. 10, 1920; p. 1.




Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Feb. 7, 2015,
as long as acknowledgement included.
 

               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MNHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 

 

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

On This Date in Minnesota History: August 9

August 9, 1913 – Once again John Jeremy of Stillwater, known throughout the Northwest as “Fisherman John,” was called on to try to locate the body of a man believed to have been drowned. Today, “Fisherman John” and his son dragged a portion of Lake Calhoun where it is believed that John Almgren had lost his life last Wednesday. The two did not give up the search until far into the night, when it was too dark to make further search.

Park police have vainly been dragging the lake daily since Almgren’s overturned rowboat and his hat were found.

“Fisherman John” recovered the body the following day almost in the middle of the lake, opposite the Thirty-fourth Street dock. It was about 253 feet from where the overturned boat and a hat with the initials “J. A.” were found.

“Fisherman John” had gained a reputation because of his unusual ability to recover bodies of drowned persons. He began his career recovering the corpses of lumbermen from the St. Croix River and area lakes.*

His success rate was phenomenal, according to Washington County Historical Society Executive Director Brent Peterson, noting the reported 104 bodies Jeremy recovered.*



Fisherman John1 


Jeremy was very secretive about how he did his work, which was usually done at night so no one could see him in action; however, theories abound. “Some suggested that Jeremy had trained muskrats. Others said he used black magic. Yet another theory supposed that he used a ‘body compass,’” Peterson said, which was a loaf of bread injected with mercury.

“’Peterson surmised that Jeremy was simply a ‘river rat’ with a keen sense of water movement and underground springs. The fisherman may have used grappling hooks to recover the bodies, Peterson said.*

The Minneapolis Sunday Tribune; “’Fisherman John’ Employed. Stillwater Man Dragging Lake for Body of John Almgren.”; Aug. 10, 1913; p. 2.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “’Fisherman John’ Succeeds. Stillwater Man Finds Almgren’s Body in Lake Calhoun After Others Fail.”; Aug. 11, 1913; p. 1.

*http://www.unexplainedresearch.com/media/an_overpopulated_ghost_town2.html


1The St. Charles Herald.; Hahnville, La.; Nov. 16, 1918; p. 6.

Monday, August 8, 2016

On This Date in Minnesota History: August 8

August 8, 1912 – One of the most daring robberies ever perpetrated in southern Minnesota occurred in Owatonna early this morning when L. A. Mosher’s jewelry store was robbed of watches and other articles of jewelry amounting to several hundred dollars. The thief was evidently an expert, as a plate of glass window was cut with a diamond leaving a large hole that the robber used to steal all of the contents in a window display, including three trays of watches, a tray of rings, toilet accessories and many small articles of value.

No possible clue was left as to the identity of the thief, but the police believe he is one of a gang of expert window-cutters and jewelry thieves whose operations in other parts of the Northwest are said to have been extensive. Telegrams have been sent throughout the state to be on the lookout for strangers attempting to dispose of watches or rings. This is the third robbery within the past few weeks on the same patrol beat.



http://www.culliganwaterminnesota.com/owatonna
_____________________

The following evening a man giving his name as Glen Hutchins was arrested in Rochester, Minn. He was believed to be the party who broke into the Mosher jewelry store in Owatonna and stole a number of watches. Hutchins appeared at the Reid Jewelry store and attempted to sell a Howard watch, which aroused the suspicions of George E. Keller, who was in charge of the store at the time. Keller delayed the man until the arrival of officers. Upon being searched, six watches, three watch cases and a necklace were found in his possession.

Hutchins was lodged in the city jail to await the arrival of Owatonna officers.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Owatonna Shop Is Looted. Several Hundred Dollars in Valuables Taken During Early Morning Hours.”; Aug. 9, 1912; p. 2.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Alleged Jewel Thief Held. Rochester Authorities Arrest Man Suspected of Owatonna Crime.”; Aug. 9, 1912; p. 2.

               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MNHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 

 

Sunday, August 7, 2016

On This Date in Minnesota History: August 7

August 7, 1911 – Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard, formerly of Minneapolis, Minn., charged with murder in the first degree, was unable to obtain $10,000 bail late today and she was committed to the Kitsap County Jail. Dr. Hazzard is charged with having starved Claire Williamson, a wealthy spinster, to death.


Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard1

The doctor conducted an institute of “Natural Therapeutics” at Olalla, Wash., where hundreds of persons went for treatment for stomach trouble. She grew rich from her practice. Over the last few years many complaints were made against her charging that infirm persons often were held under her psychological influence longer than the treatment necessitated.

“Despite her lack of a medical degree, she was licensed to practice medicine in Washington. A loophole in a licensing law grandfathered in some practitioners of alternative medicine who didn’t have medical degrees, including Hazzard.

“Hazzard [claimed] disease could be cured by fasting, allowing the digestive system to ‘rest’ and be ‘cleansed,’ removing ‘impurities’ from the body. Fasting, she maintained, could cure anything from toothache to tuberculosis. The real source of all disease was ‘impure blood’ brought on by ‘impaired digestion.’ There were other popular proponents of fasting around at the time. Hazzard said she had studied with one of them, Dr. Edward Hooker Dewey, author of The Gospel of Health.

“But Hazzard added some embellishments of her own. Her regime included daily enemas that went on for hours and involved up to twelve quarts of water. Patients were heard to cry out in pain during these procedures. The third part of her therapy was massage that consisted of Hazzard -- a wiry woman said to be stronger than the average man -- beating her fists against the patients’ foreheads and backs. One alarmed witness reported her doing so vigorously while shouting ‘Eliminate! Eliminate!’”2

Dr. Hazzard treated two wealthy sisters from Great Britain, Claire and Dora Williamson. Claire Williamson died a few weeks ago from emaciation or starvation, being subjected to the extreme treatment of Dr. Hazzard. Her sister, Dora, however, was rescued shortly after Claire’s death.



Dora Williamson after her rescue3


A short time before her death, Claire made Dr. Hazzard full administratrix by giving her power of attorney over all of her estate. When the “starvation” doctor applied to the courts for legal permission to manage the estate of the decedent, suspicion was aroused. She was taken before a special grand jury and examined with result that she was indicted on charge of murder in the first degree.

Dr. Hazzard had been in Port Orchard, the county seat of Kitsap, for several weeks in her attempt to gain control of the rich holdings of Claire Williamson. Dr. Hazzard maintained elaborately furnished office rooms in the Northern Bank Building, Seattle, and enjoyed a wide and influential patronage, especially from elderly women.

She has been prominent as a suffragette and at one time was choice of the Women’s League for state senator, but was defeated.

The case will come to trial in the Sept. term of court in Kitsap County.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Dr. Hazzard is Prisoned on a Charge of Homicide. Former Minneapolis Woman is held in Seattle—Unable to Raise Bail Money. Doctor Accused of Starving Patient—Indicted by Grand Jury.”; Aug. 8, 1911; p. 1.

1http://unknownmisandry.blogspot.com/2011/09/linda-burfield-hazzard-medical-serial.html


2http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?displaypage=output.cfm&file_id=7955

3http://www.historylink.org/db_images/DoraWilliamsonStarvingBeforeRescue.jpg


The Wash. State Supreme Court today upheld the first degree murder conviction of Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard, known as the “starvation doctor.”; see Aug. 12 blog.

               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MNHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com