Saturday, February 24, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 24

February 24, 1909 – Hearing a faint cry coming from a suitcase standing on the counter of the Blue Ribbon Saloon, Minneapolis bartender Carl Thorson opened the bag and was astounded to find a new born baby. A quick investigation showed that the infant was still alive, but its limbs were cold.

The suitcase belonged to Dr. William C. Van Damme, a physician who was recently released from the penitentiary where he served a term for unlawful practice, and who had but a few moments before entered the saloon.

According to the bartender, Dr. Van Damme entered the saloon about 2 this afternoon in the company of Jack Crowe, clerk in the American House next door to the saloon. The two had a drink together and the doctor then requested the clerk to go upstairs and get his suitcase, which he had left in the office.

The clerk did so and placed it on the counter. It was soon afterwards that the cry was heard by the bartender, who at first thought it to be a cat, and the discovery made.

An investigation by the police developed that a child had been born to a woman in the St. Lawrence Hotel at 10 this morning and that Dr. Van Damme had attended the case. The doctor was in no condition to make a statement when he was taken to police headquarters. He said, however, that he had gotten the child at the St. Lawrence Hotel.

The mother of the child, who gave her name as Mary Johnson, was found at the hotel. She was at once removed to the City Hospital, where she is doing well and is expected to recover, although she was in a precarious condition when found. It is believed the child will also recover.


Minneapolis City Hospital1

Ethel Anderson, a friend of Mary Johnson, who has been with her during her stay in Minneapolis, told police that Dr. Van Damme was engaged by them shortly after they reached the city. They came from a farm near Madison, Wis.

She also said that the doctor had introduced them to a young man named Bly who obtained rooms for them at the St. Lawrence. This was on Feb. 12. She stated that Dr. Van Damme performed the operation on Miss Johnson that day. As a result of her disclosure, R. M. Bly was arrested late this afternoon by Patrolman Belair and Detective Crummy.

Van Damme was convicted about four years ago in connection with the notorious Daisy Hadden case. The girl was brought to Minneapolis from St. Paul and an operation performed. Van Damme was sent to the state penitentiary.


According to the story told police by Ethel Anderson, Miss Johnson is 25 years old and unmarried. The father of her child made his escape some time ago and it was to hide her shame that Miss Johnson came to Minneapolis.

Bly, who was arrested in connection with the case, is a drug clerk and is said by police to be the son of Dr. Bly.


Newspaper ads show both Dr. Bly and Dr. Van Damme specialized in women’s diseases.2


The life of the child was saved entirely by the measures taken by Officer Belair, say physicians at the City Hospital.


Miss Anderson also told the police that Bly had been paid $25 for his assistance and that Dr. Van Damme had also received money. He was paid this morning after the birth of the child, she said, and had promised to take charge of the infant. He did not say what he would do with it.

Dr. Van Damme has previously been charged with performing illegal operations and being unable to care for patients because he was intoxicated.


The Minneapolis Tribune; “New Born Baby in a Suitcase. Minneapolis Physician Held Following Astounding Discovery. Cry of Child Attracts the Notice of Bartender in Saloon. Unlawful Deed Charged to Dr. Van Damme and R. N. Bly.”; Feb. 25, 1909; p. 1.

1http://www.lakesnwoods.com/images/hospit25.jpg

2The Minneapolis Tribune; Nov. 2, 1902; p. 11.

               __________________________________________________________

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 available.

                                                         



Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.



Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
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Friday, February 23, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 23

February 23, 1914 – W. E. Wade, an immigrant on his way from Sterling, Ill., to Greenbush, Minn., to settle on a farm in that neighborhood, was fatally injured on the Great Northern railway this afternoon. Mr. Wade was traveling with a car of household goods and livestock. His car was switched off near the stockyards in thief River Falls.

While Wade was attending to his stock in the car, an engine bumped into it and caused Wade to be thrown to the floor of the car under the horses’ feet. The horses being somewhat frightened by the shock, trampled on their owner, wounding him so severely that he died shortly after he had been removed to one of the hotels in Thief River Falls.

The Duluth Herald; “Illinois Man is Trampled to Death. Coming to Minnesota to Locate, Killed at Thief River Falls.”; Feb. 24, 1914; p. 6.



http://thiefriverfallsmn.govoffice3.com/vertical/Sites/%7BF0A915C0-82C2-43FC-93FF-B561AD75910F%7D/uploads/sign.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 available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com



Thursday, February 22, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 22

February 22, 1929Actor James Hong was born on this date in Minneapolis, Minn.

He has worked in numerous productions in American media since the 1950s, playing a variety of Asian roles, including Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese. He is known for his roles in various Hollywood films, such as Hannibal Chew in Blade Runner (1982), David Lo Pan in Big Trouble in Little China (1986), Jeff Wong in Wayne's World 2 (1993), and Chi-Fu in Mulan (1998). Hong is also known for playing Daolon Wong on the television series Jackie Chan Adventures and Mr. Ping in the Kung Fu Panda franchise.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hong




http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/scoobydoo/images/6/61/James_hong.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110531225613

               __________________________________________________________

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 available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com



Wednesday, February 21, 2018

On this Date in Minnesota History: February 21

February 21, 1919 - Lyman W. Ayer, Little Falls, Minn., said to be the first white child born in Minn., and an expert timber cruiser for 60+ years, gave advice to the state forestry board at a meeting late today in St. Paul to discuss forestry bills pending in the legislature.

Ayer was born on June 10, 1832 at Pokegama Mission in what is now Pine County. His father was a missionary to the Chippewa Indians, his mother a teacher. Ayer says he spoke better Chippewa than English, and acquired a taste for such Indian delicacies as beaver tail, Moose nose, buffalo hump and bear paws.


Lyman W. Ayer1

For 62 years Ayer cruised timber and has been a land-looker in the dense forests of Northern Minnesota and Canada; his judgments are said to have resulted in the purchase of millions of dollars’ worth of standing trees. Practically all of the territory between St. Louis and the Arctic Circle has been covered by the cruiser on foot and by dog team, in the days when no better transportation was available.

Ayer served as a member of the Second Minnesota battery of artillery during the Civil War from Feb. 1862 to Aug. 1865.


He is still active and his eyesight and hearing are good.

The Duluth Herald; “First Gopher White Child Gives Advice”; Feb. 22, 1919; p. 16.

1The Saint Pau Globe; “First White Male Born in Minnesota. Lyman W. Ayer, Veteran Timber Cruiser Enjoys This Distinction.”; March 27, 1904; p. 13.

Little Falls Herald
; “In the Early Days L. W. Ayer Tells of Visit to Minneapolis 70 Years Ago.”; Dec. 12, 1919; p. 3.


               __________________________________________________________

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 available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com



Tuesday, February 20, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 20

February 20, 1855 – Named for explorer and author, John Carver, Carver County, Minn., was established on this date.

Upham, Warren; Minnesota Geographic Names, Their Origin and Historic Significance; Minnesota Historical Society (St. Paul, Minn., 1969); p. 80.



John Carver

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Carver#/media/File:Jonathan_Carver.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 available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
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Monday, February 19, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 19

February 19, 1910 – One million, six hundred and fifty thousand dollars were drawn through the busy streets of Minneapolis late this afternoon when the Minnesota Loan and Trust Company privately moved the last of its valuables from its old quarters, 311 Nicollet Ave., to the new location, corner of First Ave. S. and Fourth St.

S. S. Cook, cashier of the company, believing that the less ostentatious the move the better, assigned the move to a few plain clothes men and officers of the bank, placed the cash, bonds and securities in ordinary pine boxes and soon had the entire fortune safely within the vaults of the new bank. There was no mishap nor unusual occurrence.

Cook acknowledged that this transfer did not give him the anxiety that the safe deposit boxes moved on Lincoln’s birthday had given him. The safety deposit boxes were escorted by a heavy guard of police. The bank will open its doors Monday morning and the work of the institution will carry on without the loss of an hour.

Minneapolis Sunday Tribune; “Million in Treasure Toted in Pine Boxes. Minnesota Loan & Trust Company Secretly Transports Cash and Securities. Public Not Advised of the Removal to Institution’s New Quarters.”; February 20, 1910; p. 10.



Nicollet Ave. Location of Minnesota Loan and Trust Company

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/108086459779773498/?lp=true

               __________________________________________________________

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 available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
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Sunday, February 18, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 18

February 18, 1915 – Frank Uksisich, for the past two years employed as a laborer at the Norman Mine near Virginia, Minn., was found dead about 3 this afternoon on the railroad track leading to the Prindle open pit mine, with a bullet hole through his heart and a second through his neck at the base of the larynx. Near his body was found a 22-calibre revolver, with two empty chambers, clearly indicating that he had died by his own hand.

The body was found by engineers in the employ of the Oliver Iron Mining Company, who were making a trip to the mine. Coroner Crowe viewed it and decided that an inquest was unnecessary. It was removed to the Gillespie undertaking parlors this evening to be prepared for burial.

Uksisich was 30 years old and unmarried. His only known relative has yet to be located. Uksisich had been despondent for some time over ill health. His friends believe that brooding over his physical condition led him to commit suicide.

The Virginia Enterprise; “Mine Laborer Took Life; Ill Despondent. Fired Bullet Through Heart from Small Calibre Revolver Sometime During Yesterday.”; Feb. 19, 1915; p. 1.


Norman Mine, Virginia, Minn.

http://www.mindat.org/photo-377175.html
               __________________________________________________________

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 available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com