On This Date in Minnesota History: December 14

December 14, 1900 - William Foelsen, one of the leading contractors in St. Paul and a member of the board of police commissioners, was discovered to be in New Ulm today after last being seen Tuesday evening, Dec. 11, at the Brenck and Krent saloon, Ninth and Wabasha. His friends and family had suspected foul play.

Foelsen was engaged on a contract to enlarge the Hamm Brewery company. On Tuesday at 5 p.m., he paid his 90 employees their wages for the preceding two weeks, and then went to the saloon. His friend Henry F. Koenig, the last person to see Foelsen, said Foelsen appeared to be his normal self when he left for home late Tuesday evening.

Foelsen learned of the concern over his welfare while reading a Dec. 14 article on his disappearance in the St. Paul Globe. He was very much startled by the news, and immediately telephoned his family, the police, his lodge brethren and friends to tell them where he was and that he was okay.


Seriously? The guy is missing for a little over two days, doesn't tell his wife he’s going somewhere other than home, and is surprised to learn everyone thinks he has met with foul play? Me thinks the guy was up to no good.


St. Paul Globe; “Friends Fear Foul Play; Absence of William Foelsen is Causing Much Alarm; He Was Last Seen Tuesday; Henry Koenig, Who Saw Him Last, Says He Was on His Way Home—Had Large Sum of Money.”; Dec. 14, 1900; p.1

St. Paul Globe; “Paid New Ulm A Visit; Absence of Police Commissioner William Foelsen is Accounted For; Called Away By Business; He Did Not Have Time to Notify His Family and Friends of His Hurried Departure.”; Dec. 15, 1900; p. 2.

Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain July 25, 2012,
as long as acknowledgement included.