On This Date in Minnesota History: September 20

September 20, 1918 – Olli Kinkkonen, the Finn tarred and feathered in Duluth by a group called the Knights of Loyalty on September 18, continues to be missing. His luggage is still in his room. “It is reported that the Knights of Loyalty left Kinkkonen his clothes so he was able to skip without discomfort.”

The Duluth News Tribune; “Nobody Knows Where Olli Kinkonnen Goes’ But He’s Sure Gone”; September 21, 1918; p. 3.

On This Date in Minnesota History: September 19

September 19, 1918 – Olli Kinkkonen has not been seen since being tarred and feathered yesterday night by the Knights of Loyalty (initially reported as Knights of Liberty). His disappearance has caused at least one of the other five aliens who had notified the Duluth draft board that he was renouncing his first citizenship papers to reconsider his position. He did not appear today to complete his legal evasion of military duty.

A circular from the Knights of Loyalty mailed to the Duluth News Tribune claims that the group has more than 2 million members across the country, including 2,000 members in Duluth. The notice says the group will continue its attacks against slackers, as they have proven themselves to be enemies of America.

The Duluth News Tribune; “Tarred Alien Disappears; One Recants by Default. ‘Knights of Loyalty’ Issue Circular Addressed to Those Who Renounce Citizenship.”; September 20, 1918; p. 8.

On This Date in Minnesota History: September 18

September 18, 1918 – One of six aliens with first citizenship papers reported by Duluth draft boards as renouncing his citizenship rather than be inducted into the U.S. army, Olli Kinkkonen was taken from his lodgings this evening by men purportedly from the draft board. Instead of going to the draft board’s office, Kinkkonen was driven to Congdon Park, where he was tarred and feathered by members of a group called the Knights of Liberty. As of midnight, Kinkkonen had not returned to his home, whereupon his landlord called Duluth police headquarters to report his disappearance.

The Knights of Liberty also called upon the other five declarants who had renounced their citizenship for similar reasons, but none were found.

The Duluth News Tribune; “Tar Coat Given Alien; Renounced U.S. Rights. Landlord complains to Police of Olli Kinkkonen’s Involuntary Trip with Knights of Liberty”; September 19, 1918; p. 1.

On This Date in Minnesota History: September 17

September 17, 1898 - Camp Mueller was established at New Ulm [Minn.] on [this date] during the Spanish American War as “the final encampment of the 12th Minn. Volunteer Infantry before its muster out on November 5, 1898. The camp was at the [Brown County] fairgrounds in the northwest part of town.”

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/topic/military/SpanishAmericanWar/span_am_camps/pg10.htm

Brown County Fairgrounds

Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Sept. 17, 2014,
as long as acknowledgement included.  

On This Date in Minnesota History: September 16

September 16, 1889 – “Robert Younger, in Minnesota's Stillwater Penitentiary for life, died of tuberculosis on this date. Brothers Cole and Jim remained in that prison.”

http://timelines.ws/states/MINNESOTA.HTML

Bob Younger

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Younger#mediaviewer/File:Bob_Younger_mug_shot.jpg

On This Date in Minnesota History: September 15

September 15, 1977 – The George R. Newell House, just south of downtown Minneapolis, was put on the National Register of Historic Places on this date.¹

It was originally built for Sumner T. McKnight, a businessman who had interests in lumber and real estate. McKnight sold it almost immediately to George R. Newell, one of the founders in 1870 of the grocery firm Stevens, Morse and Newell. When Newell died in 1921, his son L.B. Newell inherited the company and changed its name to SuperValue. In later years the Chateau was owned by the Freerks family and run as an apartment complex.<sup>2

1</sup>http://nrhp.mnhs.org/NRDetails.cfm?NPSNum=77000744

²http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_R._Newell_House_(Minneapolis,_Minnesota)

The George R. Newell House
Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Sept. 15, 2014 ,
as long as acknowledgement included. 

On This Date in Minnesota History: September 14

September 14, 1921 – John Webb, sought for the murder of three Hibbing police officers last week (see Sept. 8, 2014 blog), committed suicide early today when surrounded by a posse. Five officers, who trailed Webb to a shack in the woods three miles from Kitzville, heard the shot when they were still 100 yards from the shack.

They found Webb’s body in the garret.

Webb had been sought by thousands during the week. Governor Preus had ordered out the Hibbing National Guard unit and the forest rangers to aid in the search. Webb shot and killed Chief of Police Daniel Hayes, Detective Eugene Cassidy and Traffic Officer William Kohrt, when they attempted to arrest him at his home for allegedly sexually assaulting his 13-year-old daughter.

Webb’s body was placed on the running board of the automobile and brought to Hibbing. Huge crowds viewed the body at the police station.

The Bemidji Daily Pioneer; “Murderer of Hibbing Police Takes Own Life. Officers Hear Shot While Still 100 Yards From Shack Where Webb Was Hiding.”; September 14, 1921; p. 1.

Chief Daniel Hayes

http://www.odmp.org/officer/6259-chief-of-police-daniel-hayes

Detective Eugene Cassidy

http://www.odmp.org/officer/2906-detective-eugene-cassidy

Officer William Kohrt

http://www.odmp.org/officer/7678-patrolman-william-kohrt