Minnesota Family History Research: 10/11/15

Saturday, October 17, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: October 17

October 17, 1915 – Within two blocks of the courthouse and police headquarters downtown Minneapolis, police conducted one of the largest raids on Chinese resorts in the history of the city. Through clouds of opium smoke in Kwong Lun Wo and company’s Chinese merchandise store at 246 Fourth Avenue South, dozens of police dragged 27 Chinese outside the building into the open air.

Picking their way through Chinese gambling equipment that is said to rival dens in San Francisco’s palmist days, detectives and patrolmen discovered three complete opium “layouts,” a quantity of opium, probably worth $100, and much beer was seized.

In a far corner of the basement a gambling table was the center of interest. Buttons, thousands of them, were used as chips. Cards, dice and buttons were strewn across the floor.

The owner of Kwon Lun Lo was charged with operating the place. The others were charged with being found in a disorderly house.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “27 Arrested and $100 Opium Seized in Raid; Police Storm Fourth Avenue Chinese Store; Gambling Devices Found”; October 18, 1915; p.1.

Opium Poppies
http://www.opiumaddiction.com/opium-pictures.htm

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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 MHS records. Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: TheMemoryQuilt.com ® click on Family History

Contact me at: pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com

Friday, October 16, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: October 16

October 16, 1880 – On this date, the earliest recorded blizzard in Minn. struck the southwestern and west central parts of the state. Huge drifts exceeding 20 feet in the Canby area lasted until the next spring.

http://climate.umn.edu/doc/historical/winter_storms.htm

http://mnweather.tripod.com/

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/58831940.jpg
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Thursday, October 15, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: October 15

October 15, 1911 – The accidental discovery of the emaciated body of a man in the woods just east of Duluth this afternoon solved the mystery of the disappearance of Dr. John Jackola, who had been missing since June 21. For weeks organized searching parties hunted for the man, but without results.

Diaries in his coat established his identity, the features being unrecognizable.

The popular theory is that the man committed suicide in a fit of melancholia. He had always been considered eccentric, and after his return from the East last spring, where he had become notorious for his attempted attentions to Mrs. O. H. P. Belmont, he appeared moody.

Born in Finland, Dr. Jackola was approximately 35-years-old. He came to this country and worked as a laborer, later studied medicine both here and abroad and was one of the leading physicians in Duluth. Recently he had been interested in women’s suffrage and this spring gave several lectures to prominent clubs in New York and Brooklyn.

It was while on this trip East that his attentions to Mrs. O. H. P. Belmont became offensive. So persistent was he that the society and suffragette leader caused his arrest.

Mrs. O. H. P. Belmont¹

On his promise to discontinue his unappreciated attentions, he was released and he returned to Duluth. His escapades in New York evidently preyed on his mind as he acted quite differently upon his return.

On the evening of June 21 he left his apartment at the Kitchi Gammi Club and was never seen alive again. He has no relatives in this country. Dr. Jackola had established a lucrative practice in Duluth and was believed to have been wealthy.

Kitchi Gammi Club, Duluth, Minn.²

An investigation of his affairs was made recently on account of his prolonged absence and everything was found to be all right.

Life insurance policies for large amounts, the premium for which came due in July while he was missing, were permitted to lapse. He had written several volumes in Finnish and was interested in the progress of the people of his native land.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Body of Dr. Jackola Is Found in Duluth Woods. Recently in Limelight Because of Arrest Caused by Mrs. O. H. P. Belmont. Escapades in New York Believed to Have Unsettled His Mind—Missing Since June.”; Oct. 16, 1911; p. 1.

¹https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alva_Belmont#/media/File:Alava_E_Belmont.jpg

²Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Oct. 15, 2015,
as long as acknowledgement included.

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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 MHS records. Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: TheMemoryQuilt.com ® click on Family History

Contact me at: pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

on This Date in Minnesota History: October 14

October 14, 2009 – The Robert Wallace, a wooden bulkhead steamer, foundered in 300 feet of water on Lake Superior and sank November 17, 1902.

The Wallace had been towing the schooner Ashland, both laden with iron ore and heading to Cleveland. Thirteen miles south by southeast from the port of Superior, Wis., the stern pipe of the Wallace broke, and water began pouring into her hold. The crew soon saw that their ship was doomed and took to the lifeboat safely reaching the Ashland.

The Ashland burned distress signals, which were responded to by the tug Edna G., which towed the vessel into port at Two Harbors.

The tug returned and searched for the abandoned steamer; however, no trace could be found. It was believed to have gone to the bottom soon after the crew had saved themselves.

The remains [of the Wallace] were not found until Sept. 2006, 235 feet under Lake Superior’s surface and relatively intact seven miles from Knife River, Minn. Underwater archeologists discovered many well-preserved artifacts, including a bronze bell still attached to a wooden rail and engraved with the ship’s name. The hull is separated along the stem but the two sides remain relatively intact, as is most of the stern. Additionally, the fact that the bow was partially broken allowed a more thorough examination of nearly all hull construction features than is normally possible at other shipwreck sites.¹

On October 14, 2009, the shipwreck of the Robert Wallace was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bismarck Daily Tribune; “Crew Escape Safely. Steamer Robert Wallace Founders on Lake Superior.”; November 19, 1902, p. 1.

The Saint Paul Globe; “Founders on Lake Superior. Steamer Robert Wallace Sinks and the Crew Rescued.”; November 19, 1902; p. 3.

¹http://www.greatlakesdrive.com/GLD/property/robert-wallace-wooden-bulk-carrier-1882-1902/

http://www.superiortrips.com/NShoreShipwreckImages/Wallace_Shipwreck.htm

The Robert Wallace
http://www.greatlakesdrive.com/GLD/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Robert-Wallace-NSMN.jpg

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: October 13

October 13, 1964 – Karl Rolvaag, Minn.’s 31st governor and son of the famous Norwegian-American author, Ole Rolvaag, was the guest speaker at a corn picking contest on a farm 2-½ miles west of Lakefield, Minn. on this date.

http://www.lakefieldmn.com/index.asp?SEC=5E5042AB-3708-42EC-B59B-113AA70D92AB&Type=B_PR

http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicc/cfiles65177.jpg

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Monday, October 12, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: October 12

October 12, 1986 – “Minneapolis [becomes] the 64^th city to host a chapter of the Guardian Angels citizen patrol group [on this date] as more than 60 trainees were inducted into membership at ceremonies in Minneapolis.”

Minneapolis Star and Tribune; “60 trainees become Guardian Angels”; October 13, 1986; p. 1B.

http://www.sssentertainment.com/app/webroot/userfiles/images/Guardian_Angels.jpg

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Sunday, October 11, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: October 11

October 11, 1904 – The commissioner of the general land office issued an order directing that the 130,000 acres of unsold lands of the Red Lake Indian reservation in Minn. be placed on sale immediately under homestead entry at $4 per acre. There were originally 256,000 acres of the lands set apart for settlement. Under a sale last June more than 100,000 acres of these were sold and 20,000 acres more were disposed of at a sale last week. The remainder is to be sold under the homestead laws at a flat price. The order, which was telegraphed to the local land officers today, requires the down payment of 20 percent of the cash price.¹

Today, the Red Lake reservation is entirely owned and occupied by members of the Red Lake Band, making it unique among reservations in Minn. (As a result of allotment and sales in the intervening years, some tribes own less than 10% of the land within their reservation boundaries). Red Lake is the most isolated reservation in the United States.2

¹The Saint Paul Globe; “Red Lake Lands Are Restored To Entry. Commissioner Richards Turns 130,000 Acres Back Into Public Domain”; October 12, 1904; p. 1.

²http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Lake_Indian_Reservation

http://nativenewsonline.net/currents/standoff-red-lake-indian-reservation-ends-seven-arrested/
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