Saturday, April 22, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 22

April 22, 1911 - Minnesota abolished the death penalty on this date, as Governor Adolph O. Eberhart signed a bill making first degree murder punishable by life in prison.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_1911



http://www.mnopedia.org/sites/default/files/styles/article_main/public/pof00180.jpg?itok=UsvpipDX


The last person executed by the state of Minnesota took place Feb. 13, 1906. See Feb. 13, 2013 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 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, April 21, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 21

April 21, 1912 – Mrs. Mahala Dutton Douglas, widow of Walter D. Douglas, the Minneapolis millionaire who met a heroic death on the Titanic, and Mr. and Mrs. John Pillsbury Snyder, Minneapolis residents who were rescued from the doomed ship, arrived home early today. With Mrs. Douglas, was her maid, Bertha Lavery, who was assisted to safety by Mr. Douglas just before the liner sank on April 15. Each of the Minneapolis survivors said that years will never dim the vivid memories of the terrible night spent among the icebergs off the banks of Newfoundland, when 1,500 persons lost their lives and 700 were saved from graves in the Atlantic.



The Titanic1

Mrs. Douglas, who had made a wonderful show of courage throughout the ordeal, was near the point of physical collapse when her train reached Minneapolis. The strain was proving to be more than she could stand. None of her friends were allowed to see her at the station and she was hurried into a waiting automobile.


Accompanied by her stepson, George C. Douglas, her sister, Mrs. G. A. Goodell and her maid, Mrs. Douglas was taken to Waldon, the summer home of the Douglases on Lake Minnetonka, where a physician was called.

The last time she saw her husband, he told her she should get into a lifeboat, where it would be safer for her. According to Mrs. Douglas, she pleaded with him to come with her, but he replied,” I can’t do it. I would not be a man or a gentleman if I left the Titanic while there was a woman or child on board.”

Mrs. Douglas said she spoke with everyone on the Carpathia, the ship that picked up the Titanic survivors, to find out if they had seen Mr. Douglas after she left the Titanic. Each one said they had seen the Minneapolitan working with other male passengers as they assisted the crew in lowering the boatloads of women and children.



Mr. and Mrs. Douglas2



Mr. and Mrs. John Pillsbury Snyder’s arrival today in Minneapolis marked the end of their honeymoon trip. They were married Jan. 22, and had been traveling since that time.




Mr. and Mrs. John Pillsbury Snyder3


Mr. Snyder denied many of the quotes attributed to him by East Coast reporters, and was particularly emphatic in denying a story that three men in their lifeboat were shot by an officer and their bodies thrown overboard.

“I have no idea where this absolutely false story could have originated,” said Mr. Snyder. “The spreading of such tales does injustice to the seamen who manned our lifeboat. In the first place, there was no officer in the boat. One claimed to be a ‘crow’s-nest’ man off duty and the other two appeared to be common sailors. The three knew how to handle a lifeboat perfectly and we did not have the least trouble. All the men but one took turns at rowing. This one was a German whom we came to know on the Carpathia as ‘the baron.’ He thought rowing would be ‘beneath him.’”


The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Titanic Passengers Reach Minneapolis. Mrs. Douglas in Physician’s Care at Lake Minnetonka Home. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder Arrive Weary, but Otherwise Unharmed. Thrilling Story of Rescue From Doomed Ship is Detailed.”; April 22, 1912; pp. 1&2.

1http://www.rd.com/culture/13-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-titanic/

2http://www.brucemore.org/history/people/douglas/

3http://stmedia.startribune.com/images/snydersTitanic1912d.jpg


Thursday, April 20, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 20

April 20, 1949 – Oscar and Emmy winning actress Jessica Lange was born in Cloquet, Minn., on this date.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001448/




Jessica Lange
http://www.biography.com/people/jessica-lange-9373026

               __________________________________________________________

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, April 19, 2017

On this Date in Minnesota History: April 19

April 19, 1920 – Rev. J. Thompson, pastor of the Methodist Church of Cannon Falls, Minn., has received a Black Hand communication, mailed in the village.

It appears from the letter that the Black Hand is going to take the minister’s life within 60 days if he does not discontinue his fight for temperance. A revolver drawn in ink is evidently calculated to indicate that it will be a shooting affair. Rev. Thompson believes it is the plan of one of the “wet” campaigners to frighten him.


Not an organization, the Black Hand was actually a version of extortion that began in Italy in the 1750s and made its way to the U. S. Blackmail letters were sent to victims with fanciful decorations, such as daggers dripping blood, revolvers spitting fire and bullets, crudely drawn skulls and crossbones and the inevitable sketch of a human hand.




Above, a sample extortion letter from the Black Hand: “You dog, spy, informer. If you do not do what we say, we have a shot gun prepared for you. What a fine feast for the rats your fat carcass will make. Do what we say, it will be better for your skin.” (Courtesy the National Law Enforcement Museum)1


The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Black Hand Warns Preacher. Rev. J. Thompson of Cannon Falls threatened With Death.”; April, 20, 1912; p. 1.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hand_(extortion)

1https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/15/8f/4b/158f4b14a85e3d111523e2e5cc2b5a8f.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






Tuesday, April 18, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 18

April 18, 1915 – Two investigations will be started in St. Paul tomorrow to determine whose negligence it was that caused the death of three-year-old Eva Hirschorn today at the St. Paul City Hospital.

The girl was sent to the hospital suffering with croup. The steam cabinet was broken, so a makeshift arrangement was used. A tent was placed over a cot and a hose attached to a steam radiator.

Sometime later it was found that the child had been scalded to death. The steam pressure from the radiator was so great that it burst the hose.

Coroner D. C. Jones announced that he would impanel a jury tomorrow and make a thorough investigation. Oliver Tong, secretary of the Board of Control of the hospital, said that he also would cause an investigation to be made.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Girl Scalded to Death in St. Paul City Hospital. Two Investigations Will Be Made Today to Determine Negligence. Three-Year Old Eva Hirschorn Perishes in Improvised Steam Cabinet.”; April 19, 1915; p. 1.



St. Paul City Hospital
http://www.lakesnwoods.com/StPaul/hospitals.htm

               __________________________________________________________

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



Monday, April 17, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 17

April 17, 1901 – Owatonna, Minn., suffered the worst fire in its history early today. The fire started late last night in the basement of James W. Connor’s dry goods store, but after a fight the flames were subdued. The store was carefully watched and examined of fire at 2 a.m. and after no evidence of fire was found, the building was left in charge of watchmen. Suddenly, about 4 a.m. an explosion occurred, supposedly from gasoline, and in a moment the entire building was wrapped in flames. The fire spread to the First State Bank building, which was almost totally wrecked. For an hour it seemed impossible to save the main business portion of the city, but the wind subsided and other losses were confined to exterior scorchings given to adjacent buildings. Connor’s loss was more than $40,000.

Duluth Evening Herald; “Owatonna Is Scorched. Worst Fire In the History of the Southern Minnesota Town…Much Business Property Is Destroyed.”; April 17, 1901; p. 1.




https://www.culliganwaterminnesota.com/owatonna

               __________________________________________________________

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, April 16, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 16

April 16, 1960 — Albert Lea native rocker Eddie Cochran, of "Summertime Blues" fame, died in a taxi accident while on tour in England. He was 21.

In 1987 Cochran was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2008/07/part-2-150-minnesota-moments-wed-just-soon-forget

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZZD8ckwLJA  
(Listen to "Summertime Blues")



Eddie Cochran

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Cochran#/media/File:Eddie_Cochran.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