Saturday, August 12, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: August 12

August 12, 1910 – Martin O’Malley, of Derrynane Township, Le Sueur County, was rearrested today on the charge of murder in the first degree for poisoning his two youngest stepchildren, Mary and Frank Bergl, two and three years old respectively.

O’Malley had previously been arrested on this charge and released for lack of evidence. Le Sueur County Attorney F. J. Hanzel took the matter up with the attorney general and they came to the conclusion that a Pinkerton detective should be hired in the case.



The Pinkerton logo—a large, unblinking eye accompanied by the slogan “We Never Sleep”—gave rise to the term “private eye” as a nickname for detectives.1

O’Malley, the father of eight children ages 16 to 1-1/2 years, had lost his first wife, Mary approximately two weeks after the birth of their youngest son Henry in Jan. 1909. He married Mrs. Elizabeth (Frank) Bengl of Montgomery, a widow with three children, on May 18, 1910, after which Elizabeth and her children moved to the O’Malley farm.

On July 1, 1910, the two youngest of the Bergl children were taken sick. Medical aid was summoned and a doctor at Le Sueur Center (now known as Le Center) diagnosed the causes as infantile paralysis (polio). On July 3 both children died and were interred in Calvary Cemetery on the afternoon of July 4. Community suspicion was aroused, and on July 7 the bodies were exhumed and the stomachs and livers sent to the state chemist for analysis. The chemist found poison in both children.

County Attorney Hanzel employed the services of a Pinkerton man, and after two days and two nights of strenuous interrogation, finally got a written confession where O’Malley admitted giving the children medicine in which he mixed a quantity of poison, increasing the dose each time. The only motive suggested is that O’Malley wanted to get the children out of the way, though he did not say as such, or why. His wife was not aware of the fact that he had poisoned her children until their bodies were exhumed, and she has not lived with him since. To add to her troubles, the new Mrs. O’Malley was with child.

O’Malley was lodged in the county jail to await a hearing to be held the latter part of August. The case will come before the grand jury in September.



The Le Sueur County Courthouse2


The Bemidji Daily Pioneer
; “Alleged to Have made Confession. Minnesota Farmer Rearrested on Murder Charge.”; Aug. 12, 1910; p. 4.

The Kenyon News; “Murder Laid to Father. Montgomery Farmer Said to Have Killed Two Step Children.”; Aug. 17, 1910; p. 2.

The Faribault Journal; “Child Murder is Laid to Derrynane Farmer.”; August 24, 1910; p. 1.

1http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-pinkertons


2http://courthousehistory.com/images/gallery/Minnesota/Le%20Sueur/Le%20Sueur%20Center%20%20B_large.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

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Friday, August 11, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: August 11

August 11, 1902 – Recent serious accidents have aroused a sentiment in favor of enforcing the right-side-of-the street ordinance in Duluth.

Had two milk men been driving on the right side W. H. Nesbitt, who was operated on today, would not have lost his right leg.

Had a certain young man employed in a downtown mining office been driving on the right side of the road last Friday night, C. S. Prosser would not be in St. Luke’s Hospital with skull fracture and neither would he have lost a $300 horse.

The ordinance has been on the city statute books for more than a year. It was passed at the urgent request of Chief Black, of the fire department, after several of his drivers had reported the most remarkable escapes from collision in running to fires.

Officer Robert Smollet seems to be about the only policeman that is aware of the existence of such an ordinance, and he has been abused frequently by drivers because he makes them keep to the right.

However, as a precaution against possible serious accidents in the future, it has been suggested that for 30 days the police acting under special instructions keep a sharp lookout for persons that drive to the left instead of the right, and without making any arrests, give the drivers understand that the ordinance must be enforced.

This ordinance briefly provides that all rigs shall keep to the right of the road except in passing other rigs going in the same direction, when they must turn out to the left and get over to the right again as quickly as possible after passing.

Teamsters say they have a difficult time in observing this ordinance in the Superior Street retail district, owing to the fact that many grocery wagons, meat wagons, ice wagons and coal wagons stand backed up to the curbs with the horses heading toward the center of the street and taking up all street space between the street car tracks and curb.



Superior Street, Duluth, Minn.1

Another place where complain is made against the workings of the ordinance if enforced, is on Piedmont Avenue, between Eighth Ave. West and Thirteenth Ave. West. Only the south side of the street is in condition for driving with heavy loads, and the space on the south side is entirely too narrow for the traffic.

In this particular district the drivers of wood wagons seems to have a special preference for the wrong side of the road, and many complaints are registered on account of them.

The greatest danger of driving on the wrong side of the road is in making fire department runs. Chief Black says that no person not on the fire apparatus can properly appreciate the difficulty of making a run simply on account of the large number of rigs that are constantly driving on the wrong side of a thoroughfare.


Example of early 1900s fire wagon.2

The Duluth Evening Herald; “Disobey the Law. Accidents Caused by Driving on Wrong Side of Street. Two Recent Serious Ones Directly Caused by That. Suggestion That Police Take Steps to Enforce ordinance.”; Aug. 12, 1902; p. 2.

1http://www.lakesnwoods.com/images/Duluth22.jpg

2https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/f4/ea/d8/f4ead8e8f38a7880a16a6995eb574902--fire-dept-fire-department.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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Thursday, August 10, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: August 10

August 10, 1920 – Minneapolis and St. Paul officially became the Northwest terminal of the government air mail service this afternoon when a 12,000-pound Martin bombing plane, carrying 30,000 pieces of mail landed at the Twin City Air Field, Fort Snelling, on its initial trip from Chicago.

As the mammoth ship was brought to a standstill by Pilot Walter Smith, directly in the center of the field, a fleet of fast postal trucks sped to the ship. Before those on foot could reach the plane to extend a welcome to the crew, 11 pouches were tossed into the trucks, which hurried to the post offices in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

In just 23 minutes from the time the plane landed, letter carriers in the Minneapolis downtown post office were sorting the aerial mail for the afternoon business delivery downtown, and 45 minutes later business houses of the city were opening letters that had left Chicago the same day.

Eighteen hours was clipped off the mail transit time from Minneapolis and Chicago by the inauguration of the air mail service. Carrying a crew of six, the mail ship took off at Checkerboard Field, Chicago, promptly at 6:30 a.m. It arrived at La Crosse, Wis., at 10:13 a.m., and took off again at 11:57 a.m., reaching the Snelling speedway at exactly 1:42 p.m.

The plane was in the air just five hours and 28 minutes. Pilots in the mail ship had expected to make the first journey to the Twin Cities in less than five hours, but upon leaving La Crosse stiff western winds were encountered that slowed down the speed of the heavy plane. Further delay in the running time was occasioned by “bumpy” air, entered by the pilots as they were avoiding a storm shortly before reaching La Crosse.

Walter Smith, the pilot in charge, made a clever landing before the 2,000 persons who encircled the speedway to witness the arrival of the mail plane. He approached the landing field at an altitude of 800 feet, descending gradually as he made a large swing around the field. The final descent was made directly in the center of the field and the plane was brought to a dead stop in the center of the field.


The air field was located within the center of the former bankrupted Twin City Motor Speedway.1


C. F. Egge, superintendent of the air mail service for the Western district, said that the success of the initial flight meant that regular air mail service will probably be started on Monday. The trips to Chicago, he said, will be made every other day until such time as air mail service appropriations make it possible for daily outgoing and incoming service.


1921 U. S. Postal Routes2



The Minneapolis Morning Tribune
; “Twin Cities Get first Air Mail in Record Time. Plane Flies From Chicago With 30,000 Letters—2,000 See Landing,”; Aug. 11, 1920; pp. 1 & 2.

1https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Speedway_Field


2http://www.fsvintageair.com/img/USpostalroutes1921.gif

               __________________________________________________________

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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Wednesday, August 9, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: August 9

August 9, 1905 – According to the Aug. 9 issue of The Minneapolis Journal, South St. Paul has issued a cow curfew ordinance. Because some of the cows in that burg had a habit of wandering around after dark and trampling down gardens, flower beds and lawns, the city council passed an ordinance making it a misdemeanor for the owner of a cow to allow it to be at large after 7:30 p.m.

The Minneapolis Journal; “Cow Curfew Bell. Bossy Must Come Home at 7:30 in South St. Paul.”; Aug. 9, 1905; p. 7.




Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Aug. 9, 2017,
as long as acknowledgement included.

               __________________________________________________________

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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Tuesday, August 8, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: August 8

August 8, 1905 – The three-year-old son of Paul Herman, a well-known farmer of Swan River, Itasca County, was killed this morning by his father running over him.

Mr. Herman had made one round with his binder, a reaping machine that binds grain into sheaves, testing it to get ready for cutting in the afternoon. About 11 a.m. he started on the second round. His little son was playing in the thick wheat, about 20 rods from the house. Herman did not know his son was there, and was watching the team, one of the horses being a fractions colt.

Herman heard a scream and shouted to his wife. She had the baby in her arms, and thinking her husband was hurt, ran toward the binder, dropping the child. She found the little boy on the ground, one leg cut off below the knee, and picked him up. He was dead before she reached the house.

Herman was made almost frantic by the accident, as was his wife. The bereaved father came to town that evening for the purchase of a little coffin.

The funeral took place from the Swan River church Thursday morning. The whole neighborhood was shocked by the accident, and much sympathy is expressed for the family.

Little Falls Herald; Little Falls, Minn.; Little Falls, Minn.; “A Terrible Accident. Swan River Farmer Kills His Little Son With a Binder.”: Aug. 11, 1905; p. 1.




http://townmapsusa.com/images/maps/map_of_swan_river_itasca_mn.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

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Monday, August 7, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: August 7

August 7, 1945 – “Alan Cedric Page was born [on this date, in Canton, Ohio]. Drafted by the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL in 1967, he was named Rookie of the Year that same year and eventually helped lead the team to four Super Bowl appearances. Following his NFL retirement, Page, who'd earned his legal degree in 1978, became a judge, and was named Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court in 1993.”

http://www.biography.com/people/alan-page-39664



Alan Page
https://cce.umn.edu/sites/cce.umn.edu/files/Page_Color_sm-thumb-300x420-56789.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

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Sunday, August 6, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: August 6

August 6, 1911The village of Chisholm is in turmoil today as a result of the arrest of a local undertaker, J. L. Phillips, who has been charged with disinterring without proper authority the dead body of a two-headed baby that was born July 31 and died a few hours later. The father of the child, Peter Hrdonvich*, a miner originally from Austria, today swore out a warrant causing the arrest of Mr. Phillips; the undertaker was released later on his own recognizance.



https://canibringthedog.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/100_2361.jpg



Phillips, who had allowed scores of people to view the baby in his establishment, was accused by Hrdonvich of digging up his child for exhibition purposes, asserting that Phillips knew the family had already been offered $1,000 for the infant’s body by a museum.

Phillips side of the story was slightly different: according to him, Hrdonvich, believing that the child must have been sent by the devil, feared to have it buried in his plot in the cemetery, and asked Phillips to take up the body and embalm it, the father believing that he could sell the body for a good sum to some museum.

Hrdonvich claimed he did not order the body disinterred, but that the first he knew of the action was when the body was accidentally found by two little girls in Phillips undertaking rooms. He also refused to pay a bill of $37 that Phillips has presented for the embalming of the body.

Phillips claimed to have a witness to the instructions he says Hrdonvich gave him, and declares he is being made the victim of a plot.

_______________________________

On Aug. 9, the preliminary hearing of J. L. Phillips was expected to be held in the afternoon before Judge Masters. Assistant County Attorney Boyle was in Chisholm to represent the state and spent the morning looking into the case, which was attracting widespread attention, and opinion was divided as to the charges and counter charges. If Judge Masters decided after hearing the evidence that it was strong enough, he would accordingly bind the undertaker over until the next grand jury at Virginia; if not, he would turn him loose.

There seemed to be a veil of mystery over the case that nothing but an investigation, like that scheduled for the afternoon, could penetrate. The body of the malformed child was in Phillips’ establishment, where it had been since he exhumed it at the request, he says, of its father, for Phillips admits taking the body from the grave and says the whole trouble is due to a misunderstanding about the time of the exhumation, the father not being present. Many people saw the body and it was pronounced a freak.

There were two distinct heads, with four ears and four eyes. The stomach appeared to be abnormally large, otherwise the torso and limbs appeared to be normal. The child lived only about 15 minutes (the death certificate says it was stillborn), but there was some semblance of hair upon the two heads. It was rumored that an Eastern museum had offered a large sum, over $1,000, for the body, and it was claimed this has prompted all this fuss over the matter.

The scheduled hearing was not held as announced.

Assistant County Attorney Boyle, after making a long examination and study of the charges and talking with several people who would be called as witnesses, decided there was not enough evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Phillips to warrant proceeding further, and dismissed the complaint.

_______________________________

*The family’s surname is spelled differently in every source—newspapers, census records, birth and death records, etc. (Hajdukovicy/Idocovich/Hajdukovich/ Hrodoeovich/Hrdonvich)—so I am using the name Hrdonvich because I don’t know what it really was.

There is no further record of this event. I don’t know if the infant was reburied, or if the body was ever sold to the museum that had offered $1,000. I certainly hope the baby was given a proper, respectful burial.




https://hahaquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Rest-in-peace-mummy-I-love-you-always-and-forever-1.jpg


The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Arrest Over Freak Child. Undertaker Charged With Illegally Disinterring Body of Two-Headed Baby.”; Aug. 7, 1911; p. 1.

The Duluth Herald; “Two-Headed Boy Center of Mixup. Chisholm Undertaker Is in Trouble With Parent and Alleges Plot.”; Aug. 7, 1911; p. 2.

The Duluth Herald; “Alleged Grave Robbery Case. Hearing of Undertaker Phillips Is Set for Tuesday Afternoon.”; Aug. 8, 1911; p. 5.

The Duluth Herald; “Assistant County Attorney Drops Charge Against Chisholm Man.”; Aug. 9, 1911; p. 13.

               __________________________________________________________

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