On This Date in Minnesota History: September 30

September 30, 1912 – The second $10,000 painting to fall from the Minnesota state capitol dome in the last three weeks dropped to the floor this evening and was damaged in places, according to persons who inspected it. The painting was the final of a series of four panels painted by Edward Simmons, the noted American artist, portraying “Civilization of the Northwest.”

One third of the canvas remained on the wall. It is believed the recent heating of the building loosened the gum paint that held the painting and caused it to fall. The second painting fell on Sept. 8, but was retouched and is now in good condition. The principal damage done to the painting that dropped tonight was in the center, where several small holes are said to have been torn.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Painting at Capitol Falls. Second Canvas in Dome to Fall Has Several Holes Torn in Center.”; Oct. 1, 1912; p. 1.

“Civilization of the Northwest”
http://www.mnhs.org/sites/default/files/styles/710_max_width/public/agriculture_1.png?itok=o1pjFssg

Scaffolding is being lowered to just above the 3rd floor level in the Rotunda for conservators to begin work on four fine art murals called "Civilization of the Northwest" (1904), by Edward Simmons during the recent renovation of the capitol.

http://www.mnhs.org/sites/default/files/styles/710_max_width/public/agriculture_1.png?itok=o1pjFssg

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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 MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.

                                                         

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On This Date in Minnesota History: September 29

September 29, 1910 – His wrists raw and bruised from hammering the handcuffs that encircled them with a stone, O. J. Oja, inmate of the state reformatory in St. Cloud was captured today near Moorhead and brought back to the institution by Assistant State Agent G. H. Knickerbocker. Last week he had made a sensational escape near Maple Lake by jumping through a car window while the train was running at full speed.

Oja was hiding in the thick woods near Maple Lake and made his way to Moorhead before being captured by the officers. It is a mystery how he succeeded in getting the handcuffs off, obviously a hard and painful process.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Handcuffs Hammered Off. Escaped Convict Uses Rock to Remove Embarrassing Wristbands.”; Sept. 30, 1910; p. 5.

St. Cloud Reformatory

http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/1/5/0/9/7/ar128482057879051.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.

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On This Date in Minnesota History: September 28

September 28, 1911 – Peter McRae, a man reported to be of middle age and a lumberjack who lives in the vicinity of Funkley, Minn., was killed sometime this evening by being struck by an engine that was backing down the yard to the coal dock for a fresh supply of coal. McRae, who was walking toward the coal dock, was overtaken and ground beneath the wheels.

His body was found by the engine crew and was dragged about a block. When found the head was severed from the body and one foot was cut off. Upon examination it was found that both arms were broken and his chest crushed.

No information could be obtained as to who the man’s relatives were, whether he was married or single and what will be done with the body.

The Bemidji Daily Pioneer; “Man Found Dead is Peter McRae. Was Struck by Engine in Yards at Funkley Thursday Night—Instantly Killed. Head Severed From Body. Man Was Dragged About a Block—Both Arms Broken and Chest Crushed. One Foot Also Cut Off. Was Found by Train Crew, But No Relatives Could be Found.”; Sept. 29, 1911; p. 1.

http://www.lakesnwoods.com/images/Funkle1.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

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On This Date in Minnesota History: September 27

September 27, 2012 – A senseless, horrifying shooting took place on this date at Accent Signage Systems, a sign-making business located in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Minneapolis. Andrew John Engeldinger, an employee of the firm who had just been told he was losing his job for repeatedly being late to work, responded with "Oh, really?" and took out a Glock 19 9mm handgun from his holster and opened fire.

Five victims (not including Engeldinger) were killed in the shooting, four at the scene and the fifth dying in a hospital the following day. They are: Reuven Rahamim, 61, the founder of the company; a UPS driver who had initially been on a delivery, Keith Basinski, 50; and three who were identified by the medical examiner's office: Rami Cooks, 62; Ronald Edberg, 58, and Jacob Beneke, 34. A sixth fatal victim, production manager Eric Rivers, 42, died on October 10, having been taken off life support when he succumbed to his wounds. Engeldinger died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a warehouse in the workplace's basement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Minneapolis_workplace_shooting

https://bringmethenews.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/accent-signage1.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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On This Date in Minnesota History: September 26

September 26, 1862 – “In 1862, the site of Camp Release [today near Montevideo, Minn., Camp Release State Park, Lac qui Parle County] was the site of the Wahpeton Dakota village led by Red Iron. Red Iron did not participate in the U.S. Government-Dakota Conflict of 1862 and so his village became the site where 269 settlers, who had been captured by the Dakota, were brought by Native American 'friendlies.' Other leaders in charge at the camp were Chief Wabasha, Standing Buffalo, and Taopi (a Mdewakanton chief). Chief Red Iron's people dug rifle pits around the camp, expecting that they would have to defend the captives from Chief Little Crow and his men. However, Little Crow was defeated at Wood Lake and the camp was not attacked.

"On September 26, 1862, Henry H. Sibley's army arrived at Red Iron's camp and released the prisoners. Kenneth Carley (historian of the 1862 war) writes:

"Sibley, unmounted but with an escort of troops, entered the Indian camp 'with drums beating and colors flying' at about two o'clock on the afternoon of September 26. . . . The friendlies at once released 91 whites and about 150 mixed-bloods. Additional captives, freed in the next few days, brought the total to 107 whites and 162 mixed-bloods -- 269 in all. Most of the whites rescued were women and children, there being not more than four men (Carley 1976:65).

"The campsite was renamed Camp Release to commemorate the return of the captives. Within a few weeks of the prisoner release, the camp (still under the control of Sibley) became the site where Native Americans gathered to seek protection from the U.S. army. By the end of October 1862, well over 2,000 Native Americans were under Sibley's charge at Camp Release.”

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadsides/historic/files/iforms/LP-CAM-003.pdf

http://www.waymarking.com/gallery/image.aspx?f=1&guid=407e2c5d-2ba4-43a6-bbda-f2f81d38ab06&gid=3

Marker reads:

On September 26, 1862, 91 whites and about 150 mixed-blood captives, some of whom had been prisoners of the Dakota Indians for more than a month were returned to Colonel Henry H. Sibley’s military camp, later joyfully known as Camp Release. In the next few days, additional captives were freed, bringing the total to 107 whites and 162 mixed-bloods – 269 in all.

When the 1862 U.S.–Dakota conflict moved into its final weeks in mid-September, attention on both sides had focused on the captives, mostly women and children, held by the Dakota. Sibley, heading a largely volunteer army, demanded that the captives be released before peace negotiations could begin. But the Dakota warriors led by Little Crow moved up the Minnesota River Valley, still holding their prisoners.

Many Dakota who had not supported the war took great risks to help keep the captives alive. By late September, Dakota peace factions led by Wabasha, Topi, Red Iron, Mazomeni, Standing Buffalo, and others were camped only a half a mile from the war faction near the mouth of the Chippewa River.  While Little Crow’s men were fighting the Battle of Wood Lake, the peace supporters took control of the captives, expecting to have to have to fight the returning war party if it was victorious against Sibley’s army. But Little Crow’s men did not win at Wood Lake. The war leaders and many of their followers fled Minnesota, and the Dakota peace group sent a message to Sibley to arrange the prisoner release three days later. Many of the peace faction who surrendered to Sibley’s army at Camp Release were among the Dakota exiled from Minnesota the following year. 

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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 MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.

                                                        

Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.

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On This Date in Minnesota History: September 25

September 25, 1906 – McEwan, Heath and Kelly, the “terrible trio,” who held up and robbed Martin V. Shaw last summer and since their imprisonment and conviction have caused the Hennepin County jail authorities so much trouble and anxiety, are now where they will trouble local officials no more. They are inmates of the state penitentiary in Stillwater and if they serve their respective sentences, nothing will be seen of them for the next 15 years.

William McEwan, the most desperate of the trio and the man who has been kept in irons to prevent his injuring the jail officials and himself, was the first to be sentenced by Judge Andrew Holt today, and he was given the stiffest sentence. The prisoner had nothing to say except the simple statement that he was innocent of the crime charged. The judge sentenced him to hard labor for 15 years and eight months.

Two days prior, a dangerous dagger, made from a case knife, was found concealed in the middle of McEwan’s mattress when it was torn to pieces before it was burned at the order of Sheriff Dreger. This, together with jail officials’ knowledge of McEwan’s desperate plans, indicated that McEwan intended to stab County Attorney Al J. Smith and Jailer Nels Clausen and then take his own life on the day of sentence in the courtroom. He has openly stated since his arrest that he would not be taken to Stillwater alive, and that he would take a few others to the next world with him. He was especially engaged at Smith because of the prosecutor’s plea to the jury in which he referred to McEwan as a “would-be-murderer.”

Hennepin County Attorney Al J. Smith¹

 Angus J. Heath and John Kelly were likewise sullenly silent during their sentencing, and grudgingly answered the questions put to them by the court. Heath was given 14 years and eight months, and Kelly had to take a 15-year sentence. Judge Holt said that he gave the prisoners sentences of varying lengths so that they will not be released at the same time and thus be able to form a new combination of crime.

The three men are known to have been implicated in a number of holdups and highway robberies, and the gang is considered one of the worst that has operated in the Minneapolis vicinity in recent years. Their arrest in St. Paul was considered a great catch, and their prosecution and conviction by County Attorney Smith, who took personal charge of the cases, has brought him the congratulations of the officials of the city and county and of others interested in law and order. The men have been desperate for some time.

Sheriff Dreger lost no time, after sentence had been pronounced, in preparation for the trip to Stillwater. The three prisoners, manacled and guarded by the sheriff, Jailor Clausen and Detective Fox, left Minneapolis on the Northern Pacific train at 2 p.m.
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On July 14, 1913, the state board of pardons commuted William McEwan’s sentence from 15 years, 8 months to 10 years.

The Minneapolis Journal; “Three Robbers Get Long Terms. McEwan, Heath and Kelly Sentenced to Prison. Men Who Beat and Robbed Aged martin Shaw, and Who Made Desperate Attempts to Escape or Harm Jail Officials, Are in Cells in Stillwater Penitentiary.”; September 25, 1906; p. 6.

The Minneapolis Journal; “Prisoner Would Murder Attorney. Wm. McEwan, Awaiting Sentence, Prepares to Kill Lawyer and Jailer.”; September 24, 1906; p. 1.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Four Pardons Granted; 10 Sentences Reduced. Pardon Board Shows Leniency But Prescribes Reformatory Conditions.”; July 15, 1913; p. 8.

¹The Minneapolis Journal; June 11, 1902; p. 2.

               __________________________________________________________

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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On This Date in Minnesota History: September 24

September 24, 1912 – Traveling at a speed of about 40 miles an hour down a steep grade, the bare truck of a freight car, near the front of the Plainview branch of the regular mixed Northwestern train, became defective and derailed the car. It carried with it five other box cars and two passenger coaches and tore up the rails for fully 600 feet.

The engine and two box cars just behind it remained on the track, but three of the cars turned completely over and the passenger coaches were thrown at right angles with the roadbed. One passenger, Henry Engl of Elgin, was injured, but will probably recover.

The accident took place three miles south of Plainview, about 2 p.m. today. The train was bound for Eyota, and had reached the grade and was making fast time, when it crossed a high bridge.

It had barely cleared the bridge when the truck on the second car behind the engine apparently tore loose and derailed the car and the others behind it. The escape of all but one of the 20 passengers is considered miraculous.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Wreck near Plainview. One Hurt When Mixed Train on Northwestern Jumps Track.”; September 25, 1912; p. 1.

http://www.lakesnwoods.com/Plainview.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