On This Date in Minnesota History: January 27

January 27, 1904 – Bert Loomis and H. E. Anderson, who are employed at John Sibley’s camp on the Boy River, were treed by wolves early this morning and compelled to remain in hiding for two hours, when the animals were frightened away.

Boy River¹

The men had been staying at a camp belonging to Samuel Simpson, of Minneapolis, and before daylight they arose and started to the Sibley headquarters. They had walked only a short distance when the wolves appeared. The men lost no time in getting up into a tree. In the dim light they could distinguish the animals circling about their perch. Then the wolves took up their station under the tree, snapping and snarling and making vain efforts to reach their prey.

Although the men were in danger of freezing, they huddled together as best they could and waited for relief. When the sun came up the beasts heard a noise that frightened them and made off through the woods. Then Loomis and Anderson came down and finished their journey. Wolves are more plentiful in the north woods this season than for many years.

Minnesota Wolves²

The Saint Paul Globe; “With Wolves Below. Two Men Hold Anxious Session In a Tree.”; Jan. 28, 1904; p. 1.

¹https://www.bestplaces.net/images/city/boyriver_mn.gif

²https://i.pinimg.com/736x/b8/be/20/b8be20d2bec98dc97f9ddb88a92a0cc3--wild-wolf-timeline-photos.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: January 26

January 26, 1992 - Super Bowl XXVI was played at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn.; the first time the Super Bowl was held in that city. The Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills by the score of 37–24.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXVIaaaqqqqq22

Super Bowl XXVI at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 

http://www.stadiumsofprofootball.com/superbowl/images/metro_top.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

On This Date in Minnesota History: January 25

January 25, 1904 – Fire this afternoon in Owatonna, believed to be due to a defective flue, damaged the administration or main building of the Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children to the extent of $75,000. There was $50,000 insurance on the building.

State School at Owatonna Administration Building

There was no loss of life, nor was anyone hurt. The children in the building were removed on the first alarm and were comfortably housed in the cottages. Some of the 37 school employees lost their personal effects.

The blaze was discovered about 2 p.m. by Ray Naylor, a bookkeeper, as he was coming from one of the cottages, and he at once turned in an alarm. An attempt was made to fight the flames with the school fire apparatus, but owing to the elevated position of the building and a stiff northwest wind, the fire was soon beyond control. Added to this there was only one way of getting into the attic, where the fire started, and the firemen could not get enough streams of water in play to check the flames.

A view of the fire¹

In the south wing of the building were 15 babies, and these were quickly carried to a place of safety. Some of the employees made a dash into the building to save some of their personal belongings, but the smoke was so dense that they were driven back.

When the Owatonna fire department, which had been summoned on the first alarm, arrived the central portion of the structure was a mass of flames, but by hard work the south wing was saved with comparatively little damage, but the rest of the structure is practically ruined. The roof of the burned portion fell in and now all that remains is the walls, though they are probably so badly damaged that they will have to be torn down.

The school was established by a law enacted in 1885 and was opened in Dec. 1886. It is located on a farm of 240 acres adjoining the townsite of Owatonna on the west, and the buildings are situated on an eminence overlooking the town and the Straight River. The Institution comprises nine principal buildings, the central one of which was the administration building burned today. The older children are quartered in cottage surrounding the main building.

The administration building was one of the structures erected at the time the school was first established in 1886, and at the time it was burned contained the offices of the superintendent and other officials, a library, public reception room, assembly hall, children’s and employees’ dining rooms, sewing rooms, nursery apartments and the private rooms of some of the employees.


The principal buildings are the school, added in recent years, the hospital with its necessary quarantine building, the superintendent’s residence and five detached cottages that now furnish quarters for nearly all of the children. Besides these buildings there are the laundry and heating plant, barns, greenhouses, workshops, implement house and hennery.

The Saint Paul Globe; “State School at Owatonna Badly Damaged by Fire. Central Portion and North Wing of the Administration Building is Destroyed, With Loss of $75,000, Partly Covered by Insurance—Inmates Are All Removed Without Injury and Comfortably Housed in the Surrounding Cottages.”; Jan. 26, 1904; p. 3.

¹https://www.facebook.com/minnesota.state.public.school.orphanagemuseum/photos/a.10152202297650262.913748.467619155261/10156081477710262/?type=3&theater

               __________________________________________________________

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

On This Date in Minnesota History: January 24

January 24, 1916 - A tragedy that stirred every heart in Austin, Minn., occurred this afternoon when John Peterson went to the home of Mrs. Johanna Sorenson and shot her to death with a .38 caliber revolver, then turned the gun on himself with fatal results.

.38 caliber bullets¹

There was no one in the house with them at the time and just what took place is not absolutely known, but the facts appear to be as follows:

Peterson had been paying his attentions to Mrs. Sorenson and it is generally believed that there was an understanding between them that they would marry someday. She had, it is believed, accepted a certificate of deposit and a deed for a house and lot from him, also numerous presents, including a set of furs.

Mrs. Makepeace, a neighbor, called on Mrs. Sorenson only a few minutes before the tragedy occurred and the couple was in the kitchen, he sitting at a table while she was stirring up a cake for her daughter’s birthday, which is tomorrow.

Mrs. Makepeace accompanied Mrs. Sorenson into the next room to look at a new plant, and noticed the expression on Mrs. Sorenson’s face, asked her if she was sick. Mrs. Sorenson said no, and asked her friend to remain, but Mrs. Makepeace said she couldn’t stay and returned home. It seemed to her that Mrs. Sorenson had decided not to accept Peterson’s further attentions.

Mrs. Makepeace had not been home for 20 minutes when she heard Mrs. Sorenson scream and saw her run out of her house, where she fell on the porch. Mrs. Johnson, another neighbor, also heard Mrs. Sorenson’s scream, and the two neighbors ran to her assistance. City Carrier Thad Thompson also happened along about that time and carried Mrs. Sorenson into the house, placing her on the couch, where she passed away without speaking a word before medical aid arrived.

In the parlor lay John Peterson in a pool of blood, breathing his last. From indications, Mrs. Sorenson was gathering up the presents he had given her and had gone to get some papers from the bureau drawer and he had followed her. It is thought that he had drawn the revolver to shoot and that she had tried to grapple with him. This was indicated by the bullet wound on his breast that passed under the skin and out through his arm. Mrs. Sorenson was shot through the right breast, the bullet passing through her body.  It is supposed that as soon as Mrs. Sorenson ran out of the room after being shot that Peterson threw himself on the bed and fired a bullet into his breast and the bullet was found on the bed.  The blood spot on the bed matched up with the blood stain on the back of his shirt where the bullet came through his body. This is the opinion of and general evidence as found by Dr. Pierson and Dr. Leck, who were called.

Mrs. Sorenson was the widow of John Sorenson, who dropped dead three years ago. He was a blacksmith of the firm Sorenson & Nelson of Austin. Peterson, who was about 45 years of age and a bridge carpenter on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, had never been married.

The revolver was picked up from the floor where he had evidently dropped it as he staggered out of the bedroom into the parlor where he fell. There were three empty chambers and two loaded ones, indicating that three shots were fired.

Johanna Christina Margaret Skifter was born Sept. 6, 1873, in Jylland, Denmark. In 1894 she came to America with her mother and went to Grand Meadow where her father had located, he having preceded the family to this country to establish a home. In 1899 she was married to John Sorenson of Austin. The family had lived in Austin ever since. There are three children: Elgar, 16; Frances, 14; and Viola, 10. Mr. Sorenson died three years ago this coming April. He fell dead on the street when running to catch a rig to ride to his work. R. J. Skifter, the father of Mrs. Sorenson, still lives and resides in Austin. Mrs. Skifter died a year ago in October. There are two brothers, J. A. Skifter of Austin and C. R. Skifter of Grand Meadow, and four sisters living, Mrs. Ole Jacobson, Grand Meadow; Mrs. William Jensen and Mrs. J. F. Larson of Austin, and Mrs. H. L. Welkin of San Diego, Calif. The deceased was a member of the Lutheran church for years and also a member of the R. N. A. Society. Mrs. Sorenson was a quiet congenial woman, a kind neighbor and made friends of all her acquaintances. She was devoted to her home and her children, going out but little and keeping in mind her family first. The orphan children have been robbed of a good mother.

2

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While this is a horrifyingly sad story, for genealogists like me, this article/obit is a gold mine. Mrs. Sorenson’s maiden name, her birthdate, place of birth, sibling’s names and whereabouts, her children’s names and ages, immigration date, etc. It also mentions her husband’s name and possible date of death, along with her mother’s approximate death date. The Mower County Transcript-Republican article gives her first name (Johanna), while The Minneapolis Morning Tribune article simply refers to her as Mrs. John Sorenson.


Mower County Transcript-Republican; “Commits Murder Then Kills Self. John Peterson shoots and Kills Mrs. Johanna Sorenson Then Kills Self”; Austin, Minn.; Jan. 26, 1916; p. 1.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Man Shoots Woman and Self to Death. Dual Tragedy Follows Refusal of Widow to Wed Admirer.”; Jan. 25, 1916; p. 3.

¹http://caldwellandcompany.net/jim%2038%20colt%20special.jpg
2http://www.lakesnwoods.com/images/Austin118.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

On This Date in Minnesota History: January 23

January 23, 1912 – Nearly seven years ago John Mattson filed on a government homestead of 160 acres near Biwabik, Minn., and with the help of his wife cleared and cultivated the tract. Besides his labor he invested $4,200 in buildings and stock.

1

Today Mattson called on Governor Eberhart and State Auditor Iverson and appealed to them to save him from the loss of his place. An investigation brought to light the fact that the 160 acres had been taxed by the federal government to the Minnesota State School Fund and that his title was not worth the paper it was written on. The land was swamped and had been given to the state two years before he filed.

While ready to offer all the sympathy they could, both Eberhart and Iverson stated that they were powerless to help him, and the only way out of the difficulty would be for him to repurchase it from the state. This means that the land must be offered at public sale and given to the highest bidder.

Gov. Adolph O. Eberhart²

How the federal government land office ever allowed Mattson to file on lands that two years earlier had been transferred to the state is not known. Both Eberhart and Iverson promised that they would try to induce the next legislature to reimburse him for the sums he will be called upon to pay for the land a second time.

Minneapolis attorneys interviewed today on Mattson’s predicament were unanimous in the opinion that the only recourse he had was to induce the legislature to enact a special measure empowering the state treasurer to reimburse him.

One attorney said Mattson might induce the federal government to give him preference on other lands, but that he could not force it to do so.


The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Man Toils Long for Farm Only to Find Title Void. Homesteader Loses Place He Worked Seven Years and Spent $4,200 On. Government Erred in Allowing Him to File on Land State Owned.’”; Jan. 24, 1912; p. 2.

¹http://www.lakesnwoods.com/images/Biwabi7.jpg

²http://www.mnopedia.org/sites/default/files/styles/xlarge/public/pof00180.jpg?itok=_G1WGGCj

               __________________________________________________________

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

On This Date in Minnesota History: January 22

January 22, 1901 – Queen Victoria died on this date at 6:30 p.m., at the age of 81, after a reign of 63 years, seven months and two days.

Queen Victoria1

Minnesota Gov. Van Sant today telegraphed the following to a Canadian paper:

“The announcement just made of the death of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, throws a shadow over the entire civilized world. Genuine grief and heartfelt regret will be experienced by the people of every nation. Her splendid reign, characterized by the highest wisdom and virtue, not alone endeared her to the people of every land, but her beautiful private life made her the subject of emulation for all. The influence of her home life, both as a wife and mother, will ever be felt not only by the present generation but by generations to come. No higher tribute can be paid to the memory of her majesty than by stating that through her influence, human life and human sentiment have been elevated, and all that was pure and noble was exemplified in her every act.”

The St. Paul Globe; “Gov. Van Sant’s Tribute. Expression on the Death of the Queen.”; Jan. 23, 1901; p. 2.

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

¹https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Victoria#/media/File:Queen_Victoria_by_Bassano.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

On This Date in Minnesota History: January 21

January 21, 1909 – Minnesota won the final fight for approximately $6,000,000 worth of lands, in a hearing lasting less than half an hour before Secretary Garfield of the Interior Department, this morning in the historic swamp land cases, which have been in controversy for many years. The state was awarded immediate title  to 23,000 acres of land, valued at about $2,000,000 and a plan was agreed to that result in the award to the state of approximately 200,000 acres of land include in the various Indian reservations.

As a result of the hearings today, it is determined that the rights of the Indians to swamp lands in controversy are practically disposed of. The ownership of the lands, therefore, lies between the government and the state of Minnesota, with the Indians interested as wards of the United States and not as original owners.

Secretary Garfield decided today that the lands must all be re-examined to determine whether they are swamp. All lands that are found to be swamp will be patented to the state of Minnesota, and in line with this decision the secretary ordered that 23,000 acres that have already been examined should be turned over to the state at once.

James R. Garfield, son of President Garfield, served as President Roosevelt’s Secretary of the Interior from 1907-1909.¹

In addition to this, the secretary decided also that the state is entitled to all swamp lands in the reservations, whether they were originally designated as swamp lands or not. As a result of this ruling, all lands in the reservations of the Chippewas, the Winnibagoshish and the White Earth Indians will be re-examined and as fast as the swamp lands are located they will be patented to the state.

Senators Nelson and Clapp, Attorney General Simpson and State Auditor Iverson appeared in behalf of Minnesota at the hearing. With Secretary Garfield were Assistant Secretary Pierce, Assistant Attorney General Woodruff and Commissioner Bennett of the land office.

Senator Moses Clapp²

Senator Nelson made the principal argument for the state and Senator Clapp presented the request for the immediate patenting of the lands.

Senator Knute Nelson³

 “We consider it a great victory for Minnesota,” said Mr. Iverson. “The state’s original contention that the swamp lands should be determined by the field notes of the original of survey was not upheld because of the interest which the Indians may have in the lands. We obtained, however, an equal chance to secure swamp lands which had previously been awarded to the Indians as dry lands, but which may prove to be swamp when examined. We secured also immediate title to the lands as fast as they are examined.”

“The state has been rendered inestimable service in the entire proceeding by Senators Clapp and Nelson,” said Attorney General Simpson.

The Minneapolis Tribune; “Swamp Land Is Given to State. $6,000,000 Award Is Made by Secretary Garfield at Washington. Indians Interested Only as Wards of United States. 177,000 Acres Will First Have to Be Examined.”; Jan. 22, 1909; p. 1.
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It was not until June 2, 1924, that Congress granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S.

However, even after the Indian Citizenship Act, some Native Americans weren't allowed to vote because the right to vote was governed by state law. Until 1957, some states barred Native Americans from voting.4

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¹https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DGvm11vXUAA57Ci.jpg

²https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses_E._Clapp#/media/File:MosesClapp.jpg

³https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knute_Nelson#/media/File:Knute_Nelson_cph.3a45938.jpg

⁴http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/jazz/jb_jazz_citizens_1.html

               __________________________________________________________

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