Saturday, February 3, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 3

February 3, 1915 – Ruben Silver was arraigned today in Minneapolis Municipal Court on a non-support charge, admitting on the stand that he had two wives living. Herman Liss, deputy clerk of the Municipal Court, says he has evidence indicating that Silver’s real name is Koleman Weisfeldt, and that he has three wives besides Rose Redker Silver, whom he married in Minneapolis on Jan. 24. The case was continued pending further investigation of Silver’s matrimonial record.


Ruben Silver

Silver arrived in Minneapolis about two months ago, and almost immediately sought the services of a shadchan, or matrimonial agent, to secure him a wife. Through the shadchan he met and married Rose, whose dowry was to be a team of horses and a wagon.

Silver, according to his wife and relatives-in-law, quit work as soon as he was married and became insistent that he be given the promised team so that he might start in the express business. This, they say, led to a partial estrangement and to Silver’s being watched by Sol Redker, his brother-in-law, who a few days ago met Abe Koenig, formerly of Poland.

Koenig, according to Redker, asserted that Silver had three wives besides his Minneapolis spouse.

He left his wife and two children in Russian Poland, said Koenig, when he came to America five years ago; abandoned another in Topeka; and under the name of Carl Weis married and later deserted Virginia Rosenthal in St. Joseph, Mo.

With these charges against his brother-in-law, Sol Redker sought Deputy Liss. The issuance of a warrant and Silver’s arrest on the non-support charge followed quickly.

On the stand the defendant denied any wives except Rose and the one in St. Joseph. Liss, however, asserts that Silver’s photo over the name of Weisfeldt, has been published in the New York Jewish Daily News gallery of wife deserters, with the statement that he left his wife and children in Poland. He expresses the belief that Silver, or Weisfeldt may have married more than one girl for her dowry.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Bigamy Suspect Admits Two Wives, Denies More. Ruben Silver Accused of Having Married Four Women, Three Illegally. Deserted Wife and Two Children in Poland Five Years Ago Is Assertion.”; Feb. 4, 1915; p. 9.

               __________________________________________________________

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, February 2, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 2

February 2, 1922 – While hundreds of women factory workers looked on, Albert Merrow, 53 years old, slashed his wife’s throat and then attempted to kill himself today.

The attack upon Mrs. Merrow was made near the entrance of the Wyman-Partridge & Co. factory at Fifth Street and First Ave. North. Merrow is in serious condition in the General Hospital this evening. Mrs. Merrow is reported to be out of danger and staying at her son Roy P. Merrow’s home.



Wyman, Partridge & Co., Fifth St. and First Ave. North, Minneapolis1


According to the son, Merrow and his wife separated last Sept., and Mrs. Merrow came to live with him at his home.


“My father has been coming to my home to see my mother and make trouble frequently,” he said. “Two weeks ago I was obliged to have him arrested. He was released with a warning to stay away.”

Mrs. Merrow, who is 61 years old, is employed at the factory, and was leaving her work at 5 p.m. today with other employees when her husband accosted her. While the groups of women gathered, Merrow and his wife became involved in an argument. He drew a razor blade from a pocket and slashed Mrs. Merrow’s throat, then slashed his own.

Sergeant Chris Fleming found the two lying upon the walk and surrounded by excited women.

Merrow admitted the attack tonight, and said he was sorry he had tried to kill his wife.

“Tell my wife,” he said to police, ”that I hope she gets well. But as for myself, I hope I die. I have nothing to live for.”

According to Roy P. Merrow, the separation of his parents was caused by his father’s excessive drinking.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Crowds Watch Husband Slash Wife and Self. Albert Merron (sic), Is Near Death, But Wife Is Recovering.”; February 3, 1922; p. 12.

1http://www.archcastings.com/application/files/8114/6795/6592/ac_projects_wp.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, February 1, 2018

On this Date in Minnesota History: February 1

February 1, 1904 – The deputies employed in the office of St. Paul’s Clerk of Courts Rogers were given an exhibition of clairvoyancy today that they are unable to explain.

A Minneapolis clairvoyant, secured for the purpose, went into the file room of the clerk’s office and located certain papers that had been misplaced and that would have been almost impossible to find by any ordinary method.

The missing papers had to do with the estate of William R. Edgerly, and one of the attorneys interested in the case is W. S. Cilley of Minneapolis. Ten days ago Cilley came to St. Paul to look over the papers, but they could not be found. After a thorough search, the task was abandoned and Cilley returned to Minneapolis.



St. Paul City Hall in 19051


Today the attorney came back to St. Paul, accompanied by a clairvoyant, a man past 50 years of age. The clairvoyant was taken into the vault where the files are kept, and was given the file number of the missing documents, together with an outline of the matter it contained. The file number was 86,575, but in giving the number to the clairvoyant, the attorney made a mistake and gave the number 85,575.

With this number in his mind the clairvoyant began his work. He appeared to go into a trance and became very nervous. After walking rapidly from one part of the file room to another, he approached Cilley and told him that he had made a mistake, but did not say what the mistake had been.

The attorney declared that he made no mistake, but the clairvoyant was sure that he had, and then it was discovered that the wrong number had been given the man. When the correction had been made the clairvoyant went to work again.

His eyes took on a gloomy appearance and he rushed up and down the file room, where there are more than 90,000 envelopes similar to the one he was in search of.

“It’s not here; it’s not here; it’s up higher,” mumbled the mysterious man, as he ran his hand over the file cases in his mad rush up and down the room.


Suddenly he stopped; he reached his hand high above his head and withdrew an envelope.

“Here is your paper,” he said confidently.

Chief Clerk Robinson and several of the deputies who witnessed the strange performance stepped forward and looked at the envelope. Then their faith in the clairvoyant’s ability faded. The number on the envelope was 46,133.

“You have made a mistake,” said Deputy Gronewald.

“You’ll have to try again,” suggested Deputy Bazille, and a look of incredibility passed over the faces of all except the clairvoyant.

He opened the envelope, and in the midst of a number of divorce papers he withdrew the lost file, which had nothing whatsoever to do with the papers in the envelope in which it had been found. The clairvoyant modestly handed the paper to Cilley and offered no explanation of the apparent superhuman power.

“Mental telepathy,” he suggested, but it was argued that it could not be mental telepathy, because no other person knew where the papers were located.

“It was one of the strangest things I ever witnessed,” said Maj. Robinson, chief clerk of the office.

“I cannot see how there could be any fake about it,” said Deputy Bazille. All agreed that the clairvoyant had performed what they considered a remarkable task, and none could explain how it was done.

Had it not been for the success of the clairvoyant, it is probable that the missing file would have been given for lost, as the envelope in which it had been found contained papers in a case already settled, and might have remained untouched for years.

When asked why he secured the clairvoyant, Cilley explained that the man had once told him that his child would live, after the doctors had given up all hope of his recovery. The clairvoyant had also demonstrated his power in other ways, which led the attorney to have some faith in his ability to perform such strange feats.


The Saint Paul Globe; “Clairvoyant Finds Missing Document. He Astonishes City Hall Officials With an Exhibition of Strange Ability.”; Feb. 2, 1904;, pp. 1 & 2.

1
http://www.shorpy.com/files/images/SHORPY-4a12317a.preview.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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Wednesday, January 31, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: January 31

January 31, 2013 – Austin, Minn.-based “Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) today announced the closing of its acquisition of the United States based SKIPPY® Peanut Butter business from Unilever United States Inc., of Englewood Cliffs, N.J.  This closing includes the Little Rock, Ark., manufacturing facility and all sales worldwide, except sales in China. Hormel Foods expects to close the acquisition of the China based SKIPPY® Peanut Butter business by the end of its fiscal year 2013.

SKIPPY® Peanut Butter1

Total annual sales for the SKIPPY® Peanut Butter business are expected to be approximately $370 million, with nearly $100 million of those sales outside the United States. The purchase price is approximately $700 million.

The SKIPPY® Peanut Butter domestic line consists of 11 varieties of shelf-stable peanut butter products. The brand, first introduced in 1932, holds the No. 2 share in this growing center-of-the-store category and is the leading brand in the faster growing subcategory of natural peanut butter. Peanut butter is a $2 billion category with a 74 percent household penetration and is the second most popular sandwich behind ham in the United States.

Internationally, SKIPPY® Peanut Butter is the leading brand in China and is sold in more than 30 other countries on five continents.”

http://www.hormelfoods.com/Newsroom/Press-Releases/2013/01/20130131

1http://www.target.com/p/skippy-creamy-peanut-butter-original-28oz/-/A-12935852
               __________________________________________________________

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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Tuesday, January 30, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: January 29

January 30, 1968 - On this date, Ron Yary from USC was the first overall pick of the 1968 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, who had traded Fran Tarkenton to the New York Giants for that selection, becoming the first offensive lineman ever to be selected first overall. He played from 1968 to 1981 with the Minnesota Vikings, and 1982 with the Los Angeles Rams. During Yary's tenure with the Vikings, the team won 11 division titles.

Yary was inducted to the Vikings Ring of Honor in 2000, and became a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

http://www.onthisday.com/events/january/30

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



Ron Yary
http://store.dougjohnsonsports.com/images/RonYary8x10ZZ.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, January 29, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: January 29

January 29, 1920 – Minnesota’s new barless and boltless prison will soon throw open its doors to receive women 18 years old or older, and when the doors are closed they will not shut out hope, cheer and human friendliness.

Letters sent out today by the Minnesota State Board of Control to every judge in the state carried the information that the new reformatory in Shakopee is ready for occupancy and that women now may be committed there.

Inmates will live for the present in the administration building, which has rooms for 18, in addition to the administration staff, but when the cottages are completed, will be quartered separately. Twenty women, now at the state penitentiary in Stillwater, will be moved to Shakopee as soon as the cottages are ready, Miss Florence Monahan, superintendent, explains.


Women’s Reformatory in Shakopee1


The reformatory is situated one mile west of Shakopee on a bluff overlooking the Minnesota River. The administration building faces south and includes a 167 acre farm on the reformatory property.

“The first thing the women committed will do is to make curtains for the windows of the building,” said Miss Monahan. “They will make their own clothes and later will tint the walls of the building. The women will do all the domestic work. They will be trained in household arts, in farming and gardening.”



Women prisoners working the farm2

Miss Monahan has been working with the board of control since Oct., when she went east to attend a prison convention in Boston and to visit the leading reformatories for women.

“Uniforms will not be worn,” she said, “but instead women will wear attractive, serviceable dresses of different colors. White is to be worn on Sunday. As is customary in other reformatories, there will be a system of grading and marking. Every woman will enter the second grade. If she does well, she will be put in the first grade and, if not, in the third. The third grade is also for those who run away or commit any offense against the institution. Privileges will be granted according to the grades.

“Life will be made as nearly normal as possible, with plenty of work, plenty of sleep, good food, recreation and an opportunity for training. Classes will be arranged for illiterates, if needed, and also for any woman to study any subject she wants.”
______________________

The women’s reformatory at Shakopee opened Feb. 2, 1920, to take care of all women sentenced to prison in Minnesota.

No women prisoners have as yet been received at the institution, but the first four are to be transferred from Stillwater at once. The institution is now able to care for 25 women. A section not yet completed will enlarge the capacity to 50.

There are no bars on the windows and there will be no guards, armed with rifles, walking posts. The purpose of the institution will be to give women an opportunity to retrieve themselves and return at the expiration of their sentence to civil life again, according to Superintendant Monahan.

The women will be engaged in caring for the gardens, cows, chickens and in other pursuits.

The Daily People’s Press; “New Prison for Women Opens at Shakopee. Institution Will Be Without Bars and Fetters.”; Jan. 30, 1920; p. 1.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Shakopee Woman’s Reformatory Opens. First Four Prisoners to Be Transferred Immediately From Stillwater.”; Feb. 3, 1920; p. 14.

1http://s3.amazonaws.com/libapps/accounts/2491/images/MS3.9_SH7.2W_m1.jpg

2https://mn.gov/doc/assets/farm1926_tcm1089-287797.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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Sunday, January 28, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: January 28

January 28, 1909 – One of the most destructive fires in the history of Big Falls, Minn., occurred early this morning just after midnight. J. J. Curey and Joseph Leblane, two homesteaders who were sleeping in a building lost their lives. Paul Lawrence, owner of a saloon and restaurant in the burned building, lies in the Bemidji hospital near death, being badly burned on his hands, feet and neck. Mrs. Lawrence’s condition is still more pitiful.

In attempting to get out of her room on the second story of the building, she was badly burned on the left side and back, and her feet cut while crossing the street to a place of safety. Two unidentified guests were sleeping in the third story of the building and were forced to jump, one breaking his hip. All the injured people were given temporary care by Dr. Ratcliff and were brought to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Bemidji this morning.

The Minneapolis Tribune; “Big Falls, Minn., Fire. Homesteaders Asleep When Flames Suddenly Break. Several Others Painfully Injured in Making Escape.”; Jan. 28, 1909; p. 3.



http://www.lakesnwoods.com/images/BigFal66.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