Saturday, March 17, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: March 17

March 17, 2015U.S. Representative Aaron Schock, a Republican from Illinois whose Downton Abbey-styled office launched a series of media reports questioning his use of taxpayer dollars, announced today that he is resigning from Congress.

Schock was born and lived in Morris, Minn., through fourth grade, and was in the district last October campaigning for congressional candidate Torrey Westrom. Schock still has relatives living in the Morris area.

http://www.morrissuntribune.com/news/government/3702734-republican-congressman-native-morris-resigns-office




Aaron Schlock being interviewed in his Downton Abbey-styled office.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqZxfewXggQ
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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.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com




Friday, March 16, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: March 16

March 16, 1916 – When Mrs. J. H. Johnson picked up today’s Tribune this afternoon, her son, absent from home for the past four years, looked up at her.

Her son is Captain Walter H. Johnson, Company G, Sixth Infantry, U. S. A., serving now on the Mexican border and in all probability a member of the expeditionary force that started this morning into Mexico after Pancho Villa.

By a freak of chance the newspaper photographer, snapping a picture of American infantry on the march, aimed his camera at soldiers led by Mrs. Johnson’s son.

Captain Johnson has been stationed at El Paso, Tex., since last November. Even more of a coincidence, his mother received a letter from him today.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Woman Opens Tribune and Finds Picture of son Who Is Chasing Villa”; March 17, 1916; p. 13.



The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; March 16, 1916; p. 1.
               __________________________________________________________

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



Thursday, March 15, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: March 15

March 15, 1902 – John Ammundson of Porter, Minn., was doing some work in his barn and placed his vest, containing a $2,000 note and $25 in bills, on a nail. A calf with a keen appetite ate the note and paper money. Upon the discovery of the loss, the calf was killed and enough of the money was found to prove that it went that way. No trace of the note could be discovered, however.

The Minneapolis Journal; “Calf Eats a $2,000 Note and Bills”; March 15, 1902; p. 1.



http://www.lakesnwoods.com/Porter.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




Wednesday, March 14, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: March 14

March 14, 1917 – After being confronted with the picture of wife murderer Joseph Bowen, which was published Tuesday in Minneapolis papers, a man under arrest in Glenwood, Minn., Pope County, returned to his cell this evening and shot himself with a revolver he had smuggled past searchers and concealed in his bed.


Joseph Bowen1


His description tallied to the most minute detail with that of Bowen, and the Minneapolis police were positive that he was the man who killed his wife in that city.


When arrested Tuesday night, the man gave his name as Charles Miller, which is the surname of Bowen’s stepfather. He said his home was in Chippewa Falls, Wis.

Miller/Bowen, was found on a Soo Line train that left Minneapolis Tuesday. The seal on a merchandise car was seen to be broken as it passed through a small station; at Glenwood, Patrick Burns, a Soo Line detective, investigated. He found a man almost numb with cold asleep on the car floor. The car was going to Winnipeg, which coincides with the police theory that Bowen would go to Canada. He was formerly a U. S. cavalry man and it was expected he would try to enlist with the Canadian troops.

Detective Burns did not at first suspect the man of anything but stealing a ride and made only a superficial search of his clothing. He did not search his canvas mittens and it is believed that the man smuggled the revolver into his cell in one of them. This afternoon the prisoner was brought into court in Glenwood and his remarkable similarity to Bowen in height, age, weight, clothing, small scar near the corner of his mouth, black eye and scratches, was noticed. A picture of Bowen was produced and shown to the prisoner.



Glenwood, Minn.2

The man trembled and according to witnesses, nearly broke down, but recovered his composure and denied that he’d ever heard of Bowen. He was told that he would be released as soon as Detective Burns made certain that nothing had been stolen from the car in which he rode. He appeared relieved.

The Minneapolis police were notified at once of the arrest. This evening David Bogie, chief of police at Glenwood, left the city hall, in which the man was held, to get a supper for the prisoner from a restaurant. Twenty minutes later he returned accompanied by his son.


Miller/Bowen, was staggering about the cell with a revolver in his hand, and blood streaming from his right temple. He collapsed as the men entered the cell and was unable to speak. Chief Bogie was unable to make sense of any of the dying man’s mutterings. A doctor was summoned but the man died within an hour. A hole in the mattress in his cell showed where he had concealed the revolver. The weapon was a .32 caliber, the same as that which Mrs. Bowen was shot.

The man was later confirmed to be Joseph Bowen.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Bowen Believed to Have Killed Self at Glenwood. Man Thought to Be Wife-Slayer Takes Life in Cell.”; March 15, 1917; p. 1 & 2.

1The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Hundred Police Hunt Teamster Who Slew Bride. No Trace Found of Joseph Bowen Who Shot Wife to Death.”; March 13, 1917; p. 1.

2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenwood,_Minnesota

Bride of one month shot and killed by her “cruel” husband; see March 12, 2018 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:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com





Tuesday, March 13, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: March13

March 13, 1858 – Founded on this date, Kanabec County was named after the Ojibwe Ginebig, meaning "Snake," after the Snake River — Kanabecosippi (Ginebigo-ziibi in the modern spelling) — which flows through this county.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanabec_County,_Minnesota







Photos taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain March 13, 2018, 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

Monday, March 12, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: March 12

March 12, 1917 – One hundred detectives and police are on a man hunt for Joseph Bowen, the teamster who slew his bride of a month this morning.



Mrs. Bowen was killed about 10 a.m. in front of the house of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Mayer. She left Bowen last Tues., explaining to her parents that he was cruel to her. She had left him before—a week after their marriage—but her mother persuaded her to return to her husband.

This morning Bowen purchased liquor in Ben Hennig’s saloon. He then crossed the street and started up the rear steps to the home of his parents-in-law, who occupy an upper apartment. Mrs. Mayer saw him coming and locked the door. Bowen shouldered the door from its hinges and entered the room, waving a revolver.

Mrs. Mayer and Mrs. Bowen fled, screaming, down the front stairs. Outside the house they separated and ran in opposite directions. Bowen followed and fired at his wife, the bullet piercing her body. He went to her, grasped her hair, lifted her from the ground and emptied the chambers of the revolver into her body.

Neighbors took up the chase of Bowen and followed him to the E. O. Deckert Lumber Yard at Fifth Street and Tenth Ave. N. He dodged into the lumber yard and his overcoat was later found there by the posse. Since then the police have found no trace of him, although all outgoing trolley cars and trains have been watched and all of Bowen’s haunts patrolled.

Mrs. Bowen was placed in an ambulance and sent to the City Hospital. She died before the trip was completed. An autopsy was performed at the City Morgue and Dr. C. A. Hobbs, deputy coroner, announced no inquest would be necessary. Mrs. Bowen’s only words after the shooting were, “My husband did it.” She was 25 years old.



Bowen, who was 33, was employed as a teamster by M. C. Haffner. He is said to be about 5 feet 10 inches tall and heavily built, with a fair complexion, sandy hair and blue eyes. The police anticipate a gun fight if Bowen’s hiding place is discovered.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Hundred Police Hunt Teamster Who Slew Bride. No Trace Found of Joseph Bowen Who Shot Wife to Death.”; March 13, 1917; pp. 1 & 2.


Bride-murderer Joseph Bowen arrested in Glenwood, Minn.; see March 14, 2018 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:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com




Sunday, March 11, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: March 11

March 11, 1919 – More than 300 Minnesotans—men and women who had done more than their bit in every branch of the A. E. F., arrived in New York from France today aboard the transports Mount Vernon and Agamemnon. There were Minnesota relief workers, nurses, marines and doughboys in the group.

More than 100 Minnesota doughboys who had fought on every sector of the Western Front, arrived on the Agamemnon. All had been wounded. Most of them are now convalescent and soon will be discharged. They told thrilling stories of the Champagne, Chateau Thierry, and the Argonne. Ninety-six of the Minnesotans were in a casual company that had been at St. Aignan for many weeks. They charged that wounded were compelled to dig latrines there, and that conditions were unspeakable.



USS Agamemnon1

Three nurses, the Misses Sophie Gran of Minneapolis, Minnie Nyberg of St. Paul and Elina Sahol of Fergus Falls, were members of mobile hospital unit No. 1, an Iowa unit, which was aboard the Mount Vernon. Red Cross workers aboard the Mount Vernon said they had been ordered not to give interviews to newspapermen in this country.



USS Mount Vernon2

More than 60 shell-shock victims came in on the Agamemnon, of which only three were Minnesotans.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “100 Wounded Gopher Soldiers Reach U. S. Two Ships Bring 300 Minnesota Troops, Nurses and Relief Workers. Battle Victims From State Now on Mend. Soon to Be Discharged.”; March 12, 1919; p. 11.

1http://www.shipscribe.com/usnaux/ww1/images/i05000/i05523.jpg

2http://www.shipscribe.com/usnaux/ww1/images/h63000/h63146.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