Minnesota Family History Research: 3/25/18

Saturday, March 31, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: March 31

March 30, 1913 – Some unscrupulous person has been taking advantage of the general sympathy for the flood victims in Ohio and Indiana to collect money and clothing from Duluth people, which will probably never reach their proper destination.

Today a young man of good appearance, described as being of slender build, with dark curly hair, dark eyes, dark skin, and quite prominent white teeth, canvassed the East end and Lakeside, and is known to have secured at least $9 in money and considerable clothing. He represented himself as collecting for the Salvation Army for the flood sufferers. The officers of the Associated Charities made inquiries the following morning of both the Salvation Army and the police, and found that the man had no authority to take contributions for this purpose.

No clothing is being collected here for the flood victims as they are not in need of such contributions. The Herald has a fund to which any contributions may be sent, and the Rotary Club is also receiving donations of money. The money collected in this way will be sent directly to Governor Cox of Ohio—in fact The Herald’s fund has already been sent. Money may be sent directly if the donor wishes to do so, but otherwise these two funds are the only ones in Duluth at present and neither of them has solicitors. Any solicitor who claims to represent either The Herald or the Rotary Club is a liar and swindler.

The Duluth Herald; “Probably A Swindler. Unknown Young Man Canvassing City ‘for Flood Sufferers.’ Not Authorized to collect Funds By Any Duluth Society.”; April 1, 1913; p. 6.

¹The Duluth Herald; March 29, 1913; p. 7.

²The Minneapolis Sunday Tribune; March 30, 1913; p. 1.

³The Duluth Herald; April 1, 1913; p. 2.

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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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Website: TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

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Friday, March 30, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: Marh 30

March 30, 1903 – All $2 bills in circulation in Minneapolis are under suspicion. This is because of the arrival of some very deceitful greenbacks of the $2 denomination. These have every appearance of being just what they purport to be, legal tender. But they are bad, very bad, because they are so good.

$2 Bill¹

Captain J. W. Lawrence, agent of the secret service stationed in the Twin Cities, discovered one of these bills today, just one week after he was warned by the treasury department at Washington. He spent the afternoon visiting the banks and the cashiers of big business establishments warning them against the counterfeit.

About two years ago quarantine against all $2 bills was declared by department store cashiers, so many were put in circulation. The work on the new counterfeit is so good that such action may result again.

The feature of the bill is its “too muchness.” The paper is crinkly, the silk threads are too evident, the inking is too heavy to be the real thing. This is the case with the new bills, but when they become slightly worn their detection will be almost impossible.

The work is what is called photographic etching. With a little more expertise the workmen will have a counterfeit almost impossible of detection. The execution of the seal is excellent, also of the numbers, but the vignette is poor. Washington’s face looks as if he regretted something exceedingly.

The Minneapolis Journal; “Bad $2 Bills Passing. The New Counterfeits Have Already Come to Light in Minneapolis.”; March 31, 1903; p. 6.

¹http://www.antiquemoney.com/value-of-1899-2-silver-certificate-mini-porthole-bill/

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Website: TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

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Thursday, March 29, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: March 29

March 29, 1905 – Willie Hudson, the 8-year-old boy who was found crying, hungry and tired in the smoking room of the St. Paul Union Depot last Sunday evening, stranded on his way from Oelwein, Ia., to McGregor, Minn., is still being taken care of by the Relief Society.

Efforts were made by Secretary Hutchins of the society to get into communications with the parents of the boy and letters were sent to McGregor. Today Hutchins received a letter from the constable of McGregor, J. W. Clark, saying that the boy’s mother and her second husband separated over a year ago and that the mother is now living in Aitkin, Minn.

J. W. Hudson of McGregor, says that no one has claimed the child. Steps will now be taken by the Relief Society to compel the mother to take care of the boy. Until an answer has been received, the boy will remain under the care of the association.

The Saint Paul Globe; “Relief Society Seeks Mother of Lost Boy. Effort Is Being Made to Provide Home for Willie Hudson.”; March 30, 1905; p. 6.

¹http://www.lakesnwoods.com/McGregor.htm

²http://www.lakesnwoods.com/Aitkin.htm

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Wednesday, March 28, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: March 28

March 28, 1902 – When Engineer Richard Gray pulled the Burlington’s Chicago train into the Minneapolis Union station this morning, he found his fireman, Fred Busacker, dead, with the top of his head knocked off.

Burlington Route¹

Subsequent investigation by the railroad officials showed that Busacker was killed as the train went onto the University railroad bridge near 15^th Ave. SE. The first and third bridge supports on the east end of the bridge were spattered with blood and brains.

Busacker was a single man, 24 years of age. He lived with relatives in St. Paul. He and Engineer Gray took charge of the train this morning at LaCrosse. He had been under Gray for a week, and formerly was a fireman on an engine in the Minnesota Transfer yards.

The new type of engines used by the Burlington have the cab divided by the boiler. Busacker, after the train left St. Paul, went onto the platform between the engine and the tender.

Minneapolis Union Station and Arch Bridge²

When the train pulled into the station Gray looked for the stopping signal, which is usually given by the trainmaster to the fireman and transmitted by the latter to the engineer. He did not get the signal but stopped anyway and stepped to the other side of the boiler to call the fireman to account.

He found Busacker hanging over the gate that swings between the engine and the tender.

The entire upper portion of the young man’s head had been broken in.

The remains were cared for by the coroner and later taken to St. Paul.

The Minneapolis Tribune; “Fireman’s Head Is Knocked Off. Burlington Train Pulls Into the Union Depot With Dead Man in the Cab. Accident Is A Mystery. Unfortunate Man Was Fred Busacker, a Resident of St. Paul.”; March 29, 1902; p. 7.

¹https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago,_Burlington_and_Quincy_Railroad

²http://www.postcardy.com/mplscard/postcardimages/a8650Z.jpg

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Tuesday, March 27, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: March 27

March 27, 1911 – Passenger train No. 44 on the Great Western road from the Twin Cities was wrecked five miles from Cannon Falls shortly at 10 this morning. Engineer A. J. Wheeler of Mankato, was severely injured, the baggage man and mail clerk received slight cuts, and fully 75 passengers were badly shaken up and frightened.

It is feared Engineer Wheeler was internally injured as the engine cab and tender jackknifed as the locomotive left the track. His right leg was broken below the knee and his lower limbs scalded by escaping steam, while he was held in his cab unable extricate himself. He also received a heavy cut across the abdomen and bad cuts about the face and head. He was removed to Red Wing on a special train at 2 this afternoon.

Water running from the tank into the engine cab was all that saved the engineer from being scalded to death.

Fireman John Manning escaped injury by jumping.

The locomotive and combination mail and baggage coach left the rails.

When news of the wreck was received in Red Wing, a special train was hurriedly made up and the company’s staff of physicians was sent to the scene. Drs. Conley, Cremer and Goldberg of Cannon Falls were also summoned.

A wrecking crew from Red Wing left for Cannon Falls at noon.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Mankato Engineer Hurt When Train is Derailed. Besides Injuries He is Pinned in Cab and Badly Scalded—Two Receive Cuts. Locomotive and Combination Coach Leave the Rails Near Cannon Falls, Minn.”; March 28, 1911; p. 1.
¹http://www.lakesnwoods.com/CannonFalls.htm

²http://www.musicinminnesota.com/red-wing-gears-big-turn-winter-music-festival/

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Website: TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

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Monday, March 26, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: March 26

March 26, 1902 – A train load of emigrants was held up in the St. Paul Union Depot yards by the health department today because of the presence of a case of smallpox aboard, and the victim was taken to the pest house.

The fact that there was a case of smallpox aboard was discovered while the car was en route to St. Paul and when the train pulled into the yards the department was ready for it. The emigrants and their belongings were bundled out of the car, and while one set of men thoroughly fumigated the train, another set tackled the wandering travelers and compelled them to submit to being vaccinated.

The train was en route to Washington where the emigrants will take up homesteads.

The Saint Paul Globe; “Had Smallpox. Emigrant Train Held Up and Victim Taken to Pest House.”; March 27, 1902; p. 2.

St. Paul Union Depot

http://www.mnopedia.org/structure/st-paul-union-depot

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Website: TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

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Sunday, March 25, 2018

On this Date in Minnesota History: March 25

March 25, 1960 – Team plays its last game as Minnesota Lakers on this date. They move to Los Angeles later that year.

http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/mpls/mplslakers.html

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/146367056609502984/?lp=true

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