Friday, May 11, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: May 11


May 11, 1898 – James O’Rourke, who has caused the health department so much trouble by reason of his alleged repeated violation of a quarantine placed upon his home, got himself into another difficulty today through failing to appear for trial in the police court. An attachment was issued for the offending engineer returnable tomorrow, and unless O’Rourke can give some substantial reason for ignoring the court, as he is said to have done the health department, he may be summarily dealt with.

Some weeks ago several members of the O’Rourke family were ill with diphtheria and the house was quarantined. O’Rourke, it is alleged, refused to recognize the restriction and tore down the contagion signs as fast as they could be put up. He was finally arrested and, when arraigned in the municipal court, was released upon his own recognizance.

1

His trial was set for today, when he failed to appear.

The Saint Paul Globe; “Engineer O’Rourke Finds More Trouble With the Court”; May 12, 1898; p. 6.

1http://biomedicalephemera.tumblr.com/post/77623803290/diphtheria-keep-out-as-with-scarlet-fever
               __________________________________________________________

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, May 8, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: May 8


May 8, 1905 – A new ruling has been announced by the state census bureau.

Members of the fair sex who hesitate to give the upcoming state census enumerator their rightful age will be permitted to refuse all information on the subject. A number of inquiries have been coming to the department lately from would-be enumerators, asking what steps they could take to compel those possessed of uncertain age to make a true and exact statement.

This morning a conference was called. Secretary of State Hanson believed that the welfare of the state demanded that enumerators be given full power to investigate the records of the family bibles, the local church records and in fact making investigations necessary in order that there might be no doubt about the ages of Minnesota’s fair daughters.

Capt. C.C. Whitney took exception to this. He said that he had always maintained, as a newspaper man, that the women were entitled to their ages, and that no one else was entitled to know what these ages were.

Supt.  George W. Wright was inclined to agree with him, and the matter was finally left to Larry Hodgson, the budding poet and well-known St. Paul newspaper man, who said that without doubt it was time to establish a precedent.


Laurence C. Hodgson1

On his suggestion, all enumerators will be notified that they are to politely say: “May I ask your age?” If the one question declines to be answered, the enumerator will quickly pass to other questions that make up the long list each enumerator must carry.

1905 Minnesota State Census2

The 1905 Census was the last Minnesota State Census. The Federal Census is taken every 10 years.

The Minneapolis Tribune; “Fair Sex May Conceal Their Ages From Curious Census Enumerators. Fiat Has Gone Forth That Accuracy of Vital Statistics Shall Not Stand in the Way of Chivalry During the Impending Numerical Campaign.”; May 9, 1905; p. 6.

1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_C._Hodgson#/media/File:Laurence_C_Hodgson_1919.jpg

2https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/File:Minnesota_1905_Census.jpg

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I had a genealogy client whose female ancestor got younger every census. By her last census, the age she gave the enumerator meant she got married and had her first child at 15, which was not the case.

               __________________________________________________________

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







Monday, May 7, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: May 7

May 7, 1908 – A male child, apparently not more than three days old, was found this evening inside a door at the Home for Children and Aged Women. On account of the institution being overcrowded the matron was unable to keep the baby and telephoned the police headquarters regarding her charge.

The child was taken in the police ambulance both to Sheltering Arms and Bethany Home, but none of these places could take him. Shelter was finally secured at the City Hospital. The baby was wrapped in inexpensive clothing. The police are working on the case.

The Minneapolis Tribune; “Baby Abandoned in Home for Children”; May 8, 1908; p. 2.



Minneapolis City Hospital

http://www.lakesnwoods.com/images/hospit25.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








Sunday, May 6, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: May 6


May 6, 1899 – John C. Wagoner, a well-known character about Stillwater, went to bed at the St. Paul House last night and took a dose of morphine that ended his life. Wagoner had been boarding at the St. Paul House for some time, and early last week told some of his fellow boarders that he was getting tired of life and would someday take a dose that would land him in the hereafter. They regarded his talk as mere bosh, but Wagoner evidently meant what he said.
  
1


Yesterday he went to Fred Scott’s Drug Store and asked the clerk for ten grains of morphine, explaining that he was going to work on the drive and wanted the morphine because he was subject to cramps and pains when he worked in cold water. He went into his room about 9 p.m. and today the morning clerk at the hotel went to his room to call him. He didn’t respond and the clerk entered the room to find Wagoner lying on his bed attired in his best clothes and seemed to be enjoying a sound sleep. The clerk shook him and then discovered that he was dead. A box containing only a small amount of the morphine was lying on his pillow and some of the poison was on the floor.

Coroner Freligh was summoned this morning, and after examining the man and hearing the circumstances leading up to his self-destruction decided that an inquest was unnecessary. The body was removed to Belisle’s Morgue, and a brother, C. F. Wagoner of Eagle Lake, was notified.

Wagoner was about 58 years of age, and was chief packer in Custer’s expedition against the Indians. He was wounded while with Custer, and received a pension of $12 per month from the government.


George Armstrong Custer2

The Saint Paul Globe; “Suicide of Scout. John Wagoner, Who Was With Custer, Ends His life At Stillwater. Morphine Means Selected. Found Dead in His Room at the St. Paul House After Having Taken Nearly Ten Grains of the Deadly Drug.”; May 7, 1899; p. 9.

1Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain March 19, 2017, as long as acknowledgement included.  
2http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/George_Armstrong_Custer.aspx

               __________________________________________________________

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