Minnesota Family History Research

Friday, January 27, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: January 27

January 27, 1857 – “Joseph Rolette, a fur trader representing Pembina in the territorial legislature, steals the text of a bill to move the capital from St. Paul to St. Peter. Although the bill had been passed, it had not been signed by the governor. Rolette disappears until the legislature adjourns on March 7, hiding in the Fuller House attic while the bill rests in the hotel safe.”

http://www.mnopedia.org/event/january-27-1857

Joseph Rolette
http://www.mnopedia.org/person/rolette-joseph-1820-1871

For more information on this story, please go to: http://growlermag.com/the-legend-of-joe-rolette-the-most-interesting-man-in-minnesota-history/

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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.

Website: TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at: pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com

Thursday, January 26, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: January 26

January 26, 1731 – “French explorer La Verendrye and his voyageurs land at Grand Portage to begin an expedition into the region west of the Great Lakes. La Verendrye eventually establishes a trading post, Fort St. Charles, on Lake of the Woods.”

http://www.mnopedia.org/event/january-26-1731

http://www.grandportage.com/images/newmap.jpg

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: January 25

January 25, 1913 – The publication of intimate details in the business career of William J. Reid and his sentence of six years in the penitentiary, given at Fresno, Calf., today, added new chapters to the story of a man regarded by detectives and bank protective association officers as one of the most unscrupulous and “smoothest” of swindlers.

Reid, who was arrested in Fresno, attempting to pass a forged check, is also wanted by authorities in other places, most notably Ceylon, Minn., for an alleged bank swindle there. In Fresno today, he pleaded guilty to forgery and was sentenced at once.

Reid is well known in Chicago, but never was known in Ceylon to have been engaged in any shady manipulations. Instead, his reputation was of the highest and those associated in business with him assert today that there must be some mistake in identity; it couldn’t be the same Reid they knew.

Known in Ceylon as John Carr, Reid passed a bogus draft as Carr, and has been identified by wire by officers of the First National Bank of Ceylon as the man they want.

Fresno authorities have assured the Minn. people that they will be given the first opportunity to re-arrest Reid after he serves his six-year sentence in the penitentiary.

Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Reid Is Sent to Prison for Six-Year Term. Alleged Bank Swindler Pleads Guilty to Forgery in Fresno, Calif. Minnesota authorities Told They May Have Him After That. Wanted to Answer Charges of Defrauding Bank at Ceylon, Minn. Was Known in Chicago as a Reputable and Wealthy Business Man. His Sister Pleads Leniency—Reid Weeps as Sentenced.”; Jan. 26, 1913; p. 1.

http://coins.lakdiva.org/ceylonmn/2005trip/

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: January 24

January 24, 2011 - Former Minn. Gov. Jesse Ventura sued the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration, alleging full-body scans and pat-downs at airport checkpoints violated his right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.

U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson dismissed the suite in Nov. 2011.

http://www.timelines.ws/days/01_24.HTML

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2011/11/03/jesse-venturas-airport-lawsuit

Former Minn. Gov. Jesse Ventura
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2167/2831434708_845a8de77d.jpg

Monday, January 23, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: January 23

January 23, 1963 - Three million gallons of soybean oil flooded streets in Mankato, Minn., when a storage tank ruptured. Eventually the oil ended up in the Mississippi River. In the spring, more than 10,000 ducks were found dead in the wetlands along the river.

http://www.foodreference.com/html/html/january23.html

http://www.mankato-mn.gov/Community/Page.aspx

Sunday, January 22, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: January 22

January 22, 1998 - Minnesota was granted an NHL franchise in 1997 and began playing in the 2000-01 season. The team name was chosen on this date out of a group of six finalists: Blue Ox, Freeze, Northern Lights, Voyageurs, White Bears and Wild.

https://www.nhl.com/news/a-brief-history-minnesota-wild/c-535921

http://www.onthisday.com/events/january/22

Wild Logo 2000-2010

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Wild#/media/File:Minnesota_Wild_Alternate.svg

Wild Logo 2016-2017

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Wild#/media/File:Minnesota_Wild_Alternate.svg

Saturday, January 21, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: January 21

January 21, 1912 – The “Grizzly Bear” dance, which is said to have invaded Minneapolis Greek letter societies at the Pan-Hellenic Ball given by 10 fraternities and sororities at the Masonic Temple Friday night, was criticized tonight by Rev. L. A. Crandall of Trinity Baptist Church.

The “Grizzly Bear Dance¹

“Although I have never seen either the so-called ‘Grizzly Bear’ dance or the ‘Turkey Trot,’” said Dr. Crandall, “I can tell from their names and the articles in the papers concerning them what they are like, and I do not approve of them. It is no more right for people to hug to music than to hug on a street car or any other public place. I do not think that dancing in itself is wrong, but evil effects may grow out of it. In fact, I can state many cases that I know of, personally, where young people’s lives have been ruined indirectly through dancing. Dancing, years ago, was one form of religious rite. Even now it is used by North American Indians to express their religious emotions, and I have known civilized sects of our own time to use it for that purpose. It has degenerated, however, until some forms of it are unfit for decent people to indulge in.”

The “Turkey Trot” Dance²

Dr. Crandall went on to say that the “Grizzly Bear” dance and the “Turkey Trot” should be stopped, especially at dances that were attended by respectable people, and that hugging dances of all kinds should be abandoned.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “’Grizzly Bear’ Dance Criticized By Pastor. Dr. L. A. Crandall Believes People Have No Right to ‘Hug to Music.’ Major Point in Discussion Declared to Be matter of Supervision. Banishments From Community Termed Impossible Task.”; Jan. 22, 1912; p. 1.

¹http://www.jeredmorin.com/animal-dances-blues-swing-start/the-grizzly-bear/

²https://padavisblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/turkey-trot-02.jpg