Mike Hanson

Had some neighbors who were born in the early 1900’s: Margaret cautioned me but I didn’t have the capacity to understand; I now realize how truthful it is that “Getting older isn’t for sissy’s!”

Visits from the preacher were far from everyday events but it appears they were welcome. Joe Mannausau recalled that all but one family in his area were Catholics and priests from either Fort Frances and later International Falls managed to see them about every two months. And how about Emma Anderson and George Watson, who proposed marriage, and they had to find out when a minister was going to be nearby. They found one but the full-time Baptist minister had to make a two- and half-day trip to officiate. It was attended by seven adults and two children, cost George $10.

Religious endeavors began in the community of Koochiching prior to the turn of the century; in fact, the first Sunday school started in early July of 1899, there were 18 enrolled. The Baptists kept the school going, even holding the first Sunday school picnic in August of 1900 and later that year the Presbyterian Church organized the Junior Christian Endeavor. The Presbyterians were firmly established in Fort Frances and helped the group in the Falls. The Baptist Sunday School group eventually led to the first formal church in June of 1903.

Joe Gardner and William Garrison had been neighbors for 2 years when they had a major argument about whose hay was being harvested. As always, the proverbial “one thing led to another,” Mr. Gardner according to his own admission, fired twice intentionally and a third shot accidentally. He also testified that he did not know that Garrison was fatally wounded. He managed to get messages to the sheriff and the coroner that there had been a kerfuffle, but he didn’t know if Garrison was dead or not.

There was a group of squatters on the south side of Rainy River who needed a threshing machine for their wheat but the only ones available were on the Canadian side.

Claim jumping on the Koochiching Frontier may have been more frequent than other areas because less “free land” was available, and the trees provided a quick means of making some money.

By today’s standards it is thought that penalties were stiff for offenders of the law and personal disputes were not overlooked in Koochiching’s recorded history. Occasionally items arose that caused ramifications such as John Z. of Cingmars; he was forced to put a padlock on what was described as a “root house” as it was too handy to the river and a great temptation to hungry canoe men.

The sentences for drunkenness and disorderly conduct were often only a fine of $1 and costs, or one day, but after 1907 the minimum fines… Login to continue reading Login…

A friend of Annie Shelland lived several miles from Northome and her infant was direly ill and it appeared to her that the baby was… Login to continue reading Login…

In Annie Shelland’s second year living in Littlefork she opened her door after hearing knocking to discover who she described as a “little stepmother” and… Login to continue reading Login…