Category: Pioneers

Sabra Nye Martin was a pioneering practical nurse and midwife who not only served the growing communities of Bemidji and Nymore during the early settlement […] Read More

Hon. M. A. Clark was born in Dane County, Wis., in the year 1869, and, came to Bemidji in 1899 from Norman county. He remained […] Read More

Edwin Trask – Early pioneer of Bemidji. His land was later occupied by the Chicago Box & Crating Company and Crookston Lumber Co. Mill No.2. […] Read More

John F. Eichstadt of Bemidji township was born in Germany Nov 10, 1857. He came to America when 25 years of age and about ten […] Read More

Name is often misspelled but should be Marion Ellsworth Carson. In his obituary, it is spelled M. Ellsworth Carson.  Born 1863. In May 1890, M. […] Read More

Carl Carlson, blacksmith, built the first dwelling house on the west side of the river in the late fall of 1896 near the lake shore […] Read More

George Cochran, the Bena logger has purchased the residence belonging to George Tanner at 500 Minnesota Avenue, and will hereafter make his home in Bemidji. […] Read More

Harry F. Geil was a very involved citizen of Bemidji. He moved with his family from Millbank, South Dakota to Bemidji, Minnesota on May 31, […] Read More

Kate Braton married an Irishman, Isaac Michael Gaffney, and started out married life. Their first child, Martha, was born on May 1898 but only lived […] Read More

First graduate of Bemidji High School in 1901. Nellie Shaw was a member of the Literary Society which held debates open to the public with […] Read More

Dr. Lewis Ward and his wife Jennie Ward, both homeopathic doctors, came to Bemidji about 1899. They had received their degrees at the Hahnemann Medical […] Read More

Sam Marin was born on Jun 16, 1866 in Michigan. Sam Marin, a prominent saloon keeper, was shot and fatally wounded on Feb 1, 1913 […] Read More

Mr. Schultz was born in Hinchinbrook, Canada, April 8, 1848. He was married to Arbelle McKnight on Nov 29, 1868. To them 11 children were […] Read More

William Henry Halladay was born June 22, 1857 in Pennsylvania to Joseph G. Halladay and Mary Martha Strong. He first came to Bemidji in 1893 […] Read More

Thomas Woods Bell was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania in 1852. In 1872, he married Marguerite Brown at New Bedford, Pa. He came to Bemidji […] Read More

After a long and painful struggle with a serious complication of diseases, resulting at last in typhoid fever, Bert Sisley passed to the silent beyond […] Read More

Charles C. Woodward was born in 1857 in Illinois. He moved to Todd County as a child with his parents and siblings and was located […] Read More

John Washburn of this city died at 3 o’clock this morning after being ill with diabetes for over a year. Mr. Washburn was confined to […] Read More

Dr. W. R.Morrison graduated from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, then served a year at the Northern Pacific hospital at Brainerd. He came to […] Read More

Harry Geil was born April 14, 1850 at Clayton, Iowa. The Geil family came to Bemidji May 31, 1895 and were active in affairs here […] Read More

Born at Pine Island, north of Rochester, Feb. 28, 1871, Mr. Geil moved to Bemidji in 1895. A graduate of Milbank, S.D. high school, Mr. […] Read More

Henry Fallon (1864- 1934) James H. “Henry” Fallon was born in Reedsville, Mass. He came to Bemidji about 1904 to work as a scaler in […] Read More

Miss Casindana Brown was born in Watertown, N.Y., Feb. 19, 1824. She was married to Mr. J. F. Remore on Feb. 1st 1848, at Pillar […] Read More

Franklin Gardner Willsey, 87 years of age, a resident of the Bemidji vicinity for about 30 years, passed away Sunday afternoon, April 14, at the […] Read More

Omund S. Huset, one of Bemidji’s early days rural mail carriers and a pioneer farmer of Frohn township, died at his home on August 21, 1943, […] Read More

Pioneer Tailor A. D. Moe, 1900 Census for Bemidji. Tailor. Born in Norway March 1866. Wife Martha, b. May 1874. He immigrated from Norway in […] Read More

“Naish” McKinnon, Colorful Bemidji Resident Dies at His Home Here. Ignatius (Naish) McKinnon, retired pioneer, who has watched the steady growth of Bemidji since the […] Read More

Major Adam E. Otto was born Jan 1, 1876 at Milwaukee, Wis. He joined the army when he was 22 years old, going with the […] Read More

William H. Elletson was born at Kingston, N.Y., June 7, 1863. He was 58 years and 24 days old at the time of his death, […] Read More

Sam Collard moved to Bemidji about 1903. He established a Harness Repair Shop in the rear of the city hall in 1905. “Mr. Collard has had […] Read More

ANTON ERICKSON TAKES CHARGE OF POSTOFFICE (1908) New Postmaster Assumed Position Last Night. Will Make No Change in Present Corps of Employees. Office Is in Excellent […] Read More

Judge Hiram A. Simons, a resident of Bemidji, for 22 years and one of the oldest members of the local bar, passed away at his […] Read More

Wm. P. Foley, Pioneer Bemidji Businessman, Died at Age 88. Mr. Foley came to Bemidji in the early lumbering days. He was born in Underhill […] Read More

Andrew A. Warfield, pioneer businessman and banker, died at his home, 711 Lake Boulevard, at the age of 87 on Nov 4, 1955. Mr. Warfield […] Read More

A.O. Akre, 85, a pioneer Bemidji business man, died Nov. 3, 1955 at Lutheran hospital. He had lived in Bemidji since 1903, when he purchased the […] Read More

Mrs. A. A. Warfield, widow of a pioneer Bemidji banker, died on Jan 11, 1957 at her home at 711 Lake Boulevard after a prolonged illness. She […] Read More

Bartlett was a pioneer resident and veteran Bemidji barber. As noted by the Bemidji Weekly Pioneer, “Fosston is losing two first-class tonsorial artists. Messrs. Bart […] Read More

Charles Frederick Schroeder was a pioneer settler of this district and one of the best known farmers in the state. During Mr. Schroeder’s long residence […] Read More

Frank E. Dudley is a prominent business man of Bemidji, a member of the board of county commissioners, and an all around hustler. He came […] Read More

Fred M. Malzahn came to Bemidji from Niagara, N.D. in 1895 and his shrewd business insight was such that he saw a bright future for […] Read More

G M. Carson, Judge of probate, was a resident of this locality since the spring of 1894, and a resident of the timbered country of […] Read More

Iver B. Olson was born in 1866 in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota to Norwegian parents. He was married about 1896 to his wife Inga. They were […] Read More

Scott T. Stewart, Bemidji Pioneer Businessman, Dies. Death came to Scott T. Stewart, one of Bemidji’s long time residents and a former business man on […] Read More

Marion A. Aldrich, a pioneer resident of Bemidji, was born in Barron County, Wis., Aug. 2, 1878 and his marriage to Glendolia Sprague took place […] Read More

D. G. Miller was listed as a blacksmith on the June 1, 1900 census. He owned the D. G. Miller Blacksmith & General Repair Shop in […] Read More

“White Plague” Snuffs Out the Life of Popular Young Man. Untimely Demise. Age 33. Wagon Maker. Chronic heart disease and tuberculosis. Morey Miller, son of […] Read More

Reuben Miller was born Jan 15, 1868. He came to Bemidji in 1900 with his parents, D. G. and Anna Miller, and operated a gunsmith […] Read More

After having advanced well on the road to recovery from injuries received from a fall on cedar poles July 31 at Turtle River when four […] Read More

Florence Lorraine Huck, 92, of 707 Irvine Ave. died June 4, 1975. She had been a resident of her home on Irvine Avenue since 1904 […] Read More

 803 Bemidji Avenue In 1901, a builder completed the big white house at the corner of Bemidji and 8th Street. Ole Gennes was the owner […] Read More

Andrew Aubolee was born in October 1872 in Norway. He was naturalized in 1892. He came to Bemidji about 1898. Acquired a patent for land […] Read More

John Larson Vinje was born in Vinjeora, Norway in 1874. He came to the United States in 1888, settling in Bemidji in 1898, where he […] Read More

William H. Roberts was born in New Richmond, Wis., in May 1863. Prior to coming to Bemidji in August 1897, Mr. Roberts lived at Hamilton […] Read More

Leo Poppenberg was born in Stillwater, Minnesota in 1881. Mr. Poppenberg came to Bemidji in 1899. Since the age of sixteen, he had worked for […] Read More

George Rhea was born in Illinois in 1878. Mr. Rhea came to Bemidji in 1903 as an employee of the Great Northern Railway. He resigned […] Read More

Philip O’Leary was born about 1867 in Canada and was one of the leading businessmen of the town for several decades. O’Leary came to Bemidji in […] Read More

Thomas Maloy, 79 years of age, one of Bemidji’s oldest and most respected citizens, died at his home on Beltrami avenue April 3, 1914 following […] Read More

Joseph Steidl was one of the earliest settlers in Bemidji, arriving in 1895. Frances, daughter of John and Julia Steidl, is the first recorded white […] Read More

Waldron W. Browne was born in Georgia in Sept 1867. Married to Bertha Mehring on October 16, 1899 in Hennepin County. They lived in Bemidji […] Read More

John W. Irwin was a Scotsman, born in New Brunswick, Canada. [or Maine] He became known throughout northern Minnesota as a partner in the Irwin […] Read More

Roy Kasson Bliler was born on December 8, 1874 in Minnesota. Roy Bliler came to Bemidji in 1898 when he was 22 years of age. […] Read More

John F. Essler was born in St. Peter, Minnesota on May 13, 1870. He had been in the clothing business for many years before coming […] Read More

Charles Miles was born about 1873 in Winston County, Mississippi. He came to Bemidji and purchased the Great Northern Saloon. He built the Golden Club […] Read More

Edward Jerrard was born about 1870 in Wisconsin. He came to Bemidji from St. Cloud in August, 1899, being one of the first to arrive […] Read More

Dr. Justin T. Tuomy was born in Scio, Washtenaw, Michigan on Nov 30, 1876. He was a graduate of the University of Michigan at Ann […] Read More

Joseph M. Markham was born at Chester, Mass., Jan. 24,1858. He came to Minnesota in 1877 and worked on a farm, subsequently going to the […] Read More

Paul Foucault was born in 1875 in Canada. He was a resident of Duluth in 1900, but moved to Bemidji on April 2, 1902. He […] Read More

Mr. Goodman was born in Iceland on April 17, 1873 and came to the United States in 1878. He settled in Bemidji in 1898 and […] Read More

Earl Ames Barker, born in Iowa on Jan 27, 1879. Mr. Barker came to Bemidji in August 1900 and engaged in the jewelry and watch […] Read More

Fredrick William Rhoda was born on July 19, 1869, on a farm where the village of Swanville is now located in Minnesota to Albert Julius […] Read More

Charles Smith Dailey was born In Oakwood, Wabasha County, Minn., on July 13, 1877, and his childhood days were spent in Grafton, N.D. At 18, his family […] Read More

Alfred Collard was born in Arkwright, Ontario, Canada. He came to the United States in 1887, settling at Hillsboro, N.D.  Later he moved to Halstead, […] Read More

Thomas Arthur Wheelock was a Bemidji resident since 1898 and was long associated with the city’s business life. Thomas Wheelock was born in Keene, New […] Read More

Margaret Hultgren was born in Vadstena, Sweden on April 22, 1851. She emigrated to the United States in 1874. By 1895, she was a nurse […] Read More

Mr. Omich was born in Oakland County, Michigan in 1846, and was married to Miss Rhoda Beebe, October 9, 1870. He was a graduate of […] Read More

Bemidji was known all over Northern Minnesota as the home of some of the fastest horses in the entire Northwest, and horsemen gave this city […] Read More

John A. Ludington had one of the best known hardware stores in Beltrami County. He conducted a hardware store known as the Builders Hardware and […] Read More

Charles Theodore Gould was born Oct 16, 1889 in Litchfield, Minnesota, the son of Edmund and Anna Gould.  He moved to Bemidji with his parents […] Read More

Dana Silverius Gould was born in Litchfield, Minnesota on June 20, 1891. He moved with his parents to Bemidji about 1900. He attended the Bemidji […] Read More

John E. Flatley was born at Holland, Brown County, Wisconsin on January 16, 1873. On March 15, 1895, he was appointed U.S. post master at […] Read More

William McDonald was born in Canada about 1881. He married Margaret, born in Canada about 1880. By 1904, they were operating an ice cream parlor […] Read More

A buckeye by birth, Harrison Bailey came west in 1851, settling in Cedar County, Iowa, where he remained until 1886, then he went to Faulk […] Read More

N.W. Brown is comfortably installed in the Ross building west of the Bazaar and “Brown’s Restaurant” is now open to trade day and night. (Aug […] Read More

W. F. Street was born at Council Bluff, Iowa, October 30th, 1854. He received a common school education, and at fifteen years of age went […] Read More

James Doran was born in 1841 in Emily, Victoria, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Doran came to Bemidji with his family about 1898 and was formerly engaged in […] Read More

John J. Doran was born in Hallville, Ontario, Canada July 27, 1873 and moved to North Dakota in 1896. In 1898 he came to Bemidji where […] Read More

Absie Partee Ritchie was born in New River, Allegheny county, North Carolina, May 19. 1869. When 3 years of age his parents, Moses and Rebecca […] Read More

Thomas Phibbs, a younger brother to Matt Phibbs, was born in Jarvis, Ontario, Canada on Aug 30, 1870. He married Lulu Jeffries, also born in […] Read More

When it comes to old timers, Matt Phibbs’ name must be included as one of the first settlers. Matthew Phibbs was born to Irish parents […] Read More

Francis Spinner Arnold was born Mar 1, 1867 at Washington, DC and attended law school in Georgetown University in 1892. He was a member of […] Read More

Many immigrants came to this country in search of a better life. Some of our pioneers found it; others worked hard but never found the […] Read More

Judge Hiram A. Simons, a resident of Bemidji,  and one of the oldest members of the local bar, passed away at his home at 1403 […] Read More

Lafayette Johnson was born in Marion, Ohio in 1852 and came to Princeton, Minnesota in his early manhood and came to Bemidji in 1902. He […] Read More

Leslie Bailey was one of Bemidji’s most prominent and progressive citizens. Bailey was born at Wilton, Iowa, Feb. 25, 1860, the son of Harrison and Catherine […] Read More

Oscar Houske, one of the pioneer residents of Bemidji, died yesterday afternoon at his home at 504 Minnesota avenue. The cause of death was tuberculosis, from […] Read More

Mr. Sprague was born at Menominee, Wisconsin in 1863. He was married to Carrie Merriam in 1885 and came to Bemidji with his family in […] Read More

Frank J. Sprague, custodian of the county poor farm and one of the pioneer residents of Bemidji, died at St. Anthony’s hospital on July 2, […] Read More

James B. Sprague was born in Oakland County, Michigan in 1838, where he was raised until 18 years of age, when in company of another […] Read More

George Knight retired as Soo Line freight agent on October 18, 1960. He came to Bemidji when it was a thriving lumbering center in 1915 […] Read More

Peter M. Dicaire was born Jan 29, 1851 in Ontario, Canada. Peter moved to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin in 1867. His brother and he worked at […] Read More

May McGregor came to the Bemidji area about 1908.  On June 4, 1918 she was sent overseas to care for American soldiers fighting in World […] Read More

Ariston Lord wasa pioneer resident of Bemidji and a veteran employee of the Shevlin Carpenter Co. with which he was connected since he first went to Minneapolis […] Read More

Hugh Wesley “Wes” Wright was born at Markdale, Gray county, Ontario, on April 11, 1870. When he was about 17 years old, he crossed over […] Read More

Callie Hazen was born Aug. 18, 1889, in Columbus, Kan., the daughter of Calvin and Mathilda Arnold. She came to the Bemidji area while young […] Read More

Euclid (Ernie) J. Bourgeois was a civil engineer who came to the Nebish area and worked as a surveyor in 1896. In 1898 he moved […] Read More

“I’ve worked all my life,” said 98-year-old Fred Troppman in an interview in 1970. “I guess that’s my bad habit.” Fred Troppman was in business […] Read More

Porter Nye, one of the earliest pioneers of Bemidji, died at his home, corner Eighth street and Beltrami avenue on Nov 8, 1905. Porter Nye […] Read More

Prior to coming to Bemidji, Al Jester had been sales manager for the Cudahy Packing company of Sioux City, Ia., and later traveled on the road for […] Read More

Anton O. Hoganson was born in Spring Valley, Wis. on June 4, 1878. He grew to manhood there. He and his brother, John, established the […] Read More

John O. Hoganson was born in Spring Valley, Wisconsin in 1877. He went into the dry cleaning business at Bemidji with his brother Anton Hoganson […] Read More

Charles Edward Albrant was born in Dundas, Ontario, in May 1869, the son of Ezra and Susannah (Johnston) Albrant. He came to Bemidji about 1899 […] Read More

Richard J. Albrant was born at Winchester, Ontario on October 10, 1875. He moved to St. Thomas N. D., in 1893, then lived in Fargo, N.D. and […] Read More

J.P. Taylor was born at Augusta, Maine, in 1841. He came to Minnesota in 1884 and lived at Anoka, later at Elk River and Brainerd […] Read More

A pioneer resident of Bemidji, Mr. Skinvik played an active part in the organization of Bemidji and Beltrami county. Coming here from Crookston before the […] Read More

Mrs. Achenbach, whose maiden name was Maldie M. Kincannan, was one of the earliest pioneers of Bemidji, having bought the first lot on the platted […] Read More

Tom Fenson was born in China Sept. 24, 1887.  Mr. Fenson came to America in 1914 to San Francisco, Calif., moved to Moorhead and later […] Read More

Tom Smart was born in Canada and came to the U.S. at the age of nine. He arrived in Bemidji at the age of 18, and […] Read More

John Patrick “J. P.”  Pogue was a native of Vermilion County, Illinois. He came to Bemidji in 1898 even before railroads entered the Paul Bunyan country. He […] Read More

Graham McFarlane Torrance was born in Missouri in 1871. He started in 1903 as a member of the law firm of Gibbons & Torrance in […] Read More

A.B.  Hazen was born in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin, April 4, 1852. During the Civil War, he was left to help his mother as the […] Read More

Caroline Margaret Schmitt was born in 1896 in Wahpeton, N.D., to John and Christine Schmitt.  In the spring of 1898 she came to Bemidji with her […] Read More

Nicholas Hirt was born in Minneapolis in 1873. He spent his younger years working at the harvests in North Dakota. He married Orissa Arnold at […] Read More

Clyde Bacon was born in 1869 in Ridgeway, Orleans County, New York. He was married about 1896. He and Emma made their way to northern Minnesota […] Read More

Familiarly known as A. A. Carter, one of the first mayors of Bemidji, and one of the city’s early real estate dealers. He came to […] Read More

Charles W. Scrutchin was the first black lawyer in Minnesota to practice outside of Minneapolis. He worked as a Pullman porter and hotel waiter in […] Read More

Thomas Johnson was born in Norway. He was an architect and contractor in Bemidji. He was an early resident. He was married on Oct 6, […] Read More

Alexander Duncan Cameron was born in Ontario, Canada of Scottish parentage. He left home while still very young to follow work in the early logging […] Read More

Earl Geil was Beltrami County treasurer for 34 years. Born at Pine Island, north of Rochester, Feb. 28, 1871, Mr. Geil moved to Bemidji in 1895. […] Read More