Brain Drain

Amen to the message of this video.

This is what has been happening to my hometown and all such hometowns for many years now. As the video says at the end, it does NOT have to be this way, and those with the most at stake, the residents of these towns, have GOT to wake up and take back responsibility and action for what's going on...

1880: Who Was Here?

1880 Federal Census of St. Vincent, Minnesota
Just before the influx of new settlers

Who was here? Below is a snapshot of the 320 souls counted that census, the one just before the major influx of settlers hit the town...

NOTE: Names highlighted are 'heads of household' and those listed under are part of the same household (not necessarily showing all in each household...)

Stephen Flynn, a merchant and his partner William O'Keefe, both from Ireland; living in the same household, perhaps William's younger brother, was John O'Keefe, occupation listed as "Clerk"

James Kirk, River Pilot from Ireland
Elizabeth David, Servant in the Kirk household

William Jones, a butcher from Germany
Seneca Thompson, brick mason from Ontario, Canada (a relative of mine via marriage into Fitzpatrick family), part of the Jones household, possibly boarding with them...

John Harrington, another brick mason, from Ireland

Charles La Page, bar tender from Canada

Patrick Lenahan, tailor from Ireland
James White, brakeman from England
John Walter, cook from Ireland

Remi Desautel, hotel keeper from Canada
Oscar Lyke, engineer from New York
William Adams, saloon keeper from Canada
Andrew Stewart, laborer from Canada
James Gorden, clerk from Ireland
William Kirk, baggage master from Canada
James Morrison, railroad clerk from Minnesota

William Gooding, telegraph operator from New York

Frank McLaughlin, clerk from Ireland
Ed J. Houde, barber from Minnesota
Thomas Hickey, railroad clerk from Canada
David Shannon, laborer from Canada

George Raywood, brewer from England

John Devine, laborer from Ireland
William Milligan, surgeon from Canada
Thomas Dunbar, blacksmith from Canada

John O'Connor, hotel owner from Ireland
John Buie, livery stable hand from Canada
William Smith, saloon keeper from Ireland
David Weaver, laborer from Canada

George Combs, boarding house owner from Canada

George Tiffany, restaurant owner from Ohio

Benjamin M. Ensign, conductor from New York

James Kelley, policeman from Louisiana
William Deacon, clerk from England

George F. Winter, retail grocer from Canada

Robert W. Lowery, retail grocer from Canada
Catherine Grish, cook from New York
Sarah Waldo, waiter from Canada

John Crawford, baker from Scotland

George B. Gilchrist, pattern maker from Scotland

Phillip Lemasurier, carpenter from England
Swen Bjornson, laborer from Iceland
Olof Olson, laborer from Iceland
John Johnson, laborer from Iceland

Fred Paschinsky, tin smith from Poland

James W. Major, miller from Canada
Elizabeth Major (wife), boarding house from Indiana
[At the time of the census, there were over 20 boarders of various stripes living in their boarding house...]

William Mason, blacksmith from Canada

William W. Nicoles, lumber merchant from New York

George Parker, boarding house owner from Canada

William L. Robertson, hotel keeper from Scotland

Louis E. Booker, merchant from Illinois

John H. Rich, banker from Wisconsin

John W. Shepard, agent for townsite from Connecticut

David Saummatt, teamster from Manitoba

Robert McClary, farmer from Canada

H. D. Savage, engineer from Maine

John Marshall, laborer from Ireland

John A. Vanstrum, assistant postmaster from Sweden

Alexander Campbell, surgeon from Scotland

Storytelling (R)evolution

There is a story evolution/revolution going on. They are the same stories as always, but people are just finding new ways to share them.

I for one think it's marvelous. Inspired by home movies or Ken Burns, whatever the reason, people are taking advantage of new tools and telling their stories like never before...

Trends: Rebellion

I've noticed a trend...

- Metis rebellion
- Fenian invasion
- Indian Liberating Army recruitment¹

...all of these historical events have happened where I grew up. Is it something in the water up there?! I wonder why the area attracts such passionate movements? Interesting to ponder, that is for sure!

¹ ..."General" James Dickson - The 'general' came to Red River to recruit mercenaries who would help him establish a free Indian state in California. The fame of Metis hunters had spread across North America. Dickson hoped to muster them among his fighting men. From Cuthbert Grant history