Aitkin sits at the dead center of the state--about a dozen miles north of Mille Lacs and 130 miles north of the Twin Cities; thirty miles northeast of Brainerd and 90 miles west of Duluth. We are at the confluence of the Mud and Mississippi rivers. (In the early '50s, local boosters and resort owners renamed the former, Ripple River, but the new name never took.) Native Americans hunted bison in the vicinity 8,000 years ago. When the French arrived in the 1600s, the inhabitants were Dakota Sioux, replaced later that century by Ojibwe.
William Alexander Aitkin, a Scots-born partner of John Jacob Astor, was in charge of the Fond du Lac district of Astor's American Fur Company. Aitkin operated a trading post near the Mud and Mississippi junction between 1831 and 1841.
In 1870, the town was established by Nathaniel Tibbetts and his two brothers, Joshua and James. Nathaniel was a surveyor for the Northern Pacific railroad, and he recognized that the site of what became Aitkin provided the first access by rail from the port of Duluth to the Mississippi river. Aitkin became a lumber industry boom town and a major riverboat transportation center, boasting 17 saloons that never closed and several bawdy houses.
The lumber industry petered out as the area became deforested, and the riverboat traffic ended in the 1920s. Aitkin now has a population of about 1700, and the chief industries are agriculture (especially turkey farming--the high school teams are called the Aitkin Gobblers) and tourism. Wild rice is grown commercially and also harvested from many of the county's 365 lakes. Aitkin is the county seat of Aitkin County, and it possesses the only stoplight in the entire county.
By 1883, Aitkin had a newspaper, The Aitkin Age, and soon there was the Independent and the Republican as well. The Age and the Independent eventually merged to form the Aitkin Independent-Age, which still comes out weekly. The following items all come from the Age and were published during the year 1896.
These excerpts are a sampling of many that were painstakingly compiled by Chuck Butler for the Steamer Gazette, published by the Aitkin Area Chamber of Commerce. They are posted with Chuck's permission. Copyright 1996, Aitkin Area Chamber of Commerce.
An interview with the genial clerk for Aitkin county reveals the fact that 34 marriages were issued last year. In strict confidence however, Frank informed us he expected a land office in them this year. A number of the girls, so he says, made a pool, and propose to get licenses at a discount from the regular rates by buying them wholesale. Frank has ordered a new licenses blank book, and is all prepared for the anticipated rush of business.
To accommodate a large number of people who desire to attend the performance of "In Old Kentucky," at Fargo tonight, train No. 8 will be held at that point until 11:15 p.m., making it two hours late. The train No. 18 east-bound on this division will be correspondingly delayed.
Owing to an overindulgence in intoxicants, Frank Pelky and David Courtemanche indulged in an exchange of courtesies last Wednesday, culminating in an attempt on the latter to slash Pelky's physiognomy with a razor. Bystanders interfered and Courtemanche was locked up, arraigned before Justice Williams on Thursday, and was given the alternative of $10 and costs or 20 days in jail.
D.P. Dolan was taken into custody last Wednesday, his queer actions and incoherent talk seeming to indicate that his mind had become imbalanced. Two days confinement cleared his mind and yesterday afternoon he was permitted to transact some business about town, while accompanied by an attendant.
The Electric Remedy Concert Co. will hold forth at Knox's Hall next week commencing Tuesday evening March 21, for one week. They give a series of refined performances and ladies are especially invited. They are advertising and selling "Improved Common Sense Electric Belt." The performance is free next Tuesday night and everyone should attend and witness a good show.
Price's Georgia Minstrels showed to a packed house last week at Knox's Hall. They have a good band which gave a very credible street parade in the morning.
That duel between Rev. Kathan and Col. Potter in which the weapons are to be flails has not yet come off, but when it does it will be a well attended affair.
Little Sadie Mausten hitched up a pet yearling heifer to her little red wagon last Tuesday, and then seated herself in the wagon, generally enjoying life as the calf wandered about the court house grounds in search of a mouthful of grass. Suddenly the scene changes, however. A little dog comes trotting along, spies the combination of pet yearling an unalloyed happiness, darts under the fence and makes for the heifer with a few well-chosen barks, and away goes calf, wagon, doggie and Sadie like a streak of greased lightning of a summer's day. But all things come to an end, so did this runaway, when the little red wagon collided with the big pine tree. The tree did not give way and that's why the little red wagon went to smash, and the calf got its liberty. And was Sadie hurt? Not Sadie.
R.C. McMurdy has purchased a phonograph with a gramophone attachment, and is much pleased with the wonderful little machine.
On complaint of C.D. Wilkinson, John Robinson was arrested by Sheriff Mausten last Saturday, charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, to wit, an axe. The preliminary examination was held before Justice Murphy on Monday and Tuesday last, but the evidence did not warrant his retention and Robinson was discharged.
A considerable bad feeling prevails among the settlers on Little Willow over Berry's dam on that stream. Proceedings had begun in justice court to have it removed, when certain parties, so 'tis said, took the law into their own hands, and with the aid of a little dynamite, blew the dam into everlasting nothingness.
Musical circles are all torn up over the departure last Tuesday evening of Frank Seavey Jr., for Ohio, where he goes to join the orchestra of an Uncle Tom's Cabin company. His going virtually breaks up our brass band again, and seriously cripples the orchestra, which was just beginning to rise from mediocrity to something better. The best wishes of a host of friends attend young Frank in his new departure.
Geo Keefe the trapper and hunter hailing from Stillwater, was committed to the insane asylum at Fergus Falls, yesterday. He was found on Tamarack river, in a deplorable state.
Prof. Donavan (a strongman) gave an exhibition of his strength with dumb bells, etc., at Cameron & Akelstad's saloon last Saturday evening.
A "gramophone" party was given by Mr. and Mrs. R.C. McMurdy, to a number of their gentlemen friends last Tuesday evening.
The hoop and stave mill started last Monday, the river having subsided sufficiently to permit the work being resumed.
The phonograph concert at the M.E. church on Wednesday evening last, was rather poorly attended, which is to regretted considering the merit of the entertainment. It was a thoroughly enjoyable affair from first to last, and the character of the music was unexceptional. We think Mr. Howe would be assured a full house should he return at a later date.
Jolly Mattie Vickers and her fun-making associates will be the attraction at the opera house for one night, Monday evening, June 22nd. The company is an expensive one and the same that play all the larger cities, and will prove one of the very best farce comedies seen in Aitkin.
Notwithstanding the passage or an ordinance by the village council, prohibiting the running at large of horses and cattle, our streets are filled day and night with horses and cows in defiance of the ordinance. It looks to us thought the law ought to be either enforced or repealed, as the present state of things is in a discrimination against law abiding citizens.
In climbing over a picket fence at the schoolhouse this morning, little Sadie Mausten broke a leg. Dr. Graves set the injured member, and Sadie is made as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.
Dr. S.S. Kathan and wife returned home last Sunday morning from Fergus Falls, the doctor having been promptly discharged by the physicians of the hospital within a day or two after his arrival. Dr. and Mrs. Kathan will shortly go east to the old home to remain some time.
Mr. E.A. Gyde acted as host in a very enjoyable excursion in his steamer to a party of friends from Pine Knoll on the Fourth.
Anna Norton, the landlady of the bawdy house on the outskirts of the village, died on Wednesday evening after a brief illness. The funeral took place on Thursday.
Sheriff Mausten has received an invitation from Sheriff Spalding of Crow Wing county, to attend the execution of Geo. Pryde, the self-confessed murderer, which occurs in Brainerd on July 23.
The unceremonious departure from the parental roof of one of our well-known young ladies this week, is generally said to be due to unhappy home relations and unfair treatment. When parents learn that children have rights and feelings which must not be trampled on and abused, they invariably find that the home life is made much sweeter, and contentment comes as a matter of course.
Dr. H.J. Riesland of Brainerd, an optician of rare ability, arrived at the Willard hotel on Thursday, and judging from the way people flock to him to have their eyes examined he is giving general satisfaction.
A great many former wearers of McKinley buttons in town are now sporting the 16 to 1 emblem on the lapels of their coats, but we regret to be under the necessity also of recording the fact that John A. Danewick, who has heretofore the daisy badge this week displaced it with one bearing the legend--"Girl Wanted."
Camping out is getting to be a regular mania. The camp at Cedar lake on the McQuillin ground on McGee's bay, now numbers twenty tents and three houses, and there are new accessions everyday.
Quite a number of campers at Cedar lake have returned to town, but the mania seems unabated, and there are always new people to take the place of those who had enough.
The X-ray social given by the Epworth league on the grounds of the M.E. Church on Thursday evening was as novel as it was entertaining. The X-rays focused on the heart of the victim disclosed the true moral state of that organ, and it may readily be imagined that some startling disclosures were made. For instance, the photograph of Deacon Young's heart, now in possession of F.P. McQuillin, clearly showed an odd mixture. The entertainment was a success in every way and netted a neat sum.
The last remnants of campers at Cedar lake broke camp yesterday and returned to town. As a wind-up to the season of pleasure, Marcia Potter and Tim McGonagle furnished a little excitement on Wednesday by a narrow escape from drowning while bathing.
Griswold's Uncle Tom's Cabin Co. played to a crowded house in their big tent, which was pitched on the vacant lots corner Fourth and Birch streets last Wednesday evening. In fact, the deserted streets testify to the fact that everybody had gone to the show. The splendid band, which is one of the leading attractions, was probably the means more than anything else of filling the tent, as their music was really superb.
While washing his shop windows on Tuesday last, Albert Zeeze was suddenly seized with a severe pain in the small of his back. He at once retired to his home, where he had been laid up ever since with lumbago. He is somewhat improved today.
An accident to the alternator at the electric light plant caused the current to be turned off at 8:30 on Wednesday evening last. An examination of the dynamo revealed the fact that the shaft had become sprung, which necessitated sending away the armature for repairs. It is probable that the current will not be turned on again for three or four days yet.
We were pleased to see Mr. E.A. Gyde's familiar figure reappear on our streets on Thursday, after his protracted illness.
Mr. T.R. Foley is severely poisoned by poison ivy.
We understand that there is a scheme on foot in social circles to organize a musical and dramatic club among the ladies and gentlemen of our city for the purpose of furnishing intellectual entertainment for our young people these long winter evenings. The ultimate result to be an established and regularly organized club that will be able to present at any time in public attractions that will be a credit to the participants and something to be enjoyed by our people.
It is pretty certain that Wm. Jennings Bryan will make two speeches in the Sixth congressional district of Minnesota, probably in Duluth and St. Cloud, and we have it on good authority that when the train passes through here en route between the two cities, the people of Aitkin will be given an opportunity to hear him in a 15-minute speech.
In driving piling for the foundation for the abutment piers of the new village bridge, the water main running under the riverbed to the south side was fractured last Saturday, necessitating the shutting off of the entire water supply for that section of the village. The break is due to an error in calculating the location of the main, and is inexcusable as it is unfortunate. A quantity of pipe is now on its way here, and upon its arrival work will at once begin to lay a new main under the river.
Prof. K.A. Ostergren, of Duluth, delivered an address on the money question at the court house last Tuesday evening. The gentlemen spoke in English although advertised to speak in Swedish, and there was some disappointment on the part of the Scandinavians in the audience. He handled the question from the democratic standpoint and did so ably.
While assisting in the preparation of the gravel roof on his new store building last Monday, Hon. T.R. Foley lost his footing and fell headlong into some hot tar spread on the roof, quite severely burning his left hand and forearm.
Messrs. Geo Featherly and Max Steinhauer, representing the well-known dealers in horse flesh, J. Hammel & Co., arrived in town this week with a carload of horses to meet the unexpected demand which has again sprung up in this county. Their horses can be seen at Hardman's barn.
All sections of the county were represented here on the occasion of Bryan's visit, many visitors having traveled many miles that day to hear and see the champion of the common people.
We regret to learn that the injury which Mr. Gyde sustained to his eye through an accident in his hoop mill, has permanently destroyed the site of that member, an examination by a Duluth oculist this week revealing that fact.
Rumor says that the silverites have brought a colony of free-silver men from Dakota to vote here. It is known the local committee is well provided with the "sinews," and Republicans are warned to be on guard.--Aitkin Republican
The foregoing is a lie, pure and simple in every particular. There has been no such rumor. No colony of free-silver men have been brought from Dakota by the silverites to vote here. We do not know which local committee is referred to as being known to be well supplied with the "sinews" but if the Democratic committee is meant, we deny it absolutely. Not one cent of campaign fund has been received from any source.
Chronic constipation is a painful, disagreeable and life- shortening difficulty. It deranges the system, causes sick headache, causes bad breath and poisons the blood. It can be readily overcome by DeWitt;s Little Early Risers. These little pills are great regulators.--W. Potter & Co.
News of the drowning of old man Pippin of Hickory, in the lake back of his home on the West Mille Lacs road, on Tuesday afternoon, was received here on Wednesday morning, and caused general regret among the people who were acquainted with the old man. It seems that the accident occurred while he was out in a boat to attend his nets which he had placed, and in some manner lost his balance and fell overboard. The drowning was witnessed by some neighbors on shore, but as there was no boat at hand no assistance could be rendered the unfortunate man. Relatives and friends have been dragging the lake, but so far the body has not been recovered. Mr. Pippin leaves an aged wife to mourn his loss.
Last Saturday night was Hallow'een, and the appearance of the good town early on Sunday morning gave evidence of the fact that the same old harmless pranks were played by the present generation of kids as were indulged in by "us folks" when we were of the years of ebullient enthusiasm and restless activity.
The body of old man Pippin, who was drowned in Spirit lake about two weeks ago, has not been recovered and all attempts to do so have been abandoned. It is thought that the body will rise in the spring, and the relatives will be on the lookout for it.
The local disciples of Rev. Earl Hicks, the St. Louis weather prophet, informs us that he has prophesized that the present winter is to be the coldest within the memories of out fathers. Present indications all point to a corroboration of the prediction.
The electric lights throughout the village suddenly ceased to glow early on Wednesday evening, and remained in a state of innocuous desuetude for about one and a half hours. It appears that a collapse of a portion of the rear brick wall of the new furnace was responsible for the slight break in the service. Connections were made with the old boiler and it was steamed up, and there has been no interruptions since. Jack Knowles, who was on duty, is deserving of great credit for the manner which he met and conquered the difficulty.
Mr. Beecher, the local representative of that soulless corporation, the Standard Oil Company, appeared on our streets last Monday with his new tank wagon, and appears to be very proud of it.
More obstacles and more disappointments were the features of this week's work on the water main laying under the bed of Mud river. It is confidently asserted however, that the last joint will be caulked this afternoon.
Those to who I'm indebted will learn something to their advantage by addressing me at Winamac, Indiana and enclosing a bill for the amount due. I will be remembered as having worked for the AGE in 1888 and left town leaving a lot of unpaid bills, which I propose, God helping me, to pay up.
David H. Smith
We are pleased to learn that Gyde's hoop mill is to be operated throughout the winter.
Has. Gaus, who travels for a jewelry house, entertained an imprompteau but delighted audience at Gwathmey's store last Wednesday with some excellent banjo music. He is an artist.
Judge Danewick has made a chemical analysis of the Hodgeden & McDonald spring on the riverbank, and finds that "sulphurated hydrogen" forms one of the chief constituent parts. People who had used the water thought it was something else.
Frank Seavey, Jr., returned home on Wednesday morning, looking well and prosperous, having enjoyed fairly good fortune during his first flight from the home nest into the wide world. He has, in following his profession as a musician, traveled over considerable territory since he left here last May, and has gained an experience which will be of great value to him in the future. He intends to remain here this winter.
Clerk of the Court Seavey kindly furnished us with a list of marriage licenses issued by him during the year, but this list includes the entire county. They number 49.
The leap year ball of the Cotillion Club, which was to have taken place on Thursday evening, fizzled out for want of dancers. The evening was poorly chosen, the other attractions being more potent.
An old man named Smith, living with his wife and young children near Dean brook, in Cass county, was brought into town by neighbors last Monday for protection, and they allege, that his sanity has given way, and he was liable to do his family some injury if not restrained. His poverty is so preyed upon him that he is in constant fear that he and his family will starve to death, and to prevent such a dire catastrophe he proposed to end their existence with the aid of a shotgun. Sheriff Mausten took Smith to Brainerd on Monday night and there turned him over to Crow Wing county authorities.
Hodgeden & McDonald have erected a neat sign on the roof of their lumber office on Cedar street.