Riverside Drive, International Falls!

Keith at the Window

Ronald and Grace lived in a house on Riverside drive in International Falls.  It was supposedly the fancier part of town.  The house still stands having been turned into apartments.  It is situated very close to the Rainy River which is just across the street behind a stand of bushes.  You can pick your way to a break in them so you can climb down to the beach.  The house  is just across from the lumber mill.  It is probably very altered from what it looked like back then.    

Ronald and Graces Home circa 1905-1915

When I visited International Falls in 2000 and 2001, I visualized my father Keith running and playing in the town and along the banks of the Rainey River but it slowly dawned on me that he might not have remembered the town that much.  He was only there for the first 5-6 years of his life.  My memories of my childhood go back only to about age 4.  So I wonder just how much my father remembered as I walked the banks of the Rainy River. 

Keith by Window, Riverside Drive

In these two photos of my father he is by the window of their house. You can see a little of the interior of the house.  I was told that  Ronald built this house.  I have not been able to prove that family story.

McDonald’s Settle in International Falls!

By 1905, Keith’s family had migrated to International Falls and settled down.  The whole McDonald family made the move from Bemidji, in Beltrami Co., Minnesota to International Falls, Itasca County, Minnesota by 1905 or shortly thereafter.   

The 1905 Minnesota State Census shows Ronald age 37 and Grace age 24, Keith’s parents, along with two of their older children:  Vivian age 3 and Gordon age 1. They are living in the Village of International Falls, township of Koochiching, sheet 7, enumerated on 1, June, 1905 by Harvey Gale.  Ronald’s occupation is lumberman. 

R.S. McDonald Family 1905 Minnesota

Ronald’s parents, Archie and Mary were still residing in the Village of Bemidji according to the Minnesota State Census of 1905.  Their daughter Nellie (Ellen Elizabeth) is with them.  Their ages are listed as 70 for Archie and 68 for Mary, Sheet No. 39. Nellie is 30 years old and a housekeeper.  All of them give 3 years 9 months in residence in Bemidji this means they came from Canada about 1901. Do these ages work?  They are close but this means Archie was born in 1835 and Mary was 1837.  They are a little older than other information I have gathered.  Nellie is actually younger by 5 years than her baptismal record.  

Archie, Mary and Nellie, Bemidji 1905

Ronald’s brother Jack (John ) age 36 and his wife Sarah Burns McDonald age 31 were listed in the Village of International Falls by 1905 in the Minnesota State Census.  They are on Sheet #2.  Sarah is Irish in descent.  

John and Sarah, International Falls 1905

 Alexander their other brother was probably there as well but the census is a little confusing for 1905 for Alexander.  There is a listing for an A. T. McDonald age 30 working as a laborer living alone in International Falls.  His name is Alexander Thomas, so the initials work.  Also he states he has been in Minnesota 8 years which is about right for his coming to the area.  

1905 Minnesota Census Alex

The Minnesota State Census can be found online at Ancestry.com (or through your library version).  The Family History Library (FHL) also has it on microfilm they have 1836 -1905. It was taken in the middle of the decade so it is a nice addition to the U.S. Federal Census which is taken at the beginning of the decade. The 1905 is restricted and obtained at the Access window at the FHL so bring an id with you.

Archibald and Mary McDonald’s Children

McDonald Family 1905

This picture shows Keith’s grandparents and his aunt, uncles and father, Archibald and Mary McDonald’s family.  Starting on the left we have Nellie, Mary (seated), Jack, Archibald (seated), Ronald and Alex (seated).  Keith’s father is Ronald the one standing on the right next and behind Archibald. There is one person missing from this photo.  The oldest son Angus. 

Mary and Archibald actually had eight (8) children.  Five (5) children survived and lived to have full lives.  Two had descendants.  Jack had a daughter and Ronald and Grace had the 8 children listed in a previous post dated February 27, 2010. 

Their children were born in Chichester, Pontiac Co., Quebec.  Their births and baptisms are recorded in the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church registers in Chapeau, Pontiac Co., Quebec. 

The Children of Archibald and Mary McDonald are as follows.

1.  John McDonald born 10 December 1861, baptized 12 December 1861.  This baby must have died before 1871 for he is not listed on the 1871 Canadian census.  A death record nor burial location has been found at this time.

2.  John Alexander McDonald born 18 April 1863, baptized 26 April 1863 and died probably before 1871 for he is also not listed on the 1871 Canadian census.  This child’s death record and burial location has also not been found at this time.

3.  Angus Lawrence McDonald born 6 August 1864, baptized 13 August 1864.  He died 2 May 1931 in Seattle, King County, Washington of pneumonia, He is buried in the Calvary Cemetery in Seattle with other family members. Angus is listed as “Agnes” in the records.

4.  Ronald Sandfield McDonald born 22 July 1866, baptized the 26 July 1866. Keith’s father died on the 24 of July 1947 in Yakima, Yakima County, Washington of old age. He is buried in the Calvary Cemetery in Yakima, Washington with other members of the family.

5.  John Archibald McDonald (Jack) was born 3 June 1869, baptized 14 June 1869.  He died on 11 December 1949 in Moose Lake, Koochiching County, Minnesota of old age.  He is buried in the St. Thomas Cemetery (Forest Hill) in International Falls, Koochiching County, Minnesota with other family members.

6.  Ellen Elizabeth McDonald (Nellie) was born 26 November 1870, baptized the 26 November 1870.  She died on the 8th of May, 1947 in Yakima, Yakima County, Washington of old age.  She is buried next to her brother Ronald in the Calvary Cemetery in Yakima and with other family members. 

7.  Alexander Thomas McDonald was born 2 December 1872 and baptized the 17 December 1872.  He died the 3rd of November 1955 in International Falls, Koochiching Co., Minnesota.  He is buried next to his brother Jack in the St. Thomas Cemetery (Forest Hill) in International Falls, Minnesota. 

8.  George James McDonald was born 22 July 1878, baptized 27 July 1878 and must have died before the 1881 Canadian census for he does not appear with the rest of the family.  A death record and burial location have not yet been found. 

I will give more details about the records of the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in another post.  This church is located in Chapeau, Pontiac Co., Quebec.  It is across the Ottawa River from Pembroke which is in Ontario. 

Here is information on the Catholic Diocese of Pembroke: http://pembrokediocese.com/web/english/directory/index.shtml

A Baptism In International Falls!

Keith Baptism

The St. Thomas Catholic Church in International Falls has baptimal records on file.  I obtained one for my cousin when she mentioned she didn’t have it.  My dad also had a baptimal document from this church and parish in his papers. 

• The Birth and Baptism Record names him as Keith Barclay John.  My understanding is that the third name is the baptismal name. 
• His parents’ names are given as Ronald MacDonald (note surname spelling) and Grace Barclay. 
• The place of birth is International Falls, Minn.
• The date of birth is March 13, 1910 and the date of baptism is April 1, 1910. 
• The Godfather is John Ryan and Godmother was a Carrie Bacon.  I do not know these names. 
• The priest baptizing him was P. [J.] Killeen.  It was signed May 7th, 1940 but I cannot make out the handwriting of the final signature.   A seal is embossed on the lower left corner.

St. Thomas Catholic Church, International Falls, MN

The spire from this church can be seen from many directions.  It is made of stone and is very beautiful to see from many angles.  This picture was taken in 2000.

International Falls and the Rainy River!

Learning about an ancestral location is fun.  So here is a little bit about one of the places in my families history.

International Falls lies on the banks of the Rainy River.  My family settled there.  The Rainy River follows the international boundary line between the United States and Canada.  This city is at the very top of the State of Minnesota.  If you stand on the United States side and look across, you see the lights from Canadian homes and businesses.

Rainy River

Here is a link to a map of the town:

http://www.rainylake.org/annual_attractions_map.pdf.

International Falls was first a part of Itasca County up to 1906 when it came under Koochiching County.

Smokey Bear

I traveled to International Falls twice so I know a tiny bit about the area.  I visited there in 2000 and then again 2001. I went there to learn more about my dad’s family, the McDonald’s and to meet my cousin Mary McDonald Louiseau. Mary was 87 years old at the time. She was my grandfather Ronald’s niece and a cousin to Keith. Her father was Jack McDonald brother to Ronald.  The photos are from those trips.

International Falls is famous for being the coldest city in the United States.  They have a giant thermometer in the town square to keep track of the temperature.

Here is a link to some Google images of International Falls:

http://www.ci.international-falls.mn.us/photogallery.html.

http://www.ci.international-falls.mn.us/index.aspx

Wikipedia gives a nice description of the city at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Falls,_Minnesota

There are two huge Lumber mills that sit on the banks of the Rainy River. You drive across this very narrow 2 lane bridge to get to the Canadian side which is named Fort Francis. Don’t forget that Canadian money!  I am sure the crossing requires more identification then it did back in 2000.  So be prepared!  Some time in the early 1900′s they built up the river and made a dam across it.

The website of Koochiching County has a section on history and nice article on E. W. Backus the “last of the lumber barons.”  Keith’s father, Ronald, worked for this man in the early 1900′s per family history.  Ronald was a lumberman. In this article there is a picture of E. W. and other pictures that show the river, lumber mill and more.

http://www.co.koochiching.mn.us/history/Hist02.htm

Learning about the history of ancestral locations is challenging but rewarding.  See the link for the home page to the Koochiching County history pages to the right under “Favorites” where you will find more history about the area.

A Life Begins in International Falls!

Birth Record Jacket

 

 Keith Barclay John McDonald, was born in International Falls, Koochiching County, Minnesota on March 13, 1910. On occasion his birthday would fall on Friday and his children would tease him about Friday the 13th. He took it in stride.   

It was his custom to always take a day off from work on his birthday.  I thought it was a great idea.  So in honor of this tradition, I took a day off work for my birthday.  He believed in celebrating the events in his life especially birthdays.    

His birth certificate was dated — issued April 3, 1941.  I found it among his papers.  Many people at this time sought out their birth records so they could apply for Social Security.  It was not always an easy task to obtain a birth record.  His older sister Vivian had letters and affidavits to determine her birthdate and was eventually successful.  

Here is the front jacket and nothing is written on it.  Inside it reads as follows:  

• For his name “—— McDonald (unnamed in return)” 
• Birthdate is Mar. 13, 1910. 
• He is listed as male, 7th in order of birth, 7th child of the mother. 
• Father is given as Ronald Sanfield McDonald, age 43, W., birthplace Canada, occupation - Business
• Mother is Grace A. Barclay age 27, W., born Minnesota, occupation – Housewife. 
• Physician was Mary C. Ghostley residing in International Falls
• Date of the report was March 13, 1910.
• The Registrar was a G. F. Swinnerton, International Falls, Date of filing March 20, 1910.  It was signed the State of Minnesota, County of Koochiching, in District Court – Fifteenth Judicial District. 
• J. H. Drummond was the Clerk of the District Court etc. etc.etc.  

This is what I viewed personally as written in the birth registers at the Koochiching County Courthouse in International Falls when I visited there in 2000.  I know this unnamed baby to be my father, Keith.  

Koochiching County Courthouse

 

 Wikipedia gives some very interesting information on Friday the 13^th and its impact on our culture.  I was just teasing him about his birthday being on Friday, but maybe I shouldn’t have???  Oh dear did I just admit to being the culprit?

Ronald and Grace’s Children

Evergreen Cemetery

 

Keith was the youngest son of Ronald and Grace McDonald.  There were eight children born to Ronald and Grace.  Keith was the 7th child.  

The first child born did not survive and even the sex and name are unknown.  It is buried in an unmarked grave at the Evergreen Cemetery  in Brainerd, Crow Wing Co., Minnesota under the name “R.S McDonald’s child.” The baby shares the space with it’s grandfather George A. Barclay, grandmother Ammarilla Spracklin and their son George Alexander, brother to Grace. I discovered this child when I obtained burial records from the Evergreen Cemetery.  They have a directory of the dead which was not online years ago.  The photo above is the cemetery and specifically the Barclay grave area.      

McDonald Children about 1915

 

According to the writing on the back of this photo of the McDonald children, Keith is responsible for using a pin to poke out the eyes on his face! In order from left to right:  Keith, Jean, Eddie, Miriam, Gordon and Vivian. The birth order is reversed in this photo.  Vivian was the oldest and Keith the youngest.  

The Children of Grace and Ronald S. McDonald:    

1. Infant McDonald born and died on the same day of 29 August 1899.   

2. Leola Vivian.  Vivian was born on 12 May, 1902 in Grand Rapids, Itasca Co., Minnesota.   

3. Gordy was their first-born son.  His formal name was Ronald Gordon and he is sometimes confused with his father. Gordon was born on the 3 of May, 1904 also in Grand Rapids, Itasca Co., Minnesota.   

Sometime after Gordy’s birth, Ronald and Grace moved to International Falls, Minnesota.   I have not been able to pin down the actual location where they lived in Grand Rapids, Itasca Co., Minnesota. Grace and Ronald do appear in the 1905 Minnesota State Census in International Falls, so the move was made by then.  Itasca was a very large county and Koochiching was carved out of it about 1906.     

 McDonald Children born in International Falls:     

 4. Miriam Audrey followed on 15 January, 1906 and was born in International Falls, Koochiching County, Minnesota.  Miriam was the one who planted the seed that started me on the family genealogy.   

 5. Eddie was next. Her formal name was Edna Lorraine and she was born 28 March 1907. 

 6. Laurie Jean was born 30 June,1908.     

 7. Next was Keith Barclay John the youngest and 2nd son born 13 March, 1910.  This man is the one that this blog is dedicated to. 

  8. The last child was Grace Elizabeth born Dec 1911 who died the day before her mother and is buried with her in the cemetery in International Falls, Koochiching Co., Minnesota. 

Death Certificate Grace Elizabeth

 

The sources are a variety of documents like newspaper announcements, letters, a baby book, my Aunt Miriam’s notes, death certificates for some of them, on-line death indexes, etc.

Keith’s Parents: Ronald and Grace’s Marriage!

Ronald and Grace McDonald

Finding my father’s parent’s marriage was one of my first genealogical challenges.  My Aunt Miriam, their daughter didn’t know the exact date of the marriage.  Miriam had sent me a bunch of her notes on our family and she wrote in these notes that her parents got married sometime before the death of Grace’s father, that was all she knew about her parent’s marriage.

Ronald Marries Grace – Miriam’s Notes

I practically tore up the State of Minnesota searching for records to no avail. I wrote to the St. Paul Episcopal church in Brainerd where her parents had a record of their marriage but nothing was found.  I checked with the Cass County and Crow Wing County Courthouse for a marriage record and was turned down.  I studied newspapers for Pine River where her parents lived, and other cities like Brainerd and Walker to see if an announcement had been made.  Nothing was turning up.  Sometimes the information you are seeking turns up in an unusual place.  I have been to the Minnesota Historical Society in St Paul, Minnesota on three separate occasions.  On this trip I was looking for records on Grace’s father George A. Barclay and pulled the Coroner’s Inquest file about his murder.  George was killed on October 28, 1898.  When someone is killed suspiciously a coroner’s inquest is held.  Fortunately for me, Minnesota was conducting these inquests on a regular basis by 1898.  In the transcripts contained in this Coroner’s Inquest file I found that my grandmother Grace had testified and in her testimony she told of her marriage. Grace gave testimony twice at the inquest.  The second testimony is the better one.

Mrs. Grace Barclay recalled says:

I was married the 8^th of September in Hudson, Wis., I was at home immediately prior to the marriage.  Came back Oct. 1.  I stayed in Minneapolis from the 4^th to the 14^th of October. From there I went to Grand Rapids, Minn.  I stayed there a while and went out to a camp for a week, but kept rooms at the hotel all the time.  My husband is superintendent for Backus in the Willow River country.  We were near Cloquet when we heard of the murder of my Father.  Mr. McDonald told me.  I left Mr. McDonald at Cloquet.  He went to the woods and I came home.  I said he would drive across country and will be here tonight,….

Grace and Ronald’s Marriage Record

My grandmother was 16 years old when she married my grandfather Ronald. Grandfather Ronald was 32 years old at the time. I pondered this 16 year difference in their age when I saw the birth records at the Koochiching County Courthouse in International Falls, Minnesota of their children, my Dad and his siblings. I remember saying out loud and incredulously:   “Grandpa what were you thinking?”

Grace and Ronald did marry on September 8, 1898 in Hudson, St. Croix County, Wisconsin.  Hudson is just across the state line between Minnesota and Wisconsin and not that far from Minneapolis/St. Paul.  The distance is 29 miles by our freeway standards.   If you look close at the marriage record you can see there is no identifying county marks on this record.  I do have the Wisconsin Vital records application and the envelope this Marriage record was returned to me in.  You will have to take my word that the marriage was performed in Wisconsin.

In reviewing this marriage record we find the following information:  Ronald S. McDonald is the husband, his father is Archibald, his mother is Mary.  Ronald’s occupation is lumberman and his residence is given as Duluth. He was born in Canada.  Grace’s name is written “Gray A. Barclay.” Her parents are George A. Barclay and Amarilla Spracklen.  She was born in Pine River, MN.  They married on Sept. 8, 1898 in Hudson, St. Croix Co.  (I wrote in the state).  They are white. The ceremony was Presbyterian.  The witnesses were Mike Dorgan and Grace & Charles Burnley.  The witnesses were from Hudson, St. Croix Co.  The marriage was registered September 26, 1898 and the parties were sworn.

What do I think about this information?  Well there are a few pieces of information that are very interesting.   The first is that Ronald’s place of residence is Duluth.  I have suspected that he did live there.  The other piece of information is the marriage ceremony was Presbyterian.  Ronald was Catholic.  Grace her religion was unknown.  He basically married outside his faith.  The witnesses are also intriguing because their names are unfamiliar to me.  Their residence is given as Hudson?  So are these people friends of Grace and Ronald? Ronald was a lumberman and high up in Backus’ business, so he could have had many contacts and his occupation took him to many locations.

The lesson learned: if you can’t find a marriage within the state you think it happened in, then check the surrounding states.