Local Genealogy

"What's In A Name" was the title of an article written by Sawyer County Historian Eldon Marple many years ago. I told my daughter a few days ago that I needed a fresh topic for my article this week and she suggested writing about family histories and how you can tell nationality by a name. At first I said she was right but on further thought I realized how that is untrue today.

This week we had requests for genealogical information on the Olson Family of Hayward. The writer didn't realize how many Olson families there were in Hayward in 1895, the time that Bertilinus Olson was born here. I also got a request from a Thulin family member asking for information about the Thulins that lived here at the turn of the century. While I researched the 1885 census and then the plat map of Hayward for 1900 I found that the two families must have known each other quite well because Hayward was just a small town at that time.

It used to be that when you saw the name Belille, Peterson or O'Boyle you knew their nationality. Our Northwoods communities were represented by emigrants from many European countries and Canada. As each group worked began to fit into their new milieu. they changed their names, married their neighbors and formed new churches and social groups to suit the needs of living on the wild frontier. Pretty soon , the Norwegians, Swedes, Native Americans, French and Polish families shared histories.

At first you could also trace families by checking their occupations. The Olson's were involved in retail trades and hostelry. The O'Boyle (Boyle and Boylan) families who were bricklayers in the old country brought their trade to the United States. They built many of the brick buildings we see in Stone Lake and Hayward today. The Thulins were farmers as well as the Steinmeyers, Minors and Hamblins. The Lessard family and the large Phelan family owned stopping places and hotels.

I realized years ago that you can also trace families by their association with social groups and recreational activities. Recently it was pointed out to me that many of the Polish families in this area had family members who were involved in entertainment business. How natural for a child to emulate the their parents. The Jalowitz family had several generations involved in great polish dance music which they shared with their friends and neighbors. Native American families passed their dance traditions from generation to generation like the Froemel family who not only danced at powwows but also performed a hybrid blend of dance music with drums, accordion and fiddle out at Northwoods Beach when I was young.

As we approach the year 2000 we find that hundreds of new names have entered this area bringing new traditions and histories with them. No longer can you link occupation and name to a particular ethnic group. That is the idea behind the melting pot of America.

Another topic that came up this week is a request for information about a railroad spur that may have come over the hill from Mosquito Brook down to the Namekagon. River. if you have any information about that spur could you contact me? I am also looking for sources of information about the Koshak Camp off of Easterhouse Rd. near Draper, Wi. It was a small logging camp near Blood Driving Dam dated 1880. If you know anything about the camp, please give me a call.

I am also looking for information or pictures for the Thulin family, Regina Victoria Elling and Olaf (Ole) Olson.

The Historical Society monthly meeting was held on March 4th at Hardees. We discussed the lights and new drop ceiling for the basement exhibit area. We need to get the remodeling done before we build the new LCO and New Post exhibit and the Resorts and Recreation exhibit. We went over our plans for the summer. We will be open one extra day this summer so our hours will be M-F 12-4pm. and Sundays 12-3. Any other times can be arranged by appointment. Jim Farino will be attending several State Historical Society seminars in the coming weeks and will bring his information back to teach the rest of us. Andi and Jim will meet with Mimi Dahlby at the High School with the Honors students to set up a plan to work on the Museum exhibits. We also discussed moving the sign on the front lawn so that the Museum would be more visible. The date for the Annual meeting has been for April 22nd with the time and place to be announced.