Mayhem in Ben Wade Township

For the next couple weeks I am turning this blog over to Sid Stivland.  Sid is the son of Ralph and Gudrun Stivland. The Stivlands farmed for many years in Ben Wade Township, west of Lowry.  Sid has done extensive family history research and has compiled stories from immigrant Pope County days, the depression and WWII era. You can find some of his efforts (Stivland and Norland histories) in the Pope County Historical Museum in Glenwood, MN.  He has generously agreed to provide some of his tales for this blog.*

And we start with a murder mystery ...  as told by Sid Stivland

Governor Hammond takes action in apprehending murderers

St. Paul. Minn., June 2nd, 1915




Governor Hammond today offered a reward of $250 for the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons who murdered Swen, John and Amund (Louis) Midmoen (Jacobson) brothers, on or about May 6. The three brothers, who were farmers, resided in Ben Wade Township, Pope County, Minnesota.  Though every effort has been made to run down the parties responsible for the murder of the three brothers, the efforts of the Pope County authorities have been unsuccessful. The three brothers were regarded as misers and were supposed to have considerable money hid in their home.

Sect. 21, Twp. 126, Range 39, E 1⁄2 NW 1⁄4 W 1⁄2 NE 1⁄4 - “Mitmoen farm”

Mitmoen Farm

Just west of the Stivland Homestead and adjoining it lie 160 acres homesteaded at the same time by a fellow Norwegian immigrant, Sven Jacobson. Not much is known about Mr. Jacobsen except that he arrived from Norway in 1868 and filed a homestead claim on this piece of land in Ben Wade Township. He received his land patent on September 10, 1875, the same day Sven Stivland received his.

He was not married and, having settled next door to the Stivlands, knew them. While the Stivlands and the Jacobsons probably worked together, the Jacobsons were shy and reclusive so little is known about them or their activities. If there was any doubt the two families knew each other, those doubts are put to rest upon examination of the immigration and naturalization records. On October 13, 1874, both Sven Johnson and Sven Jacobson were sworn in as citizens of the United States of America. The records are on the same date and are separated by only 10 pages in the official record.

Even more importantly, the official records indicate a requirement to have lived in the Unites States for five years and in the State of Minnesota for at least the past year. Two witnesses were sworn to testify that the person applying for citizenship met those requirements. Paul Paulson and Jacob Johnson (or Johaneson) were listed as sworn witnesses to Sven Jacobson’s residency and “a man of good moral character”.

Since citizenship was a requirement to vouch for another’s residency, documents show Sven Jacobson was granted his citizenship first and was then qualified to vouch for Sven Johnson.

Mitmoen farm history

The 1873 personal property tax records show he owned 4 cattle, two of which were probably oxen. There are no horses listed. He also owned 3 sheep and no other personal property. As in the case of the Stivland farm, the number of animals increased each year. By 1884, they also owned horses. This is consistent with other family histories. Oxen were slow and temperamental so horse power was a great improvement and was the preferred source of farm power. Every farmer transitioned to horses as soon as their situation and finances permitted.

In 1869 or 70, Sven Jacobson was joined on the farm by two of his brothers, John (Johannes) and Amund, who also immigrated from Norway. Subsequent tax records show they owned cattle, horses, and sheep. In the 1884, Amund owned 3 horses and 3 sheep; John owned 2 horses and 2 cattle; and Sven owned 1 horse and 1 cow but also one wagon. For a few years, the land remained in Sven’s name. In the 1900 US census, Amund is also listed as an owner but only Sven is listed in the 1910 US census. Over the years from 1869 to 1915, they farmed this land and gradually increased their livestock herds. They had a reputation as hard workers and prosperous farmers.

That reputation may have been their undoing because some time during the first week of May, 1915, they were brutally murdered at the homestead. The murder sent shock waves through the community and beyond. Then, as now, such a heinous act was unthinkable in rural Pope County. The Glenwood Herald carried the account on May 13-14 & 21st, 1915. It was a state-wide sensation. (The 3rd article is from the Pierz, MN Journal)

               

Pierz Journal

From the Norway Heritage Site

Two Norwegians, John Jakobsen and Georg Nielsen, both residents of Lignite, North Dakota, are arrested and charged with murder. They are charged with killing three compatriots, the brothers John, Louis and Sven Mitmoen, on their farm in Minnesota a few months ago.

The Mitmoen brothers, who also called themselves Jacobsen, emigrated many years ago to America from Stavanger. They had run their farm for over 35 years and by thrift accumulated a considerable fortune. They had always large sums from 5-10,000 dollars kept on the farm, so they were probably killed for their money.
One of the brothers was found in the bedroom with crushed head. The other was found in the kitchen, where everything indicated that there had been a violent struggle, and the third killed was found in the barn.

The Trial: Lurid Account in the Glenwood Herald

Column 1 Column 2

The days and weeks following the death of the Mitmoen (Jacobson) brothers were traumatic for the Stivland family. A constant stream of visitors, law enforcement, and curiosity seekers streamed through the Stivland farm, the main access to the Mitmoen farm. The ensuing trial in Glenwood brought even more people to Pope County from far and near. The two men charged with the crime were eventually acquitted and no one was ever successfully charged. The crime remains unresolved to this day.

Editor Note: Most people believed the jury failed its duty.

Ralph Stivland's Account: Mitmoen Murders

Ralph Stivland was 5 years old when this multiple murder took place. He spoke of it many times during his lifetime and it was apparent he was deeply affected by it. Years later he wrote about it from his perspective:

May 1915 three brothers living 1⁄2 mile from our place [were killed].

People didn’t know exact date because almost a week went by before they were found. A neighbor, Andrew Knutson, went up to buy hay. When he arrived there he pushed the door open and discovered the horrible scene. He returned home and called a neighbor, Gilbert Jacobson, who was a relative of the Mitmoens. Jacobson called the sheriff and we had party telephone lines in those days. The news spread so fast and in a few hours our place was full of cars. People walked over because there wasn’t any real road to the place. There were very few cars in those days but they sure came from all directions.

When the sheriff and some people arrived at the place they found 2 Mitmoen brothers murdered in the house. The third brother was found murdered in the barn. Because the weather was so mild they were so badly decomposed that they had to be buried immediately. They couldn’t take them to the church for a funeral.

They kept all their money at home, which the killers knew. Lots of money was still left in dresser drawers. The killers most likely were too excited to make a thorough search. Authorities think, however, they did find a lot of money.

They never did solve the murder. However, two men had taken a taxi from Glenwood to Lowry before this but the taxi driver couldn’t identify the men. They were relatives from N. Dakota.

My stepfather and another man [had] met close to the [Mitmoen} place and later said it was queer they didn’t see anybody around. One animal was walking around outside but the rest of the cattle were in the barn with no food or water for many days. These brothers didn’t associate with other people, thus nobody missed them.

At this time my folks had a hired man who was gone at this time. I can remember when the sheriff came to our place and took him to Glenwood jail. He was innocent and returned in a few days.

Although I was only 5 1⁄2 years old I remember it very well. It sure was a shocking event. People [came] to see the place for many years just for curiosity.

A road gang with horses and mules stayed there one winter after the murder. After that people lived there and rented the farm. It sure was a spooky place for a long time.

In 1947 I bought the farm.

In 1949, we moved all the buildings to our home farm. We used the barn for a hog house and the house for chickens.

After the murders

After the tragic death of the three brothers, the farmstead was secured by the Pope County Sheriff’s office and an investigation into the crime was initiated. Although two men were subsequently charged, they were acquitted. Others were questioned and released as in the case of the hired man on the Stivland farm. The trial was held in Glenwood and attracted attention from far and wide. The trial is detailed in the Glenwood Herald article found in the appendix to this narrative. Artifacts and evidence introduced at the trial are in the permanent collection of the Pope County Museum.

A funeral was held at St. Pauli Lutheran Church with subsequent burial there. The grave markers are still visible along the east edge of the cemetery. Sadly, as Ralph Stivland stated in his written reminiscences, the bodies were in very bad shape when discovered, so they were quickly buried and the coffins were not brought into the church.

Final Resting place for Sven, Johannes, and Amund Jacobson

There are detailed records of expenses incurred and paid by the brothers’ respective estates. Caskets were purchased at the Lowry Hardware and Furniture Company. The funeral service was conducted by Rev. S.J. Lindseth. The graves were dug by Otto Teigen, the funeral was conducted by Berry and Toombs, the monuments and grave markers were installed by J.M. Aal. Cancelled checks to these individuals and companies confirm their role in the life and death of the Mitmoen brothers.

1915 to 1947

During the years following the murder, the farm was rented and various people lived in the house. As described by Ralph Stivland, one winter a road building crew lived there. At other times, the house was rented by different people or was left unoccupied. Meanwhile, the land was rented to farmers in the area. Probate records indicate the personal property and cash was inherited by known relatives in the area.

The land also was probated to various heirs. Eventually, the land was purchased by an individual living in Alexandria by the name of J. J. Volker. Mr. Volker owned other land in both Pope and Douglas Counties. We believe Mr. Volker was a dentist and was probably buying and selling land as an investment. In 1947, Ralph Stivland purchased the farm, land and buildings, from Mr. Volker. In 1949, he moved the barn, house and granary from the Mitmoen farm location to the Stivland farm where they stand today.

When Ralph Stivland purchased the farm, it was suffering from severe neglect. Noxious weeds had taken over. Quack grass, Leafy spurge, Canada thistles, and Wild mustard were everywhere. County weed inspectors were permitted, by law, to regulate land use. As a result, he was not allowed to farm it for the first two years but was required to keep the land fallow. For the next 40 years, he managed the farm to minimize spreading noxious weeds. Techniques included such practices as thoroughly cleaning harvesting equipment prior to moving from field to field, keeping track of seed stock origin, separating straw used for cattle bedding so that any resulting manure was spread back on the same field, and so on.

S.S.

*(And a guest blogger invitation is still open to the rest of you.)