He apparently came over from Sweden in the late 1800's, working on cargo ships. There is a record of him working on a ship in 1890, and another in 1892. We're not sure if he landed in Duluth, or worked his way there from maybe New York or some other eastern seaboard port. The earliest record we ever found on him here in the states is in a business directory in Duluth in 1907. He's listed as a "Broker" under the name "Boden & Gustafson". We assume it's a land broker, as that was his career the rest of his life. That same year he married Signe Cecelia Gustafson, the mother of my grandfather Walter. (Walter's dad was out of his life by then)
After that, Tobias shows up in the 1915 Duluth directory, listed as a real estate dealer, with his residence listed as Bain. Bain pretty much doesn't exist anymore. I guess there's a few residences and buildings left, but not much else.
In 1918 Tobias ran for County Commisioner, but lost.
The reference in the article to his losing a house, and the "serious calamity", was from the big fire that swept thru the region in 1918. A railroad locomotive caught the brush on fire after a bad dry spell, and it swept thru the county. He apparently came thru ok, as he built a huge new house in town(Palisade).
The house still stands, and is impressive!
Anyway, his business dealing weren't always favorable to others. He and his three friends were not especially liked by some of the folks in the area. Tobias was shot and killed in 1922, after a disagreeable land transaction. It made all the newspapers, even the front page in Duluth. I'll post a couple of the articles and let that tell the story.
Here's a transcript of the article in the Duluth News Tribune. (It didn't photocopy very well)
Article from August 11, 1922 Duluth News Tribune, reads as follows:
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FARMER KILLS TO AVENGE LAND DISPUTE
Murder Victim’s Companion
Dodges Shower of Bullets;
Slayer Attempts Suicide
Son Held for Threat to
Shoot After Palisade
Gun Play
News Tribune Special.
Aitkin, Minn., Aug. 10 –After shooting P. E. Gustafson, age 45, as the result of a land transaction, and firing a volley of shots at Lester Berglund, E. W. Corey, age 63, farmer, turned the weapon on himself in attempt at suicide at Palisade at 9:15 a.m. today. Gustafson was instantly killed. Berglund dodged a hail of lead and escaped unharmed.
Palisade is 23 miles northeast of here. Mr. Gustafson is survived by a widow and several children. Corey’s son, Glen, was taken into custody following an alleged threat to “shoot up the town.”
Corey Sees Men.
According to information received here, Corey was to have left Palisade today for a farm in Iowa, having sold his interests in the vicinity. Stopping at Palisade to obtain gas for his automobile, Corey espied Gustafson, who is a real estate operator, and Berglund, sitting in front of the blacksmith shop.
Without any warning, Corey whipped out a gun and commenced shooting. Two of the bullets struck Gustafson, one in the chest and the other in the left arm. Death was instantaneous. Berglund escaped the shower of bullets by dodging into the blacksmith shop. The shooting took place while the family of Corey looked on.
Gunman Shoots Self.
Calmly and apparently unconcerned Corey walked into the garage and shot himself in the forehead. An emergency operation was performed. Physicians say he will die.
Immediately following the shooting Glen Corey, age 22, flashed a gun and threatened to “shoot up the town,” according to the sheriff I.E. Boekenoogen and Coroner C.H. Fetters of Aitkin county when informed of the shooting threats made by Glen Corey, hurried to the scene of the crime.
Son Taken to Jail.
Corey was taken to the Aitkin county jail by the sheriff to avoid violence. He is held without charge. Coroner Fetters declared tonight that no inquest would be conducted.
According to close friends of the dead man, the shooting was the culmination of several quarrels between the two. Corey had had a “streak of bad luck,” they said, for which he blamed Gustafson.
Sold Land Option.
Six months ago, Corey sold an option on his land to the local bank, which in turn sold it to Gustafson. The option expired, but Corey entered into negotiations with Gustafson for the repurchase of the option. Gustafson, it was stated, demanded an increase in price for the return of the option. The shooting was said to have been the result of the disagreement between the two men.
Funeral services for Gustafson probably will be held tomorrow in charge of the local Odd Fellows.
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That, coupled with the death of a son from some bad moonshine purchased from Tobias, enraged the man. About 10 years ago I actually made contact with a decendant of Mr. Cory, and heard the moonshine story. Fitting, as that was during the prohibition, and Minnesota was a hotbed of liquer being smuggled in from Canada.
Tobias is buried in the old cemetary south of Palisade, along the Mississippi River. His headstone is impressive!
There's another marker over his grave, which for some unknown reason has his death date wrong. It says 1921. Who knows.
1 comment:
Wow that's so interesting, yet very sad. I can't imagine being that family witnessing all of that. And your great grandmother....how terrible was that!?
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