Comments on: July 1894 – George A. Barclay Builds a Hotel…

By: bonmac

bonmac — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:02:52 +0000

Christy, No I like your comments even if I have seen the information. I do believe I have posted on these tidbits from the newspapers of the time. You just might find something I didn’t because newspaper research is very time consuming. Don’t apologize, the fact that you have commented and shared is very much appreciated. A descendant of I.U. White who built the Barclay Hotel is pretty cool. Bonnie

By: bonmac

bonmac — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Christy: I know how you feel. I have so much on my family that keeping it straight is a constant challenge. Yes, aren’t they great, the over the back fence gossip sections of the newspaper. I tried to find more on that fire at Woman Lake but it kept getting overshadowed by the one in September. Why he headed to Chicago I don’t know and would love to learn. It was a big trip. Who knows what great grandfather was up to. I went to the Minnesota Historical Society and had an Excell spreadsheet of dates and events I wanted to try to locate in the paper. Slogging work but that spreadsheet helped because I could target the local newspapers and just keep moving. Say if you get a really good map of that Leech Lake Trail I would be very interested. I will be happy to help with the cost. This is fun Christy, thanks for your comments. Bonnie

By: Christy Hohman

Christy Hohman — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:35:33 +0000

Hi again. Please delete the above comments where I send you information you already have! Sorry about that. My trips through the papers need to be better organized. I also appreciate your comments on setting out a spreadsheet to organize data. I guess that should be my next thing to do. I also plan to read completely through your blog!
apologies!

By: Christy Hohman

Christy Hohman — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:09:23 +0000

I’m sorry, I may have been mistaken about his being a driver. I’m an academic, so I should know to keep better track of my sources! But I found two items in the Brainerd Tribune, June 16, that you might not have: “Last Week George Barclay located some farmers from Todd County who are hunting homesteads in Cass county. Emigration to Pine River will soon commence.” and “George Barclay returned from a cruising trip last Sunday and says the country is all on fire over toward Woman Lake. He had a narrow escape from being killed by a falling tree whilst coming home.” And, I believe you have this one on a trip to Chicago. June 14, 1894, Brainerd Tribune, “George Barclay left last Tuesday for the twin cities and Chicago. He will be gone about two weeks.” The owner of Kabakona Camp (at the terminus of the stagecoach trail from Pine River) lived in Chicago. It would be highly likely that they knew each other. Maybe some wheeling and dealing?

Now that I think on it, you probably have already scoured the Brainerd Tribune records. I haven’t done that thoroughly yet. Where did you access them–at MHS?

As for the plaque at Pine River, I will stop by the depot sometime and see if it is there.

The Leech Lake Military Trail followed a previous trail that was probably established in precontact times by Native Americans. Much of it is now Highway 371. You could still see portions of it here and there, but it has been rapidly disappearing. There is an early map of the trail–I saw a copy once at the Forest Service. I need to add that to my list of “copies of things I need”.
Happy looking!
Christy

By: bonmac

bonmac — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:41:41 +0000

Christy: Thanks for the link but I do believe I have seen this application. This particular train depot was younger than the one George was familiar with. He died in 1898. I did a plaque honoring the family and George and Amarilla several years ago right before they moved it. Hopefully it is hanging in the depot now? Bonnie

By: bonmac

bonmac — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:35:24 +0000

Christy: Sorry I didn’t get back, been dealing with computer issues and stuff. HA! My great grandfather George Barclay was a small man about 5 ft. 4 inches and he weighed around 125 lbs. by 1892. He was a wagoneer in the Civil War years before 1892 but life had kind of wore him down. I have no knowledge that he was a stagecoach driver, although with his wagoneer experience in the civil war he did know how to drive a wagon. If I every see anything I will let you know. When I first started to research George I was interested in the Leech Lake Military Trail but it was very difficult to find a good map of that route.

By: Christy Hohman

Christy Hohman — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 21:54:04 +0000

As you probably know, the Pine River Depot was recently put on the NRHP. George Barclay is discussed, of course. I don’t see any new sources here that you haven’t covered, but in case you haven’t seen this document, I thought I’d send you the link. http://www.mnhs.org/shpo/nrhp/docs_pdfs/0031_pineriverdepot.pdf

By: Christy Hohman

Christy Hohman — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:18:15 +0000

I am also researching the old stagecoach road that went from Pine River to Woman Lake (I live by Woman Lake). George Barclay was one of the stage drivers. I you find anything on that, I’d be interested.

By: bonmac

bonmac — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:46:45 +0000

Christy: I think if there were plans they probably burned in the Barclay hotel fire in 1915. Sigh. Have fun looking through the boxes and even if you don’t find anything on the Barclays let me know what treasures you do find. Enjoy the process.

By: Christy Hohman

Christy Hohman — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 20:06:49 +0000

I don’t recall seeing anything like building drawings, but I do have three large boxes of things to go through yet. If I find anything pertaining to the Barclays, I will let you know! Thanks for your interesting blog. Christy