HESCH HISTORY: Wolves in Morrison County in 1912 and 2012

This branch of the Austrian Hesch family is descended from Johann Hesch and his wife Marya (Schlinz) Hesch, who came to America from Oberschlagles, Bohemia with three sons: Paul, Mathias, and Anton. +++Johann & Marya settled in Buffalo County, Wisconsin but moved to Pierz, Mn in about 1885. .+++Mathias settled in Waumandee, Wisconsin and moved to Pierz in 1911. +++Anton never married but farmed with his dad in Agram Township, where he died in 1911.+++And Paul, my great grandfather, settled five miles away, in Buckman, Minnesota. He died there in 1900.

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Saturday, October 27, 2012

Wolves in Morrison County in 1912 and 2012

Wolves and a wolf hunt have been in state news of late--yes, in 2012--because, after years of conserving them, suddenly there are too many again...(estimated population: 3,000, statewide).

Larry and I have remarked on the glee in the Pierz Journal when people killed wolves in the early 1900s. Wolves were definitely a threat to young stock and poultry, but on the other hand, there were no newspaper reports of wolves killing domestic animals. Still, dashing to the outhouse at night was certainly encouraged cuz wolves might be out there. However, there were no reports of running children being taken by wolves either.

I remember running fast when we were at grandma's house, and that we never went to the outhouse alone. Those laughing relatives playing cards at the kitchen table probably wouldn't miss one kid. There was safety in numbers.