Willard Nelson stands near the spot on his family’s homestead where 90 years ago a runaway from Wisconsin came ashore. The story was featured in the April 27, 2013 Down Memory Lane and raised the question: Who was the young man? Willard provided the answer for News-Herald readers.
In the April 27, 2013 Down Memory Lane, there was an interesting tidbit of news from 90 years ago. The Cook County News- Herald published on April 26, 1923 reported:
On Wednesday of last week a 14-year-old boy came up the north shore from Wisconsin. He had run away from home.
When he got to Cross River he took a boat and rowed out into Lake Superior till he was out of sight. At night he rowed back to shore and, seeing a light, landed at Carl Nelson’s. The boy was nearly exhausted from hunger and fatigue due to his trip. Mrs. Nelson gave him food and made him comfortable, the sheriff was notified and the boy was brought to Grand Marais.
He told a tale of hardship on a Wisconsin farm to which he did not want to return. He has been promised a good home at the Nelsons’ if the Wisconsin authorities will allow him to stay there.
Staff at the News-Herald wondered what happened to the forlorn young fellow and we were sure that there was no one who could tell us since the incident happened so long ago. However, we hadn’t counted on former Lutsen resident Willard Nelson.
Willard’s son, Dick Nelson, saw the story and asked his dad, who now resides at Hillhaven in Grand Marais, if he remembered anything about it. Now 98½ years old, Willard remembers the event quite clearly.
Willard was 8 years old when the frightened boy showed up at the beach near the Nelson home in Lutsen. Willard remembers that his name was Laurence Koffman and he was a husky kid. Willard’s grandmother was afraid of the stranger and made a bed for him in the fish house. However, Laurence proved himself a hard worker and he eventually ended up sleeping in the house with the rest of the family.
Willard remembers that Laurence became a friend of the Carlson family—Art and Ray—and went to work with them, fishing in the Hovland area.
Dick and Willard Nelson wonder if there is anyone else who remembers the wandering Laurence Koffman. It is unlikely, Willard tells us, since he believes he is the oldest male in Cook County, and possibly the oldest male veteran.
We appreciate him sharing the story with us and we wish Willard all the best!
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