Lake Ida History - Myron Coloney, 1858

It can't be a blog about Lake Ida without a bit of Lake Ida history. This goes back to 1858 and into the 1860's.

Myron Coloney was one of the first settlers of Lake Ida - with his wife and family. The book "How the Lakes Were Named" by Lorraine Larson claims that Lake Ida is named by Myron Coloney, after an old girlfriend back east. I find that claim highly unlikely, given the fact that his wife was here too. Like that would happen. But after reading the book he wrote, it seems possible that Ida was a sister, daughter or some female relative who had died back east.

Myron Coloney and family came to Douglas County before statehood in 1858. Their early neighbors that are mentioned were the Bedmans and the Darlings, neighbors a term for anyone settling between Alexandria and Lake Ida.

Pilgrim Point, Lake Ida, Douglas County, MN

Myron Coloney was a Yankee settler in Minnesota, having come from "back east".

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ref/MG/I/MG-2.html

Scrolling down to Chapter 12 on this website gives information on Myron Coloney and his partner Dr. J. H. McLean, and their development of the early machine gun designs. The website includes information from a 200 page pamphlet written by and about the two men:


"Myron Coloney was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., on the 24th of April 1832, and when still quite young, exhibited great constructive skill and mechanical ability in building boyish sawmills, apple-paring machines, animal traps & etc., of curious and novel workmanship. Amongst those rich traits of character with which he was endowed, there was also a deep love for literature. This desire grew almost into a passion, and determined the young lad to enter a printing office, rather than follow his father's more successful trade.&nbbsp;. . .

Myron Coloney

He also applied his mechanical talents to this 1880 patented water bike, possibly inspired by his time in Alexandria. (Lakes are more fun with lake toys!)

Another invention/creation was a map of the Mississippi River he developed, long and thin, called a Ribbon Map, following the river.

http://history.denverlibrary.org/news/maps.html

"1866 Coloney and Fairchild Ribbon Map of the Mississippi River
At ten feet in length and just less than three inches in width, the 1866 Colony and Fairchild ribbon map of the Mississippi River is one of the most unusual items in the Western History & Genealogy Map Collection.
The Colony and Fairchild ribbon map is highly detailed and includes mile markers, ports and river towns. States are denoted along the sides of the map's length."