John Beargrease
Encyclopedia
John Beargrease, born 1858 as the son of a minor Anishinaabe
chief by the name of Makwabimidem (Beargrease), is best remembered as the winter mail carrier between Two Harbors, Minnesota
and Grand Marais, Minnesota
during the last two decades of the nineteenth century. John used a row boat and a dog sled to deliver the mail. His legendary dog sled
runs are remembered and celebrated in the annual 411-mile John Beargrease Dog Sled Race between Duluth
and Grand Portage, Minnesota
. John died at his home in Beaver Bay, Minnesota
in 1910.
Anishinaabe
Anishinaabe or Anishinabe—or more properly Anishinaabeg or Anishinabek, which is the plural form of the word—is the autonym often used by the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Algonquin peoples. They all speak closely related Anishinaabemowin/Anishinaabe languages, of the Algonquian language family.The meaning...
chief by the name of Makwabimidem (Beargrease), is best remembered as the winter mail carrier between Two Harbors, Minnesota
Two Harbors, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,613 people, 1,636 households, and 953 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,120.7 people per square mile . There were 1,631 housing units at an average density of 505.9 per square mile...
and Grand Marais, Minnesota
Grand Marais, Minnesota
Grand Marais is a city in Cook County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,351 at the 2010 census. It is also the county seat of Cook County...
during the last two decades of the nineteenth century. John used a row boat and a dog sled to deliver the mail. His legendary dog sled
Dog sled
A dog sled is a sled pulled by one or more sled dogs used to travel over ice and through snow. Numerous types of sleds are used, depending on their function. They can be used for dog sled racing.-History:...
runs are remembered and celebrated in the annual 411-mile John Beargrease Dog Sled Race between Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
and Grand Portage, Minnesota
Grand Portage, Minnesota
Grand Portage is an unorganized territory in Cook County, Minnesota, on Lake Superior, at the northeast corner of the state near the border with northwestern Ontario. The population was 557 at the 2000 census...
. John died at his home in Beaver Bay, Minnesota
Beaver Bay, Minnesota
Beaver Bay is a city in Lake County, Minnesota, U.S. The population was 181 at the 2010 census.-History:It is the oldest settlement on the NorthShore of Lake Superior. Est. in 1856...
in 1910.