The Mysterious Death of Eva Ducklow’s Father – John Shaw
Missing for More than Three Years
[Updated February 3, 2009]

Who was Eva Ducklow? Eva was Charles Ducklow’s wife. Charles was the 7th born child of Thomas and Elizabeth Ducklow. Eva was born in Rock Elm Center in Pierce County to parents John and Jerusha Shaw. She married Charles Ducklow in 1882.



Eva Shaw Ducklow, circa 1895
Cropped Photo from Deb Ehlers Good Photo Collection


Eva Ducklow’s father, John Shaw, died quite mysteriously. In June of 1904 John left Spring Valley [Pierce County] to “take up a claim” of land in the far reaches of northern Minnesota near International Falls. It is not clear what his motivation was to make a claim of land so far from his family, and at the age of 63. But none the less he traveled the 300 plus miles towards his stake which laid some thirty miles west of International Falls and near the Bear River. Mr. Shaw was reported to have made it to a local trading point near there, and after purchasing needed supplies, started off down the trail for his land.

Location of International Falls Minnesota
Graphic from Wikipedia Source

That was the last anyone saw of him. He went missing after that and searches in the area including those conducted by two of his nephews, George and Fred Shaw, failed to locate him. Three years passed without a sign of him.

Then, in the spring of 1907, the remains of his body were discovered a bit off a trail leading towards his claim. His skeleton lay near the banks of the Bear River, discovered their by log drivers. Identification of his body could only be made by his remaining compass and watch. The exact cause of his death is speculative as his demise was never completely explained. He could have become exhausted and died from exposure as suggested in the Pioneer-Press article. But it seems most likely that he injured himself badly or had heart failure and could not reach help before succumbing to death. But sinister causes could have occurred too: Was he followed out of the trading post and then murdered for his money and belongings? Did he venture into an area were land ownership rights were disputed and got into a mortal fight? The true cause of death remains a mystery as apparently no formal investigation or autopsy was done due to the length of time the body was exposed to nature and the remote location of his death.

While the confirmation of Mr. Shaw's death was certainly difficult for his family to hear, at least they had relief from the uncertainty regarding his whereabouts. Mr. Shaw's remains were not transported back to Wisconsin, but rather he was buried on his land claim near the Bear River.

Source: June 6, 1907 Spring Valley Sun
Source: June 2, 1907 St. Paul Pioneer-Press: Homesteaders Remains Found Near a Trail
International Falls, MN, Special, June 2-John Shaw, a native of Ellsworth, WI settled a claim on Bear River, thirty miles west of here, in the fall of 1903. The following June while following a trail from his trading place to his homestead, he became lost, and despite the efforts of his relatives and neighbors no trace could be found of him. Log drivers had just found the skeleton of the old man on the banks of the Bear River, a short distance from his trail, the being identified by a watch and a compass. Nothing was found to indicate foul play and it is more than likely the aged homesteader died from exhaustion and exposure. The bones were buried on the homestead and thus ends a mystery that has for three years been a subject of interest in the locality.

Note: More information on the Shaw family can be found at this link.

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