Delia D'Ambra

In September 1883, a few years before William's death, he built a home along the east shore of Lake Itasca and seemed to be the guy who opened the door for other folks to move to the area. By 1889, William had settled in the region and built a house on the north end of the lake.

In September 1883, a few years before William's death, he built a home along the east shore of Lake Itasca and seemed to be the guy who opened the door for other folks to move to the area. By 1889, William had settled in the region and built a house on the north end of the lake.

Author John Doby wrote in his book that historians consider William the first permanent resident of the basin because technically he was the only person living in the area when Itasca Park was officially established as a state park in 1891.

Author John Doby wrote in his book that historians consider William the first permanent resident of the basin because technically he was the only person living in the area when Itasca Park was officially established as a state park in 1891.

Several years earlier, Peter Turnbull had relocated about 25 miles south to the city of Park Rapids, Minnesota, which kind of gave William the claim to fame as the first permanent resident. When William died, he was in his late 30s, unmarried, with no children. He worked as a ranch operator for a small property in the basin, and many people who ventured up to the lake would stay at his cabin.

Several years earlier, Peter Turnbull had relocated about 25 miles south to the city of Park Rapids, Minnesota, which kind of gave William the claim to fame as the first permanent resident. When William died, he was in his late 30s, unmarried, with no children. He worked as a ranch operator for a small property in the basin, and many people who ventured up to the lake would stay at his cabin.

So over time, it seems like that's how a lot of people became familiar with him. It appears less was known about Nelson Rust. According to an article published by the Duluth News Tribune, a few weeks after William's death, he ended up in Monroe, Wisconsin, some eight and a half hours southeast of Itasca.

So over time, it seems like that's how a lot of people became familiar with him. It appears less was known about Nelson Rust. According to an article published by the Duluth News Tribune, a few weeks after William's death, he ended up in Monroe, Wisconsin, some eight and a half hours southeast of Itasca.

He was obviously significantly older than William, too, but according to author John Doby, the men had gotten to know one another after Nelson purchased some land from William when he first moved to Lake Itasca. You see, Nelson had initially settled in the western section of the park, but then moved when he was able to purchase three acres of land from William.

He was obviously significantly older than William, too, but according to author John Doby, the men had gotten to know one another after Nelson purchased some land from William when he first moved to Lake Itasca. You see, Nelson had initially settled in the western section of the park, but then moved when he was able to purchase three acres of land from William.

At his homestead, he erected a barn and a house and eventually went back to William to buy more land. But it appears William didn't agree to that. Nelson was also reported to be part of the same hunting group that William was part of on the day of the shooting. It's just that he and William had broken off from the rest of their companions.

At his homestead, he erected a barn and a house and eventually went back to William to buy more land. But it appears William didn't agree to that. Nelson was also reported to be part of the same hunting group that William was part of on the day of the shooting. It's just that he and William had broken off from the rest of their companions.

Other members of that group were said to be from Iowa, but who exactly they were and where they were when the shooting happened are questions I can't answer. There's just not enough information out there about those kinds of details. It's also mentioned in some of the source material that the state park technically functioned as a game refuge at that time.

Other members of that group were said to be from Iowa, but who exactly they were and where they were when the shooting happened are questions I can't answer. There's just not enough information out there about those kinds of details. It's also mentioned in some of the source material that the state park technically functioned as a game refuge at that time.

So why any of the hunters, including Nelson and William, were even there at all is a bit of a mystery. I have to assume they either had pre-approved permission to conduct their activities or their hunting expedition was just kind of a gray area, since the park itself hadn't been around that long and so hunting wasn't monitored as strictly.

So why any of the hunters, including Nelson and William, were even there at all is a bit of a mystery. I have to assume they either had pre-approved permission to conduct their activities or their hunting expedition was just kind of a gray area, since the park itself hadn't been around that long and so hunting wasn't monitored as strictly.

What I can tell you, though, is that according to that Duluth News Tribune article I mentioned a minute ago, a few weeks after William died, two of his brothers, Sam and Ben McMullen, started to question the circumstances of the shooting and said they no longer believed Nelson's version of events.

What I can tell you, though, is that according to that Duluth News Tribune article I mentioned a minute ago, a few weeks after William died, two of his brothers, Sam and Ben McMullen, started to question the circumstances of the shooting and said they no longer believed Nelson's version of events.

Nelson was described by one settler as a quick, impetuous man, which I think implies he wasn't the kind of person who put a lot of thought into his actions, and he often made rash decisions. According to John Dobie's book, he admitted to being careless with his gun and for shooting so suddenly in William's direction, but he was adamant that he never intended to harm his friend.

Nelson was described by one settler as a quick, impetuous man, which I think implies he wasn't the kind of person who put a lot of thought into his actions, and he often made rash decisions. According to John Dobie's book, he admitted to being careless with his gun and for shooting so suddenly in William's direction, but he was adamant that he never intended to harm his friend.