Tragic Death in Minnesota River: 52 Ancestors 2026 Prompt “Brushed Aside”

 

Day of Play Ends in Drowning: James “Jimmy” Seltenreich

James Oscar “Jimmy” Seltenreich: 1939-1949 (Maternal Second Cousin)

 

I was using Ancestry’s Tree Checker function, and discovered that my records for my second cousin James Seltenreich had an error. While correcting the erroneous date that had been flagged, I began reviewing James’ Ancestry hints and filling in more information on him. I discovered that James died at only ten years of age! Thankfully, someone had done research to discover why he died so tragically young and had posted a news article. The article appears below. This was a story I had never heard about from other family members.

Minneapolis Star article, June 25, 1949

James Oscar Seltenreich was born March 20, 1939 in Mankato, Minnesota to parents Reuben Seltenreich and Mary Rose Schneider Seltenreich. James was the third of their four sons and seems to have been known as “Jimmy”.

June 24, 1949, was probably a warm, sunny summer day. School was out, and a ten-year-old boy would have been enjoying the outdoors. Jimmy was probably playing with friends or with his brother Leon, who was only a year older than Jimmy. Jimmy was apparently playing along the banks of the Minnesota River in Sibley Park. 

Mankato map showing area where Jimmy lived and the park area along the river junction

The park, an attractive tree-covered area, lies at the mouth of the Blue Earth River where it empties into the Minnesota River. It was probably an easy bike ride from Jimmy’s home on Blue Earth Street in Mankato. While Blue Earth Street is now separated from the park area by a multi-lane highway and a large factory complex, in 1949 it would have been easy for the Seltenreich children to bike or walk to the park along neighborhood streets.

The article states Jimmy was playing on a sandbar when he fell in the river. Since the area is at the junction of the two rivers, I suspect there might have been strong currents in that part of the Minnesota River. When Jimmy fell, he might have been pulled under by the current and was unable to regain the shore. Whoever was playing with him would have been unable to help. What began as a day of summer fun and play ended in tragedy.

Note the sandbars at the left of the photo

The newspaper reported that Jimmy’s body was pulled from the river a day after he drowned. Jimmy was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Mankato. He is the only member of the family buried there. His parents are buried in Eagle Lake Cemetery.

Photo of Jimmy's headstone at Calvary Cemetery in Mankato

I am so glad that I discovered how Jimmy’s life ended. Until now, I had brushed aside filling in the details of Jimmy’s life in my family tree. His story also seems to have been brushed aside in the stories family members passed on to me—probably no one wanted to recall his tragic loss and his family’s pain.

Sources:

“Four Drown in State; Two Victims are Boys.” Minneapolis Star. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jun 25, 1949.

“Body recovered.” Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. June 27, 1949

Findagrave website. Photo by Shellorella. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/151118700/jimmy-oscar-seltenreich?_gl=1*uekjkq