Fish Story: Tale or Truth?

This is a fish story, an extravagant and incredible story.

The stories about my great grandfather were (and are) legendary.

Horace Lydick

Horace Sawyer Lydick (1880-1956) was the son of Mary Jane Wheaton (1839-1929) and Michael Lydick (1835-1919). Leaving his his native state of Maine, Horace made his home in the north woods of Minnesota.

Horace Lydick, Turtle River, 1935¹Photo. Horace Lydick. Original from a scrapbook compiled by Irene Lydick Church (1915-2009), later owned by Rodney Church. Digital copy made by Karrie Blees, November 11, 2022.

Tales

Twenty-some years ago, my mother told me a story about Horace Lydick; he was her husband’s grandfather:²Interview Marilynn Norenberg (1933-2023) and Karrie Blees). Marilynn was the wife of Horace’s grandson, Kenneth Norenberg. August 15, 2000, Cass Lake, MN.

Horace had a reputation as a poacher.  He bragged about never taking game in season.  

On one occasion, he had taken many fish and the Game authorities were on his trail.  Horace brought his catch into the house and stashed the illegally gotten fish in bed with his wife Susan.  Susan had very recently given birth to one of their children.  The authorities were unable to locate the fish and thus unable to prove him guilty of any wrongdoing.

Twelve years ago, I interviewed Horace’s son, my great uncle Clinton Lydick (1931-2022).³Interview Clinton (1931-2022) and Karrie Blees, July 13, 2012, Bemidji, Minnesota. Karrie Blees owns the audio recording, 2025. Remember, Uncle Clint loved, LOVED to tell stories.

When I asked about this particular fish story, Clint told me:

“That’s true. That’s, honest to God, true.

Here’s the story on that. What that was is, Dad, for years, he had a net in the river [Turtle River] almost every night. Hell, we lived on fish and game; there was nothing else to live on.

What little he did make [money] was from sawing timber, sawing logs, deadheads, I assume. He didn’t have a way to get timber, but he could pick deadheads. He had mills at the Pike Hole, his homestead, they had mills there, over time. And I’m sure he made money selling lumber, but probably not very damn much.

Anyway, so he had a net in the river most nights. Whenever we needed fish, he had a net in the river

I believe it was Hi [Hiram] Wright that was the Warden involved in that one.

Dad was out gathering up the net in the morning. He used a wash tub and he pulled the net into that. He pulled the net into the boat.

I don’t know where the Warden was, but he saw him do this.

Dad landed the boat down on the riverbank and he ran with that tub full of fish and net.

I don’t know how many fish was in it. I don’t know. That never came to light, as far as I know.

He ran up to that log cabin that we lived in. Ran in and threw the covers back and he dumped the fish into the bed.

He said, “Here, Suse,⁴Horace Lydick married Susan Roy. October 16, 1908 in Cass Lake, Cass County, MN. keep your feet on them for a few minutes.”

Put the covers back over and went out to meet the Warden.

Well, there was a crack in the door, or something or other, and he could see the Warden standing out in the yard. He [the Warden] stood there and contemplated for quite a while and finally he turned and walked away.

Later he [the Warden] said in an interview in the Cass Lake Times: he knew that Lydick wouldn’t let him in because he didn’t have a warrant.

But Dad always maintained, the way he told the story was, he said I would have let him in, no problem. I would’ve let him in, if he had come to the door, I’d let him in. I’d’ve invited him in.

I would’ve told him, “Here’s the, we only had 2 rooms: one was the bedroom and the other one was the other room. Here’s the house, you can look around. Anything you want. There’s the bed, my wife is in it, don’t touch the bed.”

I think he said, “My wife and kids are in it.”

Truths

First of all, Uncle Clint said that the story was true; he heard his father tell it. That’s a terrific testimonial.

What else adds to the veracity of this tale?

There was no warrant issued for this game violation. So, there is no public record of this particular event.

However, there is documented evidence that Horace Lydick took game out of season: the 1903 conviction by Kodak.

And … there was a 1926 arrest for illegal fishing.

Bemidji (MN) Daily Pioneer, July 16, 1926, page 1

Even though we do not know the exact date of this family lore, fish story, I believe that it is true because Horace Lydick took fish out of season.

What’s Next?

The 1926 illegal fish arrest is another great story. That story has LOTS of newspaper documentation. One of these days, I’ll get it organized and write it all down.

SOURCES

• 1
  Photo. Horace Lydick. Original from a scrapbook compiled by Irene Lydick Church (1915-2009), later owned by Rodney Church. Digital copy made by Karrie Blees, November 11, 2022.
• 2
  Interview Marilynn Norenberg (1933-2023) and Karrie Blees). Marilynn was the wife of Horace’s grandson, Kenneth Norenberg. August 15, 2000, Cass Lake, MN.
• 3
  Interview Clinton (1931-2022) and Karrie Blees, July 13, 2012, Bemidji, Minnesota. Karrie Blees owns the audio recording, 2025.
• 4
  Horace Lydick married Susan Roy. October 16, 1908 in Cass Lake, Cass County, MN.