Notorious Dakota County, and how far we’ve come
Notorious Dakota County, and how far we’ve comeBy Joe Atkins | Dakota County Commissioner | October 2025
Today, Dakota County is one of the safest counties of its size in the nation. Our neighborhoods are well-policed, our communities work together, and violent crime rates remain among the lowest 10% in the country. But it wasn’t always this way. From the 1800s through the mid-20th century, Dakota County had a reputation that could be described as “Wild West.” Gangsters, bootleggers, swindlers and even nationally notorious names like Jesse James, Ma Barker, and John Dillinger slipped through our countryside and river crossings. Five known or suspected serial killers left their mark here as well.I was recently invited to speak to a group of West St. Paul seniors about this darker side of our past. We called the presentation “Notorious Dakota.” The goal wasn’t to glorify crime but to remember the victims, recognize the courageous law enforcement officers and citizens who stood up in dangerous moments, and to see how far our county has come.
Here are a few examples:Minnesota’s oldest murder mystery – In 1839, well-known St. Paul pioneer John Hays disappeared after traveling to the Dakota County side of the Mississippi River. All evidence pointed to his business partner, Edward Phalen – namesake of Phalen Boulevard – but Phalen was acquitted. A Dakota warrior from Kaposia Village in South St. Paul later made a deathbed confession, but historians to this day still finger Phalen for the crime.The James Gang’s secret ride – In August 1876, Jesse and Frank James rode quietly from Mendota through Eagan, even stopping at a local farmer’s property for water and a shortcut. Just days later, they attempted the famous Northfield bank robbery, foiled by brave local citizens.Dakota County’s first fallen officer – In 1894, Hastings Police Officer Albert Jacobson was shot and killed while chasing a burglary suspect. Another officer, Edward Schwartz, relentlessly pursued the killer by foot, under gunfire, and even by rowboat before capturing him. Jacobson’s sacrifice left behind a five-year-old son, who later grew up to serve as Hastings chief of police. His story is a reminder of the real dangers faced by officers of every generation.South St. Paul’s Prohibition days – During the 1920s, more than 90 of South St. Paul’s 107 bars continued serving liquor, despite the nationwide ban. Bootleggers used phone signals, window shades and even underground copper tubing beneath Concord Street to stay ahead of federal agents. The Moonshine King of Dakota County, George “Doc” Freiermuth, disguised deliveries as “medicine” and never got caught. His daughters weren’t so lucky. They were arrested, but a photo of them posing with distilling equipment and firearms made them famous nationwide. Today, their photo is displayed at the Mob Museum in Las Vegas.Gangsters close to home – John Dillinger, America’s most wanted criminal, was chased by Dakota County deputies from Hastings to Inver Grove Heights in 1934. He crossed the Rock Island Swing Bridge so far ahead of his pursuers that he reportedly stopped to pay the 3-cent toll. Dillinger then kidnapped a South St. Paul family but released them unharmed after buying them a soda. Around the same time, the Barker Gang, led by Ma Barker, was hiding out at a modest home on Robert Street in West St. Paul.The Great Train Robbery of 1977 – For decades, Inver Grove Heights had a handshake deal with the Chicago & North Western Railroad: the city’s fire department put out summer grass fires caused by the railroad, then billed the railroad in the fall. The railroad paid just fine until 1977, when letters and calls went unanswered. Finally, the city’s mayor – a young man who grew up in West St. Paul – told the city attorney he’d call the railroad’s lawyer himself. The railroad lawyer’s response was “Go [screw] yourself.” A few days later, the mayor directed the fire chief to park rigs across the tracks, blocking a fully loaded train. When word got back to Chicago, the furious railroad lawyer called the city attorney, who told him to call the mayor directly. When he did, the mayor gave him the same advice the railroad lawyer had offered a week earlier. Two days later, the railroad paid its bill and there were no further problems. This is one of my favorite stories about Mayor Gene Atkins. While holding rail cars hostage was then and is now a federal crime, the statute of limitations passed without my dad’s arrest. Coincidentally, the fire chief who carried out the effort was Scott McLean. Years later, I married his daughter. This remains one of our favorite family stories.Alongside these events are the chilling accounts of serial killers whose crimes reached into Dakota County. Joseph Ture, Herman Laube, Donald Blom, and others remind us that evil has passed through our communities. But what each case also shows is the dogged determination of law enforcement to bring killers to justice.Taken together, these Notorious Dakota stories remind us of two things: first, that our communities are not immune from danger; and second, we are immeasurably safer today because of the steady, often quiet, work of public safety personnel and engaged citizens. They have transformed this county from a place once known for notorious headlines into one of the safest counties in the United States. We owe them our thanks – not only for the risks they take each day but for the generations of work that built today’s safety.Commissioner Joe Atkins represents South St. Paul, West St. Paul, and Inver Grove Heights on the Dakota County board of commissioners. He welcomes questions and feedback at [email protected] or 651-438-4430…