Hephzibeth, Woman of Iron

Hephzibeth stage set up

A Northern Minnesota Pioneer

A Central Figure in Duluth History and Lore

Hephzibeth Jewett Merritt was born on October 4, 1812. She married Lewis H. Merritt in January 1832 and came to Duluth for the first time in 1856, pioneering the forested wilderness with her husband and eight boys.  She was a central figure in local Duluth history and lore, and the matriarch of the Merritt family. She died in Duluth in April of 1906, at the age of 93.

Mesabi Iron Range - Found and Lost

The Merritt family is one of the most important families in the early history of Duluth and northeast Minnesota.. Most of their sons found employment in lumbering, surveying and shipping though their interests turned to iron ore shortly before 1890. By 1893, they had claims on a significant portion of the Mesabi Iron Range and had built the Duluth, Missabe and Northern Railway. Financial conditions forced them to give up most of their wealth to John D. Rockefeller.

 Her sons sealed the fate of northern Minnesota with their discovery of the Mesabi Iron Range, but it is in the troubled times following this discovery that Hephzibeth, Woman of Iron takes place.

Laurie Nickisch as her great-great-great grandmother Hephzibeth

On the day her sons lose the Mesabi to John D. Rockefeller, Hephzibeth, matriarch of the family at the age of 84, tries to shore up the spirits of her granddaughter, Ruth. She shares stories of her youth and her struggles of the early days in Oneota (now West Duluth) hoping to help Ruth through this time of crisis. Hephzibeth recounts a midnight cutter ride across the ice of St. Louis Bay to assist a sick neighbor many miles away. She tells of the impact Indians had on her life and how death affected her family. As the discovery of iron on the Mesabi is woven into her tale, the audience discovers the strength and courage that is Hephzibeth Merritt.

 A Great-Great-Great Granddaughter Mines History

The stories and facts used in this 90 minute play are historically accurate, researched by the author, Lauren Nickisch, who is Hephzibeth’s great-great-great-granddaughter through her son Leonidas. Nickisch also portrays the character Hephzibeth in this production. Nickisch is active in theater in the Brainerd Lakes area most recently directing Disney’s Beauty and the Beast for Pequot Lakes Community Theater. She has performed roles including Mama Rose in Gypsy, Miss Hannigan in Annie, and Hannah in Spitfire Grill. She has performed Hephzibeth, Woman of Iron across the state of Minnesota including such venues as St. Cloud State University, Central Lakes College, Northland Community College and New York Mills Regional Cultural Arts Center.

 Hephzibeth, Woman of Iron will be presented at Evansville Art Center, 111 Main Avenue, Evansville, MN 56326 on Saturday, April 23 at 7:00 p.m.  There is no charge for this event.  Donations are gratefully accepted.  Please join us for this one-woman play on this journey back into the history and pioneer days of northern Minnesota.

Learn more here.

 
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