2/12/2011:
Anti-Semitism has been around for centuries, and it appears that Territorial Governor Louis K. Church may have been guilty of it. The Fargo Argus, quoting an Aberdeen newspaper of this date in 1888, stated that Lazarus Menszheimer, who was on the board of the Territorial Asylum in Jamestown, was asked to resign. In their words, the Good Christian Governor discovered that Mr. Menszheimer’s remote ancestors had something to do with the crucifixion of the Savior so his resignation was requested, but that the governor had no fault with Mr. Menszheimer personally. Although this was unsubstantiated, Gov. Church was further quoted as saying that he planned on looking into the character and standing of the remote ancestors for all his officials — perhaps the beginning of a territorial purge.
Dakota Datebook written by Jim Davis
Source: (Fargo) Daily Argus February 15, 1888.