Former Marquette County Cornish wrestler Dick Johns is seen on the far right, with other wrestlers pictured. He was declared lightweight Cornish style champion of the world in 1921 and later served as Marquette County mine inspector. (Photo courtesy of the Marquette Regional History Center)

Editor’s note: This work was adapted from an article by area historian Fred Rydholm in the Winter 1984 issue of “Harlow’s Wooden Man.”

Wrestling has been as sport as far back as civilization can be traced. While we most often hear of Greco-Roman and Sumo styles, there were actually many different varieties over the centuries including Freestyle, Folkstyle, French, Irish, Lancashire, Devonshire and Cornish wrestling.

Cornish wrestling arrived in the Upper Peninsula when the Cornish miners arrived to work in the iron and copper mines, with the largest migrations occurring in the 1860s, 1870s, and 1880s.

Cornish wrestlers were typically small in stature but very muscular. The highest weigh class was under 180 pounds with other classes under 160 and 140 pounds. Wrestlers were barefoot and wore knee breeches or trunks and regulation canvas Cornish wrestling jackets which were loose fitting with two ropes across the front and sleeves 18-22 inches long. The bouts usually took place on grass or on a three inch deep ring of sawdust 40 feet in diameter.

The object was to throw the opponent to the ground on his back. No strangle holds or holds below the waist were allowed. A fall consisted of three points to the mat at once, either two hips and a shoulder or two shoulders and a hip. A rolling three points did not count as a fall. The judge or referee was called a “stickler.” Two falls out of three decided the match unless otherwise specified.

Tournaments were held throughout the Upper Peninsula and often included cash prizes (and significant bragging rights). The first recorded tournament was held July 3-5, 1875 in Negaunee with prizes ranging from $10-$40. There were 64 entrants and at least 500 spectators. In 1887, a $100 purse went to Evan Lewis who defeated Harry James in a three out of five bout in Marquette. That tournament also lasted three days.

A notable match was held in Ishpeming on July 20, 1907 between Alf Davey and John Shea. Although it has since been surpassed, for many years it held the record as the longest wrestling match in history, lasting 11 ½ hours before the first fall.

Cornish wrestling remained a part of Upper Peninsula sports culture with it’s heyday in the late 1910s and very early 1920s. The end came fairly quickly, by the late 1920s the larger tournaments had ceased, although there were still some wrestling at local picnics and 4th of July celebrations.

The last known bout ever held in Marquette County was an exhibition by the now fairly elderly former wrestlers staged during the 100th anniversary of the discovery of iron ore at the Iron Ore Centennial Pageant in Negaunee in 1944.