Earl Tracy: Healer or Con Artist?

​Museum Staff. "Earl Tracy: Healer or Con Artist?" In The Midst Of, Cokato Historical Society (February, 2023) vol. 43 no. 1.

Earl Tracy with his mother Emma.

​In the 1930s, people from all across the nation flocked to Cokato to be healed by a man named Earl Tracy. Although many would claim he was a good man and a talented healer, others saw him a womanizer and a con artist.  

Earl Tracy was born to John and Emma Tracy of Cokato on November 7, 1886. Earl grew up in a ramshackle house on East Third Street (just west of today’s post office). From an early age Tracy allegedly showed signs of his gift for healing, however, it was not till late in life that he took it up as a profession. Earl was a handsome young man, with dark hair and sparkling brown eyes. He was charismatic, soft-spoken, and spoke both Swedish and English (which was typical of many Cokato residents in his era). While living with his parents, Earl began working for his father at the family hardware store, and later as a clerk at the Titrud Bros Hardware Store. As Earl grew into a young man, his reputation with women led many local families to warn their daughters away from him. Eventually, Earl did end up settling down and getting married—five different times.

Earl married his first wife, Lillian Schmitz of Brown Valley, in March of 1915. He and his new bride moved to Sheyenne, North Dakota, where Earl worked in a pool hall. When World War I broke out, Earl joined the army. Once the war ended and he was discharged, Earl moved to Minneapolis and began his career in healing. Although he initially worked in connection with St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Earl never claimed that his abilities were tied to any faith. He would simply heal by laying his hands on someone, or refer them to a medical professional. He also never went by the title doctor.

Throughout his career as a healer, Earl traveled all over the nation and other parts of the world. He was based for a time in New York and Chicago. He met millionaires, celebrities, criminals, and even royalty. He briefly left the healing business in 1928, when Earl became a partner of Tracy-Dahl Co., a playground manufacturing business. The venture did not last long, however, and Earl moved back to Cokato in 1932 to restart his healing practice.

Earl Tracy home on Fourth Street.

Shortly after arriving, Earl purchased the home of N. E. Berg on Fourth Street and began the process of adding on. The house soon became a combination of colonial and Spanish design, with 17 rooms (see photo). As soon his practice opened, droves of people from all across the nation came to see him. More than one account tells of long lines 

​wrapped around the city block. During a time when the Great Depression was squeezing the life out of many communities, Cokato persevered partially due to the business brought into town by Earl Tracy. Reputed for being generous, Earl never charged for his services, instead relying on freewill donations.

On Christmas Day in 1938, Earl passed away suddenly after a brief bout of pneumonia. He was survived by his wife Gudrun and his daughter, who was born after his passing.

So, was Earl Tracy a healer, a scoundrel, or a bit of both? We will leave it up to you to decide.

Earl Tracy Musical