Continuing on today where Daniel Dayton’s granddaughter, De Orra Dayton, (her father was Zara Dayton) left off last week. Once again, please note, this pioneer story was authored by my good friend, “Flip” (Brian Huggenvik. He has done an outstanding job, educating us about the challenges our forefathers faced as they tamed the wilderness of Fillmore County over a century … [Read more...]
Historic memories of Fillmore County – The Daniel Dayton family – The Ravine House… a pioneer life in Big Spring, Minn.
For the next several weeks we will be traveling on a journey that will take us far back into the history of Fillmore County, Minn. We begin our trek 3 1/2 miles northwest of beautiful Harmony, Minn. The year is 1855 and a family headed by Daniel Dayton has just arrived on the scene! Only one year before their arrival the Dubuque-St. Paul Trail had been established and Harmony … [Read more...]
Historic memories of Fillmore County The Lazy Dazy Spinrite Spinner
By Dianne Ruud As promised, today we are enjoying the third and final advertisement for the wonderful fishing lures once manufactured in Preston by the iconic, “Lazy Dazy Bait Company!” Large, bold letters spelling out the “DAZY SPINRITE SPINNER,” cover a big fish at the top of the advertisement! Beneath that phrase it says: “use for spinning, casting, fly rod, trolling.” … [Read more...]
Historic memories of Fillmore County Here is another historic advertisement for The Lazy Dazy Bait Company in Preston
By Dianne Ruud Today we are looking at the second advertisement for The Lazy Dazy Bait Company that was once a thriving business in Preston. This cool ad is done in green and white and makes use of every inch of the sheet to put the word out for the merits of the Lazy Dazy Lures. Bold, black letters state: “LAZY DAZY” is the “SUCCESSOR TO NATURE’S MINNOW” and that it, … [Read more...]
Historic memories of Fillmore County: Harvest for Fillmore County farmers is easier these days than 120 years ago
The picture this week is a good one. Found in Aaron L. Sleyster’s book of poetry, it accompanies a poem that simply “sings” with the excitement of harvest time long, long ago. And if you are wondering just where the picture was snapped, look at the tree covered hill in the top left corner of the photo. As you leave Preston on Highway 52 and look to your right, beyond “Corn … [Read more...]
Historic memories of Fillmore County Turbulent political times prevalent in Fillmore County during poet Aaron L. Sleyster’s stay in Preston
President Grover Cleveland was the only President to serve two, non-consecutive terms in office – 1885 to 1889 and 1893 to 1897. President Cleveland was the leader of the pro-business “Bourbon Democrats” who opposed high tariffs, Free Silver, inflation, imperialism, and subsidies to business, farmers or veterans. With that said, poet, Aaron L. Sleyster, took pen to hand and … [Read more...]
Historic memories of Fillmore County A lovely Methodist Church once stood on a hill in Preston, but where?
“Farewell To The Old Church” by Aaron L. Sleyster, 1893 When we think of the church on the corner, With a spire that points to the sky, And a bell that will send forth its music, With peals through the clear Sabbath sky,— Our hearts are rebounding with gladness; And we peer in the future, and see A modern and beautiful structure, That is—or so shortly … [Read more...]
Historic memories of Fillmore County A few more pictures from the Drury family photo album
Last week you met six of the eight children born to Joseph H. and Sadie (McNulty) Drury. However, I explained that the old photograph didn’t include three of the children - Pearl, Robert, and Donald. I searched our family photo albums and came up short finding any pictures of the three of them when they were children. But I did find three very nice pictures of them, as … [Read more...]
Historic memories of Fillmore County There were eight children born to Joseph H. and Sadie (McNulty) Drury
Last week we discussed the early days and history of the iconic furniture store in Fountain, Minn., Drury’s. Drury’s website www.drurysfurniture.com is excellent and includes the early history of the store as well as 11 awesome photographs! When you visit the website you will notice a charming, small picture of five young children. Reuben Drury, the founder of Drury’s, was … [Read more...]
Historic memories of Fillmore County: The history of Drury’s in Fountain, Minnesota, is an interesting one!
In last week’s column I invited you to take a short trip north on Highway 52 and encouraged you to visit the spectacular Fillmore County History Center in beautiful Fountain, Minn. Hopefully, many of you took the time to visit the awesome museum and enjoyed seeing the painting done by Aaron L. Sleyster – “The Dam Over The Root River,” which was located on the Root River in … [Read more...]