Memorial Day, the day on which those who died in active military service are remembered, was not forgotten. Out of 22 veterans organizations in Fillmore, Houston and Mower Counties, including American Legions, VFWs, and the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston, the majority of organizations canceled their programs amid concerns relating to the coronavirus and social … [Read more...]
Memorial Day storms
According to Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge, at least three tornados were reported to have touched down in western Fillmore County on Memorial Day afternoon, the first confirmed at 1:39 pm. The first tornado appears to have started in Howard County, Iowa, traveling northeast through York Township, Minn. At least four farm sites sustained damage to buildings. The … [Read more...]
Harmony American Legion Auxiliary announces its Girls State selection
The Harmony American Legion Auxiliary is proud to announce that Hailey Lange has been chosen to represent Harmony at the 73rd annual Girls State program to be held June 9-15, 2019, at Bethel University in St. Paul. Lange is the daughter of Derek and Sandi Lange and Kim Kiehne, all of Harmony. She is currently a junior at Fillmore Central High and is also a junior member of … [Read more...]
Wedding plans thwarted by WWII
One of 97-year-old Marjorie Scott’s favorite memories of her fiance Robert Bowe was when the two of them would go out on Sunday nights. They didn’t go out on a fancy dates though. Instead, Marjorie and Robert would drive down to the small country schoolhouse where she taught, to start the fire in the stove so it would be warm for the students when they arrived the next … [Read more...]
Boys of ’61 camp in Spring Valley
As part of Spring Valley’s annual Loyalty Days observance, the Civil War reenactment group known as the “Boys of ‘61” camped in Spring Valley’s Spring Creek Park, and gave demonstrations of practices used by the soldiers during the Civil War. One especially popular part of their demonstrations was the cannon firing. Corporal Jason Grimm explained that he is a member of … [Read more...]
Thanks to our local keepers of history
In this special Memorial Day section, dedicated to those who served in our U.S. military, we honor Fillmore County’s men who served in the War of 1812. Fortunately, we have a wealth of knowledge residing at the Fillmore County Historical Center & Genealogy Library in Fountain, Minn. Her name is Debra Richardson, and she is the FCHC Executive Director. As I visited with … [Read more...]
Daniel Knight Babcock Lanesboro Cemetery
Daniel was born the son of Arnold and Abigail Babcock on 12 Jan 1795 in Cranston, Rhode Island. A cabinet maker and carpenter by trade, Babcock enlisted as a private in Captain William Lampson’s Company of the New York Militia. Auditor’s reports show he served from 7 Sep 1812 to 20 Sep 1812, from 3 Feb 1813 to 19 Mar 1813, and again from 28 Jul 1814 to 21 August 1814. A bounty … [Read more...]
Peter G. Benway Lenora Cemetery
Peter was born 17 Jan 1789 in New York. He never married. While few clues as to his ancestry are obtainable, it appears that his last name of BENWAY may be derivative of the surname Benoit, Benneway, or Bennewe - and likely is of French Canadian heritage. As a 25-year-old, Peter served as a private in Captain Samuel McMath’s Company of the New York Militia, enlisting on 28 Aug … [Read more...]
Nathan Blood Chatfield Cemetery
Nathan was born 26 Jul 1784 in Essex, Chittenden County, Vermont. He served as a teamster with the Vermont Militia. Nathan’s daughter Mary Ann was born in 1815, the last year of the war. By the 1850 Federal census, the Blood Family had settled in the village of Jay, Essex County, New York. With her husband Lyman Case, Mary Ann moved to Minnesota Territory in 1854 to reside … [Read more...]
Alvin Chrissey Chatfield Cemetery
Born in New York 26 Mar 1795, Alvin was one of ten children of Chrissey and Luthena Dutton, who were early settlers of Stamford, Fairfield Coutny, CT. The surname CRISSEY has various spellings, with Crissey and Cressey used interchangeably. The correct pronunciation is “CRESSEY.” On 16 Feb 1813 he enlisted as a private in Captain Charles Edward Tobey’s Company. While with the … [Read more...]