Olmsted County Minnesota
Genealogy and History
Obituaries and Death Notices
Dr. Atkinson
Dr. Atkinson of Chatfield, while hunting in the town of Eyota, Sunday, was shot
and died almost instantly. He was in a carriage, and his gun fell and was discharged, the contents entering his
right lung. [The Freeborn County Standard, 28 Sep 1881]
MARGARET BAILEY
The Chatfield (MN) News, Thursday, January 9, 1941
Extracted facts
-daughter of Samuel and Eunice Fuller
-born Nova Scotia, Dec. 22, 1865
-died at son Harry's home in Spring Valley, Dec. 24, 1940
-moved to Fillmore county with her parents at age 1 year, lived there the rest of her life.
-married George Bailey, Feb. 22, 1895.
-parents of six boys and three girls, one girl died as an infant. Son Harold killed in
WWI.
-surviving children: Elmer, William, Ralph, Harry, Ray, Myrtle, Eunice.
-husband died March 1926
-lived in Chatfield except last two years in Spring Valley.
Henry Beardsley
Mr. Henry Beardsley was caught in a threshing machine on the 8th, and so severely injured that he died within the following week. [21 Oct 1868, St. Paul Daily Pioneer]
James Carrick
James Carrick, a harvest hand in the employ of Samuel C. McElhaney, of Dover, Olmsted county, was drowned in the Whitewater creek, near St. Charles, on Saturday last, while attempting to cross the stream in a wagon. He was an Irishman aged about 35 years, and is supposed to have come lately from St. Louis, or some point in Illinois directly opposite. [24 Aug 1869, St. Paul Daily Pioneer]
Arthur Crofut
Arthur Crofut, a Rochester young man, fell from a train at Eyota and was killed.
[Lake Superior Review and Weekly Tribune, Oct. 24, 1887]
Thomas Davie
Brakeman Killed.
St. Paul, March 22 – A special to the Pioneer Press from Rochester, Minn., says. Thomas Davie, a brakeman on the Chicago & Northwestern road, was run over near Eyota today. Both legs were so crushed that amputation was necessary which proved fatal. His home was at Plainview, Minn. [Grand Forks Herald, Mar 23, 1893]
Captain Edwin Dunn
Rochester, Minn., July 9 – Capt. Edwin Dunn, of Eyota, died last night in an operation for hernia, at his home. He was 67 years of age, and was very prominent in state politics. He was a member of the state prison board, and also held several other offices. He served in the civil war in the Twenty-fifth regiment New York cavalry, and was mustered out as commissary. [Duluth News-Tribune, July 10, 1901]
IDA V. BOWERS EMERSON
Tuesday, 08 Oct, 1940, Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin
Extracted facts
-died at her home Oct. 7, 1940
-wife of O. H. Emerson, married June 1897.
-age 65 years old
-broke her hip 3 1/2 years ago
-born February 13, 1875, Viola township
-Mr. Emerson is a barber in Rochester
-Survivors: her husband; sons Donald, Arthur, Roy; daughters Mrs. Robert Raymond and Mrs. Frank
Geib. All of Rochester. Also Mrs. Orin J. Whitcomb, Ratom, N.M. (sister)
-Vine funeral home, burial Oakwood cemetery
Nels Flaa
OLMSTED MAN MET DEATH
In a Tragic Manner in Saskatchewan - Was Burned To A Cinder
The following letter from a member of the Royal Northwest Mounte Police of Landis, Canada, asking information in regard to a man by the name of Flaa, has been received by county authorities. Anyone knowing anything regarding this man will confer a favor by sending the information to teh Candadian official.
Royal Northwest Mounted Police, "C" Division, Battleford,
Landis, Petcht, March 22, 1915.
Dear Sir: -- I am writing you in regard to a man by the name of Nels Flaa. This man lived south of Palo,
Saskatchewan, on a homestead. On the 19th of March, in the evening, this man shot himself with a shotgun,
and he either set his shack on fire or else the wads from the shotgun started the fire. Anyway, the shack
was burned down and he was burned almost to a cinder, just some of his body remained. As far as I can find
out, this man has no relatives in this country, his nearest relatives being at or near Chatfield, Minn. I
wish you would try to locate one of the relatives and notify them of Nels Flaa's death. The man is buried
at Landis, Saskatchewan.
Yours sincerely,
Hoyt W. Schermuly,
Constable R. N. W. M. Police
[The Daily Post and Record, Rochester, Minnesota, April 5, 1915]
Johanna Gallavan
Johanna Gallavan, a lady over 70 years of age, who lived in Rochester with her son, died from the rupture of a
blood vessel on the night of the 10th. She seemed perfectly well up to that time. She lived but about five minutes
after the rupture. [22 Dec 1877, Minnesotian-Herald]
Gittlieb
Mr. Gittlieb of Farmington died yesterday at his home. He was 73 years of age, and was one of the oldest settlers of Olmsted county. [Minneapolis Journal, 23 Feb 1898]
Eliza M. Hall
THE STROKE PROVED FATAL
Mrs. S. B. Hall Passes Away Monday - Was Stricken Saturday Afternoon
The stroke of apoplexy which Mrs. S. B. Hall suffered Saturday afternoon proved fatal. She passed away at
5 o'clock Monday afternoon at the family home on West Zumbro street.
Eliza M. Vroman was born July 10, 1849, in Rome, N.Y., and there she spent her girlhood. January 8, 1874, she was married to S. B. Hall at Rome, and the young couple came immediately to Olmsted county, settling on the farm in Cascade township just northwest of the city. There they lived for many years. In the course of time, they built one of the first of the more substantial farm residences in Olmsted county. Their farm was one of the most widely known in this section of the state. A few years ago they moved to Rochester to take advantage of the greater conveniences of life in the city after their long period of country industry.
Saturday the fatal stroke came, and it was seen that hope could not be entertained for her recovery, and she passed into eternity at the hour stated. Besides the husband, who is bereft of the companion of his youth and his helpmeet through life, there are three children to mourn the loss of a true mother. They are Arthur J. Hall, residing on the old homestead; Mrs. John Perry of Gary, Ind., and Clarence E. Hall of Gary. They were all at their mother's bedside when the end came.
The funeral services are to be at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Rev. Southgate of the Congregational church will officiate. [The Daily Post and Record, Rochester, Minnesota, April 6, 1915]
REV. C. W. HARRIS
Extracted Facts
-age 75
-former Eyota resident, resided at Little Rock, Washington
-born in Sweden, Dec. 28, 1885.
-married Inez Randall, 1905.
-farmed near Eyota for 15 years before becoming a minister for United Brethren Church.
Parishes in Iowa and Minnesota.
-Retired and moved to Washington in 1940.
-wife died in 1954.
-Survivors: Mrs. Axel Boesen, Eyota (daughter); Mrs. August Steppat, Seattle, Washington (daughter),
1 brother, 2 sisters, 6 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren
[Winona Daily News, 11 Mar 1962]
W.H. Harris
NEGRO FALLS ON PAVEMENT
Athletic Trainer Suffers Stroke of Paralysis and Is Injured
W. H. Harris, a colored man from Iowa, who has been acting as athletic assistant to Fred Fulton here, suffered a stroke of paralysis this morning while in front of the Zumbro Hotel. He fell heavily to the pavement, striking on his head. The man was taken to the home of a colored friend, named Clay, and a physician summoned. Harris was in convulsions due to the stroke, but it was impossible to tell whether or not his skull was fractured from the fall. He died at 2:15 o'clock this afternoon. The man was a member of the Streator, Ill., colored lodge of Masons. [The Daily Post and Record, Rochester, Minnesota, April 5, 1915]
MELVIN HAVENOR
10 Oct, 1940, Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin
Extracted facts
-died in auto accident on Sunday
-funeral Oct. 11, 1940, First Evangelical Church.
-burial at Millett Cemetery, north of Spring Valley.
-Harkness funeral home
AARON HILL
WAR VETERAN AND PIONEER
Rochester, Minn., Jan 17 -- Aaron Hill, a veteran of the Civil war and a pioneer resident of Olmsted county, died last night at his home in Marion, paralysis being the cause of his death. He is well known throughout this part of the country, and was a member of Rochester lodge No. 21, A. F. and A. M. The Masonic order will have charge of the funeral, which will be held tomorrow. [18 Jul 1907 Duluth News-Tribune]
HOLDEN family
Diphtheria carried off last month six children out of ten of the family of Wm. Holden, of Haverhill township, Olmstead (sp) county. [Minnesotian-Herald, Feb. 23, 1878]
Rev. D. L. King
DIED FULL OF YEARS
Rev. D. L. King of Plainview and a Minnesota Pioneer
Rev. D. L. King, whose home was in Plainview, died Wednesday morning at the age of 81 years. He was an old resident of Olmsted and a history is truly connected with his life. He came to Olmsted county in October, 1854, and took land now known as the town of Kalmar. There he lived with his family until two years ago, at which time, on account of old age, he moved and made his home with his son, Rev. W. E. King of Plainview. His entire life has been one of usefulness in the Christian cause. For many years he was the only minister in this county. He was the man who preached the first sermon here, and also made the first appointment ever made by a minister in the county. His first ordination papers were filed in this county. He made the first appointment for religious services of any kind in Mantorville on Aug. 11, 1866*. He was also a delegate to the convention which framed the first state convention and was chosen and placed in the legislature. As to his immediate surroundings and standing at home can be seen by his being chairman of the first board of supervisors in Kalmar from 1861 to (illegible). He also held town offices of various kinds. The deceased was married to Miss Mary J. Whitcomb, of Butlers Point, Ill., Aug. 11, 1811 (?). His death leaves a mark of sadness over all old friends in Olmsted county, for he was a man much esteemed by all. The funeral was held to-day from his old home in Byron, the Rev. E. R. Lathrop of Hastings, preaching the sermon. A large concourse of people were present and followed the deceased to his last resting place.
*faded, not 100% confident of year
[05 Aug 1898, Minneapolis Journal ]
Emil Klein
HEAD CAUGHT IN WHEEL; FARMER FATALLY INJURED
Rochester, Minn., Sept. 7 – Emil Klein, a well-known farmer of Olmsted county, was fatally injured in a runaway today. He was thrown from his wagon, and his head went into a wheel and his scalp was entirely loosened, exposing his brain. His right shoulderblade and right arm were fractured. He was driving a pair of colts, which became unmanageable, and it was when they plunged into a ditch that he was thrown from his rig. His condition is critical. [08 Sep 1913, Duluth News-Tribune]
[The Daily Post and Record, Rochester, Minnesota, April 2, 1915]
USEFUL LIFE IS ENDED
The Death of Dr. Laura A. Linton - Passed Away April First
Dr. Laura A. Linton passed away Thursday night after months of suffering.
She was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, April 8, 1853. At an early age she moved with her parents to Pennsylvania.
In 1868 she came to Wabasha county and attended the Normal school at Winona. She completed her course in
the spring of 1873 and that fall entered the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1879 from the academic department.
The next year she taught in the high school at Lake City and then she attended the Boston School of Technology
for two years. In 1882 she taught at Galesburg, Ill., in Lombard College. In 1884 she began teaching
physics and chemistry in Central high school, Minneapolis, and there she was engaged for ten years.
In the fall of 1894 she entered Ann Arbor University and remained there two years. In 1896 she entered the University of Minnesota and graduated from the medical department in 1900. The same year she accepted a position at the Rochester State hospital where she remained until her death.
She was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church.
Dr. Linton is survived by her mother Mrs. Christianna C. Linton of Rochester; two brothers, Dr. W. B. Linton, Rochester, and Thos. H. Linton, Tacoma, Washington. She also leaves tow nieces, Laura and Isabella Phelps of St. Peter, Minn.
Funeral services are to be Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the state hospital.
For fifteen years Dr. Linton was a resident of Rochester, and while her time was largely
taken up in the practice of her profession at the state institution, she nevertheless found occasion to identify
herself with the social life of the city, and her friendships were sincere and numerous.
Hers was a busy life, a life of service in the teaching and medical professions, the hours of her days being ever
taken up with accomplishment. Her death brings to a close the truly remarkable career of a useful woman.
