James Wakefield in hunting clothes with his dog. Wakefield was a member of the Minnesota State House of Representatives and Minnesota State Senate. He became the Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota and was a U. S. Congressman.
Portrait photograph of J. B. Wakefield. Wakefield was a member of the Minnesota State House of Representatives and Minnesota State Senate. He became the Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota and was a U. S. Congressman.
Jane Grey Swisshelm (1815-1884) was an abolitionist and advocate of women's rights. She ran the newspapers "The St. Cloud Visitor" and the "St. Cloud Democrat."
Jane Grey Swisshelm (1815-1884) was an abolitionist and advocate of women's rights. She ran the newspapers "The St. Cloud Visitor" and the "St. Cloud Democrat."
Jane Grey Swisshelm (1815-1884) was an abolitionist and advocate of women's rights. She ran the newspapers "The St. Cloud Visitor" and the "St. Cloud Democrat."
Alex Moore, one of the great founding fathers of Sauk Centre, in 1885. He constructed the first dam in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, which was destroyed in the ice breakup of 1860 but soon rebuilt using the power for the saw and grist mill.
Rev. William McKinley, 1834-1918. His obituary dated January 13, 1918 [newspaper not identified], reads: "Early Methodist Divine Dies at Home in Winona. Rev. William McKinley, dean of Minnesota Methodism, active as a lecturer, author and divine in various parts of the state since 1854, died late yesterday at his home in Winona, where he has lived since his retirement from active ministry ten years ago. Dr. McKinley was 84 years old and was known prominently throughout the Northwest as an author and preacher. In the Civil War he gained his early experience as a chaplain among the Union soldiers. His first pastorate was at Hastings, where he lived as boy on a farm. Subsequently he was pastor of Hamline Methodist Episcopal church of this city, Central Park church and of First Methodist Episcopal church of Minneapolis, besides serving as district superintendent of the St. Paul district. He was an intimate friend of Edward Eggleston, the famed minister-author, in whose church in New York city he served for a year. A native of Scotland, Rev. Mr. McKinley came to the United Sates in 1841 at the age of 7 years. The veteran Minnesota divine became well known as the able chronicler of Minnesota Methodism. In 1911 he published 'A Story of Minnesota Methodism.' Dr. Eggleston, in commenting on the work at the time of its publication, said: 'Dr. McKinley has succeeded in giving to the public an exceedingly vivid and interesting description of the early days of Minnesota, the social conditions and the leading personages in the settlements of that state.'
The book was the witnessing of one who knew and who saw the panorama of the days gone by in the Northwest.
This is what Dr. McKinley said about his landing in the state:
'When navigation opened on the Mississippi I took the first steamboat up the river and landed in Minnesota, April 13, 1855. The ice was not out of Lake Pepin so we left the boat at Read’s Landing. There was another boat at Red Wing to take the passengers to St. Paul and there were wagons to carry the women to the head of the lake. But with the 700 passengers, mostly men, there were not enough wagons to carry them and they had to walk. Rather than do this another young man and I decided to start overland to Faribault. We tramped all day across the prairie without anything to eat. Neither of us ever had done a day’s walking and before night we were used up, but stern necessity compelled us to trudge on. We saw no house nor signs of human habitation all day.'
In graphic descriptions Rev. Mr. McKinley wrote one of the most authentic accounts of early Minnesota, a book consulted frequently by historians and chroniclers.
The funeral services for the aged clergyman will be held at Winona on Tuesday."
Contributing Institution:
Minnesota Annual Conference United Methodist Church
This photograph shows St. Peter Civil War veteran William B. Stone in his uniform. He served as a sergeant in Company H of the Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Sergeant Stone died in St. Louis in 1862.
This photograph shows Civil War Capt. Asgrim K. Skaro, who was killed in the battle of Nashville in 1864. Skaro served in the Second and the Ninth Minnesota Infantry Regiments. He was one of the founders of St. Peter in Nicollet County in 1853.
This is a photograph of Nicollet County Civil War veteran Andrew Anderson, who lived in Granby Township, near Swan Lake. Anderson rose to the rank of corporal in Company H of the Fourth Minnesota Regiment, serving for nearly four years.
Photographs of Minnesota Volunteers, 1861 to 1866, from the Whitney Negatives, now owned by Edward A. Bromley, Minneapolis, Minnesota. A collection of mounted Cartes-de-visite (card photographs)-size portrait photos, with a few of larger size. Not all photos listed in printed index are present.
This is a photograph of Col. William Crooks in his army uniform. Crooks was the commander of Minnesota's Sixth Regiment of Volunteer Infantry until October 28, 1864.
Jacob Dieter is photographed in his Civil War uniform. He enlisted in 1862 and served in company F of the Ninth Minnesota Regiment. His family accompanied him to Fort Ridgely, Minnesota and returned home when his unit was sent to another location. Jacob Dieter was reported missing after the battle of Guntown. He had been captured by the Confederate forces along with twenty-six other Olmsted County men. The group was transferred to Andersonville Prison. On June 22, 1864, he wrote his last letter from Andersonville Prison. He jumped off a train while being transferred to another prison, but was re-captured. He died in Salisbury Prison in 1864 at the age of thirty-eight.
This photograph shows St. Peter Civil War veteran Benjamin Rogers in his uniform. He served in Company D of the Ninth Regiment of Minnesota Volunteer Infantry.
This is a photograph of Governor Henry Swift from St. Peter, Minnesota. Swift was the third Governor of Minnesota and served from July 10, 1863 to January 11, 1864.
This photograph shows Civil War veteran William C. Durkee in his uniform. The photograph was taken in Mankato, Minnesota. A note on the reverse states that he fought in the last battle of the Civil War at Palmetto Ranch, Texas. Durkee was a captain in the 62nd U. S. Colored Infantry Regiment, but had prior service as an enlisted man in other units.
This photograph shows St. Peter Civil War veteran Frank Y. Hoffstatt in his uniform. He rose to the rank of first lieutenant in Company E of the Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
Civil War musician Maximilian Hoefer, who was a member of the 19th United States Infantry Band, served as a Musician Second Class from October 13, 1864 until October 13, 1867. He was born in Luxembourg in 1847, and became a prominent businessman in St. Peter, MN.
This photograph, taken in St. Paul, Minnesota, shows Nicollet County Civil War veteran B. F. Sylvester in his uniform. He served as a first lieutenant in Company E of the Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment. A note on the reverse indicates that he was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga.
Portrait photograph of J. A. Kiester. Kiester was an early settler-lawyer, member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and Minnesota State Senate. He was also an Episcopalian, Freemason and Faribault County historian.
Eight page photograph album documenting the life of the Peck family of St. James, Minnesota. Images include portraits of the various Peck family members, as well as views of buildings in and around St. James. Buildings depicted include the St. James High School, the creamery and the Watonwan County Courthouse. There is an early image of the Mount Hope Cemetery. Also included are a number of images documenting the activities of the members of the local Grand Army of the Republic Post and Drum Corps.
Pierre Bottineau and G. A. Bracket chart the course westward for the Northern Pacific Railway in 1869. This photo also includes an Indian woman, two Indian men, and twenty-five railroad scouts. Photo of the expeditionary force was taken on the second day out.
This is a photograph of Rev. Aaron H. Kerr, 1819-1890. He was a Presbyterian minister in St. Peter from 1856 until 1878, except for service as chaplain of Minnesota's Ninth Infantry Regiment from 1862 until 1865. In 1878 he moved to Rochester to serve as steward of the State Hospital until 1890.
Studio portrait of Alois and Louisa Wemerskirchen, members of a well-known Shakopee family. Handwriting on reverse reads: "Louisa Wermerskirchen" and "Alois Wermerskirchen."
A oil painted portrait of Israel and Margaret Isralson. The side along Fred appears to have been cut, the bottom appears to be torn. There is water damage above on Anna.
Standing, left to right, are: Z. S. Gault, T. H. Frazier, and Henry Moll. Seated, left to right, are: G. S. Ives, George Noble, C. R. Davis, and Dr. G. F. Merritt. This photograph of prominent St. Peter men was taken in 1872.
Standing, left to right, are: Z. S. Gault, T. H. Frazier, and Henry Moll. Seated, left to right, are: G. S. Ives, George Noble, Charles R. Davis, and Dr. G. F. Merritt. This photograph of prominent St. Peter men was taken in 1872.
This photograph shows, from left to right: William Bickel, Gov. Horace Austin, and J. K. Moore, who was the editor of the St. Peter Tribune. Austin served as governor from January 9, 1870 to January 7, 1874.
This is a photo of William Carey Brown, who was born at Traverse des Sioux in 1854. Brown was graduated from West Point, becoming a Brigadier General by the time he retired.
This is a photo of William Carey Brown, who was born at Traverse des Sioux in 1854. Brown was graduated from West Point, becoming a Brigadier General by the time he retired. This photo was taken when he was a Cadet 4th Class.
Truman Smith, early member of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. Smith and his family came to St. Paul in 1851 from Vermont. He became a fruit and vegetable grower in 1858 after real estate and marble ventures. He was elected president of the Minnesota State Horticultual Society in 1873, the year the society became open to women members, and remained president until 1878. He was reelected in 1884-1885.
This is a photograph of Jeremiah C. Donahower, a St. Peter resident who served as the captain of Company E of Minnesota's Second Regiment of Volunteer Infantry from 1862 until 1864.
Portrait of Hiram Scriver, the first mayor of Northfield in 1876. He built the first stone structure in Northfield, the Scriver Building, which today houses the Northfield Historical Society. Today the Scriver Building is the oldest stone building in Northfield. In addition, Scriver ran the first dry goods store in Northfield.
Charles A. Wheaton, an early settler to Northfield. He bought all of John North's holdings when North nearly went bankrupt. Wheaton founded the Rice County Journal, now known as the Northfield News.
Martha Muir (Dieter) was born in Glasgow, Scotland on August 16, 1824. When she was about eighteen years old, she immigrated to the United States with her sister's family and settled in Ormo, Wisconsin. She married Jacob Dieter on July 21, 1859 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. She lost her husband during the Civil War and she died on January 17, 1904.
Clara Armstrong, 1878 graduate of Winona Normal School. Clara Armstrong was one of the educators sent to Argentina in 1883 to establish that country's school system.
Contributing Institution:
Winona State University, Darrell W. Krueger Library
Frances Armstrong, 1878 graduate of Winona Normal School. Frances Armstrong was one of the educators sent to Argentina in 1883 to establish that country's school system.
Contributing Institution:
Winona State University, Darrell W. Krueger Library
Frances Armstrong, 1878 graduate of Winona Normal School. Frances Armstrong was one of the educators sent to Argentina in 1883 to establish that country's school system.
Contributing Institution:
Winona State University, Darrell W. Krueger Library
This is a photograph of E. St. Julien Cox, the first mayor of St. Peter from 1865 to 1867. Cox was a captain in Company E of the Second Minnesota Regiment during the Civil War. He led volunteers to fight at New Ulm during the 1862 uprising. Cox served as judge of the Ninth Judicial District from 1876 to 1882.
This is a photograph of E. St. Julien Cox, the first mayor of St. Peter from 1865 to 1867. Cox was a captain in Company E of the Second Minnesota Regiment during the Civil War. He led volunteers to fight at New Ulm during the 1862 Uprising. Cox served as judge of the Ninth Judicial District from 1876 to 1882.
A head and shoulders portrait of Sarah B. Stearns as a young woman. Stearns was an advocate of women's suffrage and was the first woman to serve on the Duluth School Board.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
A cabinet photograph of two young men wearing fur coats. O. S. Myhre worked as a photographer in Sacred Heart from 1880-1882, before moving to Laverne, Minnesota.
E.J. and Isabel Lewis with son Fred Lewis in front of Lewis home in Sauke Centre, Minnesota. E.J. and Isable Lewis were the parents of Sinclair, while Fred is Sinclair's oldest brother.
Contributing Institution:
St. Cloud State University - Sinclair Lewis Collection
This photograph shows a very young John Hegfors and his wife, Kaisa Palkki, and their first child. In 1885, John designed a new water wheel and made repairs to the Palkki gristmill, which was built in 1878 by 18 of the first settlers in Thomson Township.
Portrait of Charles Y. Lacy, former Secretary of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society and second Professor of the Theory and Practice of Agrifculture at the University of Minnesota, 1874-1880.
Portrait of Professor William Robertson, early horticulturist and superintendent of the Northwest Experiment Farm, Crookston, and developer of a school of agriculture for that part of Minnesota.
Studio portrait of the five children of Gustavus Adolphus College President Matthias Wahlstrom. The children are posed for a portrait on a wicker divan.
A portrait of Georgia (McKee) Barrett, Herman, Minnesota, seated at a table holding flowers laid on the table. She is wearing a black dress with white lace bow at the neck. Taken at an unknown location.
Forest L. Pinney, one of the early settlers of the state, came to Minnesota in 1856 and located himself at Monticello and Anoka where he worked as a surveyor.
This photograph shows St. Peter Civil War Veteran Jeremiah C. Donahower, who rose to the command of Company E of the Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Jacoby of St. Peter. Mr. Jacoby was a very early resident of the community. He was a skilled photographer, who photographed many people, homes, and businesses in the St. Peter area.