Spanish American War Record

A reception was given by Custer Post, G. A. R., in November 1899, to three Olmsted County returned volunteers in the Spanish War-Ed. Van Slyke, Frank Barbridge and Charles Huny. At a meeting of the post they were welcomed by the commander, J. A. Leonard, and speeches were made by Comrade C. Van Campen and Rev. Frank Doran. Interesting references to their experiences were made in reply by the guests of the evening, and a fine supper was enjoyed, served by the ladies of the Woman's Relief Corps.

The remains of Carl M. Thygeson, a Rochester young man who enlisted in the State of Washington, as a sharpshooter, and was killed at Manila, were brought home to Rochester and buried in March, 1900. He was honored with a funeral in which the Danish Brotherhood. Company D of the militia, Custer Post, G. A. R., and the Knights of Pythias participated.

The body of Guy L. Whitlock, a young man of High Forest, who died in the army in the Philippines, was brought home and buried from Stewartville in March. 1900. The funeral services were joined in by the Stewartville Drum Corps, the Stewartville squad of Company F, and comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic. Andrew Larson, a young man from Byron, of the regular army, was killed in battle in the Philippines, and his remains were brought home for burial in October, 1901. Members of Company F of the State militia of Rochester, attended the funeral and gave him a soldier's burial.

Several efforts have been made to keep up a militia company in Rochester, but not with permanent success. Such a_ company was organized in September, 1871, with J. P. Clelland as captain, D. A. Morrison as first lieutenant, and F. B. Van Dusen as second lieu tenant. The company died out.

In October, 1898, a company was formed. with George A. Van Smith as captain, Fred Ormond as first lieutenant, and Harry Doran as second lieutenant, and was mustered into the State service as Company H, Fourth Regiment, Minnesota National Guard. This organization was flourishing for several years, but was disbanded in 1906, when Fred Ormond, who had been captain several years, moved to the Pacific coast. The physically fit young men find all the exercise and drill that they want in baseball and football.

  Olmsted County |Minnesota AHGP 

Source: History of Olmsted County Minnesota, by Hon. Joseph A. Leonard, Chicago, Goodspeed Historical Association, 1910.