Very, fortunately, we escaped the tornado of last Friday, although one of the hardest storms that we have ever had, accompanied by rain and hail struck this place on that day at about 3 o’clock P.M., lasting about one hour, during which the railroad stockyards were struck by lightning and somewhat damaged. The tornado traveling in a south-easternly direction passed through the townships of Bird Island, Palmyra, Wellington, and Cairo, in this county, and as far east as New Ulm, in Brown County. The full extent of damage done in the county has not, as yet, been ascertained, but will probably be known in a few days. In Palmyra, the farmhouses of Ole Times and Briagle Tulloform and a large amount of loose property was swept away. The new large barn of John Mork and Alexander Johnson were destroyed. The new frame house, barn, and granary of Solomon Bergman totally destroyed and a number of others whose name we have not learned, have met with losses amounting to from $100 to $1000. In Wellington the houses of James Tompkins, Ed. Rodgers, Mike Murphy, Patrick Lavelle, Jas Larkins, and others have been swept away together with a large amount of household effects and farm property, also the houses of John Patrick and William Fahey were totally demolished, and a young child of John Fahey’s killed and his wife’s arm broken. Martin Welch was badly injured but will probably recover. In Cairo, the large new two-story framed building of Matthew Finley was blown clear from its foundations and pieces carried for over a mile. The oldest son, aged 12 years, was killed while herding cattle. About 35 head of stock in the herd were also killed, and a number of head belonging to Mr. Finley and others. A family of Germans consisting of Joseph Hollorer, wife and four children, were all killed with the exception of the youngest, a two-month-old baby, which was afterward found some distance from the house, having an arm and leg broken. So terrible was the power of this storm that every tree on the fine large groove surround the house was as completely stripped of every particle of bark as could have been done with a knife. The bodies of Joseph Hollover and wife when found had not a vestige of clothing upon them but their shoes. Wagons, reapers, and all movable property were carried in many instances nearly half a mile. From the many reports of suffering and loss of life, it may well be said that this has been the most disastrous cyclone ever known in this state. Signed Pontax
Editor’s Note: Martin Frank, son of Matthew Finley, son of John Fahey, Mr. Eckert and his son, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Hollover and four of their children, Child of Loomis, Lena Reitz and her son, and son of Werner all perished during the July 15, 1881 tornado.
Funeral services were held at 2:30 o’clock this Thursday afternoon at the Methodist church in Olivia for Chas. A. Heins, 80, of St. Paul and a well known former resident of Olivia, who died at Ancker hospital Monday, July 5.
The service was conducted by Rev. Harry M. Peterson and burial was made in the Olivia Cemetery. A short service was conducted at the Fred Johnston Funeral home in St. Paul this morning by Rev. Ernest Lowe, a former Olivia pastor.
Mr. Heins suffered a stroke about three weeks before his death
and his condition was serious. He had suffered a slight stroke about two years
previous, but had recovered and was enjoying fairly good health.
Chas. A. Heins was born Oct. 22, 1873 at Beaver Falls and was the son of the late P.W. Heins and Margaret J. Heins. He was four years of age when his parents moved to Olivia, where he attended local schools. He later attended Hamline University and the Curtis Business College in Minneapolis.
In 1887 he entered his father’s bank as a bookkeeper and three years later became vice president, a position he held until 1904 when he became president. He was also connected with the Heins hardware here until 1915. In 1904 he organized and became the president of the Canning factory, and was active in other organizations and in promoting the interests of Olivia
He became a member of the state militia in 1897 and for 11 years from 1901 to 1912, served as the first lieutenant. He also served as a sergeant during the Spanish-American war. He served on the village council for three years and was a member of the Commanders of St. Paul. He was the trustee of the local Methodist church many years ago.
Mr. Heins was united in marriage to Verna Cole in St. Paul on April 22, 1901, since 1925 the family has lived in St. Paul and in recent years Mr. Heins has retired from active work.
He is survived by his wife and one son, Carl, who is now a
chief petty officer in the Navy and stationed at Brooklyn, N. Y. He is also
survived by one brother, Warren H. Heins of Olivia.
Pallbearers at the funeral today were R. A. Brown, Glander
Hoaglund, L. P. Mahler, Gilbert Heglund, Lloyd Mehlhouse, Olivia and Dr. D. R.
Miller of Bird Island.
Midale – There passed away at his home in Midale James Peckinpaugh, one of the oldest and best-loved residents of Midale.
James Marion Peckinpaugh was born Nov. 24, 1857, at
Leavenworth, Indiana. In 1878 he married Harriet E. Sawyer, who survives him.
The family moved to Canada in 1912 and for many years Mr. Peckinpaugh was
engaged in the restaurant business in Midale. Last November Mr. and Mrs.
Peckinpaugh observed their sixtieth wedding anniversary. Of their four
children, only one, James of Winnipeg, survives. Marion, Mrs. F. A. Salstrom
died in 1923 and two children died in infancy.
Mr. Peckinpaugh was a devoted husband and a kind father as well as being a man who took a great deal of interest in the welfare of the community. The past few years he was mayor of Midale, a position he held at the time of his death. He was also a J.P.; president of the Midale Co-op Creamery Association, and secretary of the local I.O.O.F. lodge. He had been a member of the Odd Fellows for 45 years and had occupied several offices in the provincial lodge. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. M. Lee of the Norwegian Lutheran church on May 1. Pallbearers were: J. Fiury, W. Shippam, M. Mose, R. Berg, H. Lindbom and A. Carlson. Burial was made in the Midale cemetery.
Editor’s note: James Peckinpaugh was postmaster of Olivia
from 12 May 1897 to 20 Jan 1906. With the reorganization of Company H in May
1899, Captain Peckinpaugh took the command until 1901.
Capt. Samuel R. Miller, Aged 90, Died Monday, Funeral Rites
Today
War Veteran and Pioneer Attorney Dead
Olivia’s Oldest and an Esteemed Citizen Answers Last Bugle
Call on January 12th
S. R. Miller, Olivia’s oldest and an esteemed citizen, has passed away. His death occurred Monday morning at the family home in this village after an illness of about a year. Last winter he suffered a slight stroke which left him in an enfeebled condition since from which he never fully recovered. He was tenderly and lovingly cared for by Mrs. Miller, but owing to his advanced age, recovery could not be hoped for.
The funeral will be held this afternoon from the Methodist
church and all of Olivia will pay respect to his memory during the rites. An
account of the funeral will appear next week.
Samuel R. Miller was born in Mansfield, Ohio, January 17, 1841, and would be 90 years of age had he lived until next Saturday. His parents were of Scotch ancestry, his grandfather serving as a soldier in the Revolutionary War and died at the age of 100 years. He received his education in the district school and at Vermillion College and Wooster University, of Ohio. In April 1891, he enlisted in Company H, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer infantry for three months. After his discharge, he went to La Grange, Indiana and accepted a position as superintendent of the city schools, but in July 1862 he resigned his position and re-enlisted in Company C, 100th Indiana Volunteer Infantry for three years and served until the end of the war. He participated in more than forty engagements, including the Battle of Bentonville, where General Joseph E Johnson surrendered to General Sherman. For nearly two years he was in command of the Scouts, doing secret service with the army of the Mississippi reporting and attached to General Sherman’s headquarters. He was captured twice, but both times managed to escape. He held the position of First Sergeant until the close of the Vicksburg campaign when he was commissioned a lieutenant.
Following the war, he taught school for a time and then entered the University of Michigan and graduated from the law department in 1871, He began the practice of law at Lake City, Minn. with Col. C. A. Wood and was later appointed postmaster at that place. In 1874 he came to Renville county, locating at Beaver Falls, the county seat. He remained there until the county seat was moved to Olivia when he came to Olivia and has made this place his home since. He was elected and held the office of county attorney in the county several terms and he appeared as an attorney in five noted homicide cases here. In 1907, he retired from practice on account of the failure of hearing, but he continued to hold public office, being appointed as an examiner of titles and also as a court commissioner.
In 1897, he organized Company H, Third Minnesota Regiment National Guard at Olivia, and was largely instrumental in securing the Armory built at this place. In 1898, he organized Company H of the Fourteenth Volunteer Infantry for service in the Spanish-American War and entered the service with the company as its captain, remaining with the company until July 1898 when he was obliged to resign on account of defective hearing. He was a member of the G. A. R., the I.O.O.F., the A. F & A. M., president of the Olivia Board of education for 12 years.
Capt. Miller was twice married; in 1892 to Jennie M.
Frazier, deceased; and in 1912 to Mary C. Peterson, who survived him. He leaves
one son, Fr. Rockwood P. Miller of Detroit, Michigan, and one grandson, Howard
W. Miller.
Reference is made to the personal character of Capt. Miller
in an editorial in today’s Times, but we desire here to extend to the bereaved
widow and son, our sympathy and condolence, and to assure them that the sympathy
of the entire community goes out to them in their sorrow.
Last Obsequies for Beloved Olivia Mayor Held Thursday.
Large Crowds Attends.
The funeral of the late Henry H. Neuenburg, mayor of Olivia and one of the best-loved citizens of this county, was held from the home here last Thursday afternoon with service at the M. E. church and it was the most largely attended funeral held here in many years. All places of business were closed and the entire community cames to pay their last respects to the memory of their distinguished fellow citizen, who had been so suddenly taken from them. Large numbers came from all over the county as well as many relatives and friends from a distance. The church was filled to its utmost capacity for the services. After hymns by a quartet the prayer service was conducted by Rev. Nobbs of Renville after which Rev. W. S. Emery preached an eloquent and inspiring funeral sermons for the man with whom he had been so intimately associated in life, as a faithful member of his congregation, as a friend and a comrade in the military service.
The floral tributes were profuse and beautiful. The Odd Fellows lodge attended in a body in full regalia and conducted the services at the grave with Grand Chaplain Nobbs in charge. Among the relatives present at the funeral were Peter Shipman and son, Peter, Diedrich Pope and son, Raymond and wife and Mrs. Jacob Krenick of LeSueur Center, Jacob Neuenburg and family of Wabasso, Will and Otto Lindeman and families of New Avon, Mrs. N. B. Anderson of Redwood Falls, Frank Neuenburg and family, John Schleter and family, F. M. Schoemaker and family, Wm. Dreyer and family, Ed Schumacher and family, Chas. Clift and family, Mrs. Lou Lindeman and daughter, Ernest Lindeman and family, Mrs. A. H. Page and daughter, and Mrs. Martha Lindeman of North Redwood.
Posted: December 18, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Tornado published in the Bird Island Blizzard July 21, 1881
Very, fortunately, we escaped the tornado of last Friday, although one of the hardest storms that we have ever had, accompanied by rain and hail struck this place on that day at about 3 o’clock P.M., lasting about one hour, during which the railroad stockyards were struck by lightning and somewhat damaged. The tornado traveling in a south-easternly direction passed through the townships of Bird Island, Palmyra, Wellington, and Cairo, in this county, and as far east as New Ulm, in Brown County. The full extent of damage done in the county has not, as yet, been ascertained, but will probably be known in a few days. In Palmyra, the farmhouses of Ole Times and Briagle Tulloform and a large amount of loose property was swept away. The new large barn of John Mork and Alexander Johnson were destroyed. The new frame house, barn, and granary of Solomon Bergman totally destroyed and a number of others whose name we have not learned, have met with losses amounting to from $100 to $1000. In Wellington the houses of James Tompkins, Ed. Rodgers, Mike Murphy, Patrick Lavelle, Jas Larkins, and others have been swept away together with a large amount of household effects and farm property, also the houses of John Patrick and William Fahey were totally demolished, and a young child of John Fahey’s killed and his wife’s arm broken. Martin Welch was badly injured but will probably recover. In Cairo, the large new two-story framed building of Matthew Finley was blown clear from its foundations and pieces carried for over a mile. The oldest son, aged 12 years, was killed while herding cattle. About 35 head of stock in the herd were also killed, and a number of head belonging to Mr. Finley and others. A family of Germans consisting of Joseph Hollorer, wife and four children, were all killed with the exception of the youngest, a two-month-old baby, which was afterward found some distance from the house, having an arm and leg broken. So terrible was the power of this storm that every tree on the fine large groove surround the house was as completely stripped of every particle of bark as could have been done with a knife. The bodies of Joseph Hollover and wife when found had not a vestige of clothing upon them but their shoes. Wagons, reapers, and all movable property were carried in many instances nearly half a mile. From the many reports of suffering and loss of life, it may well be said that this has been the most disastrous cyclone ever known in this state. Signed Pontax
Editor’s Note: Martin Frank, son of Matthew Finley, son of John Fahey, Mr. Eckert and his son, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Hollover and four of their children, Child of Loomis, Lena Reitz and her son, and son of Werner all perished during the July 15, 1881 tornado.
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Posted: December 3, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Charles A Heins, Olivia Times July 8, 1954
Funeral at Olivia Today For C. A. Heins
Funeral services were held at 2:30 o’clock this Thursday afternoon at the Methodist church in Olivia for Chas. A. Heins, 80, of St. Paul and a well known former resident of Olivia, who died at Ancker hospital Monday, July 5.
The service was conducted by Rev. Harry M. Peterson and burial was made in the Olivia Cemetery. A short service was conducted at the Fred Johnston Funeral home in St. Paul this morning by Rev. Ernest Lowe, a former Olivia pastor.
Mr. Heins suffered a stroke about three weeks before his death and his condition was serious. He had suffered a slight stroke about two years previous, but had recovered and was enjoying fairly good health.
Chas. A. Heins was born Oct. 22, 1873 at Beaver Falls and was the son of the late P.W. Heins and Margaret J. Heins. He was four years of age when his parents moved to Olivia, where he attended local schools. He later attended Hamline University and the Curtis Business College in Minneapolis.
In 1887 he entered his father’s bank as a bookkeeper and three years later became vice president, a position he held until 1904 when he became president. He was also connected with the Heins hardware here until 1915. In 1904 he organized and became the president of the Canning factory, and was active in other organizations and in promoting the interests of Olivia
He became a member of the state militia in 1897 and for 11 years from 1901 to 1912, served as the first lieutenant. He also served as a sergeant during the Spanish-American war. He served on the village council for three years and was a member of the Commanders of St. Paul. He was the trustee of the local Methodist church many years ago.
Mr. Heins was united in marriage to Verna Cole in St. Paul on April 22, 1901, since 1925 the family has lived in St. Paul and in recent years Mr. Heins has retired from active work.
He is survived by his wife and one son, Carl, who is now a chief petty officer in the Navy and stationed at Brooklyn, N. Y. He is also survived by one brother, Warren H. Heins of Olivia.
Pallbearers at the funeral today were R. A. Brown, Glander Hoaglund, L. P. Mahler, Gilbert Heglund, Lloyd Mehlhouse, Olivia and Dr. D. R. Miller of Bird Island.
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Posted: December 3, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
James Marion Peckinpaugh, The Leader Post, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada May 17, 1939
J. M. Peckinpaugh Dies at Midale
Midale – There passed away at his home in Midale James Peckinpaugh, one of the oldest and best-loved residents of Midale.
James Marion Peckinpaugh was born Nov. 24, 1857, at Leavenworth, Indiana. In 1878 he married Harriet E. Sawyer, who survives him. The family moved to Canada in 1912 and for many years Mr. Peckinpaugh was engaged in the restaurant business in Midale. Last November Mr. and Mrs. Peckinpaugh observed their sixtieth wedding anniversary. Of their four children, only one, James of Winnipeg, survives. Marion, Mrs. F. A. Salstrom died in 1923 and two children died in infancy.
Mr. Peckinpaugh was a devoted husband and a kind father as well as being a man who took a great deal of interest in the welfare of the community. The past few years he was mayor of Midale, a position he held at the time of his death. He was also a J.P.; president of the Midale Co-op Creamery Association, and secretary of the local I.O.O.F. lodge. He had been a member of the Odd Fellows for 45 years and had occupied several offices in the provincial lodge. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. M. Lee of the Norwegian Lutheran church on May 1. Pallbearers were: J. Fiury, W. Shippam, M. Mose, R. Berg, H. Lindbom and A. Carlson. Burial was made in the Midale cemetery.
Editor’s note: James Peckinpaugh was postmaster of Olivia from 12 May 1897 to 20 Jan 1906. With the reorganization of Company H in May 1899, Captain Peckinpaugh took the command until 1901.
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Posted: December 3, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Samuel R Miller, Olivia Times, January 18, 1931
Capt. Samuel R. Miller, Aged 90, Died Monday, Funeral Rites Today
War Veteran and Pioneer Attorney Dead
Olivia’s Oldest and an Esteemed Citizen Answers Last Bugle Call on January 12th
S. R. Miller, Olivia’s oldest and an esteemed citizen, has passed away. His death occurred Monday morning at the family home in this village after an illness of about a year. Last winter he suffered a slight stroke which left him in an enfeebled condition since from which he never fully recovered. He was tenderly and lovingly cared for by Mrs. Miller, but owing to his advanced age, recovery could not be hoped for.
The funeral will be held this afternoon from the Methodist church and all of Olivia will pay respect to his memory during the rites. An account of the funeral will appear next week.
Samuel R. Miller was born in Mansfield, Ohio, January 17, 1841, and would be 90 years of age had he lived until next Saturday. His parents were of Scotch ancestry, his grandfather serving as a soldier in the Revolutionary War and died at the age of 100 years. He received his education in the district school and at Vermillion College and Wooster University, of Ohio. In April 1891, he enlisted in Company H, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer infantry for three months. After his discharge, he went to La Grange, Indiana and accepted a position as superintendent of the city schools, but in July 1862 he resigned his position and re-enlisted in Company C, 100th Indiana Volunteer Infantry for three years and served until the end of the war. He participated in more than forty engagements, including the Battle of Bentonville, where General Joseph E Johnson surrendered to General Sherman. For nearly two years he was in command of the Scouts, doing secret service with the army of the Mississippi reporting and attached to General Sherman’s headquarters. He was captured twice, but both times managed to escape. He held the position of First Sergeant until the close of the Vicksburg campaign when he was commissioned a lieutenant.
Following the war, he taught school for a time and then entered the University of Michigan and graduated from the law department in 1871, He began the practice of law at Lake City, Minn. with Col. C. A. Wood and was later appointed postmaster at that place. In 1874 he came to Renville county, locating at Beaver Falls, the county seat. He remained there until the county seat was moved to Olivia when he came to Olivia and has made this place his home since. He was elected and held the office of county attorney in the county several terms and he appeared as an attorney in five noted homicide cases here. In 1907, he retired from practice on account of the failure of hearing, but he continued to hold public office, being appointed as an examiner of titles and also as a court commissioner.
In 1897, he organized Company H, Third Minnesota Regiment National Guard at Olivia, and was largely instrumental in securing the Armory built at this place. In 1898, he organized Company H of the Fourteenth Volunteer Infantry for service in the Spanish-American War and entered the service with the company as its captain, remaining with the company until July 1898 when he was obliged to resign on account of defective hearing. He was a member of the G. A. R., the I.O.O.F., the A. F & A. M., president of the Olivia Board of education for 12 years.
Capt. Miller was twice married; in 1892 to Jennie M. Frazier, deceased; and in 1912 to Mary C. Peterson, who survived him. He leaves one son, Fr. Rockwood P. Miller of Detroit, Michigan, and one grandson, Howard W. Miller.
Reference is made to the personal character of Capt. Miller in an editorial in today’s Times, but we desire here to extend to the bereaved widow and son, our sympathy and condolence, and to assure them that the sympathy of the entire community goes out to them in their sorrow.
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Last Updated: April 9, 2020 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Neuenburg Rites A Sad Occasion, Olivia Times, September 4, 1919
Last Obsequies for Beloved Olivia Mayor Held Thursday. Large Crowds Attends.
The funeral of the late Henry H. Neuenburg, mayor of Olivia and one of the best-loved citizens of this county, was held from the home here last Thursday afternoon with service at the M. E. church and it was the most largely attended funeral held here in many years. All places of business were closed and the entire community cames to pay their last respects to the memory of their distinguished fellow citizen, who had been so suddenly taken from them. Large numbers came from all over the county as well as many relatives and friends from a distance. The church was filled to its utmost capacity for the services. After hymns by a quartet the prayer service was conducted by Rev. Nobbs of Renville after which Rev. W. S. Emery preached an eloquent and inspiring funeral sermons for the man with whom he had been so intimately associated in life, as a faithful member of his congregation, as a friend and a comrade in the military service.
The floral tributes were profuse and beautiful. The Odd Fellows lodge attended in a body in full regalia and conducted the services at the grave with Grand Chaplain Nobbs in charge. Among the relatives present at the funeral were Peter Shipman and son, Peter, Diedrich Pope and son, Raymond and wife and Mrs. Jacob Krenick of LeSueur Center, Jacob Neuenburg and family of Wabasso, Will and Otto Lindeman and families of New Avon, Mrs. N. B. Anderson of Redwood Falls, Frank Neuenburg and family, John Schleter and family, F. M. Schoemaker and family, Wm. Dreyer and family, Ed Schumacher and family, Chas. Clift and family, Mrs. Lou Lindeman and daughter, Ernest Lindeman and family, Mrs. A. H. Page and daughter, and Mrs. Martha Lindeman of North Redwood.
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