Object of Soldier Organization is to Foster Americanism and Support Constitution.
During the past few weeks, there has been some talk of organizing a post of the American Legion at Franklin but no action has so far been taken. This is an opportune time to go into action. Posts have been organized in neighboring towns and the work is carried on with enthusiasm. There are more than sixty soldiers and sailors in the Franklin community and this number would make a strong post. There seems to have been some doubt as to what the American Legion is, what it stands for and its purposes. The membership of the organization is defined in its constitution and its purposes are set forth in the preamble. Article 11 of the Constitution is as follows: “All persons shall be eligible to membership in this organization who were in the military or naval service of the United States during the period between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, both dates inclusive, and all persons who served in the military or naval service of any government associated with the United States during the World war provided that they were citizens at the time of application, except those person separated from the service under terms amounting to dishonorable discharge, and except those person who refused to perform their military duties on the ground of conscientious objection.” The preamble to the constitution reads as follows: For God and Country we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of Amers; To maintain law and order; To foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism; To preserve the memories and incidents of our association in the Great War; To inculcate a sense of individual obligation of the community, state and nation; To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; To make right the master of might; To promote peace and goodwill on earth; To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom, and democracy; To concentrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.”
Above: Sacred Heart High School Viking 1967 & 1969 yearbook, which is a part of the Museum’s Yearbook Collection. Sacred Heart is our 2026 Featured Renville County City. RCHS is also looking for the school newsletters (the list of ones we have is below).
The most recent donation was for Hector yearbooks, which have been inventoried and added to the collection. The YEARBOOK Library Cart is organized by school name.
The goal of RCHS is to collect at least 3 copies of each yearbook for each Renville County school districts. One copy put away for permanent preservation, 2nd copy put away in case the 3rd copy disappears from the Research Library. Next to the yearbook dates in parentheses (#) is the number of yearbooks currently in the Museum’s collection (as of today, January 6, 2026). No ( # ) indicates only one single copy that is being used in the Research Library.
If you have yearbooks to donate, please contact Nicole at the Museum director@renvillecountyhistory.com or 507-697-6147! Yearbooks, plat books, and phone books are key pieces of preserving the history of who lived in the area and when.
That is okay if you are not ready to part with your yearbook. We can scan it and return it to you. Many of the yearbooks have been scanned into searchable PDFs.
Do you like looking at old yearbooks? We have a job for you. RCHS would like to start a database of Renville County graduates for future reference. We need your help. Data entry, attention to detail, typing skills, and some free time! We will train you, and this is a project you can do at home or at the Museum. Give me a call if you are interested. It is going to take a village to get this task accomplished. Nicole 507-697-6147 or info@renvillecountyhistory.com
Buffalo Lake The Laker: 1957 (3), 1958 (3), 1959, 1961 – 1966, 1968 – 1973, 1977 – 1987
Buffalo Lake – Hector Hoof Prints or Hoofprints: 1988-1994, 1995 (2); 1996 – 2008, 2010 (2) 2010 was the last graduation class for Buffalo Lake – Hector High School
Buffalo Lake – Hector Elementary: year unknown
Buffalo Lake – Hector – Stewart Hoofprints / Mustangs (BLHS): 2011 (2), 2012, 2014 – 2015, 2019
Franklin School Newspaper Atomite: 1948: Oct 6, Oct 20, Nov 3, Nov 17, Dec 1, Dec 15 1949: Jan 19, Feb 2, Feb 16, Mar 2, Mar 16 (cover only), Mar 30 1950: Oct 16, Nov 13, Dec 18 1951: Jan 29, Feb 26, Apr 23, May 28 1952: NO COPIES1953: NO COPIES1954: NO COPIES1955: Feb 10, Apr 28, May, Oct 27, Nov 17, Dec 22 1956: Jan 26, Feb 23, Mar 22, May 2, Nov 16, Dec 19 1957: May 22 1958: Feb 28 1959: Jan 23, Mar 20, Apr 30, May 22, Oct 21, Dec 18 1960: Jan 29, Mar 30
Franklin School Newspaper Tiger Beat: February 1970; May 26, 1972
Morton Tomahawk: 1907, 1915, 1917, 1938, 1940, 1944 (3), 1946 (2), 1948 (3), 1954, 1958 (2), 1960-1961, 1963, 1964 (2), 1965, 1966, 1967 (2), 1968 (2), 1969 (3), 1970 (3), 1971 (2), 1972 (2), 1973 (2), 1974-1979, 1980 (3), 1981, 1982 (3), 1983-1985. 1985 was the last year Morton had a graduating class.
Morton Blue & Gold School Newsletter: 1950: May 1953: Sep, Nov, Dec 1954: Jan, Feb & Mar, Apr, May, FINAL, Oct 29, Dec 1955: No Month, Feb, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec 1956: Jan, Feb, Mar & April, May, Oct, Nov, Dec 1957: Jan, Feb, Mar & Apr, May, Sep, Dec 1958: Jan, Feb & Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct 27, Dec 19 1959: Jan 30, Mar 19, Feb 25, Apr 24, May, Sep, Dec 1960: No Month, Jan, May, Oct 1961: No Month, Jan, Feb, Sep 1962: No Date, May 1963: Jan, May, Nov, Sep, Oct, Dec 1964: No Month, Jan, Feb, Oct, Dec 1965: Mar, Apr, Sep, Dec 1966: Feb, Mar, Oct 1967: Feb, Oct, Nov 1968: No Month, Feb, Mar 1969: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep 1970: No Month, Jan 1971: No Month1974: No Month 1985: May (LAST GRADUATION FOR MORTON SCHOOL)
Morton Smoke Signals School Newsletter: 1972: Feb 1973: Mar, Apr 6 1974: Jan 18, May 1, Sep 13, Sep 27, Dec, Dec 19 1975: Jan 17, Feb 7, Mar 21, May 1, May 5, Sep 16, Oct, Oct 2 1976: Feb, Apr, Apr 23, May, May 17 1977: Mar, Mar 29, May, May 2 1978: Sep 29 1979: Mar, Sep, Oct 30, Nov, Dec 21 1980: Jan 31, Feb, Mar 28 1985: Feb
Morton Elementary School: 1995 (last year Morton had an elementary school, they combined with Redwood Valley for 1996 school year and the school was permanently closed)
The following is an excerpt from the 1949 Hector Mirror:
Another step in modernizing the nation’s agricultural industry has been begun with the building of a four-row corn combine by J.R. Dvorak, owner of the Dvorak Machine Shop in Cosmos. Mr. Dvorak put his machine into operation for the first time last week on the Leonard and Lloyd Freberg farm, 13 miles southwest of Cosmos, and from all reports, it is living up to its expectations 100 percent. The hug machine weighs over 14 tons with a 225-bushel load of shelled corn in its tank and is self-propelled by 113 horsepower diesel engine. It is run by one man, who can easily pick and shell 30 acres of corn in a single day and having combined 2 1/2 carloads of white corn in 36 hours. This proves to be quite a contrast to the present single and two-row pickers which can only move through 7 and 14 acres, respectively, on a good day. Then after the corn is p8icked it must be hauled to the storage bins until a sheller can be obtained to finish the job. Dvorak’s machine combines all of this work in a single operation and leaves the cobs right in the field where the work is done. Reportedly, there is only one other corn combine in the United States. That one is owned by John Eyestone, an Ohio farmer, whom Dvorak contacted before beginning his work. Both Dvorak and Freberg were well pleased with the combine on its trial run. No breakdowns were encountered during the breaking-in period and Leonard Freberg stated that he expected the machine to be a “great time saver” for the farmer. Dvorak feels that it is the “coming way of harvesting corn” and may revolutionize the corn-raising industry. Over its trial period, the machine ran on 17 gallons of diesel oil daily or approximately two dollars per day. It had attracted many interested visitors during the entire building period, which covered a four-month span of time, and now that the machine is in operation still more inquirers are coming to the Freberg farm every day.
Editor’s Note: The Freberg 4-Row Corn Combine is on exhibit each year at the Renville County Fair. Stop by Building # 4 for more information.
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.
Last Updated: January 3, 2020 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
American Legion and Its Purposes published in the Franklin Tribune September 18, 1919
Object of Soldier Organization is to Foster Americanism and Support Constitution.
During the past few weeks, there has been some talk of organizing a post of the American Legion at Franklin but no action has so far been taken. This is an opportune time to go into action. Posts have been organized in neighboring towns and the work is carried on with enthusiasm. There are more than sixty soldiers and sailors in the Franklin community and this number would make a strong post.
There seems to have been some doubt as to what the American Legion is, what it stands for and its purposes. The membership of the organization is defined in its constitution and its purposes are set forth in the preamble.
Article 11 of the Constitution is as follows: “All persons shall be eligible to membership in this organization who were in the military or naval service of the United States during the period between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, both dates inclusive, and all persons who served in the military or naval service of any government associated with the United States during the World war provided that they were citizens at the time of application, except those person separated from the service under terms amounting to dishonorable discharge, and except those person who refused to perform their military duties on the ground of conscientious objection.”
The preamble to the constitution reads as follows: For God and Country we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of Amers; To maintain law and order; To foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism; To preserve the memories and incidents of our association in the Great War; To inculcate a sense of individual obligation of the community, state and nation; To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; To make right the master of might; To promote peace and goodwill on earth; To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom, and democracy; To concentrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.”
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Last Updated: March 13, 2026 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
We NEED Renville County School Yearbooks (Annuals)! UPDATED 3/13/2026
Above: Sacred Heart High School Viking 1967 & 1969 yearbook, which is a part of the Museum’s Yearbook Collection. Sacred Heart is our 2026 Featured Renville County City.
RCHS is also looking for the school newsletters (the list of ones we have is below).
The most recent donation was for Hector yearbooks, which have been inventoried and added to the collection. The YEARBOOK Library Cart is organized by school name.
The goal of RCHS is to collect at least 3 copies of each yearbook for each Renville County school districts. One copy put away for permanent preservation, 2nd copy put away in case the 3rd copy disappears from the Research Library. Next to the yearbook dates in parentheses (#) is the number of yearbooks currently in the Museum’s collection (as of today, January 6, 2026). No ( # ) indicates only one single copy that is being used in the Research Library.
If you have yearbooks to donate, please contact Nicole at the Museum director@renvillecountyhistory.com or 507-697-6147! Yearbooks, plat books, and phone books are key pieces of preserving the history of who lived in the area and when.
That is okay if you are not ready to part with your yearbook. We can scan it and return it to you. Many of the yearbooks have been scanned into searchable PDFs.
Do you like looking at old yearbooks? We have a job for you. RCHS would like to start a database of Renville County graduates for future reference. We need your help. Data entry, attention to detail, typing skills, and some free time! We will train you, and this is a project you can do at home or at the Museum. Give me a call if you are interested. It is going to take a village to get this task accomplished. Nicole 507-697-6147 or info@renvillecountyhistory.com
Visit our Facebook Page for featured yearbooks.
Yearbooks in the Research Library
Belview Danube Renville Sacred Heart (BDRSH): NO YEARBOOKS
Bird Island – St. Mary’s: The Blue Mantle: 1958 (2). 1959 (2)
Bird Island – The Blue Mantle School Newsletter: 1958
Bird Island – St. Mary’s: The Marion: 1960, 1962-1963, 1965 (2)
Bird Island Panthers: 1950-1951, 1955 (3), 1956 (3), 1959, 1960, 1962, 1965-1968
Bird Island – Lake Lillian: 1978, 1981, 1983-1984, 1986-1989
BOLD High School: 1992-1995, 2000-2003
Buffalo Lake Breezette: 1946, 1948, 1949 (3), 1950 (3), 1951 (3), 1952 (3), 1953 (2), 1955 (3), 1956 (3)
Buffalo Lake The Laker: 1957 (3), 1958 (3), 1959, 1961 – 1966, 1968 – 1973, 1977 – 1987
Buffalo Lake – Hector Hoof Prints or Hoofprints: 1988-1994, 1995 (2); 1996 – 2008, 2010 (2)
2010 was the last graduation class for Buffalo Lake – Hector High School
Buffalo Lake – Hector Elementary: year unknown
Buffalo Lake – Hector – Stewart Hoofprints / Mustangs (BLHS): 2011 (2), 2012, 2014 – 2015, 2019
Cedar Mountain: 1984, 2000 – 2003, 2016
Danube Falcons: 1951 – 1952, 1954 – 1955, 1957, 1962, 1964, 1967, 1971 – 1974, 1977 – 1979, 1982
Danube Renville Sacred Heart (DRSH): NO YEARBOOKS
Fairfax Eagles: 1917, 1923, 1956 – 1957, 1959, 1962, 1965 (2), 1970, 1981-1983
Franklin Atoms: 1948-1949, 1950 (digital copy only), 1958-1960, 1963 – 1966, 1969 (2), 1970, 1971 (3); 1972 (3); 1973 (2); 1974 (3); 1975 (3); 1976 (4); 1977 (2); 1978 (2); 1979 (2); 1980-1982; 1983 (2)
Franklin School Newspaper Atomite: 1948: Oct 6, Oct 20, Nov 3, Nov 17, Dec 1, Dec 15 1949: Jan 19, Feb 2, Feb 16, Mar 2, Mar 16 (cover only), Mar 30 1950: Oct 16, Nov 13, Dec 18 1951: Jan 29, Feb 26, Apr 23, May 28 1952: NO COPIES 1953: NO COPIES 1954: NO COPIES 1955: Feb 10, Apr 28, May, Oct 27, Nov 17, Dec 22 1956: Jan 26, Feb 23, Mar 22, May 2, Nov 16, Dec 19 1957: May 22 1958: Feb 28
1959: Jan 23, Mar 20, Apr 30, May 22, Oct 21, Dec 18 1960: Jan 29, Mar 30
Franklin School Newspaper Tiger Beat: February 1970; May 26, 1972
Gibbon – Fairfax – Winthrop (GFW): No Yearbooks
Hector High School: 1915 (2)
Hector Hectorian: 1948, 1952 – 1959, 1961 (3), 1962, 1963 (2), 1964 (2,) 1966, 1975, 1979 – 1987
Morton Tomahawk: 1907, 1915, 1917, 1938, 1940, 1944 (3), 1946 (2), 1948 (3), 1954, 1958 (2), 1960-1961, 1963, 1964 (2), 1965, 1966, 1967 (2), 1968 (2), 1969 (3), 1970 (3), 1971 (2), 1972 (2), 1973 (2), 1974-1979, 1980 (3), 1981, 1982 (3), 1983-1985. 1985 was the last year Morton had a graduating class.
Morton Blue & Gold School Newsletter:
1950: May 1953: Sep, Nov, Dec 1954: Jan, Feb & Mar, Apr, May, FINAL, Oct 29, Dec 1955: No Month, Feb, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec 1956: Jan, Feb, Mar & April, May, Oct, Nov, Dec 1957: Jan, Feb, Mar & Apr, May, Sep, Dec 1958: Jan, Feb & Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct 27, Dec 19 1959: Jan 30, Mar 19, Feb 25, Apr 24, May, Sep, Dec 1960: No Month, Jan, May, Oct 1961: No Month, Jan, Feb, Sep
1962: No Date, May 1963: Jan, May, Nov, Sep, Oct, Dec 1964: No Month, Jan, Feb, Oct, Dec 1965: Mar, Apr, Sep, Dec 1966: Feb, Mar, Oct 1967: Feb, Oct, Nov 1968: No Month, Feb, Mar 1969: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep 1970: No Month, Jan 1971: No Month 1974: No Month
1985: May (LAST GRADUATION FOR MORTON SCHOOL)
Morton Smoke Signals School Newsletter: 1972: Feb 1973: Mar, Apr 6 1974: Jan 18, May 1, Sep 13, Sep 27, Dec, Dec 19 1975: Jan 17, Feb 7, Mar 21, May 1, May 5, Sep 16, Oct, Oct 2 1976: Feb, Apr, Apr 23, May, May 17 1977: Mar, Mar 29, May, May 2 1978: Sep 29 1979: Mar, Sep, Oct 30, Nov, Dec 21 1980: Jan 31, Feb, Mar 28 1985: Feb
Morton Elementary School: 1995 (last year Morton had an elementary school, they combined with Redwood Valley for 1996 school year and the school was permanently closed)
Olivia Crucible: 1912, 1916, 1917
Olivia High School: O-HI-AN 1924, 1949-1951, 1957-1959, 1962 Wildcats 1963, 1964-1965, 1967, 1972, 1974-1975, 1977
Redwood Falls High School Cardinal: 1977, 1981-1983, 1984 (Morton & Redwood Schools combined in 1986)
Redwood Valley Cardinal: 1985 (2), 1987, 1990-1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2009
Renville County West (RCW): No Yearbooks
Renville the Renvillon: 1931 (2), 1939, 1941 – 1947, 1949, 1950 – 1954, 1964 – 1977, 1978 (2), 1984
Renville Sacred Heart Raiders (RSH): 1981, 1983, 1986-1988
Sacred Heart Viking: 1967 – 1972, 1977-1978
Please contact Nicole at 507-697-6147 if you can add to the yearbook collection!
Last Updated: December 31, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Freberg Four Row Corn Combine
The following is an excerpt from the 1949 Hector Mirror:
Another step in modernizing the nation’s agricultural industry has been begun with the building of a four-row corn combine by J.R. Dvorak, owner of the Dvorak Machine Shop in Cosmos.
Mr. Dvorak put his machine into operation for the first time last week on the Leonard and Lloyd Freberg farm, 13 miles southwest of Cosmos, and from all reports, it is living up to its expectations 100 percent.
The hug machine weighs over 14 tons with a 225-bushel load of shelled corn in its tank and is self-propelled by 113 horsepower diesel engine. It is run by one man, who can easily pick and shell 30 acres of corn in a single day and having combined 2 1/2 carloads of white corn in 36 hours.
This proves to be quite a contrast to the present single and two-row pickers which can only move through 7 and 14 acres, respectively, on a good day. Then after the corn is p8icked it must be hauled to the storage bins until a sheller can be obtained to finish the job. Dvorak’s machine combines all of this work in a single operation and leaves the cobs right in the field where the work is done.
Reportedly, there is only one other corn combine in the United States. That one is owned by John Eyestone, an Ohio farmer, whom Dvorak contacted before beginning his work.
Both Dvorak and Freberg were well pleased with the combine on its trial run. No breakdowns were encountered during the breaking-in period and Leonard Freberg stated that he expected the machine to be a “great time saver” for the farmer.
Dvorak feels that it is the “coming way of harvesting corn” and may revolutionize the corn-raising industry.
Over its trial period, the machine ran on 17 gallons of diesel oil daily or approximately two dollars per day.
It had attracted many interested visitors during the entire building period, which covered a four-month span of time, and now that the machine is in operation still more inquirers are coming to the Freberg farm every day.
Editor’s Note: The Freberg 4-Row Corn Combine is on exhibit each year at the Renville County Fair. Stop by Building # 4 for more information.
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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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