Compiled by Linda Balk, Research Librarian. Editor’s Note: The soldiers’ names in red have their local American Legion post named for them. We have not found any name on the Buffalo Lake Legion to date.
“Sixty-nine graves many of them in far off France, give silent testimony of the valor, courage and patriotism of Renville County soldiers. These graves may be seen, not in one section of the country, but all the way from Flanders Fields to Alsace-Lorraine. In them lie the remains of the young men of Renville County, who gave their lives on the altar of their country that the principles which gave this nation birth might not perish from the earth. At Chateau Thierry, in Artois, in the Argonne and along the Meuse these many brave young Americans paid the supreme sacrifice. They chose to risk all that we might be spared from a ruthless domination. The memory of the sacrifices will never cease as long as freedom reigns, and gratitude lives in the hears of the men and women of Renville County.” From the book Renville County in World War I: 1917, 1918, 1919.
The following is the list of World War I soldiers that were killed in action, died of wounds, or died of illness while serving their country in World War I. If you have information to add to this list please contact Nicole at the Museum 507-697-6147. We preserve the history of all our Renville County veterans and need your help to gather this information.
Bird Island: Thomas Francis Devaney died June 12, 1918 in France; Ray Franklin Lee died September 29, 1918 at Winnebago, IL; Helmuth A. Thomas died September 25, 1918 in France; Arthur Theodore Ledin died October 7, 1918 at Camp Hancock; Olaf Ytterboe died October 8, 1918 in France; Alfred Knutson died October 13, 1918 at Camp Grant.
Buffalo Lake: Herschel A. Ralston died May 27, 1918 Edgewater, Maryland; Paul R. Schuetz died October 16, 1918 in France; Peter A. Winkler died October 25, 1918 at Camp Grant.
Danube: Clarence Winnifred Lueck died September 13, 1918 in France; William Charles Manthei died October 5, 1918 in France; William Tolzman died October 6, 1918 at Camp Hancock.
Fairfax: William H. Bruggeman died September 16, 1918 in France; Charles Buehler died September 29, 1918 in France; Clarence Albert Buehler died October 5, 1918 in France; Otto Semerud died October 5, 1918 in Georgia; Calmer Melchar Carlson died October 9, 1918 in France; Raymond Arthur Mantel died October 17, 1918 in France.
Franklin: John Engen died November 17, 1917 at Camp Dodge; James C. Leary died January 4, 1918 at Camp Douglas; Maurice Henry Johnson died August 13, 1918 in France; Carl Joseph Martin died September 28, 1918 in France; Julius H. Jensen died October 5, 1918 in France.
Hector: Albert Beack died September 28, 1918 in France; William W. Prelvitz died September 29, 1918 in France; John Lawrence Thompson died September 30, 1918 in France; Arthur Beske died October 4, 1918 in France; Ernest Hilding Nelson died October 7, 1918 at Camp Hancock; Allen George Wenz died October 7, 1918 at Camp Hancock; Carl Orin Potter died October 8, 1918 in France; George Paul Arlt died October 9, 1918 in France; Vladimer Orlando Lindgren died October 17, 1918 at sea; Joseph Conrad Loftness died October 17, 1918 in France; Charles Leroy Nelson died October 21, 1918 at sea; Gerhard Hilding Hallquist died October 23, 1918 in France; William Edward Habel died November 28, 1918 at Camp Cody. Note Potter used Brookfield Township as his World War I registration.
Henryville Township: Joseph F. Malecek died November 6, 1918 at Camp Cody.
Morton: Oscar Alfred Wellnitz died December 22, 1917 at Camp Pike. Note Wellnitz used Birch Cooley Township for his World War I registration.
Norfolk Township: Alfred Clement Reger died September 26, 1918 in France.
Olivia: Samuel G. Erwin died December 20, 1917 at Camp Cody; James Vern Neuenburg died March 21, 1918 in Vancouver Barracks, WA; John Schanil died August 27, 1918 Jefferson Barracks, MO; William Erickson died September 14, 1918 in France; Charles Jakes died September 26, 1918 in France; Adolph Majxner died September 28, 1918 in France; Sidney Harrison Bergstrom died September 29, 1918 in France; Frank Charley Spevacek died October 16, 1918 at Camp Hancock; Thomas Flannigan died October 23, 1918 in France; Reuben Arthur Pfettscher died November 11, 1918 in France; Melvin Elmer Amundson died December 20, 1918 at Camp Cody. Editor’s Note: After World War II the Legion Club added Strom to their name.
Renville: Frederick Fess died September 19, 1917 at Camp Cody; Palmer Alexander Adwell died June 6, 1918 in France; William Henry Ashley died August 16, 1918 in France;Helmut Albert Goeltz died June 14, 1918 in France; Emil Hermann died September 27, 1918 in France; Dirk Tjepkema died October 3, 1918 at Camp Sheridan; Howard J. Youngs died October 4, 1918 in France; Dick W. Bakker died October 5, 1918 in France; Howard McBroom died October 5, 1918 at Camp Hancock; William J. Lawrence died October 6, 1918 in France; Elwell G. Engelking died October 8, 1918 in France; Edward Michel Burdick died October 12, 1918 in France; Abraham Schendel died October 17, 1918 at Camp Fremont; Thomas James Dvorak died October 20, 1918 in France; John Kronlokken died November 2, 1918 in France; Odean Sweiven died November 6, 1918 at Camp Forrest. Editor’s Note: After World War II the Renville Legion Post added the name Garvey to their title.
Sacred Heart: Abner Rude died August 6, 1918 in France; Otto Stoa died September 29, 1918; John Throngard died October 11 ,1918 at Camp Custer; Joseph Alfred Viken died December 2, 1918 in France; Arthur Mahlum died December 1918; Frank Christian Larson died February 7, 1919 in France.
Listed as outside of Renville County but included in the book, Renville County in World War I: 1917, 1918, 1919 published by the Olivia Times in 1920: James Gustaf Mattson (Winthrop) died August 17, 1918 in France; Edward August Ewald (McLeod County) died October 10, 1918 in France and Oscar Loftness (Gibbon) died October 10, 1918 in England.
Editor’s Note: If you have additions to this list please contact Nicole. We strive to preserve the history of our entire county.
Posted: May 25, 2020 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Honor Roll of World War I: Renville County
Compiled by Linda Balk, Research Librarian. Editor’s Note: The soldiers’ names in red have their local American Legion post named for them. We have not found any name on the Buffalo Lake Legion to date.
“Sixty-nine graves many of them in far off France, give silent testimony of the valor, courage and patriotism of Renville County soldiers. These graves may be seen, not in one section of the country, but all the way from Flanders Fields to Alsace-Lorraine. In them lie the remains of the young men of Renville County, who gave their lives on the altar of their country that the principles which gave this nation birth might not perish from the earth. At Chateau Thierry, in Artois, in the Argonne and along the Meuse these many brave young Americans paid the supreme sacrifice. They chose to risk all that we might be spared from a ruthless domination. The memory of the sacrifices will never cease as long as freedom reigns, and gratitude lives in the hears of the men and women of Renville County.” From the book Renville County in World War I: 1917, 1918, 1919.
The following is the list of World War I soldiers that were killed in action, died of wounds, or died of illness while serving their country in World War I. If you have information to add to this list please contact Nicole at the Museum 507-697-6147. We preserve the history of all our Renville County veterans and need your help to gather this information.
Bird Island: Thomas Francis Devaney died June 12, 1918 in France; Ray Franklin Lee died September 29, 1918 at Winnebago, IL; Helmuth A. Thomas died September 25, 1918 in France; Arthur Theodore Ledin died October 7, 1918 at Camp Hancock; Olaf Ytterboe died October 8, 1918 in France; Alfred Knutson died October 13, 1918 at Camp Grant.
Buffalo Lake: Herschel A. Ralston died May 27, 1918 Edgewater, Maryland; Paul R. Schuetz died October 16, 1918 in France; Peter A. Winkler died October 25, 1918 at Camp Grant.
Danube: Clarence Winnifred Lueck died September 13, 1918 in France; William Charles Manthei died October 5, 1918 in France; William Tolzman died October 6, 1918 at Camp Hancock.
Fairfax: William H. Bruggeman died September 16, 1918 in France; Charles Buehler died September 29, 1918 in France; Clarence Albert Buehler died October 5, 1918 in France; Otto Semerud died October 5, 1918 in Georgia; Calmer Melchar Carlson died October 9, 1918 in France; Raymond Arthur Mantel died October 17, 1918 in France.
Franklin: John Engen died November 17, 1917 at Camp Dodge; James C. Leary died January 4, 1918 at Camp Douglas; Maurice Henry Johnson died August 13, 1918 in France; Carl Joseph Martin died September 28, 1918 in France; Julius H. Jensen died October 5, 1918 in France.
Hector: Albert Beack died September 28, 1918 in France; William W. Prelvitz died September 29, 1918 in France; John Lawrence Thompson died September 30, 1918 in France; Arthur Beske died October 4, 1918 in France; Ernest Hilding Nelson died October 7, 1918 at Camp Hancock; Allen George Wenz died October 7, 1918 at Camp Hancock; Carl Orin Potter died October 8, 1918 in France; George Paul Arlt died October 9, 1918 in France; Vladimer Orlando Lindgren died October 17, 1918 at sea; Joseph Conrad Loftness died October 17, 1918 in France; Charles Leroy Nelson died October 21, 1918 at sea; Gerhard Hilding Hallquist died October 23, 1918 in France; William Edward Habel died November 28, 1918 at Camp Cody. Note Potter used Brookfield Township as his World War I registration.
Henryville Township: Joseph F. Malecek died November 6, 1918 at Camp Cody.
Morton: Oscar Alfred Wellnitz died December 22, 1917 at Camp Pike. Note Wellnitz used Birch Cooley Township for his World War I registration.
Norfolk Township: Alfred Clement Reger died September 26, 1918 in France.
Olivia: Samuel G. Erwin died December 20, 1917 at Camp Cody; James Vern Neuenburg died March 21, 1918 in Vancouver Barracks, WA; John Schanil died August 27, 1918 Jefferson Barracks, MO; William Erickson died September 14, 1918 in France; Charles Jakes died September 26, 1918 in France; Adolph Majxner died September 28, 1918 in France; Sidney Harrison Bergstrom died September 29, 1918 in France; Frank Charley Spevacek died October 16, 1918 at Camp Hancock; Thomas Flannigan died October 23, 1918 in France; Reuben Arthur Pfettscher died November 11, 1918 in France; Melvin Elmer Amundson died December 20, 1918 at Camp Cody. Editor’s Note: After World War II the Legion Club added Strom to their name.
Renville: Frederick Fess died September 19, 1917 at Camp Cody; Palmer Alexander Adwell died June 6, 1918 in France; William Henry Ashley died August 16, 1918 in France;Helmut Albert Goeltz died June 14, 1918 in France; Emil Hermann died September 27, 1918 in France; Dirk Tjepkema died October 3, 1918 at Camp Sheridan; Howard J. Youngs died October 4, 1918 in France; Dick W. Bakker died October 5, 1918 in France; Howard McBroom died October 5, 1918 at Camp Hancock; William J. Lawrence died October 6, 1918 in France; Elwell G. Engelking died October 8, 1918 in France; Edward Michel Burdick died October 12, 1918 in France; Abraham Schendel died October 17, 1918 at Camp Fremont; Thomas James Dvorak died October 20, 1918 in France; John Kronlokken died November 2, 1918 in France; Odean Sweiven died November 6, 1918 at Camp Forrest. Editor’s Note: After World War II the Renville Legion Post added the name Garvey to their title.
Sacred Heart: Abner Rude died August 6, 1918 in France; Otto Stoa died September 29, 1918; John Throngard died October 11 ,1918 at Camp Custer; Joseph Alfred Viken died December 2, 1918 in France; Arthur Mahlum died December 1918; Frank Christian Larson died February 7, 1919 in France.
Listed as outside of Renville County but included in the book, Renville County in World War I: 1917, 1918, 1919 published by the Olivia Times in 1920: James Gustaf Mattson (Winthrop) died August 17, 1918 in France; Edward August Ewald (McLeod County) died October 10, 1918 in France and Oscar Loftness (Gibbon) died October 10, 1918 in England.
Editor’s Note: If you have additions to this list please contact Nicole. We strive to preserve the history of our entire county.
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Last Updated: July 24, 2020 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
58 County Boys Give Their Lives in World War II
Published in the Buffalo Lake News on July 4, 1946
12 Men From Eastern Renville County Made Supreme Sacrifice in the Second World War.
The first consolidated list of Army dead and missing in World War II – a compilation of the names of nearly 310,00 men and women who gave their lives in the nation’s service – were released by the War Department today.
The Renville County list shows 58 gave their lives in World War II. Nine of these men are from the Buffalo Lake area.
An overall death and missing rate of 2.98 percent from all causes was indicated by the listing. Of more than 10,000,000 men and women mobilized into the Army between the presidential declaration of unlimited national emergency on May 27, 1941, and the concluding date of the study, January 31, 1946, a total of 307,554 had been killed in action, died of other causes or became missing, later to be determined dead. In addition, 1,424 persons were still carried as missing on January 31, 1946, bringing the total number of names in the list to 308,978.
Of this total, 57.1 percent, numbering 176,432 were listed as killed in action. Other casualty breakdowns showed that 25,493 (8.25%) died of wounds suffered in combat; 929 (.3%) died of combat injuries; 85,219 (27.6%) died other than in battle, and 19,451 (6.3%) were administratively determined to have died. The missing figure of 1,424 represented .45% of the total.
The tabulation for the State of Minnesota reads as follows:
Killed in Action (KIA) 3,793
Died of Wounds (DOW) 607
Died of Injuries 23
Died Non-Battle (DNB) 1,626
Finding of Death Under Public Law 382
Missing 6,463 (M)
The list of men who gave their lives in battle under one of the causes mentioned above includes only those whose home address was Renville County.
Sgt. John A. Aalderks, KIA; Pfc. Frank E. Barber, KIA; Pfc. Quinton Leslie Sanford Benson, KIA in Saipan 07/06/1944; Lieut. Eva M. Biebel, DNB; Sgt. Charley V. Blondell, KIA; Pvt. Jerome S. Boyum, KIA; Pfc. Wayne V. Brandt, DNB; Clarence F. Buehler, KIA; Pfc. Emil A. Butendorf, DNB; S/Sgt. Myron A. Carrigan, KIA; 1st Lt. Robert G. Chesky, M; T/5 Charles Christensen, KIA; Pvt. Harry B. Clancy, KIA; Pvt. Merlin J. Clouse, KIA; Pvt. Raymond A. Coursoll, KIA; Lt. Comm. John B. Daly, KIA; Pfc. Arthur M. Distad, KIA; Pfc. Howard R. Dodge DND; Pfc. Matt J. Dworshak, KIA; Pfc. Ertwin H. Gens, KIA; Capt. Leonard A. Haen, KIA; 2nd Lt. Robert M. Hagestad, DNB; 2nd Lt. Herbert C. Hansen, KIA; Sgt. Leo C. Hartmann, KIA; S/Sgt. Frank E. Hautals, DOW; Pfc. Halvor H. Helgeson, KIA; Pfc. Lester L. Ingalls, KIA; Cpl. James F. Hoff, KIA; Pvt. Leonard C. Johnson, KIA; S/Sgt. Harold C. Julson, KIA; 2nd Lt. William P. Kieffer, KIA; Pvt. Joseph A. Krentz, M; S/Sgt. Walter O. Kurth, KIA; Pfc. Erwin A. Lindquist, DOW; Pfc. Henry Markgraf, KIA;; Pfc. Arnold E. Nicolai, DNB; Sgt. Lester E. Odell, DOW; Pfc. Silas J. Olson KIA; Pvt. John Palacias. DOW; Pfc. H.J. Pawlitschek, KIA; PFC, Charles P. Pederson, KIA; T/5 Gordon C. Powers, KIA; Sgt. John P. Revier, KIA; Sgt. Herman R. Rewerts, KIA; Pfc. Vernon R. Romness, DNB; S/Sgt. William Schroeder, DOW; Pfc. Herbert F. Schlute, KIA; Sgt. Ellsowrth J. Seesz, DNB; Pfc. George F. Spevacek, KIA; Pfc. Charles M. Stegel, KIA; T/5 Milton O. Stoll, DOW; S/Sgt. Timothy J. Sullivan, DOW; Sgt. Carl O. Swanson, KIA; Capt. Lyle R. Torbenson, KNB; Sgt. Rudolph C. Trapp, KIA; Sgt. George E. Wabashaw, KIA; 2nd Lt. Philip N. Wolling, DNB; Pfc. Edgar G. Wood, KIA and Pfc. George S. Works, DOW.
Editor’s Note: We honor all Renville County veterans at the Renville County Historical Society, if you have more information to add to the veterans’ lists for all the military and wars please contact Nicole at the Museum 507-697-6147. We want to make sure they are honored.
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Posted: May 16, 2020 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Social Media Avenues
Due to Governor Walz’s Stay at Home order the Executive Director, Nicole Elzenga, has been working from home. During this time period organizations have been posting more frequently on their social media avenues to share artifacts, photographs, stories, and more. Elzenga has also added a few new videos to the YouTube page for visitors to see exhibits in the Main Museum.
Some of the social media posts have included such hashtags as #mnmuseums, #RenvilleCountyMN, #letsgotomorton, #MNHistoryatHome, and a few fun ones #mnoddities, #creepiestobject, #recipecollection, #artifactoftheday. Simply copy-paste one of the hashtags into GOOGLE or another search engine and the pages will show up with various museums’ posts.
RCHS is considering putting a booklet together of the posts to have for sale at the 2020 Renville County Fair.
If you have an #mnodditiy in your own personal collection please share on our various social media sites and be sure to tag us!
As the Stay at Home order will expire on Sunday, May 17, 2020 (midnight) Elzenga will be returning to work at the office but the Museum is still closed to the public until June 1, 2020. This information may change but Elzenga will keep the information updated on the website and social media avenues. Remember #HistoryMatters and we are all in this together. Stay safe & healthy and we hope to see you later this summer!
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Posted: April 15, 2020 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Renville County Country (Rural) School Districts by Township
Bandon: 29, 60, 66, 69, 124
Beaver Falls: 4, 5, 6, 7, 135
Birch Cooley: 2, 3, 13, 19, 20, 55, 96
Bird Island: 64, 85, 103, 123
Boon Lake: 25, 34, 38, 77, 120, 122
Brookfield: 49, 99, 118, 133, 134, 138, 139
Camp: 1, 10, 30, 31
Cairo: 23, 26, 32, 39, 45
Crooks: 52, 75, 105, 119, 140, 145
Emmet: 9, 33, 37, 58, 127
Ericson: 42, 88, 98, 131, 142, 161
Flora: 8, 18, 22, 80, 97
Hawk Creek: 16, 21, 40, 41
Hector: 51, 63, 65, 102
Henryville: 11, 12, 27, 59, 104, 111
Kingman: 68, 82, 117
Martinsburg: 71, 78, 83, 92, 113, 129
Melville: 76, 81, 93, 100, 114
Norfolk: 28, 36, 47, 84, 101, 112 Editor’s Note: 28 and 36 buildings are on the Museum Grounds in Morton, Minnesota!
Osceola: 90, 110, 115, 136, 116
Palmyra: 46, 84, 87, 91
Preston Lake: 24, 53, 57, 130, 132, 143
Sacred Heart: 14, 15, 35, 50, 108, 128
Troy: 67, 70, 73, 89, 126, 137
Wang: 42, 44, 48, 61, 94, 141
Wellington: 54, 56, 95, 109, 125
Winfield: 62, 72, 74, 106, 121
Editor’s Note: I am aware of a few standing schoolhouses used as township halls including Beaver Falls District # 5. What schoolhouses are still standing in Renville County? What schoolhouses were moved to other locations like Norfolk Districts # 28 & 36? Contact Nicole 507-697-6147 or email [email protected] to share this information. We are working on a map to locate the country schools and country churches that are still standing in Renville County. We would like to GPS the locations of the other churches and schoolhouses no longer standing.
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Posted: April 9, 2020 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Fire Destroys Public School Building Last Wednesday Night published in the Bird Island Union March 9, 1916
Had a Good Start before Discovered–22 Below Temp Weather and Dep Snow Hampers Firemen–School to Resume Work Monday Morning.
The Birds Island Public school building was totally destroyed by fire last Wednesday night. The fire was discovered by Levi Mitchell and J.J. Desmond about eleven o’clock when Mr. and Mrs. Mitchel were starting home after spending the evening at the Desmond home and the alarm was given. The fire department worked under great difficulty in getting its apparatus to the fire owing to the 22 below weather and deep snow but could do nothing to save the building because the fire had started on the north side of the basement near the steam boiler and had obtained a hold on the soft coal supply which filled the basement and building with a dense smoke in which no fireman could work. The firemen tried to put out the flames through the north basement windows as a last resort, but it was soon given up and as so headway could be made and inside of two hours the whole building had been gutted and shortly afterward the south wall caved in.
The building was insured for $11,000 and the contents for $7,000and the loss is total. The building was probably worth about $2,000 and the contents around $10,000 according to an inventory recently taken. The safe was opened Sunday and the contents which consisted of school records found in fairly good condition.
As to the origin of the fire no one knows how it started. M.J. Battendorf, janitor, left the building as usual about nine o’clock that night after banking his fire and everything was all right at that time.
The building was erected in 1899 by the village to be given to the county as a courthouse if Bird Island was made the county seat. It was used by the village as a hall until 1902 when it was bought by the school district and remodeled into a schoolhouse. With the addition of a complete high school course and the growth of the school the building had become unfitted for the purpose and the state finally demanded a new building, and this matter would have come before the voters of the district sometime this year anyway, so outside of the present inconvenience to pupils and teachers for quarters and equipment there is not much cause of to worries ver the loss; although it would have been much more convenient to have had the old building until the new one was erected and ready for them.
At the _______ (Editor’s note: the text from the scan of the microfilmed newspaper was too dark to read) decided to take the Easter vacation now which would allow time for securing quarters and equipment for the reopening of school, which will convene next Monday. The high school department will be quartered in the village hall, using the second floor for an assembly room and the lower rooms for the various high school departments. The grade will be located in the M.E. Church, Norwegian Lutheran Church and old Baptist Church buildings, but the definite location of each grade will not be given until the Monday morning meeting at the village hall as the present plans may be changing to some extent.
Bird Island and the residents of school district No. 64 will have a problem to solve in the near future to provide a new school building. We have the opportunity at hand to place our schools at the head of all of the schools in the county by erecting a modern building, fully equipped that will draw pupils from every part of the county. As long as we have to build, let’s not be backward in the amount to be spent, but wit the characteristic generousness that has made Bird Island famous put up a building that will stand out in Central Minnesota. You will find the big taxpayers in favor of a building for the future and a few thousand dollars more or less cuts but little figure when you consider the returns in the coming years.
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