OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION OF DODGE COUNTY (MINN.):

The association was organized on March 6, 1876 by A. J. Edgerton and Peter Mantor for persons who had lived in the area prior to August 1, 1857. The organization's purpose was to preserve a record of the founders and pioneers of the county, and to facilitate the continued fellowship of its early settlers. At the first meeting, E. J. Couse was elected president and H. A. Smith, secretary. Seventy-four persons attended the first meeting and signed the articles of association. On June 21, 1881, a constitution was adopted listing officers and their duties, provisions for an executive committee, membership requirements, and procedures for holding annual elections.

See the folder in the box which contains a more detailed history and also biographical sketches of Peter and Riley Mantor, Frank Edmund Beatty, and Cordenio Arnold Severance.

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The 493-page volume, entitled "Papers and Poems Prepared for the Meeting of the Old Settlers' Association Held at Mantorville, June 17, 1919," contains a wealth of information about the founding (1854) of Mantorville by Peter and Riley Mantor and others; reminiscent accounts and poems written by sixty-three early settlers; and information on all aspects of life in the village, including schools, churches, business enterprises, family life, social activities, childhood games, the Civil War and the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862; weather; and pioneer living conditions. Pasted on the last page is a newspaper clipping from the Mantorville Express containing details of the association's reunion on June 17.

This volume also includes 33 photographs (ca. 1860s-ca. 1890s) depicting pioneer citizens, buildings, and scenes in and around the community.

The volume contains a table of contents, listing alphabetically the authors of the reminiscences, as well as a list of 33 photographs which are pasted into the volume.

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Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Old Settler's Association of Dodge County Commemorative Meeting Materials. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 2364

Processing Information:

Processed by: Kathryn A. Johnson, April 1998

Catalog ID number: 09-00320341

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Children -- Minnesota -- Dodge County.

Churches -- Minnesota -- Dodge County.

Frontier and pioneer life -- Minnesota -- Dodge County.

Pioneers -- Minnesota -- Dodge County.

Manners and customs.

Schools -- Minnesota -- Dodge County.

Women -- Minnesota -- Dodge County.

Places:

Dodge County (Minn.) -- History -- Anecdotes.

Mantorville (Minn.) -- History -- Anecdotes.

Minnesota -- Description and travel.

Persons:

Beatty, Frank Edmund, 1853-1926.

Lord, Samuel, 1831-1880.

Lord family.

Mantor, Peter, 1815-.

Mantor, Riley 1824-.

Mantor family.

Severance, Cordenio Arnold, 1862-1925.

Shober family.

Organizations:

Mantorville Express (Mantorville, Minn.).

Minnesota Seminary (Wasioja, Minn.).

Types of Documents:

Photographs.

Reminiscences -- Minnesota -- Dodge County.

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