Yellow Medicine County, MN~ Genealogy Resources

As a genealogist from Minnesota, I take great pride in the many resources our state has in place to aide researchers! Many, like the death index, are very well known, but many many others are not.

So I've decided to spotlight a few of the lesser known greats here, in hopes that I can connect someone with a tool they can use! Since Saturdays are good days to do genealogy (at least for us working folks), I decided to post these links then.

Yellow Medicine County

Yellow Medicine County Museum & Historical Society

There is also a link to download a spreadsheet with birth records from 1870-1910

Yellow Medicine County Marriages 1870-1920

An incomplete list of early marriages from the county

Yellow Medicine County Obituaries

A handful of transcribed 1900s-1910s obituaries

Unfortunately, there seem to be few online resources for this far Western county. It does look like the Historical Society has a number of resources by their website.

Do you know of any great resources for Yellow Medicine County?

TBT Photos of Yesteryear-- Maine Reunion

In honor of Throw Back Thursday... These photos are of various members of the Maine family... Some were taken in 1951 (Summer probably) and at least 2 others were taken in 1955...

I'm not sure, but they may have been taken at the Ritter farm during a family reunion?

Most of the individuals are identified... but there are a few children/babies I am not sure of

Alex & Ruby (Harrington) Kinn & 2 daughters Ellen & Patsy
possible this was taken at a different time, up north near Pequot Lakes

Darrell & Leola Maine & family

Dorothy Maine holding unknown baby, Harriet Maine Kraywinkel, Glen & Gertrude Maine?

Lee Ritter

Ernie & Beryl (Maine) Lundblad with Larry

Mildred Maine, Harriet (Maine) Kraywinkel holding a baby?

Pat Ritter Messer

Southern Minnesota Mystery Photo

I stumbled upon this unidentified photo.... from Southern MN

From a Winnebago & Amboy photography studio, it's likely from the 1890s...

The man looks so much like one of the sons of Erastus Maine... Due to the age of the children, I suspect it is Irving Maine & his wife Emma with two sons Glade & Glen... but I have no proof.

I'm hoping someone out there can either positively ID this family... or already has this photo in their collection.

TBT Photos of Yesteryear- Ann Mapson

Ann Thrush Mapson

Spotlighting weekly photos from my extensive photo archive... today it is my Great-Great-Great-Great Grandmother... YES! 4 'greats'... Ann Thrush Mapson

Ann (Thrush) Mapson

Ann Thrush Mapson [1817-1898] was born, raised & married in Brinkworth, Wiltshire, England. Coming to America and settling in Wisconsin in 1854. Eventually heading West to Minnesota. The Mother of 7 children, 6 of whom lived to adulthood and had families, Ann has a very large number of descendants today.

LOST Ferris Family Bible... Redwood Falls, MN

Last Summer I was at an estate auction and up came this old leather bible...

A gift to Jay W. Ferris from his wife Rhoda (Driesbock) Ferris

This large bible is not in perfect shape.. the front cover as come apart from the binding... but the handwritten pages contain lots of genealogical information...

It seems a sad tragedy for this bible to not be in the hands of some descendant who would appreciate it.

It appears that this family ended up living in Redwood Falls after moving from Wisconsin.



I would love to return this great family heirloom to a descendant who would treasure it!

[update- 04/30/2017- This lovely family heirloom was returned to a relative! Thanks to all who assisted in the efforts to find a permanent home for this treasure]

TBT Photos of Yesteryear- Frank Weber

Frank Weber

Spotlighting photos from my extensive photo archive... remembering Uncle Frank.

This handsome photograph is of Frank Weber [1902-2002], born to William & Jacobina (Krumholz) Weber.. he was the younger brother of my Great-Grandmother Elizabeth (Weber) Weerts [1895-1932]. 

Minnesota Mystery Photo...

This unknown lady was in a family photo album... but my Great-Grandma collected many photos from neighbors and friends as well as far flung relatives.

It's very likely that this lady is from Minnesota... possibly the Southern part (Faribault or Freeborn County) or the Northern part (Pequot Lakes area)... of course it's also possibly she's a cousin from North Dakota or Montana...

It's a neat photo... and it would be nice to identify her... if she's a relative, that would be great! And if she's not, I'd like to share her with someone who would appreciate her.

Red Lake County, MN~ Genealogy Resources

As a genealogist from Minnesota, I take great pride in the many resources our state has in place to aide researchers! Many, like the death index, are very well known, but many many others are not.

So I've decided to spotlight a few of the lesser known greats here, in hopes that I can connect someone with a tool they can use! Since Saturdays are good days to do genealogy (at least for us working folks), I decided to post these links then.

Red Lake County

Red Lake County Historical Society 
Lake Pleasant School House 
Rt. 1, Box 298 
Red Lake Falls, MN 56750 
Liaison: Ann Healy, 218/253-2833 
Hours: Open first Sunday of the month, June thru Labor Day

Red Lake Falls Public Library
105 Champagne Avenue SW
Red Lake Falls, MN 56750
Phone: (218) 253-2992
Email:redlake@northernlights.lib.nm.us


Of all the counties in Minnesota that I've researched, Red Lake County is the one I have found the least resources for. It is one of the smallest counties population wise in the state. 

Hopefully others out there are aware of historical resources and will share them here for others!

TBT Photos of Yesteryear- Maine Family

Hiram, Blanche & Loren Maine

Spotlighting photos from my extensive photo archive-- 

This week it's a fun photograph of my Great-Grandfather with his brother & sister

Hiram, Blanche, Loren Maine

Hiram Maine [1904-1979], his sister Blanche Maine Hagen [1899-1988] and brother Loren Maine ]1901-1980], three of the children born to Ralph & Minnie (Cole) Maine. 

The family moved from Southern and Northern Minnesota a number of times over 15 years... before settling in rural Pequot Lakes in the 1910's. 

Around 90 years after this photo was sent to family friends in Southern Minnesota, this photo was returned to me by descendants of those friends.

Back of photo where Blanche had written a note to family friends in Southern Minnesota

Unfortunately, my Aunt did not date the photo, so I'm not exactly sure when it was taken, though I'd guess it to be 1916-1921 or so.

Southern Minnesota Mystery Photo.....

This photo came along with a few others belonging to the same family....

The family lived in Faribault County, Minnesota.... and it is very possible that this woman & child are connected to the Hartman, Kelsey, or Roberts families.

Hopefully someone can ID this lovely photo and it can be reunited with a family member who will treasure it!