Happy Birthday, MN!

Minnesota is 150 years old today.

After you have wished your Mother a happy day, stop by the capitol and participate in the festivities.

Several of my ancestors were Minnesota Pioneers including my Great Great Grandfather Seth Trowbridge. I leave you with his picture, and obituary as printed in the Madelia Messenger, April 9, 1915

Madelia Messenger
April 9, 1915

Another Pioneer Gone
Mr. Seth Trowbridge, one of the very early pioneers of this section, breathed his last at his home in this village at 1:40 a.m. Wednesday, April 7. He contracted a cold on February 22nd, which developed into pneumonia and was the cause of his death. Mr. Trowbridge was born July 1st, 1828. The funeral will be held at the Presbyterian church at 2 o'clock tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon. Obituary next week.

Madelia Messenger
April 16, 1915

Mr. Seth Trowbridge

Mr. Seth Trowbridge, the announcement of whose death appeared in these columns last week, was born in Preble, Courtland County, NY. At the age of seventeen years he bought his time from his father, paying therefore the sum of $10, and started out in the world to fight his own way.

He left New York in 1847, in company with his brother, Milo, in a covered sleigh, headed for the state of Ohio, and there he worked making staves in the timber country, until 1850 when he returned to New York and was married to Miss Angeline E. Comstock, and soon afterward returned to Ohio with his bride. Of this marriage one daughter, Mrs Alice V. Adams of Lewiston, Idaho survives.

In 1854, with his brother, Alexander, he went to the state of Texas, but not finding conditions there to his liking, he returned to Ohio, and later visited Illinois and Minnesota. He was pleased with Minesota and in 1856, moved to Winona county. In later years he told friends the coldest winters he ever experienced in Minnesota were those of 1856 and 1857.

His second marriage was to Miss. Clarrissa A Brown, the ceremony being performed at Rochester. To this union four children remain. They are: W. E. Trowbridge of St. Paul, Mrs. Minnie Manning of St. James, Mrs. Hattie M Anderson of Unionville, Mo. , and John J Trowbridge (my Great Grandfather) of Madelia, MN.

Mr. and Mrs. Trowbridge left Winona county for Watonwan county in 1868, and for a time they farmed about two sections of land in Fieldon township, about six miles south of Madelia, but they were practically ruined by the grasshoppers and prairie fires, and then moved to their farm north of town. Later they built the brick house in Madelia, where he has lived most of the time since, dividing his time between his home here and the farm.

For many years Mr. and Mrs. Trowbridge served meals in the brick building, and many of the "old timers" remembered the price charged for meals-- all you can eat for 15 cents.

Mrs. Trowbrdige died in May. 1903.

Those from out of town who attended the funeral are : Mrs. Manning and son of St. James, Mrs. C. L. Anderson of Unionville Mo., Mr and Mrs. W. E. Trowbrdige of St. Paul, Lewis Trowbridge of Rosendale, Mr. W. G. Manning, Mr.s J., J. Lenertz and son , Mr. and Mrs. Peter King, Mrs. J. C. Bermel, Mrs. Hottinger and Mrs. E. C. Fuller of St. James and Mr. Avon Gillman of Truman.

Enjoy your day!