Special Meeting Of Park

Historical Assn. Votes Drive.

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RESERVATION OFFERED FOR MILITIA ENCAMPMENT

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Special Effort Encouraged For Scenic Routes To Fort.

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At a special meeting of the directors of the Ft. Ridgely State Park and Historical Association held in the Dutch room of Turner Hall Sunday afternoon appropriate resolutions on the death of Charles H. Nixon, Vice President of the Association who died recently, were adopted, a successor to him was elected, the wording of a tablet to be placed at the recently installed flag staff at the Fort was agreed upon. It was also decided to make special efforts to have No. 70 rerouted and the lower road from New Ulm to Ft. Ridgely made a trunk highway. Efforts will also be made to have the Ft. Ridgely reservation made a permanent camp ground for the state militia.

A. C. Ochs Elected Director

After the adoption of the Nixon memorial resolutions, A. C. Ochs b of Springfield was elected as a member of the board to succeed the late Mr. Nixon. On account of the state wide importance that the Ft. Ridgely Park has attained, it was suggested that the number of directors be increased and a committee is to prepare suitable and necessary changes in the constitution and by-laws of the Association which will be submitted for adoption at the annual meeting to be held at the Fort in August this year.

Tablet To Be Erected

Last Decoration Day a new flag staff was dedicated, a gift from The Ladies’ of the Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Minnesota and a flag which was donated by the Ladies Hecker Circle of this city aided by the school children of New Ulm and Hector. As a mark of appreciation bronze tablet is to be erected at the foot of the flag staff with the following inscription: Staff donated and dedicated to the Fort Ridgely State Park and Historical Association May 30, 1925 by Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Minnesota, children of the public schools of New Ulm and Hector, Minnesota. May this tribute be an incentive for emulation by others to beautify and perpetuate historic Fort Ridgely. Col. C. H. Hopkins, Past Dept. Com. Minn. G. A. R., Officers and Directors of the Fort Ridgely State Park and Historical Association, Hon. J. A. O. Preus, Pres.; C. H. Nixon, Vice Pres.; Col. C. H. Hopkins, Secy-Treas.; Jacob Klossner, Jr., Richard Pfefferle, Alexander Russel, J. A. Ochs, G. A. Rieke,E. A. Stoll. The tablet will cost $135.

Militia Camp Negotiations

Col. Hopkins reported that he had written a letter to the Adjutant General of the State in which he set forth the advantages of the Ft. Ridgely reservation for camping purposes. A reply was read from the Adjutant General’s Office in which E. A. Walsh Asst. Adjt. General stated that he would make an inspection of the grounds some time in May or June, but that nothing could be done by his office as this was a matter entirely within the province of the Legislature.

Scenic Route Proposed

The opinion was expressed at the meeting, that if the national guard encampments could and would be held at the reservation, that then there would be no trouble to have the trunk highways to the park rerouted and improved. In this connection Frank Hopkins reported what had already been done. The plans advocated by the Association would carry No. 70 about a mile west and thru the ravine which would make this a very scenic route. The re-routing of No. 70 would also mean the building of the dam which has been under consideration for some time. As far as the lower road is concerned it was stated that Commissioner Babcock had been interviewed and that he was very favorably inclined, but stated that this road would first have to be designated as a state road by the Nicollet County authorities and that as soon as his department could take on more trunk highways, that then he would see to it that this he done. A conference with Commissioner Babcock is planned in the year future and at that meeting J. A. Ochs of this city will represent New Ulm and Brown County. G. A Rieke stated that he had talked with one of the assistants in the highway department and he was told that if this road was ever completed it would be one of the most scenic routes in the state. The expense would be quite considerable because Ft. Creek would have to be crossed four times.

Drive For Membership

August Hummel and Albert Steinhauser joined the Association Sunday. A life membership costs only Five Dollars. In the course of the discussion as to membership it developed that the total membership enrolled since organization does not exceed 165. Of these a large number have died, so that the actual membership at the present time does not exceed sixty. The necessity of increasing the membership is quite apparent and special efforts will be made to interest others in New Ulm in this worthy project. The members of New Ulm practically agreed to see to it that the membership in New Ulm would be increased to at least 50 in the next few months. As soon as this is accomplished, a banquet will be held here to celebrate the event. Both men and women. They must be residents of the branch at the time of application and fleet have reached the age of 21 years. Any one desirous of joining should get into touch with E. A. Stoll, cashier of the State Bank of New Ulm.

Splendid Repast Served

What the ladies called a lunch was served by the Ladies Hecker Circle. This was not a lunch, it was more than a supper, it was a veritable banquet and so the guests voted it when they thanked the ladies for the splendid repast. At the banquet table Col. Hopkins told of certain matters pertaining to the Fort which were very interesting and educational and he was urged on every hand to write a history of how the Fort came into being and what was done to make it a state park. August Hummel also spoke briefly on one phase of the Indian Massacre. In addition to the local members of the board and officers of Hecker Circle, there were present Col. C. H. Hopkins, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hopkins and Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Rieke, from Fairfax,The following resolutions were adopted at the meeting:

In Memoriam

Since our last meeting a most worthy member and officer of our association has passed to his great re-ward. Hon. Charles H. Nixon, of Hector, Minnesota, and Vice President of the Fort Ridgely State Park Association, died at Hector, Minn., Nov.12, 1925, at the ripe old age of eighty-five years and nine months.Born in Boone County, Illinois of pioneer parents he was inured from his birth in those trying circumstances and necessities that develop the best in a man and make him worth while. He came with his parents over land in an ox wagon to Rochester,Minnesota, in 1855 and settled in Kalmer Township, Olmsted County.

When the call for volunteers was issued in 1861, he enlisted in Co. K Third Minnesota, Voluntary Infantry and was captured with his regiment at the Battle of Murfreesboro, paroled and sent North to fight the Indians. An exchange having been made, he again went South and helped win the battle of Vicksburg, which opened the Mississippi to the North and broke the backbone of the Confederacy.

His war service ended at the close of the war in August 1865 when he was mustered out of the service with a perfect record.

In 1869, he took a homestead in Renville County, Minn., which joined his sisters, the house being on the line an on both tracts. Some years later he engaged in the mercantile business at Fort Ridgely with Harry Simmons in what was formerly the old settlers store.

The confidence of his fellow citizens in him was expressed in electing him to the Minnesota State Senate where he was instrumental in getting the first appropriation for Fort Ridgely with which the five acre tract was purchased and the present monument erected in 1895. Though named as a member of the commission to effect this purpose, he resigned in favor of Col. C. H. Hopkins, whom he said was deserving of the honor more than he. This act was characteristic of the man. He never denied a per-son in need. His latch string always hung outside. Clean of character, noble of purpose and unselfish in his devotion to principle, he lived as he spoke. He was one of the grand old patriots and pioneers of those stirring times in our national development where real men were needed and Comrade Nixon was every inch a man.

New Ulm Review,

January 27, 1926

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