Volume 2, Issue 4, November 2021

A Civil War Artifact

By Julie Wiese and Neil Wingert

The Chaska History Center has over 4,000 artifacts that have been donated over the years. This Civil War sword is one of our favorites. The sword belonged to James B. Heth, Jr., born in Buffalo, NY, 10 Feb. 1841. He died in Shakopee, MN on April 16, 1893. This slightly-curved blade is an infantry officer’s sword that was not government-issued, but was well-liked due to its excellent manufacture by the W. Walscheid firm of Solingen, Prussia.

The model M1850 sword is 39 inches long. On the blade (fig. 1, 2), the engravings include ''E Pluribus Unum'' and ''U. S.'' on the other side. It has an ornate handle guard (fig. 3) depicting an eagle and the initials “US” and a grip (fig. 4) wrapped in a metal “sharkskin” covering with brass retaining bands.

As an article in the History Center’s collection, the sword is a wonderful piece, showing the highest quality of a fighting weapon at the time. However, like most of our artifacts, the sword also unlocks the details of the lives surrounding it. Who donated it? Why did they possess it? What was its use? Does it have special meaning or qualities? Here are some of those answers related to this sword.

In 1862 at the beginning of the War between the States, James Heth was living with his parents and siblings in Milwaukee, and he and his older brother enlisted into Wisconsin 24th Infantry Regiment. The battles where he fought are inscribed on the scabbard: Chaplin Hills, Kentucky, Oct. 8, 1862; Stones River, Tennessee, Dec. 31- Jan 1, 1863; Chickamauga, Georgia, Sept. 19-20, 1863; Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, Nov. 26, 1863. In 1864, he was promoted to second lieutenant and was transferred to the Wisconsin 38th Infantry located around the capital – Washington City (before it was named District of Columbia).

Smaller battles and skirmishes continued to the end of the war, and his regiment witnessed the execution of the Lincoln assassination conspirators and marched down Pennsylvania Avenue as part of the Grand Review of the Army of the Potomac before being disbanded and returned to Wisconsin. James was mustered out as a First Lieutenant, surviving four years of infantry combat without apparent physical injury or permanent disability or sickness.

Shortly after discharge from service, James Heth moved to Shakopee, Minnesota. He married the 25-year old Jennie B. Brown on October 29, 1865. Jennie’s parents had moved from Pittsfield, MI to Eden Prairie, then settled in Shakopee, where they managed the National Hotel. James and Jennie had a son in 1868, but “Little Jimmy” felt sick for one day, then died of scarlet fever in Dec. 1870. Their daughter Nellie was born 29 June 1873. James worked as a railway depot agent and then managed the National Hotel with his wife Jennie until it was destroyed by fire in October 1879. From then until his death, James worked in mercantiles and handy man jobs where he could find the work. He was active in the community within the Grand Army Post and Fire Department. He was stricken with “paralysis” in June 1892 and died on April 16, 1893, leaving his daughter Nellie to help care for her mother until Jennie’s death in July 1905.

Nellie Heth soon married Florian H. Faber, a Chaska resident, on Feb.21, 1906. By Jan,1920, Nellie had divorced Florian and was caring for their 8-year old son James Faber, who eventually moved to Chaska. Nellie died in 1957. Her ex-husband Florian died in 1944. Their son James donated the sword in 1987 and died in 2005. He also donated the Sand Art jar given to his aunt Magdalena Faber featured in our last newsletter.

References and resources used for this article:
1.Find A Grave.com.
2.Ancestry.com census, marriage and military pension records.
3.Newspapers.com.
4.Shakopee Weekly Argus newspaper on microfilm, held at the Scott County Historical Society.
5.Shakopee Courier newspaper on microfilm.
6.Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865.

7.Quiner’s Military History of Wisconsin, Chicago, 1866; chapters 32 and 46.

Memories of Chaska, Part 1 of 4

By Doris Coghill

You have lived in Chaska for more than 50 years if you recall:
• “Chips” was a name and not something you eat.
• When asked for your phone number you can give them 4 digits and they can actually reach you.
• When K-12 grades were all in the same building.
• You did not have garbage pickup and had to take your garbage to the “Dump” once a week.
• There was a train depot in your school playground.

• The City Park had three Indian Mounds that were tall enough for you sled down when it snowed.

• A siren went off to call the volunteer firemen to the fire house so they could go fight a fire.
• All the schools (Public and Parochial) were in downtown Chaska.
• There were six grocery stores on Chestnut Street and a few more on the side streets.
• The County Court House was located on Chestnut Street.
• There were three car dealerships in downtown Chaska, all within a half-block of each other.
• The Gazebo in the park had screens.

Photo Assistance Brings Happiness

By Doris Coghill

On October 11 David Rohy wrote to Historical Society:

“Chaska High School staff have referred me to your organization. I am doing some research in an attempt to properly caption photos in my mom's many photo albums. She has many photos of high school classmates with no names or first names only.

I believe I could accurately identify these people if I had a list of her fellow graduates. Would it be possible to get a list of graduates from the Class of 1934 in whatever format you can provide it? If you are unable to send this information, could you please suggest a better source to obtain it.

My mother was Nadine Fuhrman, CHS class of '34!
Thank you, David Rohy”

History Center volunteer Doris Coghill thought this was going to be an easy answer because all the Chaska High yearbooks in our collection have been scanned and electronically filed. Sending the applicable file should have been a quick solution for David Rohy’s search. However, the oldest yearbook in our records is from 1938. (Please let us know if you have access to any older yearbooks!) Doris also talked with the Carver County Historical Society and they do not have a copy either, so she had to report to David that a yearbook wasn’t available. However, Doris kept up her detective work and searched our database for photographs with Nadine Fuhrman’s name indexed, and finally found success. The photo of the 1934 graduates and their names were sent to a very happy David! He replied “Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have made my day, week, month, and year! Love forever, David Rohy.”

Tracy Swanson, Laurel Means, Lisa Oberski

Farewell Reception for Laurel Means

By Lisa Oberski

On October 9th, the Chaska Historical Society volunteers recognized the efforts of—and gave a fond farewell to—Dr. Laurel Means, a dedicated volunteer who has been instrumental in writing and editing the text for the upcoming Chaska history book. Laurel’s can-do attitude, persistence, and willingness to adapt to whatever challenges came her way during the several-year-process of creating the text made it possible to complete this monumental task! Laurel took changes of writers in stride, it seemed, accepting responsibility for partial or entire sections of more than one overwhelmed individual, while still completing the section she had signed up for--all while she acted as a text editor for the entire body of work. Because of Laurel’s guidance, volunteers are now able to focus on collecting photographs and newspaper clippings for the volume.

The entire Chaska Historical Society owes a great debt to Laurel, and we all wish her well in this next chapter in her life, as she moves to Kentucky to be near her family. Co-editor Lisa Oberski and content editor Tracy Swanson take on the project’s continuation now, while striving to maintain the momentum Laurel developed and encouraged. As they continue this project, they hope that Laurel is able to sit in that rocker on the porch of the farmhouse in Kentucky, with an Evan Williams bourbon in hand and a smile on her face.

Bon voyage, Laurel!

Library Displays Chaska’s First “Industry”

By Julie Wiese

The Chaska Library wanted to do a display about the fur trading history around this area. Lucky for them, all they had to do was walk next door to the Chaska History Center. Going back 200 years in history to the fur trading days was no problem for the Center’s researchers. Animal furs such as muskrat, beaver, fox and skunk were brought out of their boxes in our Artifacts Collection. The story of Jean Baptiste Faribault, the fur trader at Little Prairie Trading Post was told. Charts explaining the barter between the Dakota, who brought in the furs, and the traders who wished to purchase the furs, were displayed. If you want to know more about this important part of Chaska’s history, Volume 1 of Chaska: A Minnesota River City contains many interesting details about the “industry” of supplying furs.

Besides archiving the local history, the Chaska History Center strives to be a resource to community organizations, schools and businesses. The volunteers at the center were happy to help the library and look forward to future collaborations.

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

By Doris Coghill

There are many ways to donate to the Chaska Historical Society. You can write a check, send a credit card donation through the web site, include a donation with your membership renewal or drop cash into our donation box when you visit the History Center. Each of those is a one-time gift gratefully received and put to good use, no matter the amount of the donation.

But if you want to “give the gift that keeps on giving”, you might consider setting up an endowment with the Community Foundation for Carver County. Money given to them can be used to set up an account where the invested proceeds of the fund are sent to the designated recipient on a periodic basis. Oversight of the fund is provided by committee members that include many long-time Chaska residents. The Chaska History Center is the recipient of one of these endowments from Chaska historian and past Vice-President of the Chaska Historical Society, James Glatzel. It is always a nice surprise when the checks land in our mailbox. Jim’s contributions helped produce the reprint of Chaska: A Minnesota River City, Prehistory to 1950 will be used to help with the printing costs of the next book covering 1950-2000. His generosity of time and financial legacy have left indelible benefits for the Chaska community.

Volunteer Spotlight - Jeanette McGillicuddy

By Sarah Carlson

How would you describe a woman who is highly educated, served honorably in the US Air Force, became an adjunct professor, a systems trainer in sophisticated computer and software, a seamstress, a member of a choir, and a test-kitchen baker in two words? Jeanette McGillicuddy of course!

Jeanette’s path of excellence took her from Minnesota and on to South Dakota, New Hampshire, to Mississippi, Massachusetts, and back to St Paul and then Chaska. Undergraduate studies at the University of South Dakota fueled Jeanette’s passion for math and sciences. After joining the US Air Force, she was one of two women selected to teach communications at Kessler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. She later transferred to Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, MA where she aided in establishing military microwave communications through Europe during the early 1970s. Sadly, the US Air Force’s policy towards pregnant women in uniform was not equitable, so Jeanette was forced to leave the Air Force when her daughter was born. (Another woman officer, Susan Struck, sought legal action against the Air Force for this unequal treatment, was defended by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and eventually prevailed.)

With the GI Education benefits, Jeanette pursued two Masters’ degrees and became professor at two colleges in New Hampshire, teaching in her areas of expertise - math and computer sciences. Being on the front end of computer science, she helped the colleges develop and expand their fiber optic connection that allowed both faculty and students critical access to the college’s educational programs. She later became a consultant and travelled throughout the U.S., training organizations to manage their telecommunications technology.

Returning to MN to help in the care of her mother, Jeanette joined Medtronic and implemented two new information systems for the company. She developed the systems to communicate with staff throughout the organization. She was later placed in charge of training when companies were acquired and when growth of the company demanded more efficient systems.

Jeanette’s background in computer sciences coupled with her ability to guide and teach made her the perfect partner in the process of implementing and improving the information system at the History Center. Jeanette has also contributed significantly to developing a successful process for establishing our exhibits. The accompanying photo shows Jeanette with her homemade replica of a pioneer dress used in the “Why Chaska?” exhibit.

The Chaska Historical Society is very grateful that Jeanette joined the other talented volunteers working at the History Center and her willingness to serve on the Board of Directors.

Chaska: A Minnesota River City Quiz #3

Chaska: A Minnesota River City Book Cover

In the last two issues of our newsletter, quiz questions were meant to expose you to the hundreds of topics and details throughout Chaska: A Minnesota River City, Prehistory to 1950. Here are more questions from the book’s first 3 chapters, pages 1 – 113. These will highlight some of the great anecdotes and pieces of history that make this book a pleasure to read. Answers will be in the next Historical Times newsletter, with their source page.

In 1858, while travelling on the river steamer Antelope, which Chaska resident witnessed a battle between Chippewa and Dakota tribes?
In the treaties of 1851 and 1853 with the Dakota tribes, what price did the US government agree to pay them for land west of the Mississippi River?
In 1835 at a trading post near Chaska, what was the average value of a muskrat skin?
Before it was named the Minnesota River, what was it known as?
In the 1850s, what was the approximate cost of travel from Europe to New York or Quebec?
Wendelin Grimm bought a farm in 1857 and later developed what crop that could survive Minnesota winters?
What woodland plant was used as a cash crop for settlers in the Big Woods area?
After 1849, what work was required by the County Commissioners of male citizens between the ages of 21 and 50?
How did the Benedictine Fathers and their congregation decide the naming of Guardian Angels church?
How many bells were installed in the Guardian Angels church steeple in 1885? BONUS: What were the musical notes of the bells?
What woman had her own business in 1866, and what was that business?
Where was the first of Chaska’s sidewalks located?
Charles Gebhard started home milk delivery in Chaska in what year?
Except for an occasional excursion boat, why did steamship traffic to Chaska on the Minnesota River stop?
Miss Sophia Moser arrived in Chaska without money. What did she do to replenish her assets?
In the 1860s, what items did the Burkhart Brothers offer for sale in their advertisement in the Valley Herald?
How did Victoria Winninghoff save the life of toddler Frank Ess?
Which city vied with Chaska to host the Carver County Fair in the late 1800s?

Chaska: A Minnesota River City Quiz #2 Answers

Here are 7 questions from the quiz in the August Newsletter with their answers and the source page.

What was Susan Hazeltine noted for in 1855?
Answer: Teaching in Carver County’s 1st public school. Page 194.
In what year did some Chaska residents receive electric power?
Answer: 1900. Page 208.
In 1903 what family owned the first automobile in Chaska?
Answer: Dutoit. Page 229.
What kind of epidemic killed at least 17 residents in 1892?
Answer: Diphtheria. Page 232.
In 1920 what 2 families in Carver County were known for their banks?
Answer: Dutoit and Klein. Page 352.
By 1907, what important new factory was operating in the Chaska area?
Answer: Sugar beet processing - Minnesota Sugar Company, later the American Beet Company / Crystal Sugar. Page 439.
What community-wide event occurred December 14, 1942?
Answer: The 1st Air Raid Drill. Page 585.