Southwest Minnesota State University History Center in Marshall Minnesota
They have obituaries from papers that go back to the 1800's, cemetery listings, histories, and biographies of people in Lyon county.
Jan Louwagie is in charge of the History Center.
The telephone number is (507)537-7373.
The History Center is open from 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Volunteers do lookups for inquires relating to Genealogy.
Here is one set of data they have:
Marshall, Minnesota School District 8 was designated by the County Commissioners in 1872 and officially organized the following year. Miss Diana Wheeler conducted the first class of 35 students at the new Congregational Church at Marshall. By 1875, a new octagonal schoolhouse was build for 250 students. By 1892 Marshall had a High School and a Grade School through 8th grade. The city budget for schools in the 1890's was in the range of $30,000. This expense fueled debate on whether Marshall should keep allowing students in neighboring towns to attend Marshall High School and whether the Grade School should ban 5 year olds. By law children were required to attend school and parents of children who failed to attend school were liable for fines up to $50.00. This law worried immigrants new to the Marshall area because the immigrants were afraid the public schools would undermine the old country values they held dear. Required attendance at School also caused hardships for farm families that needed their children to help work the farm. Some rural families sent their daughters to work as "hired girls" at the wealthy city homes in exchange for room and board and the ability to attend school. Unfortunately Court Records record some of these "hired girls" became pregnant and were kicked out of the home by a scandalized wife. Farm children, especially boys, were needed for farm work in the spring and fall of the year and simply did not go to school until the farm work was completed.
In 1901, three Sisters of St. Joseph from St. Paul arrived in Marshall to open St. Joseph's Academy, a private boarding school for girls whose purpose was "the mental advancement and moral training of girls". St. Joseph academy was open to all denominations, but attracted mostly Catholic Irish, French Canadian, Poles, Germans and Belgian girls. By 1906, St. Joseph Academy accepted boys as well.
Marshall Senior High School Graduates: 1888-1900
1888
Addison, Edith
Addison, Harry W.
Andrew, Minnie E.
Frost, William D.
Jackson, Nette
Sigvaldson, S.
Watson, Grace
Whitney, Mille
1889
Butturff, N. Maude
English, Edward M.
Gislason, C.M.
Johnson, Peter A.
Lawrence, J. C.
Weikie, Anna L.
1890
Butturff, Clyde
Cahill, Thomas
Dickie, Hugh
Downie, Margaret
Downie, Maud
Drake, Burt
Drake, Nellie
Drew, Arthur
Fiske, Edna
Forbes, Joseph
Page. Nabel
Salmon, Thomas
Sanders, Millie
Spong, Harry Benjamin
1892
Davis, Esther
Davis, Mary
Humphrey, Julius
Salmon, Kate
1893
Case, Frank
Lee, Gunerius,
Madison, Mame
Neil, Robert
Pierce, Addie
Snyder, Bertha
1894
Cavanagh, John T.
Davis, John
Davis, Thomas E.
Gay, Harry R.
Link, Lillian C.
Link, Maude E.
Loomis, Elijah H.
Snap, Stella M.
Woman, Oscar
1895
Buttson, Harry
Foley, Christopher
Langan, Alice
1896
Baldwin, Gertrude
Dresser, Herbert Newton
Elliot, Florence May
English, William Kirk
Gislason, Haldor B.
Johnson, Lillian Christine
Link, Glen Roy
Link, Maude D.
Marsh, Ida Belle
Maynard, Laura Belle
Neil, Agnes Elizabeth
Nelson, Staci
Norton, Harvey Gordon
Snapp, Stella May
Warren, Fauntie Grace
1897
Cummings, Nellie Elvia
Dresser, Mabel Agnes
Gislason, Arnie B.
Hall, Ida Bell
McGandy, Maude B.
McLennan, Charlie Thomas
Smith, John Phillip
Thurston, Corrington Waite
1898
Andrews, George Luther
Breen, Maurice John
Champlain, Birdie Hortense
Davis, Elizabeth Ida
Elliot, Myrtle Hope
Galbraith, Harry Hamilton
Holm John Gunnlaugh
Hood, Robert McMaster
McGandy, Grace L.
Murray, Sarah Maude
Patterson, Edwin Gail
Richardson, Ada
Tucker, Marie Emabel
Watkins, Lurine May
Watson, Eva Maude
1899
Boutelle, Anna Kimber
Burchard, Simeon James
Edwards, Christine Helga
Fiske, Nathan Milo
Green, Fred
Norton, Frank Egbert
Norton, Willis Irving
Von Williams, James
1900
Chamberlain, Alice Rosalie,
Drager, Nicole
Gibbons, Charles Bayard
Hicks, Carrie Belle
Humphrey, James Lewis
Kennedy, Duncan Leroy,
McLellan, Duncan James
O'Brien, Lottie
Patten, Florence Amelia
Pehrson, Callie Maude
Throop, Frank Harvey
Wasson, Grace Eliza