‘Tales from Pioneers & Soldiers Cemetery’ Archives
Tales: Strawberries in October
Tales from Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery 212th in a Series By SUE HUNTER WEIR Keeping the tradition alive. Students have been an integral part of Memorial Day observances since 1869. This year was no exception. Students from the Minnesota Transitions Charter School posted the colors and read “The Gettysburg Address” and “General Logan’s Orders.” Photo: Tim McCall Maria Elizabeth Siglin was born in Sweden on July 12, 1850. She emigrated to the United States in 1880, when she was 30 years old. One year later, on September 27, 1881, she married Johan Herman Siglin who was born in Sweden on April 27, 1851. He was the youngest of his parents’ six children.In 1853, when Herman (his preferred name) was two years old, his father died. His mother died in 1861, leaving him orphaned by the time that he was ten years old. When he was 22, he emigrated to the United States, arriving on May 26, 1873. Immigration records indicate that he was single and traveling [...]
Tales from Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery: #211
No Justice for Martha By SUE HUNTER WEIR On September 9, 2012, the University of Minnesota hosted a dedication ceremony to honor the 250 adults who served as research subjects for medical students in the years 1914-1916.The University provided a marker in their memory. Photo: Tim McCall Gilbert Seashore, the Hennepin County Coroner, ruled Martha Rossa’s death as an “intentional homicide.” But despite the fact that Nick Piritano, the man who shot her, confessed, her case never went to trial. Instead, the county prosecutor devoted his efforts to prosecuting Piritano for killing Nick Bruno, a man who was in the same house as Martha on the night that she died.The transcripts of Piritano’s trials, both of them for the murder of Bruno, appear to no longer exist. And newspaper accounts about what happened on the night of May 5, 1913, are confusing and contradictory at best.What is known is that on that evening she was at the home of Nick Piritano. The papers referred to her [...]
Memorial Day Program 2023
The Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery Lot at Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery. Credit: Minnesota Historical Society Please join us for the 153rd Memorial Day observance at Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery on Monday, May 29. The program begins at 10 AM. Music by the Seward Community Concert Band. Readings by students from the Minnesota Transitions Charter School. Rifle team from American Legion Post One. Everyone is welcome. Seating is somewhat limited so please bring a lawn chair if you can. There will be a one-hour, seated talk about the cemetery’s history at 1 p.m. Free and open to everyone.We will have plenty of seating.
