The Lyon County Museum has in its collection a book on the 88th Division in the World War of 1914-1918. This book was published by Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Company in 1919. According to the publisher, this book is the official history of the 88th Division, and it was published by authority of the Commanding General of the 88th Division. The Commanding General of the Division was Major General William Weigel.

The 88th Division, a National Army Division, was organized Sept. 4, 1929 at Camp Dodge, Iowa, from men drafted from Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Missouri and Nebraska. The Division was officered largely by reserve officers from the First Training Camp at Fort Snelling. On July 25, 1918, the Division began moving from Camp Dodge to overseas and was assembled in the 21st Training Area in France.

Lyon County men who served in the 88th Division and are mentioned in the book include: Hoit S. Brown, Tracy; Christopher Paulson, Tracy; George H. Fink, Garvin; Harry Schneider, Marshall; Elbert J. McGlothin, Marshall; Orville Reishus, Cottonwood; Ralph W. Hunter, Marshall; John H.Vahle, Tracy; Marke O. Flatequal, Tracy; Frank E. Alexander, Tracy; Thomas J. Patten, Marshall; Emil Ryberg, Balaton; Arthur S. Le Beau, Marshall; Louis Anderson, Lynd; Nikolai Enga, Minneota; Irwin A Stellmacher, Marshall; Isadore H. Paradis, Marshall; Adolph Rydberg, Tracy; John Thorsteinson, Minneota; and Gladstone Fees, Cottonwood.

The photograph featured this week from the Lyon County Museum’s collection is one of the men, Orville Reishus and his wife, Mabelle Ree on their wedding day. They were married at a Lutheran parsonage in Cottonwood on March 11, 1922. Their son, Wallace Dale Reishus, served in the United States Navy in World War II.

The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a non-profit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 W Lyon St in Marshall. The Lyon County Museum is open year-round to visitors. To contact us, visit our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org, call: 507-537-6580, email: director@lyoncomuseum.org, or on our Facebook page.