Redwood County, Minnesota - Militia Company, 1916

Company L, Second Regiment, M. N. G., is on the Texas border at the time of the writing of this article, captained by its organizer, Capt. M. W. Hingeley.

In the spring of 1908, Captain Hingeley, then a bank cashier in Redwood Falls, did some strenuous work, first enthusing the citizens, then interesting the young men, and finally securing the necessary concessions from the city council.

As the result of efforts of the citizens of Redwood Falls, and other cities, three new companies were mustered into the state service, for the Second Regiment, which at that time had its headquarters at Austin, with Col. A. W. Wright commanding. These companies were "K," "L" and "M." Company L was the Redwood Falls company. It was mustered in on October 5, 1908, with the following officers : Captain, M. W. Hingeley (a regular army veteran of the Philippine service, during the Spanish-American War) ; first lieutenant, Rev. C. S. Mork (rector of the Episcopal church) ; second lieutenant, A. C. Dolliff (then, as now, a leading attorney of Redwood Falls). The company under this captain and these lieutenants did excellent work during the summer, but during the winter interest decreased owing to the absence of a drill hall, and at many times the company seemed on the verge of being mustered out of service.

Capt. Hingeley resigned to take up banking at Floodwood, Minn. Dr. J. W. Inglis was elected captain in January, 1900. It was while he was captain that the legislature passed the Armory appropriation of $10,000. This appropriation was later increased by $5,000. Company L was the first in the state to receive the appropriation. The citizens of Redwood Falls conceived the idea that with an additional amount an armory and theater combined, could be erected, so about $4,500 was raised by subscription. The armory was completed while Charles Galles was captain, in 1914, at a cost of $25,000, and the building is now free from debt. Originally the site west of the jail was purchased and deeded to Company L. It was found, however, that Company L had no existence as a corporation and subsequently the present site was secured. The site west of the jail will doubtless always remain public property, as technically the title probably rests in each individual member of the company at the time it was purchased. Captain Galles resigned while the company was on duty at Fort Snelling, in the summer of 1916, awaiting the call to the Mexican boundary, and the original captain, M. W. Hingeley was appointed in his place. First Lieutenant Mork was succeeded in turn by Clarence March, Theo. G. Olson, Chas. Galles and W. B. Clement. Second Lieutenant A. C. Dolliff was succeeded in turn by Frank Theiring, Charles Galles and John Lauterbach.

While at Ft. Snelling awaiting its call to the Mexican service, the company was constituted as follows: Captain, Myron W. Hingeley; first lieutenant, W. B. Clement; second lieutenant, J. W. Lauterbach ; first sergeant, Archie Horr ; quartermaster sergeant, George Gaedy; sergeant, Oliver E. Steele; sergeant, William Peavy ; sergeant, Glenn Gold ; sergeant, William Evans ; sergeant, E. L. Gallea ; cook, Leroy Ewer ; corporals : E. H. Bollum, John Mason, Harre L. Starr, William Carity, B. W. Rice, Art. Frank Baldwin, H. L. Jordan, Frank Welch, H. F. Warner, C. A. Lauterbach ; privates : Julian Stensvad, Floyd Jones, W. C. Morgan, Milo Jones, Harry Flathers, John Mowry, Walter E. King, Harry Dickson, John Sexton, Loyd Bobsin, Otto Voltz, Irl H. Starr, William Neal, Sewell Battin, Knute Nielsen, Earl Hansen, Robert Fuller, Robert Johnson, Burr Bateman, Charlie Okins, E. C. Ahrens, Willard Simpson, Roy Kuck, Ira Rogers, Jacob Mc- Intyre, Bert Marsh, Fred Okens, Joe Wicks, Fay Parish, Claude Smith, Gideon Dashmer, Chauncy Welch, S. T. Edwards, George Thayer, Russell Bunch, Fred Ahrens, Leroy McPhee, Ben Everett, Luvern Schmidt, Frank Hammer, Harold Gray, Howard Hall, William Arnett, Roy Erickson, Connie Ackman, Albert Howard, Maurice Jones, C. G. Biggers, Vern Shoemaker, Bill Flathers. Since then the following changes have been made : Kuck, Chauncy Welch, Vern Shoemaker, sergeants; E. H. Bollum and Frank Baldwin, corporals ; Ben Everett and W. C. Morgan. Glenn Gold is now regimental adjutant. The following have been released from service : C. A. Lauterbach, Henry Dickson, Harre L. Starr, George Thayer, Lloyd Bobsin, William Neal, Howard Hall, E. C. Ahrens. A number of recruits have been added.