Author recounts women's role in Civil, Dakota wars

Luncheon caps Women's History Month

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- History teacher and author Marjorie Bingham talked about the role of women in the Civil and Dakota wars Saturday at the 14th annual Women's History Luncheon at Leifeld Hall.

"There is new occasion for the reinterpretation of women and how they remarkably supported wars, continued the economy and aided refugees," Bingham said. "Women took care of wars within wars at that time, which even led to their right to vote.

A native of St. Paul, Neb., Bingham is a history teacher at Hamline University and the University of Minnesota, she has written several books on the subject and is currently working on a these on Minnesota women in the civil and Dakota wars.

She is doing much of her research by reading letters written by soldiers to their families during those wars.

"Many of the letters of that period were destroyed, in order to protect privacy," Bingham said.

Not much has been written about women who provided blankets, pajamas, and fresh vegetables to Civil/Dakota War troops besides welcoming them home, she said.

Bingham noted the tough time women had coping with their men away from home during that war period.

"Women were left on the farms, often without any kind of supporting networks like family members," Bingham said.

She became interested in history as a daughter of WWII. Her mother worked at the Rock Island (Ill.) Arsenal and her father was a U.S. Marine.

She was also a "precocious" reader, starting with 19th century Russian novels that usually contained a history tree.

New Ulm area women honored at the luncheon included Christine Carmichael and Vicki Pieser, both of New Ulm, by the AAUW (American Association of University Women).

The Brown County Historical Society honored Opal Dewanz, Muriel Jeske, Leota Kellet, and Lydia Schilling all of New Ulm, Arlene Schmiesing of Hanska and Carol Young of Springfield.

The Junior Pioneers honored Kathleen Backer, Darla Gebhard, and Marilyn Hesse, all of New Ulm.

The Sleepy Eye Historical Society honored Gail Christensen, Ruth Hornick, Pamela Krzmarzick, and Sally Timm, all of Sleepy Eye.