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Colonel William Colvill

Colonel William Colvill was born in Forestville, New York, April 5, 1830. He emigrated to Red Wing, Minnesota in 1854 where he opened a law office. In 1855, he established the first local newspaper, the "Sentinel," which he edited until the outbreak of the Civil War.

In 1861, he raised the Goodhue County Volunteers and was mustered in as a captain in the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to colonel of the regiment in May, 1863. During the Civil War, Colonel Colvill was twice afflicted with wounds that would affect him the rest of his life. He was discharged with the regiment in 1864. He was mustered out of the service in May, 1865, with the brevet rank of brigadier general for gallant and meritorious service.

He resumed his law practice in Red Wing. Appointed editor of the "Republican," he held the position until his election to state attorney general, serving in that capacity from 1866-1868. In 1876, he entered the House of Representatives and served one term. In 1877, he was appointed registrar of the federal land office at Duluth. A student of astronomy, mineralogy, and geology, Colonel Colvill was the author of a history of glaciers in the northwest.

In 1867, Colonel Colvill married Jane Morgan. Jane Morgan was born in Trenton Falls, New York on October 9, 1834. She was a direct descendant of Parson Brewster, the minister who served the little band of colonists who came to this country on the Mayflower. Highly regarded for her charity and her leadership in church work, Mrs. Colvill died in Duluth on November 13, 1894. She was laid to rest in the Cannon Falls Cemetary.

Colonel Colvill died on June 12, 1905. He was buried beside his wife in the Cannon Falls Community Cemetary near the graves of his aunt, two sisters, and their families.

The statue of Colonel Colvill, designed by Mrs. George Backus, of St. Paul, is of bronze and mounted on a epdestal of Bedford stone. A duplicate is found at the state capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota. This monument was unveiled at a ceremony in 1909. After completing ground work including the balustrade and steps to the memorial, a plaque commemorating the Colonel and the First Minnesota was unveiled at a dedication ceremony on July 29, 1928. President and Mrs. Calvin Coolidge along with Minnesota Governor Christianson were in attendance. The memorial stairway and balustrade were designed by St. Paul architect J. C. Neimeyer.

This statue is the only state monument dedicated to a Civil War veteran.

July 31, 1994

The Minnesota Northern Sled Hockey team plays in semi-final playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning Sled Hockey team on April 2, 2011 at the USA Disabled Hockey Festival, held at Schwan Super Rink at the National Sports Center in Blaine, MN. Photo: Tony Webster.