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The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota*

Park Sylvester struck by automobile in Virginia, MN; is killed

January 5, 1934


PAGE 223

an automobile accident which badly crushed his body. With other members of the camp, he had returned from town where he had secured transportation to come home for Christmas. While alighting from the truck at the camp a passing motorist struck Mr. Sylvester, who was the first man to leave the vehicle. The impact broke one leg, crushed his chest, fractured several ribs, injured his head and cut his face and head. Rushed to the hospital, little hope was extended for his recovery and when pneumonia set in he was given only hours to live. Mrs. Sylvester, who had planned to meet him a Wabasha on Friday, was informed of the accident and summoned to his bedside. With the assistance of members of the American Legion and Auxiliary of Virginia and members and officers of the camp, everything was done to relieve the pain and sorrow.
Park Dillon Sylvester was born in Plainview on August 8, 1889, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin L. Sylvester. He attended the local school and grew to manhood here. In 1907 he married Ruby Lillie and a few years later went to Canada. He returned to Plainview after a few years where he has since made his home.
In the World War, Mr. Sylvester enlisted at North Platte, Nebraska on February 21, 1918. His service carried him to France where he served for two months at the battle front. In that service he participated in the battles on the Marbach sector, the St. Mihiel offensive and the Meuse Argonne offensive. At the close of the war he returned to Camp Upton, N.Y. where he was discharged May 17, 1919. On the following day he reenlisted and served another year receiving his second honorable discharge at Camp Upton on May 17, 1920.
Returning to Plainview, he continued his home here. He married Ethel Nunamaker October 1, 1923. In recent years he was employed at the Askew Store for sometime. He then took up electrical work. He joined the Veteran Conservation Corps on July 1, 1933 and was stationed at Ft. Snelling for two weeks. The company then went to Virginia where they opened camp about 30 miles from there were he has since been employed.
He was a member of Plainview Lodge No. 16 I.O.O.F. and was past Noble Grand; a member of Greenwood Encampment and Past Chief Patriarch; a member of William Allen Post American Legion and a Past Commander; a member of the Wabasha County Veterans of Foreign Wars and an interested worker in that organization.
The papers of his discharge designate his character as honest and faithful with no AWOL. These few words express the character by which he was known to his many friends in and near Plainview. They could be enlarged upon to a large extent but in the end those wards are very expressions. The entire community was saddened by this untimely death and greatly sympathize with the family in their loss.
Mr. Sylvester is survived by his wife, one daughter Mrs. Robert Fischer of Maple Springs, Idaho, by his first marriage, two step sons at home, his mother Mrs. E. L. Sylvester of Minneapolis, 2 sisters – Mrs. J. P. Caldwell of St. Paul and Mrs. Roy M. Larsen of Minneapolis, and one brother Edwin of Minneapolis. One brother, Byrl, died June 19, 1918 and his father June 4, 1930.
Funeral services were held at the Church of Christ Sunday afternoon conducted by Rev. D. E. Donaldson. The American Legion, with color guard and firing squad in uniform, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the I.O.F.F. Lodge attended the service in rites at the grave. Members of the Wabasha County V.F.W. acted as pallbearers. They were Harry Hawkinson, Alfred Berkins, Geo. Heise of Zumbro Falls, Jack Almeter of Mazeppa, Lloyd B. Johnson and Fred Tarbouckle of Lake City. Burial was made in Greenwood cemetery.
Members of the family from away who attended the funeral were Mrs. E. L. Sylvester, Mrs. Roy M. Larsen, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Sylvester of Minneapolis, Mrs. J. P. Caldwell of St. Paul with a number of members of the I.O.O.F., Legion and VFW from


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* SOURCE: Manzow, Ron (compiler), "The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota - a collection of information taken from the Plainview News, other newspapers, letters, and diaries beginning in 1884": Plainview Area History Center, 40 4th St. S.W., Plainview, MN 55964. Compiled in 2001.

NOTE: from Ron Manzow, December 2001: "Feel free to reproduce the pages for anyone who wants a copy. It was compiled to be shared... All I ask is that they consider sending a check to the [Plainview Area] History Center to help us out. That should be enough."


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