The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota*

G.F. Sylvester obituary; Plainview acts to capture E.L. Sylvester

August 21, 1925 - October 16, 1925

PAGE 157

Telegraph operator at various places in the Great Northern Railroad. On June 6, 1886, he became station agent at Milaca and was thus employed until March 17, 1897. In that year he came to Plainview and became associated with his brother, E. L. Sylvester, in the Plainview Bank, becoming cashier. Only July 6, 1906, the bank was organized as the Plainview State Bank and he continued as cashier until it closed on March 4th of this year. He was one of the organizers of the Wabasha County Fair Association and has served as secretary of that association for 14 years and with his retirement became and honorary member. He was a member of the Methodist Church for many years and later became a member of the Congregational Church, acting on the boards and working diligently in the interest of the church. For 20 years he served as a member and secretary of the Board of Education. He was also clerk of the local Woodmen Lodge, Past Grand of the Odd Fellows Lodge, treasurer of the Eastern Star, a past member of the Masonic Lodge, and a member of the Scottish Rite Consistory at Winona and the Mystic Shrine at St. Paul. He has always been prominently associated with business, community and social enterprises of the city.
On January 1, 1886 Mr. Sylvester was united in marriage to Catherine M. Whilt. They have been the parents of five children: Leon C., who died while they were at Milaca, Anna S. who is Mrs. R. J. R. Baker of Port Byron, Ill, Beatrice, who was burned to death in the Iroquois Theatre fire in Chicago (NOTE: This is an error.), Katherine s. of Rochester, and Marion F. at home. The wife and three children survive.
Funeral services were held at the home Wednesday afternoon, conducted by C. F. Martin, pastor of the Church of Christ. Interment was made in the Woodland Cemetery. The Odd Fellows Lodge gave the burial service at the grave.
Mr. and Mrs. R. J. R. Baker arrived Monday evening from Port Byron, Ill. being called here by the death of her father, G. F. Sylvester.
September 4, 1925- Mrs. G. F. Sylvester and daughter, Miss Marion, returned home Saturday from Port Byron, Ill. where they have been spending a few days at the home of her daughter, Mrs. R. J. Baker.
October 2, 1925- Mrs. G. F. Sylvester left Monday for Lincoln, Nebraska and will make her home with her daughter who is teaching there.
October 16, 1925- Clipping

Plainview Folk Act to Capture Missing Banker
Citizens Organize to Halt Removal of Sylvester Property
Say "things are going too easily"
Indignation Aroused Over Failure of Action in Case
To prevent alleged removal of property of E. L. Sylvester bankrupt, to provide for offering a reward for the capture of the missing Plainview banker, and to delve deeply into the affairs of the defunct Plainview State Bank of Plainview, a citizens’ organization has been perfected in the village with the avowed intention of assisting the public officials and the banking department and depositors, in salvaging al that is possible and in bringing the guilty to justice.
Officers have been elected as follows, it was announced late yesterday: Chairman – Judson Wentworth, Secretary – Lawrence C. Ryan, Working Committee – Judson Wentworth, George F. Duerre and Charles E. Richmond.
The citizen’s organization has been under consideration for weeks past due, it was stated, to the fact that a good deal of the property of E. L. Sylvester was being carried away and that the remainder was about to be removed.
County Attorney Acts
This condition of affairs was called to the attention of the County Attorney John R. Foley of Wabasha county and he immediately took steps to prevent further disposition of the property in this manner, it was stated.
His action was for the purpose of making it possible to bring the property into

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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."