Roots & Riddles

In 1934, the notorious Barker–Karpis Gang kidnapped St. Paul banker Edward Bremer and collected a ransom worth $200,000. According to local legend, not all of that money was ever recovered.

Some believe a portion of the gang’s loot was buried somewhere along Highway 52 between Rochester and Chatfield — hidden beneath a fence post during the dead of a Minnesota winter.

But is there any truth to the story? Or is it simply one of southeastern Minnesota’s most enduring treasure legends?

In this episode, we explore the Bremer kidnapping, the Barker–Karpis Gang, and the decades-old rumors of buried gangster gold hidden somewhere in Fillmore County.

Before modern hospitals and paved roads reached southeastern Minnesota, frontier communities depended on figures like Dr. Luke Miller.

Physician, lawyer, politician, and early Fillmore County leader, Luke Miller played a major role in shaping the region during Minnesota’s pioneer era. From practicing medicine on the frontier to serving in the Minnesota legislature and advocating for railroad expansion, his life intersected with many of the forces that transformed early Fillmore County.

In this episode, we explore the life and legacy of one of southeastern Minnesota’s most influential early settlers—and the lasting mark he left on the community.

Sources: History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (1882); Minnesota legislative records; contemporary newspaper accounts; Luke Miller biographical records.

What if a murderer could simply… disappear?

In 1874, Patrick Noonan killed a man in Fountain, Minnesota—in front of witnesses—and fled. For nearly 30 years, he lived freely under a new life, hundreds of miles away.

But the past has a way of catching up.

This episode uncovers the brutal killing of John McDonald, the decades-long manhunt, and the moment justice finally closed in.

Sources: History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (1882); Chatfield Democrat (May 1, 1902); Stillwater Daily Gazette(April 23, 1902).

Once a thriving community in southeastern Minnesota, Carimona is now little more than a name on old maps and in forgotten newspaper columns.

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, we explore the rise and quiet disappearance of Carimona—a town shaped by geography, railroads, and the ambitions of its residents. We trace where its name came from, who lived and worked there, and why Carimona faded while neighboring towns endured.

Using historic newspaper accounts, local records, and regional context, this episode looks beyond the label of “ghost town” to understand Carimona as a real place with real people—one whose story reflects the fragile nature of early Minnesota communities and the forces that determined which towns survived and which were left behind.

Carimona may be gone, but its story still lingers in the landscape.

In 1856, as Fillmore County was just beginning to take shape, the promise of opportunity came with something darker.

Land claims weren’t just lines on a map—they were worth fighting for. And in at least two cases, they turned deadly.

In this episode, we explore a violent chapter of early Fillmore County history: the murder of an Irish settler in Bloomfield Township, and a separate killing in Fillmore Township where a Polish man named John Branski was murdered in a dispute over a claim line.

Were these isolated incidents… or signs of something more turbulent on the frontier?

Join Preston and Lenora as they dig into the stories, the sources, and the unsettling reality of life on the prairie in 1856—where disputes could turn deadly, and not every crime found closure.

Sources:
History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (1882)

History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (1912)

Winona Republican (1856)

What would you do if you were searching for a lost calf… and instead stumbled into a hidden world 375 million years in the making?

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, Preston and Lenora take you just north of Spring Valley, where farmer John Latcham made an unexpected discovery on his own land—a sinkhole that led to one of southeastern Minnesota’s most fascinating underground wonders.

From the first cautious steps into the darkness to the excitement of early explorers mapping half a mile of passageways, this story has it all: mystery, science, and a touch of small-town ambition. Within months, what began as a chance discovery transformed into the Spring Valley Caverns—complete with guided tours, electric lights, and curious visitors from across the region.

But what lies beneath the surface? How did these caves form—and what might still remain undiscovered 100 feet below?

Join us as we uncover the story of the man, the moment, and the marvel hidden beneath Fillmore County.

For generations, people living along the Root River have whispered about something moving beneath its quiet waters.

Early settlers described a long, dark shape slipping silently below the surface. Fishermen claimed their boats were struck from beneath. Teenagers standing on bridges reported strange shadows gliding upstream at dusk.

Could Fillmore County have its own river monster?

In this episode of Roots & Piddles, Preston and Lenora investigate the strange sightings, old newspaper reports, and local folklore surrounding the mysterious creature said to inhabit the Root River.

But as with many legends, the truth may be stranger — or simpler — than the stories.

Happy April Fool’s Day!

On a fall evening in 1961, Fillmore County Deputy Sheriff Walter Kruegel set out to do something routine — transport a man under arrest back to Preston. But what should have been a simple drive to the county jail would become one of the most shocking tragedies in local history.

Just outside the city limits of Preston, gunshots rang out from inside the deputy’s car. Kruegel, a well-known and respected law officer, had been shot by the very man he was taking into custody.

Though wounded, the deputy managed to stop the car and stagger into a nearby grocery store for help. The suspect fled into the countryside, launching a massive manhunt across Fillmore County.

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, we explore the tragic shooting of Deputy Walter Kruegel — the investigation, the arrest, the court proceedings that followed, and the lasting impact the event had on the community of Preston.

It’s a story of duty, tragedy, and a moment that forever changed Fillmore County law enforcement history.

Sources:
Post-Bulletin (Rochester, MN) newspaper reports, court proceedings, and Fillmore County records.

In June of 1874, a strange box was discovered in a quiet stream in Sumner Township, Fillmore County. Heavy. Waterlogged. Bored through with auger holes.

Inside were human bones.

Word spread quickly. Was it murder? A hidden crime? A body concealed in plain sight? Neighbors were horrified to learn the creek water had been used for cooking and household purposes for weeks.

An inquest was called. Newspapers fueled the speculation. Accusations flew. Letters were printed. And what began as a shocking discovery turned into a full-blown community scandal.

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, we walk through the original 1874 newspaper accounts, the coroner’s investigation, and the heated public responses that followed. Was this truly a crime… or a medical student’s ill-conceived decision that spiraled into frontier fear?

Sometimes the mystery isn’t what was found — but how a community reacts.

Sources:
Western Progress (June 10, 17, 24, and July 15, 1874)
Chatfield Democrat (June 13 and June 20, 1874)

In the winter of 1854, the settlers of a small frontier community gathered for a Christmas supper at the home of E.K. Dyer. The food was hearty. The mood was festive. And before the night was over… they would choose the name of their town.

Pomfret was suggested — but deemed too “Vermontish.”
Rushville was proposed — then amended.
A vote was called.

And according to an 1882 county history, “the elective franchise [was] freely accorded to the women.”

Every lady in town voted.

But did they?

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, we explore the charming — and curious — origin story of Rushford, Minnesota. Was this truly an early act of frontier equality? A symbolic Christmas tradition? Or a later embellishment meant to celebrate the town’s progressive spirit?

We’ll examine the historical record, the cultural context of Norwegian and Yankee settlers in southeastern Minnesota, and the way communities shape their own founding myths.

Sometimes history is written in ink.
Sometimes it’s written by candlelight.

Source: History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Company, 1882), Rushford township section.