What's Happening in Sherburne County History

1898--War was the dominant topic of discussion in the newspaper pages of Sherburne County in the first week of April 1898.  Nearly three weeks after the sinking of the U. S. S. Maine in the harbor in Havana, Cuba, men are rushing to volunteer to fight the Spanish and free Cuba from the imperialists of Spain.

In Sherburne County the sentiment is no different.  The Sherburne County Star News reported that men were anxious to enlist in the United States Army.  The Star News reported that twenty-nine veterans of the Civil War, members of the local G. A. R., offered their services to Governor David Clough as a unit ready to fight Spain. 

It is not known if the Governor took these men up on their offer.  However, more than 220,000 volunteered for immediate service in April and May of 1898.  In the ten months of the war, more than 300,000 men served in the United States Army against Spain.