Milford Mine Memorial Park near Wolford in Crow Wing County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Milford Miners Memorial

Butkovich–Crellin

Photographed by McGhiever, June 27, 2025

1. Milford Miners Memorial Marker

Inscription.
George Butkovich
1894 - 1924 George Butkovich was born in Austria. He married Anna Perpich and the couple made their home in Ironton, Minnesota. They had three children, two boys and a girl. At the time of the Milford Mine disaster George was 29, Anna was 23 and their children were 4, 2, and 8 months old. George Butkovich was laid to rest at Lakewood Cemetery in Crosby, Minnesota.

Emil A. Carlson
1894 - 1924 Emil Carlson was born in Finland. He married Elma Vikkori and the couple had four children. The Carlson family had a home in Crosby. At the time of the Milford Mine disaster Emil was 29 years old and Elma was 25. Their children, two boys and two girls, were 6, 4, 2, and 2 weeks. Emil Carlson was laid to rest at Lakewood Cemetery in Crosby, Minnesota.

Valentine Cole
1899 - 1924 Valentine Cole was born in Motley, Minnesota. He married Zena Richmond and they had two children, both girls. The Cole family lived in company housing at the Milford Mine location. Valentine Cole was five days shy of his 25th birthday at the time of the Milford Mine disaster. Zena was eighteen years old. One of their daughters was

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

two and the other was 5 months old. Valentine Cole was laid to rest in Maytown, Kentucky, where his extended family resided. Zena and her daughters when to live with Valentine's parents in Motley.

Evan Crellin
1884 - 1924 Mining Captain Evan Crellin was born on the Isle of Man. He had worked at the Martin Mine before coming to the Milford. He married Elizabeth Perry and they lived in Milford Mine housing with their son. The seven miners who climbed to safety when the mine flooded reported that Captain Crellin urged them to head up the ladder, while he went into the mine to help others. Evan was 39 when he lost his life in the flooding of the Milford Mine. Elizabeth was 38 and their son was 7 years old. Evan Crellin was laid to rest in Iron Mountain, Michigan.

Erected by Crow Wing County.

Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in this topic list: Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is February 5, 1924.

Location. 46° 32.098′ N, 93° 58.247′ W. Marker is near Wolford, Minnesota, in Crow Wing County. It is in Milford Mine Memorial Park. It can be reached from Milford Lake Drive. The marker is between trail

Butkovich–Crellin Marker (second closest) in Milford Mine Memorial Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, June 27, 2025

2. Butkovich–Crellin Marker (second closest) in Milford Mine Memorial Park

intersections 2 and 4. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Crosby MN 56441, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker and memorial is in Minnesota’s Northland. It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Milford Miners Memorial (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Milford Miners Memorial (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Milford Miners Memorial (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Milford Miners Memorial (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Milford Miners Memorial (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Milford Miners Memorial (within shouting

Paid Advertisement

distance of this marker); a different marker also named Milford Miners Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory of the Forty One Miners (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wolford.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 27, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 79 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 27, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.