Milford Mine Memorial Park near Wolford in Crow Wing County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Milford Miners Memorial
HolmJylha
Photographed by McGhiever, June 27, 2025
1. Milford Miners Memorial Marker
Inscription.
Milford Miners Memorial. HolmJylha.
John Herman Holm 1883 - 1924. John H. Holm, who was known to his fellow miners as Herman Holm, was born in Sweden and came to the United States when he was seventeen years old. He worked as a miner on the Cuyuna Range for 12 years before beginning his work at the Milford Mine in 1923. He married Hannah Runsat, and they lived in Crosby with their son and 3 daughters. At the time of the Milford Mine disaster, Herman was 40 years old and Hannah was 39. Their son Everett was 11, daughter Judith was 9, and their twins Lucile and Loretee were 8 years old. John Herman Holm was laid to rest at Lakewood Cemetery in Crosby, Minnesota.,
William O. Johnson 1888 - 1924. William Johnson was born in Finland and came to the United States with his brother in 1906. He came to the Cuyuna Range in 1916, where he worked at the Kennedy Mine and the Meacham Mine. He married Sigrid Lehton and they had three children. One child died in infancy. William and Sigrid lived in Crosby with their sons Edwin and Harry. William started working at the Milford Mine on February 4, 1924, the day before the mine flood. He was 35 years old at the time of the Milford Mine disaster. Their boys were 8 and 6 years old. William Johnson was laid to rest at Lakewood Cemetery in Crosby, Minnesota.,
Frank Hrvatin Sr. 1881? - 1924. Frank Hrvatin was reported to be about 43 years old when the Milford Mine flooded. He was born in Austria, and his birth date was recorded as unknown. Frank married Frances Mehelich, and had worked as a miner on the Cuyuna Range for several years. At the Milford Mine, he held the position of blaster, preparing and placing explosive charges to fracture and loosen ore. Frank and Frances had eight children. Their only son, Frank Jr., was one of seven miners who escaped the flooding of the mine. Their daughters were 16, 9, 7, 5, 3, 1 and 6 months old. Frank Hrvatin Sr. was laid to rest at Lakewood Cemetery in Crosby, Minnesota.,
Alex Jylha 1875 - 1924. Alex Jylha was born in Finland and emigrated to the United States in 1901. He worked as a miner on the Cuyuna Range for 13 years. Alex married Mary Jamaa and they had one child, a girl. Alex was 49, Mary was 51 and their daughter was 16 at the time of Alex's tragic death in the Milford Mine disaster. The Jylhas lived in Crosby, and Alex had worked at the Milford mine for 6 months. Alex Jylha was laid to rest at Lakewood Cemetery in Crosby, Minnesota.
John Herman Holm
1883 - 1924
John H. Holm, who was known to his fellow miners as Herman Holm, was born in Sweden and came to the United States when he was seventeen years old. He worked as a miner on the Cuyuna Range for 12 years before beginning his work at the Milford Mine in 1923. He married Hannah Runsat, and they lived in Crosby with their son and 3 daughters. At the time of the Milford Mine disaster, Herman was 40 years old and Hannah was 39. Their son Everett was 11, daughter Judith was 9, and their twins Lucile and Loretee were 8 years old. John Herman Holm was laid to rest at Lakewood Cemetery in Crosby, Minnesota.
William O. Johnson
1888 - 1924
William Johnson was born in Finland and came to the United States with his brother in 1906. He came to the Cuyuna Range in 1916, where he worked at the Kennedy Mine and the Meacham Mine. He married Sigrid Lehton and they had three children. One child died in infancy. William and Sigrid lived in Crosby with their sons Edwin and Harry. William started working at the Milford Mine on February 4, 1924, the day before the mine flood. He was 35 years old at the time of
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the Milford Mine disaster. Their boys were 8 and 6 years old. William Johnson was laid to rest at Lakewood Cemetery in Crosby, Minnesota.
Frank Hrvatin Sr.
1881? - 1924
Frank Hrvatin was reported to be about 43 years old when the Milford Mine flooded. He was born in Austria, and his birth date was recorded as unknown. Frank married Frances Mehelich, and had worked as a miner on the Cuyuna Range for several years. At the Milford Mine, he held the position of blaster, preparing and placing explosive charges to fracture and loosen ore. Frank and Frances had eight children. Their only son, Frank Jr., was one of seven miners who escaped the flooding of the mine. Their daughters were 16, 9, 7, 5, 3, 1 and 6 months old. Frank Hrvatin Sr. was laid to rest at Lakewood Cemetery in Crosby, Minnesota.
Alex Jylha
1875 - 1924
Alex Jylha was born in Finland and emigrated to the United States in 1901. He worked as a miner on the Cuyuna Range for 13 years. Alex married Mary Jamaa and they had one child, a girl. Alex was 49, Mary was 51 and their daughter was 16 at the time of Alex's tragic death in the Milford Mine disaster. The Jylhas lived
Photographed by McGhiever, June 27, 2025
2. HolmJylha Marker (fourth closest) in Milford Mine Memorial Park
in Crosby, and Alex had worked at the Milford mine for 6 months. Alex Jylha was laid to rest at Lakewood Cemetery in Crosby, Minnesota.
Erected by Crow Wing County.
Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Immigration. A significant historical date for this entry is February 5, 1924.
Location. 46° 32.097′ N, 93° 58.236′ 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 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 Ruperts 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 (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 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 February 14, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 44 times since then. Photos:1. submitted on February 14, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. 2. submitted on November 27, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
