Milford Mine Memorial Park near Wolford in Crow Wing County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Milford Miners Memorial
WolfordZeitz
Photographed by McGhiever, June 27, 2025
1. Milford Miners Memorial Marker
Inscription.
Milford Miners Memorial. WolfordZeitz.
Arthur E. Wolford 1890 - 1924. Arthur Wolford was born near Waterville, Minnesota. When he was five years old he moved with his parents to the community of Wolford, near the Milford Mine. Arthur was known as a healer, having a remarkable capacity for curing disease and injury by merely touching the sufferer. He married Gertrude Vaars and they had a daughter, Lois. Arthur and his family had a farm near Crosby, where they raised frogs for fishing bait and for restaurants on the east coast. At the time of the Milford Mine disaster Arthur was 33 years old. Gertrude was 28 and Lois was 7. Arthur Wolford was laid to rest at Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd, Minnesota.,
John Yakelich 1891 - 1924. John Yakelich was born in Austria and came to the United States at the age of 16. He worked for the Canadian National Railway and Butler Brothers in Virginia, Minnesota before moving to the Cuyuna Iron Range to work as a miner at the Ferro Mine. He began his work at the Milford Mine in 1922. John married Rosie Brtoncely and they had five children; Johnale, Clement, Amelia, Elanor and Edward. At the time of the Milford Mine disaster John was 33 years old. Rosie was 34 and their children were 12, 11, 9, 7 and 3 years old. John Yakelich was laid to rest at Kilwary Cemetery in St. Cloud, Minnesota.,
Frank Zeitz 1878? - 1924. Frank Zeitz was born in Austria and came to the Cuyuna Range to work as a miner. He owned a house in Manganese, a community close to the Milford Mine location, and he also had forty acres of land near the town of Tamarack, Minnesota. Frank was single and 47 years old when he lost his life in the Milford Mine disaster. Although mining records show his age, there is no notation of his birth date.
Arthur E. Wolford
1890 - 1924
Arthur Wolford was born near Waterville, Minnesota. When he was five years old he moved with his parents to the community of Wolford, near the Milford Mine. Arthur was known as a healer, having a remarkable capacity for curing disease and injury by merely touching the sufferer. He married Gertrude Vaars and they had a daughter, Lois. Arthur and his family had a farm near Crosby, where they raised frogs for fishing bait and for restaurants on the east coast. At the time of the Milford Mine disaster Arthur was 33 years old. Gertrude was 28 and Lois was 7. Arthur Wolford was laid to rest at Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd, Minnesota.
John Yakelich
1891 - 1924
John Yakelich was born in Austria and came to the United States at the age of 16. He worked for the Canadian National Railway and Butler Brothers in Virginia, Minnesota before moving to the Cuyuna Iron Range to work as a miner at the Ferro Mine. He began his work at the Milford Mine in 1922. John married Rosie Brtoncely and they had five children; Johnale, Clement, Amelia, Elanor and Edward. At the time of the Milford Mine disaster
Click or scan to see this page online
John was 33 years old. Rosie was 34 and their children were 12, 11, 9, 7 and 3 years old. John Yakelich was laid to rest at Kilwary Cemetery in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
Frank Zeitz
1878? - 1924
Frank Zeitz was born in Austria and came to the Cuyuna Range to work as a miner. He owned a house in Manganese, a community close to the Milford Mine location, and he also had forty acres of land near the town of Tamarack, Minnesota. Frank was single and 47 years old when he lost his life in the Milford Mine disaster. Although mining records show his age, there is no notation of his birth date.
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° 32.093′ N, 93° 58.208′ 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 near trail intersection #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
Photographed by McGhiever, June 27, 2025
2. WolfordZeitz Marker (second farthest) in Milford Mine Memorial Park
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 (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Milford Miners Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Milford Miners Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Timber Shaft (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wolford.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos:1. submitted on May 31, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. 2. submitted on March 29, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
