Publisher’s Note: The following article, published in the Sept. 9, 1910 edition of The News Messenger highlights the brief and fabled visit of president Theodore Roosevelt as he was traveling to Minneapolis to speak at the State Fair. A portion of this article will be featured in the new book: “The Sesquicentennial: Cultivating 150 Years of History in Marshall and Lyon County.” Books can be ordered for $44.95 by calling The Independent or filling out the form included in an advertisement in today’s paper.

(Sept. 9) — Colonel Theodore Roosevelt passed through Marshall at 10:30 o’clock Sunday morning, and was greeted by a throng of many hundreds of citizens, old and young. Last week the News-Messenger gave notice of the time of the distinguished visitor’s arrival, and it would be necessary for the train to make a brief stop. Soon after 10 o’clock crowds wended their way to the station, automobiles by the score were lined on either side of the tracks, there were many carriages, and a great crowd lined the platforms. The Colonel had been informed by the Great Northern official in charge Marshall was one of the liveliest cities on the line and it would be useless to try and avoid greeting and speaking, even if it were Sunday. And as the train slowed up Teddy made his appearance on the rear platform as smiling as a Sunday school boy with his lesson in his head and a swimming hole after service in his thoughts. His first greeting was from the big steam whistle of the city power plant, which welcomed him long and loudly.

It was only while the engine was coaling the stop lasted, but the returned African hunter improved the time in speaking and limited hand-shaking. Uncle Gary was about the liveliest man in climbing the platform and getting hold of the Colonel’s hand, and after that grasp his 81 years shrank into kiddom. An old lady attracted the visitor’s attention, and as he reached for her hand he said Motherhood held his first affection, and next he loved the old soldiers, grasping the hand of Mr. Lawrence. Then he espied a boy holding his smaller sister up so she could see the big man, and he reached for his hand, saying it was an indication of being a helpful person. And another little one was struggling to get her little dog out from under the car, and her hand was taken because she was looking for the safety of the small animal.

The Colonel spoke about good citizenship and the necessity for proper legislation, of honesty and importance of teaching correct life to children, and as the train pulled out the ex-president continued talking till his voice could no longer be heard.

Yes, it was Sunday, and when the Roosevelt train started out from Sioux Falls the Colonel settled down for a Sunday rest, his secretary having sent ahead telegrams to stations where stops were necessary owing to the day being Sunday, he would make no speeches, and requested no demonstration. This would go east of the Wisconsin and Ohio lines, but not in the west, where no day is too good for a worthy demonstration or a good deed, and when Marshall, as the first important town after leaving Sioux Falls was reached, the Colonel quickly saw an intelligent and appreciative people was bound to ignore his secretary’s well intentioned respect for the day.

Colonel Roosevelt’s train proceeded to Willmar, where it was run on the main line and departed for Fargo, where the Colonel spoke to a, great labor day demonstration Monday, and that night left for Minneapolis, St. Paul and the state fair.