In the winter of 1854, the settlers of a small frontier community gathered for a Christmas supper at the home of E.K. Dyer. The food was hearty. The mood was festive. And before the night was over… they would choose the name of their town.

Pomfret was suggested — but deemed too “Vermontish.”
Rushville was proposed — then amended.
A vote was called.

And according to an 1882 county history, “the elective franchise [was] freely accorded to the women.”

Every lady in town voted.

But did they?

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, we explore the charming — and curious — origin story of Rushford, Minnesota. Was this truly an early act of frontier equality? A symbolic Christmas tradition? Or a later embellishment meant to celebrate the town’s progressive spirit?

We’ll examine the historical record, the cultural context of Norwegian and Yankee settlers in southeastern Minnesota, and the way communities shape their own founding myths.

Sometimes history is written in ink.
Sometimes it’s written by candlelight.

Source: History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Company, 1882), Rushford township section.