Roland James Dyer

2020-09-24T13:52:31-05:00
Army Badge
  • Name: Roland James Dyer
  • Location of Birth: Bethel, Minnesota
  • Date of Birth: May 6, 1872
  • Date of Death: February 10, 1945 (72 years old)
  • Parents: Stephen Dyer and Rocselana (Cooper) Dyer
  • High School and Class:
  • College:
  • Highest Rank: PVT (Private)
  • Branch: Army
  • Other Branch:
  • Date Sworn In: June 18, 1898 (Enlistment Date)
  • Place Sworn In:
  • Date of Discharge: November 18, 1898 (Honorable Discharge)
  • Place of Discharge:
  • Military Awards:

  • Military Highlights:
    Roland served with Company B, of the 14th Minnesota Infantry in the Spanish American War.


    The Fourteenth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer was headquartered at St. Paul, Minnesota. They were mustered in for the war with Spain on May 8, 1898. with fifty officers and 981 enlisted men. They were commanded by Colonel Charles A. Van Duzee during war operations. Their movements were they left St. Paul, Minnesota on May 16th, arrived at Chickamauga, Georgia on May 19th, changed station from Chickamauga, Georgia to Knoxville, Tennessee on August 25th, left Knoxville, Tennessee on September 20th, arrived at St. Paul, Minnesota on September 23rd, and were furloughed for thirty days on September 30th. Casualties during the campaign were nine deaths. The regiment was mustered out at St. Paul, Minnesota on November 18, 1898 with fifty officers and 1,180 enlisted men. Casualties while in service were: Officers-none, Enlisted men-died of disease-9; and deserted-3.

  • Wars Involved:
    Spanish American War

  • MIA / POW:

  • Civilian Life:
    Roland was married to Harriet Barrett on May 1, 1906 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    To this union were born five children, all of whom survive. They are Mrs. J. O. Anderson, Mrs. F. L. (Marion) Nettleton, Mrs. N. (Anna) Nelson, Mrs. Edwin Parks, and one son, Edwin J. Dyer. There are also sixteen grandchildren, one brother, Sigel, and three sisters, Mrs. Jennie Mitchell, Mrs. Lennie Anderson, and Mrs. Henry Gjetely.

    Mrs. Dyer died February 8, 1941, almost four years ago to the day before Roland's death.

    Mr. Dyer has been a resident of the Poplar Grove community (near Deer River, Minnesota) for about ?? years.

    Roland died at the community hospital after an illness of three weeks. He is buried in Fort Snelling National Cemetery at Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Plot A-15, Site 3340)

  • Tribal Affiliation(s):