# Edwin W. Dyke *American banker and politician who served as Minnesota State Treasurer from 1873 to 1876* Edwin W. Dyke (February 10, 1820 – March 17, 1911) was a banker, businessman and politician; his surname also appears as Dike. He was the fifth person to hold the office of [[Minnesota State Treasurer]], serving from 1873 to 1876.[^1] In February 1873 the [[Governor of Minnesota]], [[Horace Austin]], appointed him to succeed [[William Seeger]]. Seeger had resigned after the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] impeached him in connection with the embezzlement of state funds.[^1] Dyke had been a Republican. In November 1873 he stood for the treasurership as a Democrat-Anti-Monopolist and defeated the Republican nominee, Mons Grinager. The source gives the winning margin as 1.57 percent.[^1] Earlier, after the [[Dakota]] War of 1862, Dyke served as citizen provost marshal of [[Mankato]]. He and other mounted provost units guarded the 1862 mass execution at Mankato.[^1] ## Early life and career Dyke was born on February 10, 1820, in Chittenden, Vermont. He attended public schools and then the Burr and Burton Seminary in Manchester, Vermont, which is now called the Burr and Burton Academy.[^1] His early employment included a general store in Brandon, Vermont. He then trained in mechanics and took work with the Rutland and Burlington Railroad Company, later the Rutland Railroad. After that he joined the Cove Machine Company, a Providence, Rhode Island, maker of calico textiles.[^1] In 1857 he relocated to [[Minnesota Territory]] and made his home in Faribault, [[Rice County, Minnesota]]. His cousin William H. Dike settled there as well.[^1] In Faribault, Dyke lent money and imported goods from Baltimore. In 1868 he was among the founders of the First National Bank of Faribault, and he served as its first vice president.[^1] Following the Dakota War of 1862, Dyke was appointed Mankato's citizen provost marshal, with the militia rank of major. He and other mounted provost units later served as guards at the 1862 Mankato mass execution.[^1] In February 1873 Governor Austin named Dyke state treasurer in place of Seeger, a treasurer in default. Seeger had left office by resignation after the House impeached him over the embezzlement of state funds.[^1] In the November 1873 election, Dyke ran on the Democrat-Anti-Monopolist ticket, having previously been a Republican, and defeated the Republican candidate, Grinager. The source puts the margin at 1.57 percent.[^1] Dyke held the office until 1876.[^1] ## Personal life His wife was Julia C. Robinson, from Woodstock, Illinois.[^1] William Hammond Dike (1813–1888) was an older cousin who also settled in Rice County. He served in the Union Army and became major of the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment.[^1] ## Death Wikipedia cites the Minnesota Historical Election Archive for Dyke's death on March 17, 1911, at age 91.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *Edwin W. Dyke* (revision 1379945315, retrieved 2026-10-25) — birth, education, early employment, settlement in Faribault, banking, provost-marshal service in 1862, 1873 appointment and election as State Treasurer, term to 1876, marriage, cousin, and death date as given by the Minnesota Historical Election Archive. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_W._Dyke