USA > Minnesota > St Louis County > Duluth > Duluth and St. Louis County, Minnesota; their story and people; an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, educational, civic and social development, Volume II > Part 21
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organized territory be "Cedar Valley," their action being eventually confirmed by the residents of that township.
In 1912, a petition was circulated among the freeholders of town- ship 54-21, and signed by a majority of them, the petition seeking to include that unorganized township in the boundaries of Cedar Valley. Mike Snyder, chairman of the supervisors of Cedar Valley at that time discussed the matter with the county commissioners at session of the county board on February 6, 1913; and the matter was fur- ther discussed by the commissioners at meeting of June 6, and August 6, of 1913. At the August session, the commissioners resolved to add township 54-21 to Cedar Valley. So, the Township of Cedar Valley is at present constituted.
Assessed valuation of real and personal property in Cedar Valley Township in 1910 amounted to $66,555. Tax levy, for all purposes, was $1,590.66. In 1919 the assessed valuation was $141,136, and the tax levy for all purposes, $8,919.79.
Population in 1900 was 98 persons; in 1910 it had increased to 234 ; and in 1920 to 323 persons.
The Cedar Valley school district is No. 23 of the county system. There are four frame schoolhouses, valued at $8,000 in the district, which covers the whole of townships 53 and 54, range 21. Total enumeration in 1919-20 school year was 99. The school term was eight months, and the four teachers received an average salary of $82.50 a month. The school levy, in 1919, amounted to $4,730.63. The school board officials were: Wm. Gustafson, clerk; Jalmer Perk- kijo, treasurer ; Erick Hill, chairman of directors.
The township officials in 1920 were Matt Maki, chairman ; Peter Myllykangas, and Jonas Hietala, supervisors; Mike Siermala, Jr., clerk ; J. Perkkijo, assessor ; Andrew Tuola, treasurer.
Clinton .- The Township of Clinton, which borders onto the rich mining territory of the Mesabi Range, embraces the township 57 north, range 18 west.
Organization came in 1892, following the presenting of petition, dated October 13, 1892, to the county commissioners, said petition being signed by Frank M. Zeller and twenty-three other voters within the territory, praying for the organization of township 57-18, as the Township of Clinton, under the General Laws of the State of Minne- sota, 1878.
The petition came before the county commissioners at their October, 1892, session. It was then resolved to grant the prayer, and public notices were posted calling upon the electors to assemble for the first town meeting, at the Section Car House, situated on the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 15 of town- ship 57-18, on Friday, the 28th day of October. Election was duly held, and organization of Clinton Township duly perfected. Since that time, its boundaries have remained the same, and it is some- what surprising to note that its valuation is now less than it was in 1892. In that year, the real and personal property of Clinton was assessed on the basis of a value of $107,184, the tax levy then being $2,599.21. In 1919, the assessed valuation, exclusive of Iron Junc- tion, was only $105,979, although the tax levy had materially in- creased being in that year, $7,227.77. Also, the valuation of Iron Junction, which is only $11,575, adds very little to the wealth of the township.
Clinton Township population, including Iron Junction Village, in 1900 was 221 ; in 1910, the census showed 316 residents ; and the 1920
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census tabulated 752 persons, then resident in the township. The township is developing agriculturally. It is in school district No. 25.
The township officials in 1920 were: J. S. Soine, chairman ; Edward Berg and J. P. Johnson, supervisors; Jens Jenson, clerk ; Eli Hautala, assessor; P. W. Thompson, treasurer.
Iron Junction .- The incorporated village of Iron Junction has had such powers since 1893, when it seemed that a much more important municipal history would be its destiny. There were 142 legal voters in 1893, and the total population would feasibly have been more than that. In 1920, the population was only 92, and the place is little more than its name indicates-a railway junction.
Petition to incorporate was circulated in May, 1893, John Camp- bell, Frank Ansley, Stephen Ryan, and others, seeking corporate village powers over 480 acres, describing as: "the west half of southwest quarter, section 14; the southwest quarter of northern half, and the southeast quarter and south half of southeast quarter of section 15; and the north half of the northeast quarter of section 22, township 57-18." The petition stated that census taken of inhabi- tants on April 1, 1893, showed that 365 persons were then living in the area.
The petition was deemed regular by the county commissioners, who ordered election to be held on July 25, 1893, "at the store build- ing of P. J. Clure." One hundred and forty-two votes were then cast, and all were in favor; therefore the commissioners ordered elec- tion for officers to be held on August 10th, "in the vacant store building, rear of P. J. Clure's store.'
The value of taxable property in Iron Junction in 1895 was $21,158; in 1919 the assessed valuation was only $1,575.
The present village officials are: E. M. Moline, president ; Thos. Wood, Albert Fischer, and Wm. Molander, trustees; C. F. Zacher, clerk ; Chas. Peterson, treasurer.
Colvin .-- The Township of Colvin came into being in 1910. Its boundaries are those of congressional township 56 north, range 15 west, and was organized by the county commissioners in answer to the request of inhabitants within the territory, as set forth in petition, dated April 14, 1910, of John J. Ljung and twenty-four others.
The projectors at first thought of naming the new township "Markham," but the name of "Colvin" was decided upon before the petition was presented to the county commissioners. The document was filed in the St. Louis County Court House on April 27. 1910.
It was considered by the commissioners on May 6th, and adopted by them on that day, they ordering election to be held on Monday. May 23, 1910, at the schoolhouse situated on section 27, of the town- ship concerned.
In 1910, the assessed valuation of Colvin Township real and personal property was $87,437, and the tax levy $4,503.01. The 1919 valuation was $72,986, and the tax levy $5,700.21.
The population of Colvin in 1910 was 252; in 1920, it was 370. The growth is gradual, and will be stable with increase of agri- cultural development.
The township officials, in 1920, were: Anders Anderson, chair- man; Manu Ekola and Emil Waltenen, supervisors; John Carlson, clerk ; John J. Ljung, assessor; and Eekki Nieminen, treasurer.
Cotton .- The Township of Cotton was erected in 1903. The congressional township (54-17). it then constituted was formerly part of the township of Kelsey, and the separation came as the result of
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a petition circulated among the residents of that region. The petition was dated May 7, 1903, and signed by C. J. Keenan and others. Its object was to bring about the division of the then township of Kelsey into three, as follows: congressional townships 53-18 and 53-19 to form the Township of Meadowlands; township 54-17 to form the Township of Cotton; and townships 54-18 and 54-19 to remain as, and to constitute the Township of Kelsey.
The petition came before the county commissioners for consider- ation at the board meeting of June 8, 1903. Hearing of remon- strances were set for the next monthly meeting of commissioners, and no opposition of consequence then arising the commissioners re- solved to divide the five congressional townships as asked by peti- tioners, and ordered notices of election to be posted.
Election was held on July 31, 1903, at the Miller Trunk School- house, Jacob Weingast being elected "moderator" of that first town meeting of Cotton. The balloting brought the following named resi- dents into office, to constitute the original administrative officials of the new Town of Cotton: Jacob Weingast, chairman; N. Salin and N. M. Nelson, supervisors; Ole Mark, treasurer; W. T. Jenkins, clerk ; P. A. Johnson, justice; Hy Moberg, constable. . On November 5th of that year the boundaries of the township were enlarged, to include the adjoining township, 54-16, which up to that time had been unorganized territory. The action of the county commissioners followed petition of residents of township 54-16, said petition being filed in the County Court House on September 17, 1903.
Cotton Township assessed valuation in 1903 was $88,734, and the tax levy, for all purposes, $971.29. In 1919, the valuation for the two congressional townships of Cotton totalled to $124,436, and the tax levy $7,702.12.
In 1910, the population of Cotton Township was 325 and there has only been a slight increase in ten years, the 1920 census re- cording only 376.
The township officials in 1920 were: William Soderlund, chair- man; O. A. Hoag and L. J. Larson, supervisors ; W. T. Jenkins, clerk; W. Wickstrom, assessor ; and E. A. Nelson, treasurer.
Part of Cotton Township is, for educational purposes, in School District No. 49. That district has two schoolhouses, of frame, valued at $2,100. The enrollment in the year 1919-20 was 25 scholars. Each school is directed by one teacher, female, and the average monthly salary is $82.00.
The school board and officials are: Chauncey White, Cotton, clerk ; Olaus Lorentzsen, treasurer; M. E. Nordstrand, chairman of directors.
Culver .- The Township of Culver, which borders on the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation, was established from unorganized terri- tory in 1893, following the presenting of petition by Edward J. Featherstone and twenty-six other freeholders of the thirty legal voters of congressional township 51 north, range 18 west.
The petition was filed with the county auditor in 1893, and . was considered by the county commissioners at their September meeting of that year. They ordered notices to be posted, calling upon voters of that township to gather at the house of Isaac Reano, east half, northeast quarter of section 12, on October 3d in order to elect township officers. That was done, and the township has since held the territory then brought under its jurisdiction.
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In 1893, the assessed valuation of the Township of Culver was $19,828. Taxes, for all purposes, in that year amounted to $361.86. In 1919, the assessed valuation was $50,753, and the tax levy $3,800.91.
Population of Culver Township, including Brookston Village, in 1900 was 185 persons; in 1910, it had increased to 331; and in 1920 the population was 371.
The township does not appear to have a separate school dis- trict, probably being directly under the county school administra- tion, which is able to economize for sparsely inhabitated townships by handling its school affairs as part of the immense unorganized school district directed by the county superintendent. The school levy for 1919 was 37.1 mills.
Township officials, 1920, were: C. T. Larson, chairman; Chas. Carlson and H. O. Knudson, supervisors; Wm. Carlson, clerk ; C. O. Eklund, assessor ; C. O. Eklund, treasurer.
Brookston, Village of .- The incorporated village of Brookston is the principal community centre of Culver Township. It was in- corporated in 1907, following circulation of petition in March of that year.
The petition sought village powers, under section 702 of the re- vised state laws of 1905, and was signed by a majority of the legal voters of Brookston, the first signer being H. C. Shur. It stated that the number of residents within the area for which corporate powers were sought was then two hundred. That would represent the bulk of the population of the township. (In 1910 the total for the town- ship of Culver was 331.) The statement, and others made in petition, were vouched for by J. F. Ryan, and H. C. Shur, who presented the petition to the commissioners of the county. The last named county board met on March 7, 1907, and approved the petition, and ordered the matter to be put, to the public vote, polling to take place on Tuesday, April 2d, "at the general store of J. F. Ryan, situated on the west half, ne qr., section 34, t. 51, n. r. 18 w." The vote was unanimously in favor of the incorporation, forty-one votes cast being all in favor. The subsequent election brought in the following village officers: J. F. Ryan, president : H. C. Shur, Ed Donley, and Wm. R. Miles, trustees ; Rowe McCamus, recorder.
There can have been very little to the village in 1907, for the county records show the total assessed valuation then to be $873, on which basis a levy of $44.78 was made. In 1919 the valuation was $14,683, with a tax levy of 137.0 mills, this unusually high taxa- tion being made so by a 63 mill tax on state loan to the village. (The township levy is only 76.0 mills.)
An important special election in Brookston was that held on September 22, 1918, when the question: "Shall the Village of Brooks- ton be separated from the Township of Culver for election and assessment purposes?" brought fifteen voters to the polling booth, all voting in favor of the separation.
The village officials, in 1920 were: Arthur Hutchins, president ; John Couture, Thos. Flin and Ed. Kernaski, trustees ; Oliver Olson, clerk; Leo Michaud, assessor and treasurer.
The village was at one time in School District No. 67, but it is now, for school purposes, under county jurisdiction.
The 1910 census taking by federal authorities recorded Brookston as with 160 inhabitants; in 1920 the number living within the village limits was only 135.
Dinham .- The Township of Dinham was erected in 1896 by
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detaching part of the Township of Canosia. It is not now in exist- ence, part of its territory reverting to Canosia, but the greater part going to constitute the Township of Fredenburg.
Petition was presented to the county commissioners on Septem- ber 4, 1896, signed by Peter E. Michaels and other freeholders of township 52 north, range 15 west, and sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of township 51 north, range 15 west, all then under jurisdiction of the township of Canosia, praying that the designated territory be set apart to form a separate township under the name of Dinham.
The commissioners made known that at the next monthly meet- ing of their board, hearing of any objections to the proposed separa- tion of land from the Township of Canosia would be held. No opposition showed at the October meeting, and the commissioners consequently approved the petition, and set apart the land asked for, and designated October 26, 1896, as the day upon which voters should gather at the house of Peter Michael, in the northwest quarter of section 12 of township 51-15, for the purpose of holding the first township meeting of the township erected.
Fourteen votes were cast at that meeting, and the following named residents were elected as township officers: W. McComber, chairman; T. Maleska and E. Kehtel, supervisors; L. Ostrovitzki, treasurer ; P. E. Michaels, clerk; M. Navitzki, assessor; P. Michaels and F. Kehtel, justices; T. Novitzki and M. Langan, constables.
Petition to reinstate the Township of Canosia to its original dimensions was filed on February 5, 1897, but the petition was denied at the February meeting of commissioners. The agitation was, how- ever, persisted in, and eventually the Township of Dinham passed out of existence, the land reverting to Canosia. . Eventually, how- ever, congressional township 52-15 was taken from Canosia to form the Township of Fredenburg. (See Canosia and Fredenburg parts of this chapter.)
Duluth .- The Township of Duluth was one of the first to be organized. It is not necessary here to more than briefly touch upon its history, as that will be found in appropriate place in the pioneer Duluth chapters of this work.
In 1873, the Township of Duluth was one of the five included on "Tax Notice of St. Louis County" for that year, the township being divided into two districts, Nos. 3 and 4. Its taxable property was then valued at $571,016. The tax levy was 28 mills.
At that time there was only one incorporated place, the City of Duluth, and five townships, Duluth, Oneota, Fond du Lac, Rice Lake, and Herman. In 1920. St. Louis County had twenty-five incorporated places, and at least sixty-nine organized townships. The degree of development and prosperity is even more strikingly shown in tax levy. In 1877. the total tax levy was $29,034.41 for the whole of St. Louis County ; in 1919 the tax levy was $20,797,144.95.
The present bounds of the Township of Duluth are those of congressional township 52-12, and fractional township 51-12. Con- gressional township 51-13 was taken from Duluth in January, 1902, to form the present Township of Lakewood; and congressional town- ships 53 and 54 north, range 12 west, were detached on September 8, 1920, to form the Township of Alden (see Lakewood and Alden articles, this chapter).
Duluth Township, even with the two congressional townships taken to form Alden, had only 841 inhabitants in 1920. In 1910 the
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population was 358 and in 1900 only 194. For school purposes it is in the unorganized district.
The townships recently detached to form Alden came within the boundaries of Duluth in 1897. The two congressional towns under reference, townships 53 north and 54 north, range 12 west, were formerly unorganized territory, and the few settlers therein had made two attempts to be brought within the jurisdiction of the Township of Duluth. The petition upon which action was taken was that signed in 1895 by W. H. Smallwood and fifty-three others, and sworn to on December 3, 1897, by Matt Smith and W. H. Small- . wood. Action was taken favorably by the county commissioners at their session of December, 1897.
The officers of Duluth Township in 1920 were: F. W. Shilhon, chairman ; Don D. Driscoll, supervisor; F. L. Damman, clerk; D. Sammoni, assessor ; E. E. Reynolds, treasurer.
Ellsburg .- The Township of Ellsburg, situated in congressional townships 55 north, and ranges 16 and 17 west, was established, or organized, in 1914.
Archie Smith was the first signer of petition circulated in those townships among freeholders in June of that year, and A. P. Smith appears to have been the most active projector of the township peti- tion. He delivered it to the County Court House for filing with the county auditor, and he took oath to its accuracy of statement, and regularity of preparation.
At the next meeting of the county commissioners, held on July 7, 1914, the petition was considered and resolution of approval passed. The commissioners therefore ordered the first town meeting to be held at the Cameron Hotel, situated in the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 18, township 55 north, range 16 west, on the 25th day of that month. On that day the township organization was completed, in accordance with the state law.
The assessed valuation of the township, as constituted in 1914, was $187,083. The total tax levy was $8,087.09. In 1919, the valua- tion was $186,140, but the tax levy had increased to $14,704.77.
The population of the territory in 1910 was recorded as 37; in 1920, Ellsburg is credited with 145 inhabitants. There are several small lakes within its boundaries, and its development has not passed far beyond the pioneer stage.
The township clerk is John J. Hruska; and the treasurer is Louis Cameron.
The school system is divided. Part is under the county super- intendent directly, being included in the unorganized school district, elsewhere described, but township 55-17 is under the jurisdiction of School District No. 31, which covers townships 55-17 and 18, and part of 56-18. In that area, and under the direction of that school district, there are four schoolhouses, all of frame construction, the four valued at $8,000, in 1919. There were in that year 104 scholars enrolled. Four teachers were engaged, at average salary of $84.00. The school levy upon Ellsburg tax payers, in 1919, amounted to 36 mills on $39,035, for school district No. 31, and 37.1 mills on $147.105 valuation for school facilities as part of the county unorganized school district.
The school board and officials of district No. 31, in 1920, were : Mrs. Harold Tecd, Zim, Minn., clerk; Ole Olson, treasurer ; Mrs. S. W. Levin, chairman of directors.
Elmer .- The Township of Elmer was organized in 1920, and
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resulted from the presenting of a petition, signed by John Rohnu and twenty-seven other residents in unorganized congressional township fifty-three north, range twenty west, and that part of township 53-19 lying west of St. Louis River, at that time included in the Township of Meadowlands. The petitioners filed application with the county commissioners on March 10, 1920, and the commissioners set May 11, 1920, as the date upon which hearing of objections to the granting of the petition would be held. On that day, the petition was granted and the boundaries fixed as asked.
First election was held on May 29, 1920, at the Town Hall Build- ing, in township 53-20. Those elected were: Max Bernsdorf (chair- man), Emil Beldo, Martin Warlick, supervisers; W. H. Bailey, clerk ; John Greiten, treasurer; Henry Helmet, justice; Albert Horvath, constable; Matt Finnila, road master; John Horvath, pound master.
The assessed valuation of township 53-20, in 1919, was $48,089, and the taxes levied $2,813.21, for all purposes.
Population of township 53-20 in 1900 was three; in 1910 it was forty-three; in 1920 that congressional township is shown as having sixty-seven residents. That the population of that part of township 53-19 now in Elmer Township cannot be stated, as the census figures include it in those of the Township of Meadowlands.
Elmer is a separate school district, being known as School Dis- trict No. 82. The present school board officials are: Henry Helmet, Box 255, Meadowlands, clerk; Nick Guth, treasurer; Paul Kamper, chairman of directors.
Embarrass .- Two unorganized congressional townships, sixty north and ranges fourteen and fifteen west, was set apart in 1905 by the county commissioners, to organize the Township of Embarrass. as prayed for by signers to a petition filed with the county auditor on May 5th of that year. Twenty-eight freeholders in that territory signed the petition, which was considered by the county commis- sioners at meeting held on May 6, 1905, when the instrument was approved in form. The commissioners did not, however, grant the petition until July 10, 1905.
The first town meeting was held in the schoolhouse situated in the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 25, of town- ship 60-15, on July 29, 1905.
In April, 1911, the inhabitants of township 60-14 petitioned the county commissioners to separate that township from Embarrass, alleging failure of the Town of Embarrass to construct roads in town- ship 60-14. The separation asked for was bitterly opposed by the people of Embarrass, but on February 6, 1912, the county commis- sioners decided to detach the eastern congressional township from the Town of Embarrass and found the Township of Waasa. This was effected by election held on February 27th (for further infor- mation, see Waasa, this chapter).
The Township of Embarrass in 1905 had an assessed valuation of $115,800. The tax levy then was $2,304.42, for all purposes. With the reduction of area, its valuation is now reduced to $50,753 for assessment, but the taxes in 1919 totaled to $4,182.05.
The school levy is 37.1 mills, Embarrass Township, for school purposes, being included in the unorganized school district directed from the county superintendent's office. Such an arrangement effects an economy to some townships of small population.
Embarrass Township had a population of forty-nine in 1900. Its population in 1910 was 648. And in 1920, the population was found
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to have increased to 712. It is the center of a good agricultural section of St. Louis County.
The present township officials are: Erick Lehto, chairman; Nick Lehto and Matt Hill, supervisers; John Waisanen, clerk; John Kangas, assessor; John Koski, treasurer; A. Waisanen and Charles Reinstrom, justices.
Fairbanks .- The Township of Fairbanks embraces two congres- sional townships, fifty-six north, and ranges 12 and 13. This area formed part of the Township of Ault until 1918.
The first attempt to separate townships 56-12 and 56-13 from Ault was made in 1912, a petition being filed with the county officials on June 11th of that year, the petitioners praying for the erection of the Township of Fairbanks, averring that for five years the officers of the Town of Ault had neglected to build roads through the part of the township in which they lived. No action was then taken, apparently, by the county commissioners.
In August, 1918, another attempt was made to detach the two northern townships from the four that then constituted the Town- ship of Ault, the petition signed by J. O. Clapperton and others being presented on August 5th. The commissioners did not act until Octo- ber 8th, when they resolved to detach townships 56-12 and 56-13 from Ault to form the Town of Fairbanks, and election was ordered to be held at the schoolhouse of district 60, Fairbanks, on October 23, 1918.
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