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 23
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The officials of French Township in 1920 were: Veder Fritcher, chairman of supervisors; O. H. Moon, clerk; Wm. H. . French, assessor ; A. W. Klofauda, treasurer.
Gnesen .- The Township of Gnesen was organized in 1879. Its proximity to Duluth will eventually make its land valuable, although up to the present, it cannot be said that its advance has been rapid. In 1879 its assessed valuation was $32,086, which figure by forty years of development was increased to $183,218, the valuation of the
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township in 1919. Taxes certainly have increased more rapidly, the twenty-two mill levy of 1879 becoming 81.7 in 1919 including a school tax of 36.2 mills.
Gnesen has advanced slowly mainly, perhaps, because of lack of railway facilities. The Northeastern Railway is the nearest, passing within a few miles of the northwestern part of Gnesen Township. Otherwise, there is only roadway means of transportation and the roads are not very good, excepting the Vermilion Road, which passes through the eastern half of Gnesen, entering in section 35 of township 52-14, and passing out in section 2 of 53-14. There are several small lakes in Gnesen, which is bounded by Fredenberg and an unorgan- ized township on the west, by unorganized territory on the north, by the Township of Normanna on the east and by Rice Lake Township on the south.
The present township officers are: Jos. Trudel, chairman; Peter Trader and John Krezewski, supervisors; S. C. Machnikowski, clerk ; John Jakubek, assessor; Jacob Mosiniak, treasurer.
Its educational district is known as School District No. 8. Three frame schoolhouses are in use in the township, the value of the three being estimated in 1919 to be $6,900. The school in that year had an enrollment of 101 scholars. There are five female teachers; the average salary was $91.00 a month; and the school term was eight months. The school board is constituted as follows: Frank Labud, clerk; Ignace Karalus, treasurer; John Jakubek, chairman of direc- tors.
Grand Lake .- The Township of Grand Lake was organized in 1895, out of territory formerly part of the Township of Canosia. It resulted from the circulation of a petition signed by residents in townships 51-16 and 52-16 in March, 1895, asking that the two con- gressional townships be separated from the Township of Canosia, and given the township name of Grand Lake. William Keir was the first signer of the petition, which was referred by the county commis- sioners to the county attorney on May 7th. No further action was taken until October 8th, when the instrument was found to be in regular legal form. It was then filed by County Auditor Halden, and considered by the county comissioners on the same day. Hear- ing of remonstrances was set for November 5th, when the commis- sioners organized the Township of Grand Lake, embracing the two congressional townships named in petition, with township powers as provided by Chapter 10, General Statutes, 1878.
The first election was held at the schoolhouse situated in the northeast quarter of section 22, township 51-16, November 23, 1895. There has since been no change in the boundaries of Grand Lake Township.
The Cloquet River runs through township 52-16 and two rail- ways pass through, the Duluth, Missabe and Northern and the Duluth and Winnipeg, and there are several good roads.
The assessed valuation of Grand Lake Township in 1896 was $150,979 ; in 1919 it was $322,210. The tax levy in 1896 was $4,474.69; in 1919 it was $14,241.68.
Population in 1900 was 104; in 1910 it was 283, and in 1920 it was 329.
The township is in school district No. 15, which serves the full area of Grand Lake, i. e., township 51 and 52, range 16. There are three frame schoolhouses, valued in 1919 at $15,000. The teaching staff (four female teachers) get an average pay of $80.50 a month.
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The enrollment in 1919-20 school year was sixty-five. The school levy in 1919 was $3,061.00. The school board officials in that year were: S. N. Peterson, Twig, clerk; Arvid Anderson, treasurer; Ed Anderson, director.
The township officials in 1919 were: Ben Clauson (chairman), Ed Nelson and Martin Bolland, supervisors; A. W. Kroll, clerk; Carl A. Anderson, assessor ; S. N. Peterson, treasurer.
Great Scott .- The Township of Great Scott, which embraces three congressional townships, and one tier of sections of another, all of range nineteen west, has administration of rich mineral terri- tory. Within its bounds are some of the substantial mining prop- erties of the Mesabi Range, properties which have developed the prosperous villages of Buhl and Kinney. The jurisdiction of the Township of Great Scott is over townships fifty-seven, fifty-eight and fifty-nine north, and the southernmost tier of township sixty north, all of range nineteen west.
Great Scott Township was so named under somewhat singular circumstances. The principal petitioners called upon the county commissioners, presenting their petition, which prayed for the organ- ization of the territory, but left to the commissioners the task of naming the township, when organized. This the commissioners did not want to do, and requested the petitioners to decide upon a name. Much pondering and discussion among the projectors followed, but without result. At last one of the commissioners impatiently ejacu- lated: "Great Scott! Still thinking of a name?" "That will do," replied one of the promoters of the township. And under that cog- nomination the township has since been recorded in county records.
The villages of Buhl and Kinney will be separately dealt with, as they need a more detailed description than does Spina, the other incorporated place of the township.
Spina (Village of) .- The Village of Spina secured corporate powers only after a long struggle against opposing interests, and by dint of persistent effort. Twice the attempt to incorporate was defeated at the polls and the third attempt was successful probably because of another movement then being prosecuted to attach Spina location to the incorporated Village of Kinney.
The first petition bears date of September 14, 1909. The paper was signed by a sufficient number of the 222 people then resident in the location and asked for the incorporation of about 450 acres of land, the acreage including and adjoining the platted townsite of Spina, the whole being in sections fourteen and fifteen of township 58-19. The first signers of the petition were Alex. Renlund, Louis Cordileone and Fred Erickson, and it came before the county com- missioners at their November, 1909, session. It received their approval and they ordered election to be held on December 12, 1909, "at the restaurant of Louis Cordileone, lot 8, block 5, townsite of Spina." Before election could be held, however, the county commis- sioners reconsidered their resolution, ordering election to decide the matter of incorporation and withdrew their approval of the petition. Why, is not recorded in the papers available to compiler of this.
On December 21, 1909, another petition was in circulation, this petition reducing the acreage for which incorporation was sought to 360 acres of section 14, including twenty acres platted as the town- site of Spina. The petition was filed with the county auditor on January 4, 1910, and on January 18th considered favorably by the commissioners. Election was to be held on February 9th, but the
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order was withdrawn by the commissioners. The petition remained without action until October 7, 1910, when the commissioners decided that election should be held on. November 1st.
Of fifty-one voters at that election, thirty-three voted against the incorporation. The "Report of the Inspectors of Election" stated that they found the place selected as the place of election was "in a room adjoining a saloon." They considered it "an improper place and, therefore, held the election in Johnson's Boarding House, imme- diately west of the designated poling place."
No further attempt to secure the incorporation of Spina was made until 1913. A petition signed by Luigi Cordileone and others and filed with the county auditor on August 26, 1913, sought to bring about the incorporation of only twenty acres, that is all of the land platted as the townsite of Spina, the twenty acres being the western half of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section fourteen, township 58-19, upon which townsite there were then resi- dent 237 persons. The petition was signed by twenty-seven per- sons, who were all sworn to be legal voters of that place.
At about the same time the county commissioners were advised that a petition had been presented to the village council of Kinney by certain residents of Spina location, asking that Spina be annexed by the incorporated Village of Kinney. The petition had even been adopted by the Kinney Village council, and a date fixed for election, when the county commissioners, on September 6th, granted the peti- tion of Luigi Cordileone and ordered notices to be posted in the townsite of Spina calling upon voters to ballot, on October 10, 1913, and designating the "vacant store building, lot 17, block 3, townsite of Spina" as the place of election. The voting was in favor of incorporation.
The assessed valuation of the village of Spina in 1913, was $11,069. In 1919, it was $15,582. Its place in the township is therefore not a very important one, when one considers that Kinney's valuation runs near to two millions and Buhl's to almost ten million dollars. However, possibilities of growth in visible wealth as well as popula- tion are ever present on the Mesabi Range, and the present Spina may be the nucleus of a much greater Spina a decade or so hence.
Mining .- The mines of Great Scott Township are all in town- ship 58-19, and a full review will be found in the Buhl-Kinney chap- ter. The principal mines are, or have been, the Grant, Thorne, Sharon, Shiras, Woodbridge, Itasca (Dean), Cavour, Yates, Kinney, Dean, Wade, Deacon, Wanless, Seville, Whiteside and Frantz. The ore shipped from Buhl and Kinney in 1919 season totaled to almost one and a half million tons and immense stripping operations are under way in one mine, where an electric 300-ton shovel has been introduced. The available reserve of ore in the Buhl group of mines runs into eight figures.
Schools .- The schools of Great Scott Township are excellent, some of them being models of architectural excellence, and practical utility. The high school at Buhl and the Wilson School at Kinney are schools of which the township might well be proud. The school district is known as Independent School District No. 35, which cen- ters at Buhl, and has direction of education throughout townships fifty-eight and fifty-nine north, range nineteen west. (See Buhl- Kinney Chapter.)
Taxes .- The assessed valuation of Great Scott Township in 1919 totaled to $586,386, exclusive of the about twelve million dollars
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valuation of the incorporated places. The total taxes amount to 83.8 mills, with a school tax of 41.5 mills. The school levy in 1919 for Independent School District No. 35 amounted to $484,464.08, that to provide education to 1,166 children, the majority of whom are of foreign-born parents, natives of seventeen different countries, chiefly European. Many of the children are unable to speak in, or under- stand, the English language when they first attend school. Ameri- canization is soon achieved, however.
Population .- There were 108 people in the township when the 1900 census was taken. In 1910, the population was 2,322, and in 1920 there were 3,963. The bulk of the inhabitants are resident in Kinney or Buhl village. Kinney's 1920 population was 1,200, while Buhl had 1,005 in 1910 and 2,007 in 1920.
Township Officials, 1920 .- John McGrath (chairman), Nestor Peltonen and M. E. Anderson, supervisors; Chas. Linihan, clerk ; Geo. R. Barrett, assessor; John W. Pasich, treasurer.
Halden .- The Township of Halden, the bounds of which are township 51-21 was organized in 1903.
On May 13th of that year a petition was signed by Joseph B. Todd and other freeholders of the territory for which township powers were sought, and in due course presented to the board of county commissioners, with the request that if granted, the new township be named "Savanna."
The petition was approved "in form and execution" by the county attorney on June 18, 1903, but was not passed by the Board of County Commissioners until September 3rd. The commissioners then ordered the first town meeting of the township of Savanna to be held at the schoolhouse situated on the northeast quarter of north- east quarter of section 14, township 51-20, on Wednesday, September 23, 1903.
Election was accordingly held and the first officers of the town- ship of Savanna were: Nels Wuotila (chairman), Henry Peterson and Aug. Wuotila, supervisors; L. Randall, clerk; Aug. Anderson, treasurer ; Jacob Jurvelin, assessor; Henry Peterson and Aug. Wuo- tila, justices ; Joseph Kangas and Aug. Anderson, constables.
Shortly afterwards, the county auditor was advised by the state auditor that another name for the newly organized township must be chosen, as "Savanna" was the name of another township in the state. "Roosevelt" could not be secured, for the same reason. The county commissioners, therefore, on October 6, 1903, decided to name the township "Halden," the patronymic of the then county auditor. Their naming was subsequently confirmed by the voters.
Halden Township in 1903 had an assessed valuation of $55,642; in 1919 its valuation was $83,532. The tax levy, for all purposes, in 1903 was $2,025.37; in 1919, the levy amounted to $6,248.19. The population in 1900 was seventy-five; in 1910 it was 265; in 1920 it was 365.
The township officials in 1920 were: Waldemar Alho (chair- man), Glenn F. Chapin and Nathan Nelson, supervisors ; S. Magnuson, clerk ; John Hannula, assessor and treasurer.
Halden has no separate school district. It is part of the immense unorganized school district which is directly supervised by the county school superintendent. The school levy, in 1919, was 37.1 mills. At one time, the township of Halden was in School District No. 19. Apparently, the county unorganized district is more economi- cal for the taxpayers.
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Hermann .- Prior to May, 1897, the Township of Hermann com- prised two congressional townships, 50-15 and 50-16. In 1873, the valuation of the township was $18,757.00 for assessment. The total tax levy in that year was forty mills, and as distributed, the revenue was :
Special School Fund. $150.06
General Fund
93.78
Road Fund .
93.79
Total
$337.63
In 1897, the assessed valuation of the township was $222,484. The total tax levy was $5,651.09. In May of that year, congressional township 50-16 was detached from Hermann Township, to form the Township of Solway. With the necessary settling of accounts, the statement of Otto Zebott, clerk of Hermann, showed that, on that date, the township had no outstanding bonds; that outstanding orders totaled to about $20; and that there was $77.11 in the treasury.
Hermann Township since 1897 has been limited to the one con- gressional township, 50-15. Its assessed valuation in 1919 was $206,- 638, with taxes amounting to $17,068.30 levied.
The population is not given prior to 1900, but the statistics since that year are: 1900, 625 persons; 1910, 925; and 1920, 842 persons resident in the township.
The Hermann Township officials in 1920 were: C. R. Olson (chairman), Ernest Zebott and Otto A. Witte, supervisors; James R. Grady, clerk; Wm. Janzig, assessor, and H. Halvorson, treasurer.
School District No. 6 covers the one township 50-15 only, and therefore comes directly into the levy of Hermann. There are four frame schoolhouses in the district, the four valued at $35,000. The school year is of eight months' duration and with an enrollment of 184 scholars in 1919-20, fourteen female teachers were regularly employed, at an average salary of $81. The school levy amounted to $7,232.33. The school board officials, 1919, were: Rudolph Martin, clerk; Emil Johnson, treasurer; Chas. Avery, director.
Industrial .- A petition circulated in November, 1890, and signed by John Johnson Holm and other freeholders of township 51-17 appealed to the county commissioners to grant them township powers and privileges. The petition asked that the proposed town, if or- ganized, be named "Industrial," and designated the house owned by James Erickson, and situated on the southeast quarter of section 2, of township 51-17, as the place at which the first town meeting could conveniently be held.
The county commissioners, on February 7. 1891, granted the petition, and ordered election to be held "at the saw-mill on the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 22, township 51-17." on February 26, 1891.
The election was accordingly held, and township officers chosen.
In the next year, on October 25, 1892, a majority of the white residents of township 50-17 sought, by petition of D. F. Lemire and fourteen other voters, to prevail upon the county commissioners to annex to the township of Industrial all of fractional township 50-17 not included in the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation. The petition was disapproved by the commissioners, and nothing further was done to affect the boundaries of the Township of Industrial until April 7, 1911, when Nick Lyngstad and others presented another petition, making a like request, and on June 7th of that year "all
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that part of township 50 north, of range 17 west, lying south and east of the St. Louis River in St. Louis County" was attached to and made part of the Township of Industrial.
In 1891, the assessed valuation of the Township of Industrial was $19,749; in 1919, it was $156,531. The tax totalled to $347.58 in 1891; it amounted to $11,040.60 in 1919.
The population in 1900 was 158; in 1910 it was 362; and in 1920 a material increase was shown, the census tabulation crediting the enlarged township with 789 residents.
The township officials in 1920 were: H. Pichelmann, chairman ; M. Bloom, supervisor; M. Galvert, clerk; F. A. Balcom, assessor ; and W. Longton, treasurer.
The school system is under the direct supervision of the county school superintendent, there being no separate school district in Industrial. Its territory is embraced in the huge unorganized school district directed from the county offices at Duluth. The school levy, in 1919, consequently amounted to 37.1 mills.
Kelsey .- The Township of Kelsey has been in existence for more than twenty-five years. It was organized in 1895, out of unor- ganized territory, its limits being congressional township 54-18 originally. Later, the township was enlarged to include townships 53-19 and 18 (now Meadowlands), 54-17 (now part of Cotton), 54-18 (the present bounds of Kelsey), and 54-19 (now part of Toivola).
Organization .- The organization of Kelsey Township in 1895 was the outcome of petition of F. C. W. Zacher and other legal voters of township 54-18. The petition was dated July 9, 1895, and sought township powers for that territory, under authority of chapter 10, General Statutes of 1878, requesting that the new township, if or- ganized, be named "Kelsey."
The petition came before the county attorney, for examination on July 9th and on that day he reported to the county commissioners that the document was correct in form and execution. On motion of Commissioner Swenson, township 54-18 was set off as the Town- ship of Kelsey, in accordance with petitioners' wishes.
First Election .- The first election was held "at the Pump House of the Duluth, Missabe and Northern Railway Company," situated on the NE quarter of section 22, of that township, on July 29, 1895."
Area Increased .- At about that time, the inhabitants of adjoin- ing and contiguous territory manifested a desire to be included in the organized Township of Kelsey. A petition was presented to the county officials on August 6, 1895, asking that four other unor- ganized congressional townships, 53-13, 53-19, 54-17, and 54-19, be annexed to the Township of Kelsey. The petition was signed by a majority of the legal voters of those townships, and the county com- missioners acted quickly, granting the petition on August 6, 1895.
Organization of Meadowlands and Cotton .- So, the area of Kelsey Township remained until 1903. On May 6, 1903, a petition was prepared, in the hope of bringing about the separation of three congressional townships from Kelsey. The document was signed by C. J. Keenan and others, and asked that townships 53-18 and 53-19 be detached from Kelsey to form a new township, to be known as "Meadowlands" and township 54-17 to form a separate township under the name of Cotton, leaving townships 54-18 and 54-19 as the territory of the Township of Kelsey. Hearing of remonstrances was held by the county commissioners, and on the 13th day of July, 1903, they reorganized Kelsey, and erected the townships of Cotton
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and Meadowlands, in accordance with petition (see Cotton and Mea- dowlands articles, this chapter). The organization came under authority of Chapter 152, General Laws of Minnesota, 1901.
Reorganization of Kelsey .- A special election was held on July 31, 1903, at Kelsey School House, to regularize the new organiza- tion of the Township of Kelsey, and the following named residents then took office: John E. Grandy, (chairman) ; William Conners and H. A. Mickelson, supervisors ; J. D. Post, clerk; J. McKay, treasurer. At the first town meeting it was resolved that township officers be paid a remuneration of $1.50 a day and expenses, on the day of town meetings, or when upon the business of the township.
Taxes .- The Township of Kelsey had an assessed valuation of $34,144 in 1895. Presumably this embraced the five congressional townships. In 1919, the assessed valuation of Kelsey (54-18), was $82,071. Taxes in 1895 amounted to $1,024.32; in 1919, the tax levy was $5,203.30.
Erection of Toivola .- The area of Kelsey was reduced to the one township in 1911, when the Township of Toivola was formed from townships 54-19, which was part of Kelsey, and unorganized township 54-20. The separation was affected on July 29th. (See Toivola.)
Population of Kelsey .- The population of Kelsey Township was 291 in 1900, 194 in 1910, and 188 in 1920.
Transportation .- Two railways, the Great Northern and the Duluth Missabe and Northern, pass through the township, and the White Face River winds through Kelsey from east to southwest.
Present Officials .- The township officials, in 1920, were: G. J. Kingsley, chairman; J. H. Schrader and J. O. Scott, supervisors ; Fred E. Watson, clerk; J. W. Erickson, assessor; J. Wmn. Erickson, treasurer.
School Systems .- Its school district is designated No. 75. There are two schoolhouses, both of frame construction, the two valued at $1,200 in 1919. The school term in that year was of eight months duration. The enrollment was 43 scholars. Four female teachers constituted the teaching staff, they receiving an average salary of $80 a month during the school year. The school levy amounted to $2,470.34. The school board officials were: E. L. Channer, Kelsey, clerk ; H. Person, treasurer; H. D. Makinster, chairman of directors.
Korpi .- A petition signed by fourteen legal voters of unorganized township 60 north, range 19 west, the first signer being Charles Kolander, sought permission of county commissioners to organize that territory into a township to be known as ""Korpi." Petition stated that at the time of signing, there were not more than twenty- five male freeholders, "not less or more," in the territory.
The commissioners considered the petition, but disapproved it. A second petition was filed on July 20, 1916, but was not fa- vorably received by the commissioners.
The southernmost tier of sections of township 60-19 now belongs to Great Scott Township. Federal census statistics show that town- ship 60-19 had a population of 122 in 1910, and 92 in 1920.
Kugler .- The Township of Kugler, 61-15, was organized in 1904. Petition was filed on August 24th of that year, signed by Martin Nelson and others of congressional township 61-15, which the peti- tioners sought to have organized, under chapter 10 of the Statutes of Minnesota, 1894, as a township designated "Nelson."
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At session of Board of County Commissioners September 6, 1904, the Township of Nelson was organized, and the first town meeting was held at the schoolhouse situated on section 8, of town- ship 61-15, on September 26th.
Later, it became known that another name must be selected for the new township, as there was already a Nelson Township in another part of the state. The commissioners therefore, with the consent of the freeholders of the territory, named the township "Kugler," that being the name of one of the county commissioners.
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