USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 39
USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 39
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1899-1900-Henry Hendrickson, Knut K. Fuglie, John O. Torgerson, Frank A. Ekberg, Warren Polar.
FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE IN GRANT COUNTY, TOWN OF ELK LAKE. Originally Built of Logs and Weatherboarded.
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POMME DE TERRE LAKE, NEAR ELBOW LAKE.
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
1901-02-Edward Mobraaten, Knut K. Fuglie, R. Johnson, John O. Torgerson, W. T. Ziebarth.
1903-04-Edward Mobraaten, Knut K. Fuglie, R. Johnson, Louis Fagerberg, W. T. Ziebarth.
1905-06-Ole L. Kaasa, Knut K. Fuglie, Anton Helland, Louis Fager- berg, W. T. Ziebarth.
1907-08 -M. L. Adams, E. F. Malmgren, Anton Helland, Louis Fagerberg, O. W. Jones.
1909-10 -- M. L. Adams, E. F. Malmgren, Anton Helland, Louis Fagerberg, O. W. Jones.
1911-12-M. L. Adams, E. F. Malmgren, Anton Helland, M. C. Aanerud, O. W. Jones.
1913-14 -- M. L. Adams, E. F. Malmgren, N. J. Endreson, M. C. Aanerud, O. W. Jones.
1915-16-M. L. Adams, O. C. Thornson, N. J. Endreson, M. C. Aanerud, O. W. Jones.
AUDITORS.
The first auditor of Grant county was R. S. Talbot, who was appointed by the county commissioners on April 12, 1873, and was subsequently elected to that office and served one year. Mr. Talbot lived in Logan township, but during the early part of his term went about the different settlements in the county with all the official records in his pockets. On September 3, 1873, his salary was fixed by the board at three hundred dollars-then the highest salary in the county. Henry F. Sanford, who succeeded Mr. Tal- bot as auditor, was a wonderfully fine penman, and his records as auditor and clerk of the county board are models of neatness.
A list of the auditors of Grant county, with the years of their service, is as follows: R. S. Talbot, 1873-75; Henry F. Sanford, 1875-78; H. A. Langlie, 1878-80; John Ohlsson, 1880-87; Henry F. Sanford, 1887-91; T. E. Dybdal, 1891-99; P. H. Clague, 1899-1903; J. S. Arneson, 1903-07; O. E. Wold, 1907-15; C. M. Nelson, 1915. Term expires in 1919.
TREASURERS.
During the forty-three years that Grant county has been organized there have been but four county treasurers. Ole W. Olson was appointed treas- urer at the first meeting of the county board. He was a farmer of Elk
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Lake township, and it is said that he kept the county's cash and securities in an unlocked box in his cabin. In 1875 Treasurer Olson presented a bill for office rent for fifteen dollars but the commissioners allowed him only ten. In 1882 a bank at Herman, conducted by C. F. Washburn, offered to pay four per cent per annum on monthly balances for county funds deposited there. A considerable deposit was made there, but in 1883 the bank became insolvent and the county brought action against the bank to recover the money. While the case was pending, W. D. Washburn, an uncle of the banker involved, paid the county the amount due, some twenty- eight hundred dollars, and the case never came to trial. The county has never lost a dollar through any of its depositories.
The county treasurers have been as follows: Ole W. Olson, 1873-82; Ole O. Canestorp, 1882-89; Lars Lynne, 1889-1911; E. A. Dybdal, 1911, present term expires in 1919.
REGISTER OF DEEDS.
The first register of deeds of Grant county was Ole Larson, who at first maintained his office at his house on his farm in Pelican Lake township. Mr. Larson had had some business experience and started the early records in a careful and systematic manner.
A list of the registers of deeds is as follows: Ole Larson, 1873-77; John Ohlsson, 1877-80; James E. Williams, 1880-82; Frank Forstein, 1882-87; John K. Lee, 1887-95; A. H. Ring, 1895-97: H. J. Bollum, 1897- 1903; Frank Heald, 1903, present term expires in 1919.
SHERIFFS.
It was with some difficulty that the county board induced any one to accept the office of sheriff on the organization of the county. The duties of that office were very light and the pay correspondingly small. E. M. Heald was the first man appointed and served with frequent resignations for several years. In 1876 H. P. Hansen was elected but refused to qualify. Then Ole O. Canestorp was appointed but declined the office, and it was offered to Jacob Talseth with the same result. Then E. A. Ziebarth was appointed, and since that time the sheriff has been regularly elected.
The sheriffs of Grant county have been as follow: E. M. Heald, 1873-76; E. A. Ziebarth, 1876-77; Ole D. Bartness, 1877-79; Hans P.
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Hansen, 1879-83; J. T. Lindem, 1883-91; E. N. Nash, 1891-1902; W. B. Caldwell, 1902-03: Alfred Thompson, 1903-11; Oscar H. Hanson, 191I, present term expires in 1919.
COUNTY ATTORNEYS.
At their first meeting the commissioners appointed N. Q. Puntches as county attorney. Mr. Puntches was then keeping a store at Pomme de Terre. He was a shrewd business man, but was not a lawyer, and it is said that his ignorance of the law sometimes led him into amusing and embar- rassing situations. On January 4, 1876, G. A. J. Overton was employed by the board to give them legal advice during that session. On April 4, 1877, Knute Nelson was employed as county attorney, to be paid one hun- dred and fifty dollars for his services that year. As nearly as can be determined from the records of the county commissioners, E. S. Rolfe was the first resident attorney who held the office, beginning in 1878 for a salary of one hundred dollars for whatever service the board might require. This amount was raised to two hundred dollars the next year.
The county attorneys have been as follow: N. Q. Puntches, 1873-75; duties attended to by some one employed by the commissioners, 1875-78; E. . Rolfe, 1878-81; J. W. Reynolds, 1881-83; C. M. Stevens, 1883-87; George Ketcham, 1887-91; E. J. Scofield, 1891-95; Michael Casey, 1895-99; E. J. Scofield, 1899-1909: Nels J. Bothne, 1909-13; R. J. Stromme, 1913, present term expires in 1919.
JUDGES OF PROBATE.
Ole Thompson Ring was the first judge of the probate court for grant county, appointed by the commissioners on April 12, 1873. He was a farmer in Elk Lake township and attended to the duties of his office at his residence. The next incumbent in this position, Ole O. Canestorp, made it his practice to come to the court house in Elbow Lake on the first Monday in each month to care for whatever business had accumulated. J. S. Arneson served by appointment.
A list of the judges of probate is here given, as follow: Ole T. Ring, 1873-78: Ole O. Canestorp, 1878-82; Andrew Erlandson, 1882-87; Louis O. Foss, 1887-97; A. O. Ofsthun, 1897-1901 ; J. S. Arneson, 1901-03; W. H. Goetzinger, 1903, present term expires in 1917.
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA,
SURVEYORS.
The first county surveyor was John Ohlsson, appointed by the com- missioners in 1873. At that time Mr. Ohlsson lived in Mascville township. He had been a sea captain before immigrating to America, and had received a very thorough school in navigation and surveying.
The county surveyors have been as follow: John Ohlsson, 1873-78; Per Erlandson, 1878-82; Hugh Spence, 1882, resigned after a few months; Per Erlandson, 1882-87; H. J. Bollum, 1887-97; M. H. Palmer, 1897-99; C. G. Gustafson, 1899-1905; Per Erlandson, 1905-1I; H. J. Bollum, 1911, present term expires in 1919.
CORONERS.
Hans Hanson, the first coroner of Grant county, was a farmer living in Stony Brook township. Neither was the second coroner, L. M. Phinney, a physician. Grant county, however, began earlier than some other counties to elect a physician to the office of coroner.
A complete list of those who have held this office is as follows: Hans Hanson, 1873-77; L. M. Phinney, 1877-80; Dr. James M. Tucker, 1880-83; Dr. William D. Holden, 1883-85; L. M. Phinney, 1885-93; C. W. Bigarel, 1893-97; Dr. P. G. Cowing, 1897-99; Dr. C. E. Caine, 1899, resigned ; Dr. A. D. Larson, 1899-1903; Dr. J. Q. Sackett, 1903-05; Dr. C. B. Heimark, 1905-06; Dr. F. W. Powers, 1906-07; Dr. W. R. Hand, 1907-09; Dr. J. M. Thayer, 1909-II; Dr. F. W. Powers, 1911-13; Dr. John T. Leland, 1913, present term expires in 1919.
CLERKS OF THE COURT.
Prior to 1883 Grant county was attached to Douglas county for judicial purposes and the clerk of the district court at Alexandria performed what- ever services were necessary. The clerks who thus attended to the duties for Grant county were James Purden, W. E. Chidester and H. K. White. In March, 1883, J. E. Williams was appointed as the first resident clerk of the district court for Grant county.
The list of clerks of the court is as follow: J. E. Williams, 1883-87; Lars J. Hague, 1887-97; P. P. Larson, 1897-1901; L. C. Johnson, 1901, present term expires in 1917.
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
COURT COMMISSIONERS.
As provided in the state constitution the court commissioner has judicial power and jurisdiction not exceeding the power and jurisdiction of a judge of the district court. The first court commissioner in Grant county was Hale H. Cook, who was appointed in 1883. Mr. Cook had immigrated from Eng- land and was a farmer in Pomme de Terre township. The second court commissioner, A. C. Belyea, while not a lawyer, knew considerable about law as he had worked in a lawyer's office in Herman.
The court commissioners have been as follow: Hale H. Cook, 1883-87; A. C. Belyea, 1887-91; Thomas Casey, 1891-95; G. T. Hagen, 1895-99; Henry Sampson, 1899, present term expires in 1919.
SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.
At the first meeting of the board of county commissioners they appointed Josiah Smith as superintendent of schools. There is no record that Mr. Smith ever qualified for the office or served as superintendent. On January 6, 1874, the commissioners accepted the resignation of O. W. Olson, super- intendent of schools, and allowed him fifty dollars for his services, though there is no previous mention of his appointment. When Mr. Olson resigned Coll McClellan was appointed and served two years. During the early years the salary of the superintendent was too small to induce any- one to devote all his time to the office and there were frequent resignations and appointments. It was not until 1882, when Mr. Hodgson was superin- tendent, that the board agreed to pay five hundred dollars if he would devote all his time to office during the school term.
The superintendents have been as follow: O. W. Olson, 1873-74; Coll McClellan, 1874-76; John W. Gould, 1876-77; Thomas C. Hodgson, 1877-78; H. G. Lillemon, 1878-79; E. S. Rolfe, 1879-80; Thomas C. Hodg- son, 1880-89; J. A. Abrahamson, 1889-91; Mrs. John O. Sauby, 1891-93; W. H. Townsend, 1893-95; Knut T. Dahlen, 1895-1901 ; George L. Wood- worth, 1901-07; R. J. Stromme, 1907-13; Blanche L. Brennin, 1913, present term expires in 1919.
GRANT COUNTY IN THE LEGISLATURE.
Under the apportionemnt of 1871 the state was divided into forty-one senatorial districts, and Grant county was assigned to the thirty-ninth, along
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
with Douglas, Pope, Stevens, Big Stone and Lake counties. This district was entitled to one senator and two representatives. At the ensuing sessions Grant county has been represented as follows :
Fourteenth Legislature-1872. Ole Peterson was in the senate, F. B. Van Hoesen and G. W. Rockwell were in the house.
Fifteenth Legislature-1873. J. G. Whittemore was in the senate; Warren Adley and Henry Foss were in the house.
Sixteenth Legislature-1874. J. G. Whittemore was in the senate; Warren Adley and Henry Foss were in the senate ..
Seventeenth Legislature-1875. Knute Nelson was in the senate; Mar- tin Stow and J. G. Whittemore were in the house.
Eighteenth Legislature-1876. Knute Nelson was in the senate; Martin Stowe and J. D. Good were in the house.
Nineteenth Legislature-1877. Knute Nelson was in the senate; Michael A. Wollan and Ole Amundson were in the house.
Twentieth Legislature-1878. Knute Nelson was in the senate; John B. Cowing and H. W. Stone were in the house.
Twenty-first Legislature-1879. A. A. Brown was in the senate; John B. Cowing and Ole N. Barsness were in the house.
Twenty-second Legislature-1881. L. K. Aaker was in the senate; C. F. Washburn and F. B. Van Hoesen were in the house.
APPORTIONMENT OF 1881.
Under the apportionment of 1881 the state was divided into forty-seven senatorial districts, and Grant county was assigned to the forty-second, along with Big Stone, Stevens and Traverse. This district was entitled to one senator and one representative.
Twenty-third Legislature-1883. C. F. Washburn was in the senate; H. H. Wells was in the house.
Twenty-fourth Legislature-1885. H. H. Wells was in the senate; George I. Becker was in the house.
Twenty-fifth Legislature-1887. D. W. Hixon was in the senate; R. A. Costello was in the house.
Twenty-sixth Legislature-1889. D. W. Hixon was in the senate; Amasa S. Crossfield was in the house.
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
APPORTIONMENT OF 1889.
Under the apportionment of 1889 the state was divided into fifty-four senatorial districts, and Grant county was assigned to the forty-ninth, along with Big Stone, Stevens and Traverse. This district was entitled to one sena- tor and two representatives.
Twenty-sevtnth Legislature-1891. Ole O. Canestorp was in the sen- ate; Alfred Setterlund and H. C. Lyman were in the house.
Twenty-eighth Legislature-1893. Ole O. Canestorp was in the senate; Andrew Peterson and D. P. O'Neill were in the house.
Twenty-ninth Legislature-1895. Edwin J. Jones was in the senate; J. M. Finney and Louis O. Foss were in the house.
Thirteenth Legislature-1897. Edwin J. Jones was in the senate; Louis O. Foss and J. M. Finney were in the house.
APPORTIONMENT OF 1897.
Under the apportionment of 1897 the state was divided into sixty-three senatorial districts, and Grant county was assigned to the fifty-seventh dis- trict, along with the Traverse and Stevens. This district was entitled to one senator and two representatives.
Thirty-first Legislature-1899. Edwin J. Jones was in the senate; Louis O. Foss and Jacob T. Schain were in the house.
Thirty-second Legislature-1901. Edwin J. Jones was in the senate; Henry K. Nelson and Herman Hillmond were in the house.
Thirty-third Legislature-1903. Jacob T. Schain was in the senate; H. Ward Stone and A. D. Larson were in the house.
Thirty-fourth Legislature-1905. Jacob T. Schain was in the senate; H. Ward Stone and A. D. Larson were in the house.
Thirty-fifth Legislature-1907. Ole O. Canestorp was in the senate; Lewis C. Spooner and William C. Bicknell were in the house.
Thirty-sixth Legislature-1909. Ole O. Canestorp was in the senate; Lewis C. Spooner and William C. Bicknell were in the house.
Thirty-seventh Legislature-1911. Edward Rustad was in the senate; L. C. Spooner and J. E. Peterson were in the house.
Thirty-eighth Legislature-1913. Edward Rustad was in the senate; L. C. Spooner and Carl P. Carlson were in the house.
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
APPORTIONMENT OF 1913.
Under the apportionment of 1913 the state was divided into sixty-seven senatorial districts, and Grant county was assigned to the forty-eighth, along with Stevens, Traverse and Big Stone. This district was entitled to one senator from the district and one representative from each county.
Thirty-ninth Legislature-1915. Edward Rustad was in the senate; Ole A. Pikop (Grant county), Lewis C. Spooner, Sam Y. Gordon and J. H. Erickson were in the house.
CHAPTER VI.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.
Grant county is subdivided into sixteen civil townships, which coincide in each case with the sixteen congressional townships embraced in the county. The requirements for township organization are prescribed by law and depend principally upon the number of inhabitants and legal voters residing in the township desiring to be established. Some of the townships in Grant county were not organized until some time after they had acquired a sufficient number of electors, but they had a satisfactory government by being attached to other townships or were content with the election precinct representation. The first township to be organized was Lien, in 1874, and the last was North Ottawa, in 1882.
LIEN TOWNSHIP.
On July 28, 1874, a petition was presented to the board of county com- missioners by Ole D. Bartness, signed by sixteen legal voters of congres- sional township 128, range 42, praying that the township be organized and named "Franklin." This petition was signed by Ole D. Bartness, John G. Peterson, Halvor J. Eide, Mons A. Hesjedahl, Per Erlandson, P. A. Moller, Olof Cederberg, William Erlandson, M. Anderson, O. Mel- berg, Nils Person, K. O. Bukke, Tolef Nelson, Ole E. Lien and M. L. Vig. The petition was granted, but the state auditor informed the com- missioners that there already was a township named "Franklin," and it became necessary to select some other name. The name "Anderson" was suggested, in honor of one of the early settlers of the township, but a greater number seemed to favor the name "Lien," in honor of Ole E. Lien, who located here in 1867 or 1868, so the township was given that name.
The first election in Lien township was held on March 9. 1875, when the following officers were elected: Ole D. Bartness, clerk: M. Anderson, treasurer; K. O. Bukke, assessor; A. Holen and O. Mostad, justices; O. Burt and E. Anderson, constables; John G. Peterson, P. A. Moller and Ole E. Lien, supervisors.
The officers of Lien township in 1916 are as follows: . Helmer Lar-
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
son, clerk; E. J. Newman, treasurer ; J. J. Leraas, assessor ; Erick E. Huset, Iver Stamnes and Swen Mattson, supervisors.
LOGAN TOWNSHIP.
Logan township was organized on July 29, 1874, when a petition was presented to the board of county commissioners by Louis T. Breen, signed by a majority of the legal voters in congressional township 127, range 44, praying that the township be organized and named "Herman." The peti- tion was signed by Louis T. Breen, A. C. Earsley, P. A. Lamarche, Andrias Larson, G. Johnson, H. Prydz, H. W. Simons, William J. Brown, L. Baker, Louis Taneru, Ole Taneru, C. Pullman, P. Clague, E. A. Ziebarth and O. Westin. The petition was granted, but upon learning that the name "Her- man" had been applied to another township in the state the commissioners chose the name "Logan," in honor of Gen. John A. Logan.
The township of Logan failed to hold a meeting and elect officers as ordered by the board, so on January 5, 1876, the county commissioners appointed the following officers: Hans Prydz, clerk; E. A. Ziebarth, treas- urer; John Ohlsson, assessor; William Brown and John Galvin, justices; John Johnson and Charles Taneru, constables; E. A. Ziebarth, overseer of highways; E. A. Ziebarth, S. S. Frogner and John Ohlsson, supervisors.
The officers of Logan township in 1916 are as follow: H. N. Erfert, clerk; E. J. Drexler, treasurer ; G. H. Mumm, assessor ; Louis Lentfer, John Davis and M. Steger, supervisors.
ELK LAKE TOWNSHIP.
On January 4, 1876, a petition was presented to the board of county commissioners, signed by a majority of the legal voters of congressional township 128, range 41, requesting that the township be organized and named "Elk Lake:" The petition was granted, and the name given was that of a lake in the township. The original petition cannot be found among the township records in the auditor's office, but it is known that some of the signers were: Ole Gudmunson, Halvor Anderson, William Olson, Even E. Bjerke, Ole Anderson, B. Benson, Ole T. Ring, Sam Olson, Kittel Johnson, James Sethney, A. Hubred and Bernt Swenson.
The first election was held at the school house in Elk Lake township on March 14. 1876, when the following officers were elected: Sam Olson, clerk; Anton Hubred, treasurer ; C. Pederson, assessor ; James Sethney and
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August Ostenson, justices; Syvert Ellingson and Hans Ostenson, constables; Ole Thompson, pound master; Ole Anderson and Bernt Swenson, road overseers; Peder P. Gran, Ole Torstenson and Iver Johnson, supervisors.
The officers in Elk Lake township in 1916 are as follow: O. M. Hubred, clerk; O. W. Olson, treasurer; E. M. Thompson, assessor; Elling Ellingson, O. J. Bjerke and A. H. Anderson, supervisors.
PELICAN LAKE TOWNSHIP.
On January 4, 1876, a petition was presented to the county board by Iver G. Holt, signed by a majority of the legal voters of congressional town- ship 130, range 41, asking that the township be organized and named "Peli- can Lake." The petition was granted, and the township named for a lake which covers some seven sections within its boundaries, which lake was noted for the large flocks of pelicans found there in the early days. Some of those who signed the petition were: Joseph A. Pennock, Iver G. Holt, K. N. Melby, Ole Gulickson, Charles Phinney, L. M. Phinney, John New- man, Thomas Gulickson, Peter Sorkness, Martin Jacobson, Jacob Halstead, John Stene, Hans Kjorven and Gunder Wold.
The first election in Pelican Lake township was held on March 14, 1876, when the following officers were elected: Charles Phinney, clerk ; John Stene, treasurer; Joseph A. Pennock, assessor; John Houston and Lewis Tobiason, justices; Jacob Halstead and Iver A. Holt, constables; Peter Peterson, road overseer ; L. M. Phinney, K. N. Melby and John New- man, supervisors.
The officers in Pelican Lake township in 1916 are as follows: Andrew Olson, clerk; E. K. Heisberg, treasurer; Charles Mickelson, assessor; W. F. Wohlers, C. J. Stene and Anton Sumstad, supervisors.
ELBOW LAKE TOWNSHIP.
Elbow Lake township was organized on April 3, 1877, when a petition was presented to the board of county commissioners, signed by a majority of the legal voters of township 129. range 43, praying that the township be organized and named "Elbow Lake." The petition was granted, and the township named for a lake nearby. Some of those who signed the peti- tion were: J. N. Sanford, Ole O. Canestorp, H. P. Hansen, Erick Norgaard, Andrew Norgaard, Ole H. Sand, Torger Ostenson, Tiedeman H. Burt- ness. Anders O. Pikop and A. I. Haugen. At the time of organization San-
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ford and North Ottawa township were attached to Elbow Lake township.
The first township election was held on April 20, 1877, at the house of Ole O. Canestorp, when the following officers were elected: Ole O. Canestorp, clerk; Ole H. Sand, treasurer; H. P. Hansen, road overseer ; Henry F. Sanford, justice; Helge H. Ramstad, constable; Ole O. Canestorp, assessor; J. N. Sanford, Even Jorgenson and T. H. Burtness, supervisors.
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The officers in Elbow Lake township in 1916 are as follow: Albert O. Halverson, clerk; A. I. Haugen, treasurer and assessor ; John H. Fergu- son, Torger Mobraaten and Olaus A. Pikop, supervisors.
POMME DE TERRE TOWNSHIP.
On July 17. 1877, a petition was presented to the board of county com- missioners, signed by a majority of the legal voters of congressional town- ship 130, range 42, praying that the township be organized and named "Pomme de Terre." The petition was granted, and the township was named for a lake nearby, which title is a French phrase meaning "fruit of the earth." The signers of the petition were: Ole Johnson Lene, Ole Sornson, J. E. Rolfson, Nels B. Brakke, Timothy Heald, O. Williams, Thomas E. Midbon, Aaron Heald, Halvor O. Midbon, H. A. Langlie, Swend Olson, Lage Johnson, C. W. Briggs, George W. Vaughan, John S. Vaughan, John Scott, Jens Adriansen and N. Q. Puntches.
At the first regular election, held on March 12, 1878, the following officers were elected: H. A. Langlie, clerk ; Lage Johnson, treasurer ; Aaron Heald, assessor; J. E. Rolfson and Ole Johnson, justices; Halvor Mikkel- son and Halvor Olson, constables; Russell Briggs and Halvor Mikkelson, overseers of highways; Iver Rolfson, Russell Briggs and John S. Vaughan, supervisors.
The officers of Pomme de Terre township in 1916 are as follow: G. C. Paulson, clerk; Jacob Woessner, treasurer; G. G. Woldtwedt, assessor; H. E. Hellickson, William Woessner and T. G. Thompson, supervisors.
ERDAHL TOWNSHIP.
Erdahl township was organized on July 30, 1877, when a petition was presented to the board of county commissioners, signed by a majority of the legal voters of congressional township 129, range 41, praying that the township be organized and named "Erdahl." The petition was granted, and the township named in remembrance of a district in Norway, from which
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some of the early settlers had come. The petition was signed by Gilbert Gilbertson, Mikkel O. Lien, Ole Nilson, Martin O. Boe, Ole A. Boe, Peder Alvstad, Thore Jensen, H. D. Downen, Erik Nilson, Carl Nilson, Nils A. Lee, Jacob Olson, Nils Olsen and Knut A. Lien.
The commissioners ordered that the first meeting should be held on August 18, 1877, at the school house in district No. 6. The list of officers elected cannot now be found, but it is known that Gilbert Gilbertson was the first clerk.
The officers of Erdahl township in 1916 are as follows: A. V. Malm- gren, clerk; A. O. Bah, treasurer; Gilbert Hanson, assessor; Martin N. Lee. J. P. Frykman and Otto Kuchenbecker, supervisors.
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