USA > Minnesota > Morrison County > History of Morrison and Todd counties, Minnesota, their people, industries and institutions, Volume I > Part 20
USA > Minnesota > Todd County > History of Morrison and Todd counties, Minnesota, their people, industries and institutions, Volume I > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
ATTEMPTS AT RIVER TRAFFIC.
Todd county was without railroad facilities of any consequence during all its early history, which retarded growth and settlements in much of its territory. Previous to 1873, St. Cloud was the nearest railroad station and from that town all immigrants had to move by teams. In 1872 the Northern Pacific was built from Duluth to Fargo and cut through the northeastern cor- ner of the county and the village of Motley, just across the county line in
23I
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Morrison county, became the shipping station for the grain and some other products of the farm from Long Prairie and all settlements to the north.
As most farms were devoted exclusively to wheat culture, it was tedious and expensive work to market the crop by wagons. About the year 1874, Jolın Bassett built a boat by means of which he carried his grain down Long Prairie river to a landing near Motley, the capacity being about three hun- dred bushels. The boat floated down the current with the load, and was brought back by means of poles. Four men with long poles. pushed the boat up stream by walking from prow to stern, two at a time, one on each side, while the other two walked forward to take their turn when the two poling the boat reached the stern. A fifth man at the tiller held the boat in her course. The round trip was made in three days, from the Bassett farm on the river east of Browerville.
In 1875 Chandler, Fisher & Wait built a steamboat, which was operated two or three years in carrying produce from Long Prairie to Motley. The capacity was little more than that of the Bassett boat, as the machinery made up a considerable portion of the displacement, but during the spring and summer floods, the boat was quite a convenience. The boat was built and fitted up at Motley by John Wait, H. H. Morrell and David Burnham. Mr. Wait, who represented the forty-first legislative district in the Legislature, secured an appropriation of two thousand five hundred dollars to clear the channel of the river from rocks and other obstructions. But dry seasons came and the river was no longer navigable and in 1877 the boat was dis- mantled. If this steamboat was not a financial success it gave the people some agreeable excitement for the time and forms an interesting incident in the history of the county.
CHAPTER III.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF TODD COUNTY.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
Prior to 1864 that portion of Morrison county now lying west of the Mississippi river belonged to Todd county, and was set off by a vote of twenty to eighteen, the same being decided at a general election.
Todd county was organized in 1867, Governor Marshall having appointed A. D. Brower, William H. Redfield, and J. M. Gordon, commis- sioners. These gentlemen met at Long Prairie on January 1, 1867, and adjourned to meet the same day at the residence of A. D. Brower on Round Prairie. S. P. Fuller, clerk of the court of Morrison county, was present and administered the oath of office, Todd county having been attached to Morrison county for judicial purposes, in 1857. A. D. Brower was appointed chairman and the board proceeded to appoint county officers to hold until the following fall election. The appointments were J. V. Brower, auditor, whose compensation was fixed at three hundred dollars per year ; Charles H. Hamlin, treasurer ; H. H. Scott, sheriff ; Henry Elingson, register of deeds; William H. Redfield, judge of probate; and James S. Brower, surveyor.
At that date the office of county school superintendent had not yet been created, hence each town had its own "school examiner."
The county was divided into three commissioner's districts-No. I, included the northern sixteen townships in the county ; No. 2. the southeastern nine townships, except the territory west from Sauk Lake, which was put in district No. 3, along with the southwestern three townships.
March 12, 1867, districts were organized into three townships (civil), No. 1 being Hartsford, No. 2, Long Prairie, and No. 3. West Union. In a short time township elections were ordered and were held in these three sub-divisions of the county. Eight school districts were at the same meet- ing set off, No. 1 being Round Prairie; No. 2, 3, 4, and 5. in the south-
233
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
western section, where West Union and Gordon are now situated ; No. 6 was in the present township of Kandota; No. 7, was west of Long Prairie on the river, in what is now Reynolds township, and No. 8 in Hartford. This practically organized Todd county into a working form of civil, local govern- ment. The lands were nearly all government property, hence the office of township assessor was not burdened with cumbersome cares and his duties not in the least hard to perform.
FIRST ELECTION.
At the first annual election in Todd county not all officers were elected but as far as the record shows the following were elected: J. V. Brower, auditor ; C. E. Buss, treasurer; E. S. Fancher, sheriff; J. J. Crouse, judge of probate; and L. D. Fonda, clerk of the court. It is supposed that E. E. Abbott was chosen first register of deeds.
The record shows that the first officers were appointed at the January meeting of the commissioners in 1867 and were as follow: Henry Elingson, register of deeds ; C. S. Hamlin, treasurer ; H. H. Scott, sheriff ; J. S. Brower, surveyor.
The first auditor received $300 per year salary. It was ordered by the county board that all offices in the county should be kept at the homes of the officers, until such times as they could be provided with suitable quarters. It is found by record that the auditor kept his office at the house of A. D. Brower.
The minutes of the board of commissioners show the first bills allowed were as follow : S. P. Fuller, for services in organizing Todd county, $25; for horse hire for Fuller, $5.00; incidentals for Fuller, $3.00; A. D. Brower for services as county commissioner, $9.00 ; mileage, $0.96; for money fur- nished, $1.60; incidentals, $2.00; W. H. Redfield, for affecting organization of Todd county, $13.20; as commissioner, $9.00; for his mileage, $1.80; J. M. Gordon, services as commissioner, $9.00; mileage, $3.48.
At the January, 1868, meeting of the board, the St. Cloud Journal was declared the official paper for Todd county. In January, 1869, the board peti- tioned the Legislature to allow the county officers to hold their respective offices at their own homes until a date not later than January 1, 1870. It also asked the Legislature to allow bonds issued by the Todd county com- missioners with which to secure necessary blank books for the county to the sum of $400.
234
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
September, 1869, the board voted to meet next time at Long Prairie at a place to be decided upon later. On September 11. 1869, the first county school superintendent was appointed in the person of John Kerr, of Gordon township; his salary was $50 per year. On January 1. 1870. a fire-proof safe was ordered for the county at an expense of $250.
FIRST COURT HOUSE.
The county was given a court house at the February meeting of the board and the following was the tender made: "We the undersigned here- by agree to tender to the board of county commissioners for the use of this county forever, the building standing upon the tract of land occupied by the liberty pole which house is owned by citizens of Long Prairie, which it is understood will be conveyed to the county as soon as practicable. (Signed) BUILDING COMMITTEE. July 5. 1870."
This building proposition was at once accepted by the county board. In the spring of 1870 all county officers were ordered to take the effects of their several offices to Long Prairie, the designated county seat. On Janu- ary 5, 1870, the county contracted with Chandler & Fisher for $10 to paint with lime mortar the inside of the building known as the "County Building" at Long Prairie, to the ceilings and also to bank up same, the amount to be paid in Todd county warrants.
On January 5, 1870, a $30 heating stove was ordered purchased, the same to take in three-foot cordwood sticks. Two cords of hard maple wood were also contracted for at $2 per cord. At the same board meeting L. D. Fonda was appointed from Hartford township to act as school superintend- ent. he to take liis office April 1. 1870. In June, 1870. the board ordered the roof repaired to the county building; also some record books for the various officers were provided for. It appears that Mr. Fonda declined to serve as school superintendent and the board then appointed John Jones.
The first mention of relief for the unfortunate poor within the newly organized county was at the April meeting of the board. in 1870, when $50 was appropriated for such humane purposes. At the March, 1870, meet- ing the commissioners appropriated $150 for the making of proper plats and field notes for the county.
235
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
EARLY FINANCES.
In September, 1870. the county treasurer was "examined" and he made the following showing of the finances of Todd county :
Legal tender notes on hand
$1.618.88
County orders on revenue funds
678.20
County orders on bridge fund
1 250.00
County orders for poor
41.35
Town orders
1 36.58
Total
$2,725.01
In 1871, H. F. Lashier was appointed school superintendent. At the board meeting, January 6, 1875, it was ordered that the Todd County Acad- emy be allowed free use of the old court house till they might procure better quarters. The same meeting the board ordered a safe for the register of deeds, the same costing $240. In 1884 the board bought thirty cords of maple wood (green) at $2 per cord, four-foot length. In 1890 the com- missioners purchased for $100 enough iron marking posts to mark the corner of each congressional township in the county. In 1897 the minutes show the board ordered a retaining wall erected about the court house square.
Among the early-day items found in the minute-books of the com- missioners are the following: In 1875 the board offered a bounty of three cents a quart for all grasshoppers that might be caught and killed within this county. William Neil, of Hartford township, was appointed to act in con- junction with the various township clerks, as measurers of the little winged pests, then doing damage in many sections of this state. This was paid from what the books show to be the "Grasshopper Fund." Again in 1879, at the meeting of the board, it was decided that no penalty or interest should be collected on the taxes which had not been paid in 1875 and 1876, on account of the ravages of the grasshoppers in Todd county.
In 1908 the county bonded itself for $50,000-ten-year, five per cent. bonds-for drainage purposes.
COURT HOUSE AND JAIL HISTORY.
As has already been stated the first court house accommodations were provided in Todd county by a donation of a building at Long Prairie in
I
1
1
1
1
236
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
: 1870. The next move made is shown by the minute books of the county commissioners, dated March 21, 1873, when bids were advertised for the building of a court house, which was to be a substantial frame structure two stories high and thirty-four by forty feet in size. It was to be completed not later than November 1, 1873, and not to cost in excess of $2,500. Pay- ment was to be made in county warrants. It was stipulated that the building should be erected on block No. 13 in Long Prairie; $800 was payable on October 10, 1873; $500 by March 1, 1874; and $700 by July 1, 1874.
The bidders were as follow: Charles Herkens, $3,280: Joseph Poquin, $2.700 ; and G. V. B. Williams, $2,499. Williams was awarded the contract and he finished the work and it was approved and legally accepted on Septem- ber 15, 1873. This building served well the purpose for which it was intended until 1883, when more talk was heard of needing better court house facilities. At the January session of that year, a building committee was appointed, with Thomas Ward as chairman of the board of county commis- sioners. M. J. Martin was then serving as county auditor.
May 2, 1883, bonds were issued for $25,000 with which to erect the present court house. It was erected and accepted from the hands of the builders on November 17, 1883. Samuel Lee was made superintendent of the work of construction. A bid was had for building the structure for $20,000 and this was accepted. It is a fine brick building, with all necessary office rooms and well heated and lighted by modern equipments.
The present county jail was built, with the apartments for the jailor. from plans submitted in July, 1900. It is also a modern building with a slate roof and all needed interior fixtures to meet the modern-day require- ments as to safety and health.
POOR-FARM EXPERIMENT.
Todd county used to care for her poor people who needed aid by a gen- cral county fund for that purpose, but about 1880-81 it was deemed best to secure land and improve it with buildings and keep all panpers thereon. This was tried for a number of years, but without success. In 1895 the property was sold and the comty plan obtained again and so continued until January 1, 1915, when it was decided to let each township in the county care for its own panpers, which is now being done in a satisfactory manner.
237
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
ASSESSED VALUATION-1914-15.
The various townships in Todd county had at the last assessment, valua- tions as follow : Bartlet, $320,225; Bertha, $359,981 ; Birchdale, $225,321; Bruce, $204.789; Burnhamville, $242,443 ; Burleene, $274,306 ; Eagle Valley, $362,573; Fawn Lake, $145.344; Germania. $277,600; Gordon, $284,421 ; Grey Eagle, $144,175; Hartford, $323, 116; Iona, $317,410; Kandota, $174,692; Leslie, $308,085; Little Elk, $161,896; Little Sauk, $298,7So; Long Prairie, $370,148; Moran, $250,045; Reynolds, $352.234; Round Prairie, $307,836; Staples, $223,500; Stowe Prairie, $318,407: Turtle Creek, $138.385 ; Villard, $289,986; Ward, $322,367; West Union, $267,- 647; Wykeham, $325,901. Total, $7.578,613.
The various villages, towns and cities of the county had the following valuations at the last assessment-1914: Bertha village, $128, 185; Brower- ville, $122,401 ; Burtrum, $36,326; Clarissa, $83.411; Eagle Bend, $11,422; Grey Eagle, $56,818: Hewitt, $85,182; Long Prairie, $450,333; Osakis, that portion within Todd county, $14.737: West Union, $60,571; Staples city, $468.856.
The grand total of township and villages, in assessed valuations, is according to the above footings, $9.196,855.
EMPLOYEES AND OFFICIALS OF COUNTY-1915.
E. M. Berg, auditor, receives a salary of $2,000 per year. August Stephan, treasurer, receives a salary of $2,000 per year. Peter O. Scow, clerk of the court, receives a salary of $1,000 per year. E. A. Lewis, judge of probate, receives a salary of $1,800 per year. Anton Johnson, sheriff, receives a salary of $1,200 per year. A. B. Church, county attorney, receives a salary of $1,400 per year. Victor S. Knutson, school superintendent, receives a salary of $2,850 per year. John S. Long, jailor, receives a salary of $900 per year. The three court reporters receive $490 for services rendered. County commissioners, salary and mileage, $1,500 per year. Janitor at court house, $540 per year.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT ITEMS.
The last statement issued by the county auditor of Todd county con- tains as items the following :
238
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Receipts.
Balance on hand January 1, 1914
$17,191
Taxes collected
I 26,549
Interest from funds in banks
3,562
Interest and funds in banks
3.562
Auctioneers' licenses
70
Peddlers' licenses
30
Ten per cent derived from liquor licenses I 1
75
Fines collected by both courts
1.564
Wolf bounties from state treasurer
337
Rental of jury room
45
Filing fees
366
Sundries to make total
282
Total
$51,997.00
DISBURSEMENTS.
Salaries of county officers
1 $12,200
Clerk hire for county officials
J
2.162
Jailor's salary
900
Janitor's salary
540
All court reporters' wages
490
I Salary and mileage county commissioners I 4
1.502
District court expenses
3.463
Boarding prisoners
248
Record books and supplies at courthouse
2,227
Legal printing
I,OII
Water, lights and fuel
1,064
Election expenses
874
Balance to credit
25.316
I
1
1
I
1
I
1
1
1
I
I
1
I
1
1
1
I
Total
$51,997.00
1
1
J
1
1
1 1
I
t
1
I
I
I
1
I
I
1
I
I
L
1
1
1
1
1
I
1
I
The total school apportionment for 1914 amounted to $155.468.
J
1
1
I
1
1
1
CHAPTER IV.
COUNTY, STATE AND NATIONAL REPRESENTATION.
CONGRESSMEN.
The list of congressmen who have represented Todd county since the apportionment of 1872 will be found under the representative chapter of the Morrison county section of this history, as the two counties have been in the same congressional district.
STATE SENATORS.
Since 1860 the state senators representing Todd county have been as follow : (The figures denote the session of the Legislature served in.) 1860, Seth Gibbs; 1862, William S. Moore; 1864, J. P. Wilson; 1865, J. P. Wil- son; 1866, R. M. Richardson; 1867, Louis A. Evans; 1868, C. A. Gilman; 1869, C. A. Gilman; 1870, H. C. Wait; 1871, H. C. Wait; 1872, John O. Miline; 1873, J. G. Nelson ; 1874, J. G. Nelson ; 1875, H. G. Page; 1876, H. G. Gage; 1877, H. G. Gage; 1878, H. G. Gage; 1879, Andrew McCrea; 1881, Andrew McCrea; 1883, C. B. Buckman; 1885, C. B. Buckman; 1887, C. B. Buckman; 1889, C. B. Buckman; 1891, George Geissel; 1893, George Geissel; 1895, W. M. Fuller; 1897, W. M. Fuller; 1899, J. D. Jones ; 1901, J. D. Jones : 1903, E. B. Wood; 1905, O. N. Mausten; 1907, James John- so11; 1909. James Johnson; 1911, James Johnson; 1913, James Johnson, 1915, James Johnson.
STATE REPRESENTATIVES.
Since 1860 the representatives for Todd county have been : 1860, Thomas Cathcart, Levi Wheeler, P. S. Gregory; 1862, R. M. Richardson, Peter Roy, John Whipple; 1862, L. R. Bently, R. M. Richardson, H. C. Wait; 1864, R. M. Richardson, W. T. Rigby, C. A. Ruffee; 1865, Oscar
240
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Taylor, Louis A. Evans, W. T. Rigby; 1866, N. F. Barnes, Thomas Cath- cart, B. Overpeck; 1867, N. H. Miner, N. Richardson; 1869, Ludwig Rob- bers, William E. Hicks; 1868, D. G. Pettijohn, N. H. Miller ; 1869, Ludwig Robbers, William E. Hicks; 1870, Jolin L. Wilson, Isaac Thorson; 1871, WV. S. Moore, Luke Marvin; 1872, E. E. Corliss, L. S. Cravath; 1873, J. V. Brower, William Felton; 1874, J. W. Mason, C. B. Jordan; 1875, Soren Listoe, R. L. Frazee; 1876, S. D. Comstock, John Wait; 1877, S. G. Com- stock, A. McCrea; 1878, Andrew McCrea, Theodore Holton; 1879, S. G. Comstock, Michael Anderson; 1881, S. G. Comstock, B. Sampson; 1883, A. J. Demkules, G. G. Hartley, J. T. D. Sadley; 1885, J. R. Howes, J. T. D. Sadley, William E. Lee; 1887, W. E. Lee, J. C. Flynn, L. E. Lum; 1889. J. C. Flynn, W. A. Fleming, R. C. Dunn; 1891, H. C. Stivers, Werner Hem- sted, J. H. Sheets, E. E. Price; 1893, Robert C. Dunn, W. A. Fleming, William E. Lee, W. M. Fuller; 1895, J. D. Jones, B. F. Hartshorn, H. R. Mallette, A. F. Ferris; 1897; A. F. Ferris, J. D. Jones, B. F. Hartshorn, H. C. Head; 1899, L. W. Babcock, Harry Hazlett; 1901, L. W. Babcock, J. H. O'Neil ; 1903, L. W. Babcock, Edward R. Hines; 1905, Asher Murray, Edward R. Hinds; 1907, L. W. Bills, William Dower; 1909, William Dower, E. R. Hinds; 1911, L. H. Rice, W. T. Stone; 1913, WV. T. Stone, John Anderson ; 1915, Levi M. Davis, Charles S. Wilkins.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
Owing to the absence of election returns the list of county officials is not complete from about 1879 back to the early days, when records seem to have been made for the time being only. From the secretary of state and from the Historical Society the following is all that can be learned along the line of Todd county officials :
COUNTY AUDITORS.
In 1879, H. F. Lashier was in office and held it until 1883; M. J. Martin, 1883 to 1885; Albert Rhoda, 1883 to 1899; J. J. Reichart, 1899 to 1901; Walter Peltier, 1901 to 1909; E. M. Berg, 1909 to 1919.
TREASURERS.
In 1879 C. E. Burr was in office and held it till 1883; F. C. Chase, 1883 to 1885; C. E. Burr, 1885 to 1891; John Peterson, 1891 to 1899; W. I.
241
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Paine, 1899 to 1907; Henry Froelich, 1907 to 1913; August Stephan, 1913 and is the present treasurer, term expires in 1919.
SHERIFFS.
In 1879 F. C. Chase was sheriff and was succeeded by J. F. Bassett, 1881 to 1885; S. J. Davis, 1885 to 1887; George W. Maynard, 1887 to 1899; Joseph G. Harmes, 1899 to 1903; Charles Hamilton, 1903 to 1909; Anton Johnson, 1909 to present date, term expires in 1919.
REGISTER OF DEEDS.
In 1879 W. E. Lee was in office and was followed by J. I. Bell, who served till 1885; C. H. Ward, 1885 to 1893; Charles Harkins, 1893 to 1895; John Wait, 1895 to 1901 ; William J. Gutches, 1901 to 1909; H. C. Maynard, 1909 to present date, term expires in 1919.
JUDGES OF PROBATE.
In 1879 William O'Bryan was serving and was followed, in 1881, by L. S. Hoadley, who served till 1891 ; D. A. Tufts, 1891 to 1895; J. Frank Locke, 1895 to 1899; W. F. Callahan, 1899 to 1909; B. A. Lewis, 1909 to present date, term expires in 1917.
COUNTY ATTORNEYS.
In 1879 the county attorney was A. WV. Crowell, who served till 1881 ; J. D. Jobes, 1881 to 1883; E. B. Wood, 1885 to 1891; R. E. Davis, 1891 to 1899; George W. Peterson, 1899 to 1909; Arthur L. Church, 1909 to present incumbent, William M. Wood, whose term expires in 1919.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
In 1879 J. H. Sheets was in office; C. H. Ward, 1881 to 1885; S. S. Sergent, 1885 to 1887; G. E. Keyes, 1887 to 1897; S. S. Sergent, 1897 to present, term expires in 1919.
(16)
242
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
CORONERS.
In 1879 the coroner was M. Nessline; he served till 1881 ; J. H. Cates, 1881 to 1893; John Nutting, 1893 to 1895; C. E. Harkens, 1895 to 1897; M. L. Murphy, 1897 to 1899; B. W. Parrott, 1899 to 1905; C. E. Reeves, 1905 to 1907; P. O. Scow, 1907 to 1909; E. P. Story, 1911 to 1913; John Markuson, 1913 to present, term expires in 1919.
CLERKS OF THE COURT.
Charles Harkens was succeeded in 1883, by Jacob Fisher from 1883 to 1891 ; C. E. Harkins, 1891 to 1895; M. L. Smith. 1895 to 1897; C. E. Hark- ens, 1897 to 1899; P. O. Scow, 1899 to 1907; J. E. Withers, 1907 to 1909; N. Irsfeld, 1909 to 1911; P. O. Scow, 1911 to present date, term expires in 1919.
COURT COMMISSIONERS.
M. L. Smith was holding this position in 1879 and in 1895 was fol- lowed by W. M. Barber; J. E. Withers, 1907 to 1909; N. Insfeld, 1909 to 19II; W. M. Barber, 1911; N. Irsfield, present incumbent, term expires in 1919.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS.
In 1879 A. Rhoda was superintendent, held till 1883; John Barnes, 1883 to 1887; W. M. Barber, 1887 to 1891; J. G. Mock, 1891 to 1895; Rudolph Dettler, 1895 to 1897; O. B. De Laurier, 1897 -to 1901; George Peterson, 1901 to 1907; Bertha F. Roddis, 1907 to 1911; Victor S. Knut- son, 19II to present date, term expires in 1919.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
1893, Eli Woodman, Sid S. Taylor, M. Sarff, Henry Froelich; 1895, John W. Swanson, Sid S. Taylor, Henry Froelich, Louis Anderson; 1897, E. E. Greeno, J. W. Swanson, Ben Brever, Eli Woodman, Louis Anderson; 1899, E. E. Greeno, Henry Fraunt, Ben Brever, John Long, Louis Ander- son; 1901, E. E. Greeno, Henry Fraunt, Fred Kemphenkel, John Long, Chris Heen; 1903, E. E. Greeno, E. A. Perkins, Fred Kemphenkel, J. C. A. Long; 1905, J. D. Marlin, E. A. Perkins, F. Kemphenkel, John Long, Chris
243
MORRISON AND TODD COUNTIES, MINNESOTA ..
Heen; 1907, J. D. Marlin, Ed Paulson, F. Kemphenkel, Chris Herrman, Jr., Chris Heen; 1909, Ed H. Thiel, Ed Paulson, F. Kemphenkel, Chris Harrman, George E. Curtis; 1911, E. A. Thiel, Ed Paulson, F. Kemphenkel, J. J. Grimes, G. E. Curtis; 1913, C. A. Remillard, Ed Paulson, Charles J. Speiker, J. J. Grimes, G. E. Curtis. The board in 1915 is composed as follows: C. A. Remillard, runs to 1917; William F. Wieseke, to 1919; Charles J. Speiker, to 1917; Chris Hermann, to 1919; G. E. Curtis, to 1917.
PRESIDENTIAL VOTE OF TODD COUNTY.
1868, Grant, 161 ; Seymour, 35. 1872, Grant 399; Greeley, 201. 1876, Hayes, 446; Tilden, 297. 1880, Hancock, 361; Garfield, 664. 1884, Blaine, 758; Cleveland, 549; St. John (Prohi.), 57; Butler, 76. 1896, Mckinley, 2,043 ; Bryan, 1,739. 1900, Mckinley 2,212; Bryan, 1,487. 1904, Roosevelt, 2,961 ; Bryan, 741. 1908, Taft, 2,334; Bryan, 1,305; Prohibition, 163. 1912, Taft, 1,038; Wilson, 1,068.
CHAPTER V.
AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES OF TODD COUNTY.
Agriculture is the prime base for all earthly wealth. The state or county where farming and stock-raising pay is the wealthiest and best in which to reside and be a contented, happy person.
Five years ago there was only twenty-six per cent. of the land in Todd county under cultivation, and more than sixty per cent. of its agricultural resources remained undeveloped. Today there are thousands of broad acres of valuable, cheap land waiting the land of enterprising men to develop its potential wealth.
Todd county was originally nearly all covered with a good growth of timber, save a narrow strip about two miles in width along Long Prairie river north into Moran township; a prairie in the northwest corner known as Stowe Prairie, and a prairie covering a portion of Gordon, West Union, and Kandota, with a small prairie in the west part of Round Prairie town- ship. A great part of the once fine timber has been cut off and sawed into lumber, yet there are still many thousands acres of fairly good timber still standing, and a few mills are still operating in a small way. It was really the building of the railroads that made this section of Minnesota to blossom like the rose, in a commercial sense. Not until the Great Northern railroad went through, which was due to the large tract of timber lands held by that great railroad king-J. J. Hill-did this county possess advantages suitable to attract settlers.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.