USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 30
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This would include a part of the present county of Chippewa and the following townships in the present Renville county : Wang. Erickson, Crooks, Hawk Creek, Sacred Heart, Emmet, Flora, Henryville, Norfolk, Beaver Falls, Birch Cooley, Palmyra, Bandon, Camp. Martinsburg, Wellington and Cairo.
Other sections of the art were: "Section 1. That the elec- tion held in Renville county on the eighth day of November, 1866, for the election of county officers for said county is hereby confirmed and ratified. and said officers, until their successors are elected and qualified shall have full power and authority to do and perform all arts and duties of their respective offices within the limits of Renville county as hereafter defined.
"Section 3. The following named persons are hereby declared to be the legally constituted officers of said Renville county, until their successors are elected, and qualified according to law, viz. : County treasurer, Henry Ahrens; county commissioners. George MeCulloch, N. D. White and Francis Shoemaker; judge of pro- bate, Nelson Frazier; sheriff, James Graves; county auditor, Charles R. Eldridge; register of deeds, R. W. Davies; county surveyor, M. S. Spicer; clerk of district court, Edward Trevett Tillotson : coroner, Jacob Hawkins."
The first board of county commissioners, consisting of N. D. White, George MeCulloch and Francis Shoemaker, met April 2, 1867. On motion of Francis Shoemaker, N. D. White was ap- pointed chairman. On motion of N. D. White the county was di- vided into towns as follows :
Mud Lake, including what is now Cairo and all the towns in range 32 within the county; Camp, including all the towns in range 33 within the county; Birch Cooley, including the four towns now in range 34: Beaver, including what is now Beaver
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
Falls and all other towns in the county, now in range 35; Flora, including what is now Flora Brooks, and Emmet ; Hawk Creek, including what is Sacred Heart, Erickson, Hawk Creek and Wang. Eight school districts were created.
The second meeting was held April 4. On motion of Francis Shoemaker, James Carrothers of Beaver, was appointed sheriff, the elected sheriff not having qualified. On motion of George MeCulloch, Marlow S. Spieer was appointed superintendent of schools, and JJames Butler, coroner, the elected coroner not hav- ing qualified. Judges of election and places of election were as- signed for the various townships. It was voted to request the register of deeds of Nicollet county to surrender the early county records of Renville county, which were lost during the massacre, and finally found to be in the possession of Nicollet county. George Bowers was appointed judge of probate.
Another act at the first board of the commissioners, was to provide for the lack of necessities among the settlers. Want amounting in some localities to destitution prevailed throughout the belt of country devastated by grasshoppers. Redwood and Renville being frontier counties, felt the searcity and consequent high prices more than the older counties. Successive failures had. moreover, nearly discouraged the farmers. In the emer- gency the aid of the state was offered to the sufferers through Governor Wm. R. Marshall. Redwood and Renville counties took advantage of the proffered aid and received from Fort Ridgely, in the form of provisions, hard tack, beans, hominy and pork, besides seed grain with which to make a new start. On the motion of N. D. White the county board, May 16, 1867. passed the following resolution : "Resolved, that the destitution, among our settlers, is such that in order to remain upon their homesteads and procure seed they need prompt and official aid. and it is hereby ordered that the county accept the proffered aid of his excellency, Win. R. Marshall, governor of the State of Minnesota, and the credit and good faith of the county is hereby pledged for the payment of any debt that shall be thereby in- eurred, and the authorities of the several towns in the county are hereby directed to apply to Samuel Mel'haill, the agent for the district, for supplies of seed and rations, and to make return to the county commissioners, accounting for the amounts re- ceived. and the distribution thereof in each town, and it is further dirceted that each town shall be responsible for the transporta- tion of its own share of such supplies from Fort Ridgely to the place of distribution." A similar resolution was adopted by the board of Redwood county.
The board of county commissioners for 1868 consisted of V. D. White (chairman), Francis Shoemaker and Halleck Peterson.
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
In 1868 Renville county was established as follows: " Begin- ning in the middle of the main channel of the Minnesota river. on the line between townships one hundred and eleven (111 and one hundred and twelve (112) north; theure east to the southeast corner of township one hundred and twelve (112, north, of range thirty-two (32 west of the fifth meridian ; thence north to the northeast corner of township one hundred and fourteen 114 north; thenee west to the northwest corner of township one hundred and fourteen (114 north, of range thirty-two west ; thence north to the north-east corner of township one Indred and sixteen (116: north; thene west to the northwest corner of township one hundred and sixteen (116) north, of range thir- ty-eight west: thence south to the centre of the main channel of the Minnesota river: thence down the main channel of said river to the place of beginning: provided, that if. after the passage of this act. it shall be judicially determined that town- ships one hundred and fifteen, one Imundred and sixteen and one hundred and seventeen, of range thirty-one, and townships our hundred and fifteen, one hundred and sixteen and one hundred and seventeen, of range thirty-two, are not a part of the county of Meleod, then and in that case the said townships shall con- stitute a part of the county of Renville notwithstanding the pro- visions of this act."
By an act approved February 28, 1866, it was provided that the above mentioned towns . Brookfield. Boon Lake, Hector, Pres- ton Lake, and two now in Meeker county-the six then forming part of the oldl county of Lincoln should be transferred to Me- Leod county, the act to take effret upon its ratification by the electors of MeLeod county. Such ratification was proclaimed by the governor on December 20, 1866. The effect of it, however. was to reduce the area of Lincoln county to six townships or only 216 square miles, in violation of Constitution, Article 11. para- graph 1. which forbids any reduction below 400 square miles, and therefore these townships remained in Lincoln county until. by the above section, that county was merged in Renville county.
By the laws of 1870, chapter 97, two of these towns, viz .. 117 of range 31, and 117 of range 32, were detached from Renville county and added to Meeker county. Since then the boundaries of the county have remained unchanged.
On February 29, 1872, the following law was approved by the legislature: "Section 1. That townships number one hun- dred and fifteen (115) and one hundred and sixteen (116) north of ranges number thirty-one (31) and thirty-two (32) be and the same are hereby detached from the county of Renville and at- tached to the county of MeLeod : and said townships shall here- after form and be a part of said county of MeLeod.
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"Section 2. At the time of giving notice of the next general election, it shall be the duty of the officers in said Renville and MeLeod counties required by law to give notice of such general c'ection, to give notice in like manner, that at said election a sote will be taken on the question of detaching townships mm- ber one hundred and fifteen (115) and one hundred and sixteen 116) north, of ranges number thirty-one (31) and thirty-two (32) from Renville county and attaching the same to the said county of MeLeod in accordance with the provisions of this aet. At said election the voters in each of said counties in favor of detaching said townships from Renville county and attaching the same to MeLeod county shall have distinctly written or printed or partly written or partly printed on their ballots the words. 'In favor of detaching said townships from Renville connty and attaching the same to MeLeod county ;' and those op- posed to the detaching of said towns from Renville eounty and at- taching the same to MeLeod county shall have distinetly written or printed or partly written and partly printed on their ballots the words, 'Against detaching said townships from Renville county and attaching the same to MeLeod county.' The votes upon said question shall be canvassed in the same manner and the returns thereof made to the same office by the judges of elee- tion of the several townships in Renville and MeLeod counties as votes for county officers.
"Section 3. The county officers to whom the returns are made, in each of said counties, shall, within ten (10) days after said election, canvass the votes returned for and against the detaching said townships from Renville county, and attaching the same to MeLeod county, and shall forthwith certify the re- sult of such canvass to the governor, who, if it appears that a majority of all the voters in said counties shall have voted in favor thereof, shall make proclamation thereof by causing to be published in two (2) daily newspapers in the city of St. Paul, that the detaching of said townships from Renville county and attaching the same to McLeod county proposed by this act has been ratified by a majority of the voters of said counties."
The proposition was rejected by the voters.
Birch Cooley. For some years after Renville county assumed its present boundaries there was talk of changes being made. Oet. 1, 1894, Governor Knute Nelson issued a proclamation directing the voters to east their votes on the question of creating a new county to be named Birch Cooley, and to consist of the townships of Birch Cooley, Norfolk. Palmyra, Bandon, Camp, Brookfield. Hector, Martinsburg. Wellington. Cairo, Boon Lake and Preston in Renville county. and Severanee. Grafton and Moltke in Sibley connty. The proposition, however, never came to vote.
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
The county commissioners since 1869 have been as follows:
1869-Franeis Shoemaker. Newell Morse and William Em- erick.
1870-R. G. Weed, E. O'Hara and Lonis Kope.
1871-R. G. Weed, Louis Kope and Bernhardt Marschner.
1872-Lonis Kope. B. Marschner, Peter Henry.
1873-B. Marsehner, Peter Henry and Ole Jacobson.
1874-Peter Henry. Ole JJacobson, James O 'Brien, M. T. Rid- out and T. L. Rudy.
1875-Fred V. Haas, Wm. F. Grummons, Peter Henry, Francis Shoemaker and Ole Jacobson.
1876-Fred V. Ilaas, William F. Grummons, T. H. Sherwin, Owen Heaney and Ole Jacobson.
1877-William F. Grummons (chairman ), Fred V. Haas, T. I. Sherwin, Owen Heaney and Henry Paulson. July 16, Arnold Vincent took the place of Fred V. Haas on the board.
1878-Henry Paulson (chairman), T. I. Sherwin, William F. Grummons, Owen Heaney and Edmond O'Hara. On July 16, 1878. J. S. Niles took the place of Edmond O'llara. On Decem- ber 3, 1878, an unsneeessful effort was made to unseat William F. Grummons. on the grounds that he had removed from the distriet, which he represented.
1879-Henry Paulson (chairman), John Thompson, Thos. Leary, Owen Heaney and J. S. Niles.
1880-Henry Paulson (chairman), John Thompson, Thos. Leary, Owen Heaney and J. S. Niles.
1881-John Thompson (chairman), Henry Paulson, Owen Heaney. Thomas Leary and Owen Carrigan.
1882-Thomas Leary (chairman), Henry Paulson, Owen Heaney. Owen Carrigan and Louis Tennis.
1883-Owen Carrigan (chairman), Henry Schafer, Peter P. Dustrud. Thomas Leary, Lewis L. Tennis. In May. 1883, Mr. Dus- trud resigned and Peter G. Peterson was appointed.
1884-Lewis L. Tennis (chairman), Owen Carrigan. Thomas Leary, Ilenry Schafer and John Johnson.
1885-Henry Schafer (chairman), Owen Carrigan. John Johnson. Gunerus Peterson and J. H. Reagan.
1886-Owen Carrigan (chairman), Henry Schafer, J. H. Rea- gan, Gonerus Peterson and John Johnson.
1887-Henry Schafer (chairman), John Hurst, -Iulius Thomp- ann. Patrick Williams and A. II. Anderson.
1888-John Thompson (chairman), John Hurst, Patrick Wil- Timis, A. II. Anderson and Henry Schafer.
1889-John Thompson (chairman ), John Warner, O. F. Peter- son. Patrick Williams and A. H. Anderson.
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. 1890-A. H. Anderson (chairman), John Thompson, O. F. Peterson, John Warner and Patrick Williams.
1891-0. F. Peterson (chairman), Patrick Williams, A. H. Anderson, Thyke Ytterboe and John Warner.
1892-A. II. Anderson (chairman), O. F. Peterson, Thyke Utterboe, Patrick Williams and John Warner.
1893-1, E. J. Butler ; 2, Thyke E. Ytterboe; 3, A. D. Corey ; 4. John Warner; 5, A. H. Anderson.
1895-1, E. J. Butler: 2, A. J. Anderson; 3, A. D. Corey ; 4. Ferdinand Schroeder; 5, A. H. Anderson.
1897-1. E. J. Butler; 2, A. J. Anderson; 3, C. A. Desmond ; 4, F. A. Schroeder ; 5, John I. Johnson.
1899-1, E. J. Butler ; 2, Norman Hiekok ; 3, C. A. Desmond ; 4, F. A. Schroeder; 5, John 1. Johnson.
1901-1, W. E. Kemp; 2, Norman Hickok; 3, W. C. Keefe; 4, F. A. Schroeder; 5. Carl Anderson.
1903-1. W. E. Kemp; 2, Ole S. Olson; 3, W. C. Keefe; 4, M. E. Sherin : 5, Carl Anderson.
1905-1, B.C. MeEwen : 2, Ole S. Olson ; 3, Julius Patzewold ; 4, M. E. Sherin; 5, Carl Anderson.
1907-2, Chas. Lammers; 1, B. C. MeEwen; 3, Julius Patze- wold; 4, M. E. Sherin : 5, Carl Anderson.
1909-1, B. C. MeEwen; 2, Chas. Lammers; 3, Julius Patze- wold ; 4. M. E. Sherin ; 5. Carl Anderson.
1911-1, B. C. MeEwen; 2, Chas. Lammers; 3, Julius Patze- wold; 4, M. E. Sherin ; 5, Carl Anderson.
1913-1, 3. U. Hongland; 2, Chas. Lammers; 3, Jolm Ederer; 4, M. E. Sherin ; 5. R. H. Nelson.
1915-1, J. U. Hlougland ; 2, Chas. Lammers; 3, John Ederer ; 4, M. E. Sherin : 5, R. H. Nelson, Edward Paulson. R. H. Nelson resigned June 1. 1915, and died July 21, 1915.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
Auditor. Charles R. Eldridge was elected anditor of Ren- ville county in the fall of 1866. January 15, 1868, he resigned. and Carter H. Drew was appointed. In the fall of 1868, Darwin S. Hall was elected. He served four years. Erie Erieson was eleeted in the fall of 1872. He was suspended by the Governor, August 20, 1878, upon complaint of II. M. Knox, state examiner. September 3, 1878, Patrick H. Kerwan was appointed by the county commissioners. He served until January 1, 1891. Ed. De Pue, the next auditor, served from January 1, 1891, to Janu- ary 1, 1895; J. T. Brooks, from January 1, 1895, to January 1, 1903; H. J. Lee, From January 1, 1903, to January 1, 1909. J. 1. Johnson has served since January 1, 1909.
Register of Deeds. Robert W. Davis was elected register of deeds of Renville eounty in the fall of 1866. William F. Van
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
Deyn was elected in the fall of 1870. As it was discovered after a while that he was not a citizen, an act legalizing his aet was passed by the legislature February 26. 1872. He removed from the county and on October 2, 1871, James S. Chapman was ap- pointed. Hle was elected in the fall of 1872. In the fall of 1874. William W. McGowan was elected. Carl A. Mork was elected in the Fall of 1876. In the fall of 1882. Bradner A. Knapp was elected. Gunerus Peterson was elected in the fall of 1886. He served until January 1, 1891. P. B. Olson served from January 1, 1891, to January 1, 1895: Peter Erickson from January 1. 1895, to January 1, 1901 ; Theo. A. Nellermoe from January 1. 1901, to January 1, 1905. T. H. Collyer has served since January 1, 1905.
Treasurer. Henry Ahrens was elected treasurer of Renville county in the fall of 1866. Hans Gronnerud was elected in the fall of 1872. In the fall of 1884, William D. Griffith was elected. Hans Listerud was elected in the fall of 1886, and served until January 1, 1891. Frank Poseley was treasurer from January 1. 1891, to January 1. 1893. Then ITans Listerud was treasurer again from January 1, 1893, to January 1, 1901; then William D. Griffith was again treasurer from January 1, 1901, to January 1, 1913. Since January 1, 1913, Amund Dahl has been in office.
Sheriff. James W. Graves was elected sheriff of Renville county in the fall of 1866. When the commissioners met, April 4. 1867, he had not qualified, so James Carrothers was appointed. However, a short time afterward, Mr. Graves qualified, and served several months. He resigned and on November 30, 1867, Henry .J. Witcher was appointed. In the fall of 1868, W. H. Jewell was elected. James Carrothers was elected in the fall of 1870. He resigned. but his resignation was not accepted. He left the county, however, and on February 21, 1872. the office was de- clared vacant. The next day, Jerome P. Patten was appointed. James Arnold was elected in the fall of 1872. In the summer of 1874 he removed to New Ulm, and July 29, 1874, Martin Jensen was appointed. He served for many years. Hans O. Field was eleeted in the fall of 1882 and served until January 1, 1891. William Wiehman served from January 1, 1891. to January 1, 1901; N. L. Headline from January 1, 1901, to January 1, 1907 ; John A. Vick from January 1, 1907, to January 1, 1913. O. T. Sunde has served since January 1, 1913.
Judge of Probate. Nelson Frazier was elected judge of pro- bate in the fall of 1866. George Bowers was appointed April 4, 1867. He was followed by N. D. White, who in turn was followed by Moses Little. George H. Megquier was elected in the fall of 1873. He tendered his resignation to the board of county commissioners, April 7, 1874, but that board doubted whether it had the power to accept or the power to appoint a suc-
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
cessor. William W. MeGowan was elected in the fall of 1875; HIans Gronnerud in the fall of 1879; John Garrity in the fall of 1886: Francis Shoemaker in the fall of 1888; John Garrity in the fall of 1890 again ; Perry W. Glenn in the fall of 1894; and George F. Gage in the fall of 1902. Charles N. Mattson has served since January 1, 1911.
County Attorney. The records are somewhat vague regard- ing the early county attorneys. It appears that, "a vacancy ex- isting, " P. H. Swift was appointed September 1. 1868. Appar- ently John M. Dormon was elected in the fall of 1870. Hle re- signed and G. H. Megquier was appointed. S. R. Miller was elected in the fall of 1880: Gabriel T. Christianson in the fall of 1882; S. R. Miller again in the fall of 1884. In the fall of 1886, Gabriel T. Christianson was again elected, and served until January 1, 1891. Since then the attorneys have been: R. T. Daly, January 1, 1891, to January 1, 1893: S. R. Miller, January 1, 1893, to January 1. 1899: A. V. Rieke, January 1. 1899, to Jan- uary 1. 1903: Frank Murray, January 1, 1903 to January 1, 1911. L. D. Barnard has served since January 1, 1911.
Clerk of the District Court. Edward Trevett Tillotson was elected clerk of the district court in the fall of 1866. bane K. Stone was elected in the fall of 1869. Darwin S. Ilall was ap- pointed November 30. 1872, by ludge M. G. Hanscom. He was elected in the fall of 1873 and 1877, but resigned March 6, 1878, being succeeded by William W. MeGowan, who was appointed by E. St. Julien Cox, district judge. William W. McGowan was elected in the fall of 1878, and served a long term, retiring Jan- uary 1, 1895. Following him came E. E. Cook, January 1, 1895. to March 30. 1902; Carl O. Breeke, appointed by Judge Gorham Powers, April 3, 1902; elected January 1. 1903, to JJamary 1. 1907 : and A. P. Heaney, January 1, 1907, to January 1. 1911. C. O. Brecke took office January 1, 1911, and is still serving.
Surveyor. In the early days surveyors and viewers were ap- pointed for each road ordered laid out. Marlow S. Spicer was elected county surveyor in the fall of 1866. Possibly Charles G. Johnson was the next county surveyor. At least he was serv- ing in the early eighties. J. C. Garland served in 1874; Marlow S. Spieer from January 1, 1885, to January 1, 1889, and E. A. Dieter from January 1, 1899 to January 1, 1901, but with these exceptions Mr. Johnson served until January 1, 1911. John A. Dahlgren served from January 1, 1911. to January 1, 1915, and T. S. Hewerdine has served since January 1. 1915.
Coroner. Jacob Hawkins was elected coroner in the fall of 1866. He did not qualify, and James Butler was appointed April 4, 1867. Francis Shoemaker was appointed March 19, 1870. In the fall of that year, Dr. T. II. Sherwin was elected. Dr. F. L. Puffer was elected in the fall of 1878. Since then the coroners
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
have been : January 1, 1883, to January 1, 1887, Dr. A. G. Stod- dard : January 1, 1887. to Jannary 1, 1889, Dr. Willis Clay ; Janu- ary 1, 1889, to January 1, 1891. Dr. W. Smalley; January 1, 1891. to January 1, 1893, Dr. A. G. Stoddard; January 1, 1893, to January 1, 1895, W. H. Jewell; JJanuary 1, 1895, to January 1, 1897, Dr. E. M. Clay ; January 1, 1897, to January 1, 1903, A. G. Stoddard, M. D .: Jammary 1, 1903. to January 1. 1911, E. M. Clay, M. D. ; January 1, 1911, to January 1, 1913, Harry L. D'Arms, M. D. : Jannary 1, 1913, to January 1, 1915. F. W. Penhall, M. D .; January 1, 1915, to January 1, 1919, A. A. Passer, M. D.
Superintendent of Schools. Marlow S. Spicer was appointed superintendent of schools April 4, 1867. William Emerick took office January 6, 1870; Carter H. Drew, JJanuary 1, 1872. lle was followed by G. H. Megquier. In 1877, J. S. Bowler served. Iver S. Gerald was the superintendent in the years 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882 and 1883. Eric Erieson took office in 1884 and served until January 1, 1891. Following him came F. C. Greene for two years. Then Mr. Erieson served for four years. F. A. Schaffer served from January 1, 1907, to January 1, 1915. Amalia M. Bengtson has served since January 1. 1915.
Court Commissioner. John M. Dorman filed his bond as court commissioner January 6. 1871. C. Il. Drew took the office May 31. 1877. James Greely was appointed July 25, 1881. Henry Kelsey was elected in the fall of 1881. Ile served until January 1, 1893. Then came J. J. Durrell From January 1, 1893, to JJanuary 1, 1895 ; followed by John M. Freeman. January 1, 1895. His unexpired term was filled by Henry Ahrens, who was followed by John Kelley. S. R. Miller took office January 1, 1905, and has held the office continously since that time.
CHAPTER XVII.
COUNTY REPRESENTATION.
Territory Organized-Council Districts-Territorial Legislature -Renville in the Sixth, Seventh and Tenth Council Districts- Constitutional Convention-State Legislature-Members Who Have Represented Renville County-Congressional Represen- tation.
Alexander Ramsey, of Pennsylvania, then only thirty-four years of age, was appointed by President Taylor the first gov- ernor of the new territory of Minnesota. His previous public experience had been as a member of the Twenty-eighth and Twen- ty-ninth congresses, in which he had displayed the sterling qual- ities and the marked ability which characterized his long after- career. From the time of his coming to Minnesota until the close
RENVILLE COUNTY COURT HOUSE
THE N & VARY PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN PO) INDAMION
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
of his life he remained one of its most loyal and honored citizens, filling many important positions both in the state and the nation. He arrived in St. Paul, May 27, 1849, and the hotels being full to overflowing proceeded with his family to Mendota, a fur trad- ing station at the junction of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, where he became the guest of Henry H. Sibley, remaining there until June 26.
On the first of June he issued a proclamation, said to have been prepared in a small room in Bass's log tavern which stood on the site now occupied by the Merchant's Hotel, making official announcement of the organization of the territory, with the fol- lowing officers: Governor, Alexander Ramsey, of Pennsylvania ; secretary, C. K. Smith, of Ohio; chief justice, Aaron Goodrich, of Tennessee: associate justices, David Cooper, of Pennsylvania, and Bradley B. Meeker, of Kentucky; United States marshal, Joshua L. Taylor ; United States attorney, H. L. Moss. Mr. Tay- lor, having declined to accept the office of marshal, A. M. Mitchell, of Ohio, a graduate of West Point, and colonel of an Ohio regi- ment in the Mexican war, was appointed to the position and ar- rived in August.
A second proclamation, issued by Governor Ramsey, JJune 11, divided the territory into three judicial districts, to which the three judges, who had been appointed by the president, were as- signed. The present Renville county was included in the Second district, which comprised the county of La Pointe (a former Wisconsin county) and the region north and west of the Missis- sippi and north of the Minnesota and a line running due west from the headwaters of the Minnesota to the Missouri river, and over this district Judge Meeker presided.
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