Redwood County, Minnesota - Chapter 16: County Commissioners and Their Meetings, 1916

The affairs of Redwood county have been prudently administered, and the spirit of the commissioners, while ever mindful of the fact that the tendency of every agricultural community is in favor of the lowest tax rate, has nevertheless been one of progress and improvement.

The pioneer period from the organization of the county in 1865 to and including 1872, was one of organization, wherein the commissioners were confronted with the task of laying the foundation of the future business of the county. Everything was new and untried in a new country. Until late in 1867 there was no real estate to tax. Funds were scarce, the people were poor. For the first few years the expenses were much greater than the receipts.

During this period, the commissioners perfected the organization of the county, established the first townships, ordered the first roads and bridges, designated official printers, organized school districts, purchased supplies for the county officials, divided the county into commissioner districts, appointing various offices, attended to miscellaneous matters, and met the financial problems as best they could. At the beginning of this period Redwood county, for which the commissioners must administer, extended to the state line. Lyon, including Lincoln county, was cut off March 2, 1869, while Lac qui Parle and Yellow Medicine were cut off March 6, 1871.

The problem of the boundary line between Brown and Redwood counties came up during this period. February 23, 1865, the legislature had passed an act to change and define the boundaries of Redwood county. That act described the line between Brown and Redwood counties, as it is at present constituted, and the line was ratified by the voters. But the compilers of the Revised Statutes of 1866 ignored the act of 1865 and gave the boundaries as described by the previous act of 1862. This would include in Redwood county, Township 109, Ranges 34 and 35, now in Brown county. September 8, 1869, the commissioners notified the people of those two townships that under the Revised Statutes they were a part of Redwood county. Some money was expended by the county in those two townships, for which Brown county was afterward charged. It was finally decided that the two townships were not a part of Redwood county, the provisions of the revision not having been passed upon by the voters. A vote was taken, November 17, 1871, by the people of both counties on the question of whether the two townships should be detached from Brown and placed in Redwood, and the proposition was defeated. The anxiety of the people of Redwood county to secure these two townships is explained by the fact that the region in dispute was then supposed to contain coal and iron.

For the most part this period was one of prosperity on the part of the people, though the hard winter and late spring of 1867 left many of the people destitute, and Governor Marshall was appealed to for seed and clothing. Secretary of State Hans Mattson and Major M. E. Powell, of Redwood Falls, made a personal canvass of the situation in this county. The commissioners met the problem, and pledged the faith of the county in return for necessary supplies.

1865. The first meeting of the board of county commissioners was held at the auditor's office at Redwood Falls, April 19. On motion of J. S. G. Honner, 0. C. Martin was elected chairman. The bonds of Jacob Tippery as county treasurer, and of J. H. Thompson as sheriff, were accepted. The board then adjourned until 1 o'clock. In the afternoon E. E. Jeffries was appointed auditor pro tern in place of T. W. Caster, who was absent. The county was divided into three commissioner districts, No. 3 being created first, then No. 2 and then No. 1. An unnumbered school district was created. Colonel Sam McPhail was appointed county road supervisor and James W. Harkness was appointed assessor. The legislative grant for a state road from New Ulm, via Redwood Falls and Yellow Medicine to Whetstone river, was accepted. The license fee to sell liquor was placed at $25. Col. McPhail was authorized to procure supplies for the use of the county officials. Those present at this meeting were 0. C. Martin and J. S. G. Honner, supervisors ; J. R. Thompson, sheriff ; and E. E. Jeffries, auditor pro tem. September 5, the board met but at once adjourned. September 12, Edward March was appointed district school examiner for the county, 0. C. Martin was authorized to secure a suitable room for the county offices, it was voted to levy a tax of 2% mills for school purposes, 6 mills for state purposes and 3 mills for county purposes. It was decided to borrow money from Colonel McPhail by issuing him county orders at 12 per cent discount. At this meeting Martin, Honner and Caster were present. At the meeting held October 14, Samuel M. Thompson, Charles Folsom and John McMillan, Sr., were appointed judges of the election to be held at the house of J. S. G. Honner in Redwood Falls. The whole county was constituted an election precinct. December 23 routine business was transacted. The county auditor's salary was fixed at $50 a year.

1866. The first meeting of the board of county commissioners was held January 2, with 0. C. Martin and Hugh Curry, commissioners, and Edward March, auditor, present. 0. C. Martin was appointed chairman. April 20, the commissioners made a report of the financial condition of the county. The receipts were shown to be $110.76 of which $75 had been received for three liquor licenses, and $35.76 from the general tax fund of 1865. The expenses were $333.44 and consisted entirely of bills for fees, salaries, and supplies. It was shown that county orders to the amount of $106.75 had been taken in and cancelled. A bill for $126.75 and outstanding orders of $99.94 constituted the total indebtedness. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to school, road and license matters. School district No. 1, as organized, took in the territory surrounding Redwood Falls. District No. 2 lay to the eastward and took in the territory surrounding the Lower agency. The first road declared a public highway ran east from Redwood Falls on the township line to the ferry at the Lower agency, a branch of it extending northward to the Minnesota river along the east line of section 34, in what is now Honnor township. The sawmill road in Redwood Falls was declared a public highway, and a road was ordered laid out from the village, to intersect the old military road in the direction of the Yellow Medicine agency. September 4, John Winter, who lived near the place where military road crossed the Yellow Medicine, put in his appearance as a member of the county board, this being the first time that a third member had sat. Road Petition No. 1 was received, and the township of Yellow Medicine was created. September 5, road and school matters were considered, and Edward March was appointed county superintendent of public instruction. The following tax levy was made : state, 6 mills ; county, 3 mills; school, 2 mills. School district No. 3 was organized. Liquor licenses were also granted. The county auditor and the county attorney were each voted an annual salary of $100.

1867. The first meeting was held January 1, in the auditor's office with O. C. Martin, Hugh Curry, and Isaac Willey commissioners, and Edward March, auditor, present. O. C. Martin was elected chairman. It was decided to strike the name of John Winter from the minutes of September 4, 1866. Roads and bridge matters were considered and bills ordered paid. The first coroner's jury in the county, consisting of Dr. D. L. Hitchcock, C. P. Griswold, S. M. Thompson, J. W. Harkness, Hugh Curry, and Carl Holtz, were ordered paid for investigating the case of a man found dead on Rice creek. April 6, the financial report of the county was rendered. The receipts amounted to $55.48. Of this, $55 had been received for liquor licenses, and only forty-eight cents taxes had been paid. Taxes remaining unpaid amounted to $135.74. The general tax fund amounted to $63,857 and $63,479 remained still unpaid. The entire special county tax of $72.36 still remained unpaid. The total expenditures for the year were $511.24. This left an indebtedness of $455.76, which added to $222.68, the indebtedness of the previous year, made a total county indebtedness on March 12, 1867, of $678.44, all in county orders most of which were held by Colonel McPhail. At the meeting of May 21, the commissioners decided to accept the offer of assistance from Governor William R. Marshall, and pledge the faith and credit of the county therefor. Col. Samuel McPhail was appointed distributing agent to issue seed and subsistence to the heads of families and other persons in need. September 24, the rates of taxation were levied as follows : state tax, 5 mills ; county, 10 mills ; school tax, 2 mills ; special county tax, 3 mills. The special county tax was to be applied to purchasing supplies for the county offices. On the next day bounties were voted for the killing of blackbirds, striped and pocket gophers. The personal property of the county was equalized by adding $25.00 to the tax statement of John Fuzzard. The sheriff was ordered to procure a suitable house for the use of the circuit court.

1868. The board of county commissioners met January 7, with B. H. Monroe and Hugh Curry, commissioners, and Edward March, auditor, present. B. H. Monroe was chosen chairman. Grand and Petit jurors were selected. The following salaries were voted : Auditor, $200 (for year ending March 1, 1868, and the same for the year ending March 1, 1869) ; county superintendent of schools, $25 (for the year ending January 7, 1868) ; county attorney, $200 (for the year ending January 7, 1868). March 2, the commissioners changed the boundary line between Redwood Falls township and Yellow Medicine township. They appointed Charles P. Griswold sheriff. It was ordered that any person bringing suit before any justice in the county must first give security sufficient to cover the cost. William H. Morrill, treasurer of the county, was ordered to collect the delinquent taxes of 1866 and 1867. The financial report for the year ending March 10, 1868, showed the total receipts to be $206.11 ; $50 of this being from liquor licenses and $156.11 from the county tax. The expenses for the year were $532.05, leaving a deficit for the year of $325.94. At that time the county had assets to the amount of $215.55, consisting of $33.59 due for delinquent taxes of 1866, and $181.96 due for delinquent taxes for 1867. Outside of the indebtedness to the state the total liabilities were $1,085.12. Of this $100.75 was still owing for books, and $984.37 was represented by outstanding county orders. There was also $87.04 due the state on delinquent state taxes. School monies had been received and dispersed to the amount of $234.64. This school fund represented sums received in 1867 and 1868 from state, county, and district taxes. On September 16, D. O. King put in his appearance as the third member of the board. The treasurer was again commanded to collect the delinquent taxes. The board of equalization on September 16, fixed the value of farm lands in the county. A tax of 10 mills was levied on every dollar of taxable property in the county to pay up the county indebtedness. It was announced on December 28 that the abstract rolls of the county had been started by Sam McPhaill, who, for $27.70 had copied from the land office records an abstract of all entered lands. School districts No. 4 and No. 5 were created.

1869. The board of county commissioners met January 5, Gorham Powers, D. 0. King, B. H. Monroe, and 0. C. Martin, commissioners, and Edward March, auditor, were present. D. 0. King was chosen chairman. The salary of the county attorney and of the county auditor was raised to $250 a year. On March 9, there was a dispute as to whether B. H. Monroe or Gorham Powers was legally a commissioner. Colonel Sam McPhail, county attorney, gave a written opinion from which the commissioners decided that Gorham Powers was not legally elected and therefore was not a member of this board of commissioners. School district No. 6 was created. A small part of school district No. 1 was transferred to school district No. 4. March 10, the liquor license fee was raised to $50. It was decided that a small building should be erected on a lot purchased for that purpose, to be used by the county officers, the cost not to exceed $300. The financial report for the year ending March 9, 1869, was given. The receipts for the year were $669.92, of which $574.43 was county tax, $62.50 was from liquor licenses, $19.74 was from fees on deeds. Total expenses for the year were $957.43, including salaries and supplies. The liabilities were $2,243.55, of which $1,030.97 was outstanding orders, $1,081.83 was due the state on the state tax for 1868, and a bill of $132.75 for books was still unpaid. There were still $2,187.25 of unpaid delinquent county taxes, and $1,081.83 delinquent state taxes due, making a total of $3,269.08 in assets. The school funds collected and distributed amounted to $163.77. The county orders cancelled were $748.40. On September 7, school districts No. 7 and No. 8 were created. There was a change made in the boundaries of school district No. 2. The township of Sherman was organized. A petition was presented for the change of the boundary line of commissioner district, but was rejected, because it was unauthorized by law. The commissioners sat as an equalization board, on September 8. September 9, the proceedings of the board of commissioners were ordered published in the Redwood Falls Mail, at the cost of $5 per session. The people of two townships now in Brown county and directly east of the present township of Charlestown, were notified that they were a part of Redwood county. The rate of taxation was the same as the preceding year: state, 5 mills; county, 10 mills ; school, 2 mills. The commissioners provided for the erection of the building for the county offices. On November

16 Gorharu Powers appears as commissioner, his right to a seat in place of B. H. Monroe having been established. Road, school, and liquor license matters were taken up. E. A. Chandler was appointed to the office of superintendent of school to succeed Edward March, resigned.

1870. The county commissioners met January 4, with D. 0. King, 0. C. Martin and Gorham Powers, commissioners, present. D. O. King was chosen chairman. A clerk of court also appears for the first time. The present township of Sheridan was organized, at that time named Nolton. A change of a part of the road known as the county road to the Lower Sioux agency was favorably reported. Books and stationery for the county offices were provided. On January 6, E. A. Chandler was appointed county superintendent of schools for two years, and the salary was raised to $50 per year. The building for the county offices was accepted, on January 8. On March 8, the school district No. 9 was created and Evind Knutson was transferred from district No. 7 to district No. 3. Several petitions were presented and granted for reduction of the assessed valuation of property, during the next two days. In the minutes of March 10, is found the first record of prosecution for selling liquors without a license. March 25, finds only D. O. King and 0. C. Martin present. The financial report for the year ending March 25, 1870, was rendered. The total receipts were $1,863.01, of which $1,695.68 was from taxes and $145.50 was from licenses. The total expenses were $1,593.33 including salaries, fees and supplies. The liabilities amounted to $1,177.85, consisting of outstanding orders. There were still $5,062.91 due from delinquent tax and from other taxes $325.74, making a total of $5,388.65 in assets. Orders amounting to $1,558.38 were cancelled. On May 25, three new school districts were organized. September 6 the commissioners sat as an equalization board. The first petition to build a bridge was granted, this being over Wabasha creek. The rate of county tax was raised to 10 mills.

1871. On January 3 the board of county commissioners met, O. C. Martin, Gorham Powers, and Jacob J. Light being present. O. C. Martin was chosen chairman. The county attorney's salary was fixed at $300 per year. During the past year the first county map had been made. A committee of three were appointed to view the locality and measure the distance across the Redwood river with the view of building a bridge, for which the state had appropriated $5,000. The township of Cerro Gordo was organized. This lay entirely outside the present boundaries of the county. Another township, lying outside the present county, and named Camp Release, was formed. On April 11, school districts 14, 15, 17 and 18 were organized the districts 7 and 8 organization being illegal. On May 18, two new townships were organ- ized, both lying outside the present county. On May 18 the contract was let for the building of a bridge across the Redwood river at Redwood Falls and the Stage Road from Redwood Falls to New Ulm was to be repaired. A bill was presented for the building of a state road from Redwood Falls, west to the state line, but was rejected. A road from Redwood Falls to the Lyon county border was provided for. Two new school districts and a new township were created. On September 13, only two commissioners were present. They voted to levy an 8-mill county tax for the ensuing year. In the minutes of November 2, Dr. William D. Flinn is appointed as county physician, this being the first time that such an office is recorded. The bridge erected across the Redwood river was ordered protected with a sign to be placed at either end of it, warning people, driving over it, not to move faster than at a walk. School and road matters were considered. It was ordered on November 3 that all real estate records relating to real estate in Redwood county and found in the records of Brown county, should be copied.

1872. The county commissioners met January 2, with Jacob J. Light, Harvey Wingett, and David Tibbetts present. They chose Jacob J. Light chairman of the board. The boundaries for the commissioners' districts were changed. The salary of the county attorney was fixed at $400 per year. On January 4, the salary of the county superintendent of schools was raised to $100 per year and Dr. William H. Flinn appointed to that office. February 29 Peter Van Yandt is paid $65 for keeping paupers, this being the first mention of paupers kept and provided for, in the county. On March 1, A. C. Randall collected a bill for medicine which he had supplied the poor. March 2. a pauper from Jackson county was ordered to leave Redwood county. The annual financial report for the year was rendered March 12. The total receipts were $3,554.89, of which $159.50 was from licenses and $3,395.39 was from taxes collected. The total expenses were $4,838.63. The liabilities were outstanding orders amounting to $3,468.95, and the total assets amounted to $12,117.93, of which $850 was personal property and $907.83 were Brown county bonds, with bills against Brown county amounting to $314.10 ; the delinquent tax of $9,968.16 including the interest made up the balance. At the meeting of March 23, H. Wingett was chosen chairman pro tem in the absence of Jacob J. Light. The site known as the Court House Square was given to the county by Colonel Sam McPhail. On March 30, the offer of Mr. Radcliff to draw up plans and specifications for the new court house was accepted. The first mention of a Redwood Palls banker, W. F. Dickinson, was made at this meeting, he being given the power to sell county bonds issued to build the court house. June 4, the plans for the new court house were received and approved.

School and road petitions were read. On June 14, it was ordered to obtain bids for a complete set of plats and field notes of Redwood county. The rate of county tax was to be 10 mills, and the special road and bridge tax of 1 mill was levied for the first time. Organizing townships and other matters were considered on September 4. Money for handcuffs and leg shackles was appropriated.

During the grasshopper period the board was beset with many problems. In addition to school, tax, road, financial, bridge, township, and other matters which had confronted the previous boards, the boards of this period erected a court house, attended to the matter of issuing railroad bonds, distributed seed wheat to sufferers from the grasshopper ravages, provided for the protection of the borders of the county against forest fires, and at the same time gradually improved the finances of the county.

1873. The board met January 7, Jacob J. Light, Harvey Wingett, and David Tibbetts, commissioners present. Harvey Wingett was chosen chairman. In the financial record of March 19, is found the first mention of naturalization papers filed. The total expenses for the year were $4,386.58; total receipts were $4,426.57, most of which was from general taxes; the total assets were $12,064.62, most of which was in delinquent taxes, $9,332.40, and personal property, $1,050.00. On April 1, the board met and organized three school districts and one township. The returns of the election for the railroad bonds were received; total number of votes 243 ; in favor of the bonds, 235, opposed, - . The county paper was the Redwood Falls Gazette. It was decided that there was no safe place to keep the records of the county; so a court house was ordered built on the "court house square," the cost not to exceed $2,200. The bid, amounting to $2,150, for building the court house, was accepted. The funds, books and effects yet in the houses of V. C. Seward and belonging to the district court, were demanded returned to said office. On September 2, the board sat as an equalization board. They made the rate uniform throughout the county, the rate being, county, 10 mills, and road and bridges, 1 mill. Two new townships were organized and other necessary business was attended to. Road and school matters were considered at the meeting of September 16. Lewis M. Baker, having resigned his office as register of deeds, the board appointed G. W. Braley to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term, on October 6.

1874. On January 6, the county commissioners met with the following members present: David Tibbetts, Harvey Wingett, and W. H. Hawk. David Tibbetts was chosen chairman for the year. After the official bonds had been approved, a new county school superintendent was appointed. The salary of the countyattorney was lowered from $400 to $200. January 7, the license fee was lowered to $35. The annual financial report was rendered March 12 as follows: total expenses, $7,131.85; total receipts, $6,235.84, consisting of taxes largely; total assets, $17,303.78, mostly delinquent taxes. Township, road and bridge matters were considered. On March 21, it was voted to distribute seed wheat among the farmers who needed it. On July 28, four school districts were organized. In the records of September 30 a reward is offered to anyone who gives proof of any person who wantonly sets a prairie fire before May of the following year. Township and road matters were considered October 9.

1875. On January 5, the board met with A. M. Cook, William H. Hawk and D. Tibbetts, commissioners, present. A. M. Cook was chosen chairman. On January 28, in a special session, the board appointed A. M. Cook treasurer of the State Relief Fund, to distribute money to those who needed relief on account of the grasshoppers. On March 10, the resolution was adopted to cancel the $1,192.40 in outstanding orders because they were supposed to have been paid. The following annual report was rendered: total expenses, $7,991.06, besides $383.30 spent for roads and bridges; total receipts, $8,940.57, consisting in a large measure of taxes and interest; total assets, $8,615.59, most of which was delinquent and uncollected taxes. July 26 the rate of county tax was fixed at 5 mills, and the road and bridge tax at 1 mill. The county was divided into five commissioner's districts.

1876. On January 4, the board, now consisting of five members, met with D. O. King, Charles Porter, L. Bedall, J. M. Little, and Mathias Keller, present. The first named commissioner was elected chairman. The salary of the county attorney was fixed at $350 per year. D. O. King and J. M. Little were appointed a committee on court house and court house grounds. D. L. Bigham was elected county superintendent of schools, on February 1. On March 16 the bond of the bank of Redwood Falls, as depository of the county funds, was approved. The board rendered their financial report showing the total expenditures to be $6,799.24, including the road and bridge expenses of $227.63 ; total receipts, $6,908.38, most of which was from taxes collected ; total liabilities, $2,326.04, mostly outstanding orders; total assets, $7,692.15, most of which was delinquent taxes and uncollected taxes of 1875. This report shows the county funds in the best condition thus far reported, but at the next meeting an expert was hired to examine and balance the county funds. On June 19 the time was spent in organizing four school districts and one township. July 24 the commissioners acted as an equalizing board. It was voted that $7,000 be raised as taxes to defray the county expenses, and that $1,000 be raised by the road and bridge tax. On September 6, the board decided not to issue the railroad bonds until the railroad was completed to Redwood Falls. Strips of grass were ordered burned along the south and west borders of the county to prevent forest fires from coming in. On September 20, a petition was read before the board that the bonds for the railroad to Redwood Falls be issued immediately. D. 0. King, Mathias Keller and J. M. Little were appointed to act as a committee to confer with the railroad company with the view of making a compact with them.

1877. On January 2, the board of county commissioners met, with D. 0. King, J. M. Little, Charles Porter, and Frank Schandera present. Mathias Keller appears on February 15 as the fifth commissioner. The bonds for the new railroad to connect with "Winona were ordered issued immediately. The road was to be completed by October 1, 1877. On February 26 the board distributed some of the money which the state had previously appropriated for buying seed grain for the sufferers from the grasshoppers' ravages. On March 20, the treasurer rendered his annual report as follows : total receipts, $8,532.57 ; total expenses, $6,545.75 ; total assets, $16,754.62 ; total liabilities, $959.27, in outstanding orders. On March 21, strips were ordered plowed around the county at the boundary lines to act as guards against prairie fires. On June 18, the board voted to pay the state what was due it, as delinquent state tax. On July 23, they sat as an equalizing board. The amount of $5,000 was to be raised for county expenses; $975 was to be raised for roads and bridges. On October 12, J. M. Little was chosen chairman to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of D. 0. King.

The period of rapid growth began with the close of the grasshopper years and extended to 1905. The routine business of the county gradually increased in volume and entailed an additional amount of attention on the part of the commissioners. During this period all the remaining townships were organized, many new school districts were created, roads gradually networked the county. A poor farm was bought and sold. A new court house was erected. To the three villages which were incorporated by the legislature, Redwood Falls, Walnut Grove and Lamberton, the county commissioners during this period added thirteen more. In the following resume, the names of the commissioners, notes regarding salaries, and a few other important matters are given, the other subjects being treated adequately elsewhere. In 1904 the first attempt was made to establish a county ditch.

Porter, and 0. B. Turrell, commissioners were present. Fred V. Hotehkiss was chosen chairman. On January 2, the salary of the county attorney was lowered to $300. In the minutes of January 3, is the first record of a town voting on the liquor license question. On March 5, applications for seed grain were considered and most of them allowed. On March 20, the salary of the county superintendent of schools was fixed at $10' for every school, there being at this time thirty-five schools in the county. On July 15, 1878, the commissioners acted as an equalization board.

1879. January 7, the county board met, with Fred V. Hotehkiss, Charles Porter, O. B. Turrell, Frank R. Schandera, and Archibald Stewart, commissioners, present. The first named man was chosen chairman. On January 8, a petition was ordered sent to the state to provide for two terms of district court in Redwood county. The liquor license fee was raised to $100 per year. In the minutes of the meeting of January 9, the first record is found of a county officer being asked to resign. At the same meeting the town officers for Johnsonville township were appointed, the people of that township having failed to elect. The Redwood Gazette and the Lamberton Commercial were designated as the county papers.

1880. The first meeting came on January 6. Fred V. Hotehkiss, Charles Porter, O. B. Turrell, Archibald Stewart and W. H. Owen, commissioners, were present. Fred Hotehkiss was reelected chairman. The salary of the county attorney was raised to $400; that of the county auditor was raised to $1,200. On January 9, the board decided not to grant any liquor licenses for that year. The board on the following day organized the territory not already made into townships, as road and assessment districts. They appointed an assessor and road supervisor in each of the six districts.

1881. The first meeting of the board was held on January 4. Fred V. Hotehkiss, Charles Bennett, W. H. Owen, Archibald Stewart and O. B. Turrell, commissioners, were present. On January 5, the salary of the judge of probate was fixed at $300 per year.

1882. The first meeting of the board was held January 3, O. B. Turrell, W. H. Owen, James Anderson, Alfred Clark and George W. Skelton being present. The salary of the county attorney was raised to $450. Much time was taken in changing school district boundaries.

1883. The first meeting of the board was held January 2, James Anderson, Alfred Clark, Eli "Webb, James Longbottom and L. B. Newton were present.

commissioners, present. The liquor license fee was raised to $100. The salary of the county attorney was made $400, on January 2. A committee was appointed to purchase a poor farm for Redwood county in Sherman township. On July 31, the Iowa and Minnesota Railroad Company applied for help in building a railroad through Redwood Falls southward to the state line. Nothing was done in this' regard.

1885. The first meeting of the board was held January 6, with James Anderson, chairman, Eli Webb, James S. Johnson, Joseph Tyson and William Lauer, commissioners, present. The liquor license fee was lowered again to $50 per year.

1886. The first meeting of the board occurred on January 5, with Joseph Tyson, chairman, William Lauer, Eli Webb, James S. Johnson, and James Anderson, present. The "Redwood Gazette" and the "Redwood Reveille" were chosen to do the county printing. James Aiken and W. M. Todd were the respective publishers. The salary of the county treasurer was fixed at $1,200 a year.

1887. The first meeting of the board was held January 4, with W. E. Baker, chairman, Michael Donner, H. H. Leavitt, D. W. Whittet, and James Sommer, present. The liquor license fee was raised to $100 per year. The salary of the county attorney was raised to $600 per year.

1888. The board met January 4. The commissioners were all present - W. E. Baker, James Sommer, H. H. Leavitt, Michael Donner, and David W. Whittet. The Redwood Gazette was chosen as the official paper for the county.

1889. The board met January 1. The following commissioners were present : W. E. Baker, chairman, Michael Donner, H. H. Leavitt, James S. Johnson, and David W. Whittet. The village of Morgan was incorporated.

1890. The board met on January 6, with the same commissioners as at previous year. Five thousand dollars were appropriated for the enlarging of the court house.

1891. The board met January 6. James S. Johnson, David W. Whittet, H. H. Leavitt, Frank Schandera, and F. W. Philbrick, commissioners, were present. David W. Whittet was chosen chairman. The salary of the county attorney was raised to $800. The resolution was adopted on February 26 that the court house was not sufficient for the needs of the county and a new one should be built, the cost not to exceed $15,000.

1892. The first meeting of the board was held January 5, with David W. Whittet, chairman, F. W. Philbrick, James S. Johnson, Frank Schandera and H. H. Leavitt, present. The Redwood Reveille and the Lamberton Leader were selected to publish the county proceedings. The village of Belview was incorporated during this year.

1893. The board met January 3. F. W. Philbrick, James Arnold, Frank Schandera, Frank Billington, and E. A. Pease, commissioners, were present. F. W. Philbrick was duly elected chairman. The Redwood Reveille was designated as the official paper for the county. The salary of the county superintendent of schools was fixed at $900, it having been $10 for every school before this time.

1894. The first meeting of the board was held January 5. The members, F. "W. Philbrick, chairman, Frank Billington, Frank Schandera, E. A. Pease, and James Arnold, were all present. The Redwood Gazette was chosen as the official paper for the county.

1895. The board met January 8, with the following commissioners present : J. P. Cooper, Leo Altermatt, James Arnold, Frank Billington, and E. A. Pease. James Arnold was duly elected chairman. The Redwood Reveille was chosen the official paper for the county. The sheriff resigned April 6, and it took ballotting for five days to choose another. The county jail was completed during this year. E. A. Pease resigned April 6, 1895, and Christian Olson was appointed.

1896. The first meeting of the board was held January 7. J. P. Cooper, chairman, James Arnold, Leo Altermatt, Frank Billington, Christian Olson, Commissioners, were present. The Redwood Gazette was chosen the official paper for the county for the ensuing year.

1897. The board met January 5. The members present were J. P. Cooper, chairman, Leo Altermatt, John W. Carlile, Thomas J. Sloan, and Eric Wilson. The Redwood Reveille was chosen as the official paper for the county for the ensuing year.

1898. The first meeting of the board was held January 4. J. P. Cooper, chairman, Leo Altermatt, Eric Wilson, Thomas J. Sloan and John W. Carlile, commissioners, were present. The salary of the county superintendent of schools and of the county attorney was each raised to $1,000 per year.

1899. The first meeting of the board occurred on January 3. J. P. Cooper, chairman, Leo Altermatt, Eric Wilson, Thomas J. Sloan, and J. W. Carlile, commissioners, were present. On January 5 the board decided to sell the poor farm. The Redwood Gazette was made the official county paper. On April 18, a committee was appointed to see that the soldiers who had served in the Indian, Mexican, or Civil Wars, were honorably buried when they died. On July 18 the first typewriter was purchased for the use of the county officers in the court house.

1900. The board met January 21 with the same chairman and the same commissioners present as last year. Vesta and Revere were incorporated as villages. The villages of Wanda and Seaforth were organized on December 18.

1901. January 3, the commissioners met, with J. P. Cooper, chairman, Leo Altermatt, J. W. Carlile, John F. Cain, and D. R. McCorquodale, present. The salary of the county superintendent of schools was raised to $1,100. In the minutes of the meeting of July 8, 1901, is mentioned the ordering of five telephones for the court house to be used in the county offices.

1902. The board met on January 7, the same chairman and members as last year being present. The salary of the county superintendent of schools was raised to $1,260. On July 25, a sum of money was allowed to control infectious and contagious diseases in Redwood county. The villages of Delhi and Lucan were incorporated.

1903. The board met January 6. C. W. Mead, John F. Cain, George Posz, J. W. Carlile, and D. R. McCorquodale, commissioners, were present. The county superintendent of schools' salary was raised to $1,500 per year. The liquor license fee was fixed at $500 on April 14. The villages of Clements and North Redwood were incorporated during the year.

1904. The board met on January 4, with the same officers as in 1903. A public ditch was ordered surveyed in Willow Lake township on July 11. This is the first mention of a public ditch in Redwood county.

1905. The board met January 3. C. W. Mead, chairman, George Posz, D. R. McCorquodale, C. H. Fredericksen and John F. Cain, commissioners, were present. The first two county ditches were ordered built during this year, but actual work was not started until 1906.

The beginning of the modern period is marked by the year 1906, the year in which actual work was started on the first county ditch. The ditching has continued rapidly, state roads have been built, the new jail constructed, a county poor farm has been purchased, a county superintendent of roads and a county agent appointed, and many distinct advances made in school matters.

1906. The board met January 2, with the same chairman and members as last year. On January 2, the resolution was a opted to have each commissioner appoint a county physician in hi district. The first state road was ordered built in Redwood co ~>. This is the first time such a thing is mentioned in the rec The majority of the time was spent in granting petitions county ditches.

1907. The first meeting of the board was held on January 8. George Posz, chairman, D. R. McCorquodale, John F. Cain, C. H. Fredericksen, and H. M. Aune, commissioners, were present. The salary of the county superintendent of schools was raised to $1,300 per year. A board of health for Redwood county was appointed, consisting of three members. On July 12, 1907, the board voted to buy the land in the W. iy2 rods of lot 10 and all of lot 11, section 36, town 113, range 36, containing 25% acres. This is the present "poor farm" property. A county road superintendent was appointed for Redwood county on July 8.

1908. The board met January 7, the same chairman and commissioners being present as in 1907. The salary of the county attorney was raised to $1,100 per year; that of the county superintendent of schools to $1,500 per year. A children's agricultural contest was to be held in the county during this year under the supervision of the county superintendent of schools.

1909. The board met on January 5. D. R. McCorquodale, chairman, H. M. Aune, Eric Wilson, George Posz, and C. H. Fredricksen, commissioners, were present. A school children's industrial contest was arranged for to be held in Redwood county under the supervision of the county superintendent of schools. The salary of the sheriff was fixed at $1,200 per year. On September 29, the home for the county poor was completed.

1910. The board met January 4, with the same commissioners present as last year. The salary of the county superintendent of schools was raised to $1,600 per year. On July 11. 1910, a sum of $300 was appropriated for the county exhibit at the state fair. Most of the time was occupied with ditch matters.

1911. The board met January 3. D. R. McCorquodale, chairman, H. M. Aune, John Arends, Eric Wilson, and C. H. Fredericksen, commissioners, were present. The salary of the county superintendent of schools was raised to $1,700 per year. Many ditches were completed and approved during 1911.

1912. The board met January 2 with the same chairman and commissioners as last year. The salary of the county superintendent of schools was raised to $1,800 per year. Ditch matters filled the remaining meetings.

1913. 1 he board met January 7. C. H. Fredericksen, chairman, H. M. Aune, Eric Wilson, John Arends, and James P. Gaffney, commissioners, were present. The "Redwood Falls Sun" was cjjg^en as the official paper for the county for the ensuing year.V,;/he contract for the present concrete bridge over the Redwr , river, at Redwood Falls, was let April 2. In the minutes

914. The board met January 6, with the same chairman and ommissioners as the previous year. The "Morgan Messenger" /as designated the official paper for the county for the ensuing ^ear. State roads and ditch matters filled the remaining sessions. r 1915-16. The commissioners for these two years were : 1, George Schmiesing ; 2, John Arends ; 3, Ed. Stefel ; 4, H. M. Aune (chairman) ; 5, James P. Gaffney. Eric Wilson, from the first

Districts. For the election to be held in the fall of 1865, the whole county of Redwood was constituted an election precinct. The county then extended westward and northwestward to the state line.

Commissioners' districts were designated on April 19, 1865, as follows : 1 - Bounded on the northeast by the Minnesota river, on the west by the state line, on the south by the township line between townships 112 and 113, on the east by the range line between ranges 35 and 36. It consisted of the present townships of Swedes Forest, Kintire and Delhi, and a vast tract to the west and northwest. 2 - Townships 111, 112, ranges 34 and townships 110, 111 and 112, range 35. It consisted of the present townships of Paxton, Sherman, Three Lakes, Morgan, and Sundown. 3 - Bounded on the north by the township line between townships 112 and 113, on the west by the state line, on the south by the township line between townships 108 and 109, and on the east by the range line between ranges 35 and 36. It consisted of the present townships of Redwood Falls, New Avon, Willow Lake, Charlestown, Sheridan, Vail, Waterbury, Lamberton, Vesta, Granite Rock, Johnsonville, North Hero, Underwood, Westline, Gales and Springdale, and westward to the state line. It will be seen that the present townships of Honner and Brookville were omitted from this description.

Sept. 7, 1869, a petition was presented for a change in the boundaries of the commissioner districts, but it was rejected by the board because unauthorized by law.

Another division was made Jan. 2, 1872. 1 - Included all the land in Redwood county, west of the range line between ranges 36 and 37. This consisted of the present townships of Swedes Forest, Kintire, Sheridan, Vail, Waterbury, Lamberton, Vesta, Granite Rock, Johnsonville, North Hero, Underwood, Westline, Gales, and Springdale. It is not definitely stated where the western boundary of Redwood county was. 2 - Included all the land in Redwood county to-wit : commencing at the intersection of the range line between ranges 34 and 35, with the Minnesota river, thence west between the towns 112 and 113 to the range line between 35 and 36, thence south to the south line of the county, thence east to the east line of the county, thence north to the Minnesota river, thence northwesterly along the river to the place of beginning. This consists of the present townships of Sherman, Morgan, Brookville, Paxton, Three Lakes and Sundown. Just where the southern boundary of the county was, was not stated. 3 - Included all the territory of Redwood county not included in districts 1 and 2.

July 26, 1875, was made as follows : 1 - All the land south of the north line of town 110 and west of the west line of range 36. 2 - All the land south of the north line of town 110 and east of the west line of range 36. 3 - All the land in town 111, range 34, 35 and 36, and all that part of town 112, range 34, lying in Redwood county, and all of town 112, range 35. 4 - All the land of town 112, range 36, and all that part of town 113, ranges 35 and 36, lying in Redwood county. 5 - All the land not in the other four districts of Redwood county.

On July 26, 1880, Redwood county was redistricted into five commissioners ' districts as follows : 1 - All the towns of North Hero, Springdale, Gales, Johnsonville, Westline, and town 111, range 38. 2 - All the towns of Vail, New Avon, Willow Lake, Waterbury, Lamberton and Charlestown. 3 - All the towns of Sundown, Brookville, Morgan, Three Lakes, Paxton and Sherman. 4 - All the towns of Redwood Palls, Sheridan, Vesta, and Underwood. 5 - All the towns of Kintire, Swedes Forest, Delhi, Honner, and all of town 113, range 34, in Redwood county.

On Jan. 5, 1886, the county was again re-districted as to county commissioners' districts. 1 - All the land in the townships of Springdale, North Hero, Gales, Johnsonville, Westline, Underwood, Vesta, the unorganized town 111, range 38, and the village of Walnut Grove. 2 - All the land in the township of Lamberton, Charlestown, Waterbury, Willow Lake, Vail, New Avon, and the village of Lamberton. 3 - All the land in the townships of Sundown, Brookville, Three Lakes, Morgan, Paxton, and Sherman. 4 - All the land in the village of Redwood Palls. 5 - All the land in the townships of Sheridan, Redwood Falls, Kintire, Delhi, Swedes Forest, and Honner.

Authority. Records of the doings of the county commissioners of Redwood county, transcribed by the various county auditors and on file at the court house in the custody of the Redwood county auditors.