Duluth Township (part 6 of 15)

Part of Cotton Township is, for educational purposes, in School District No. 49. That district has two schoolhouses, of frame, valued at $2,100. The enrollment in the year 1919-20 was 25 scholars. Each school is directed by one teacher, female, and the average monthly salary is $82.00.

Culver. - The Township of Culver, which borders on the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation, was established from unorganized territory in 1893, following the presenting of petition by Edward J. Featherstone and twenty-six other freeholders of the thirty legal voters of congressional township 51 north, range 18 west.

The petition was filed with the county auditor in 1893, and was considered by the county commissioners at their September meeting of that year. They ordered notices to be posted, calling upon voters of that township to gather at the house of Isaac Reano, east half, northeast quarter of section 12, on October 3d in order to elect township officers. That was done, and the township has since held the territory then brought under its jurisdiction.

Duluth And St. Louis County 677

In 1893, the assessed valuation of the Township of Culver was $19,828. Taxes, for all purposes, in that year amounted to $361.86. In 1919, the assessed valuation was $50,753,' and the tax levy $3,800.91.

Population of Culver Township, including Brookston Village, in 1900 was 185 persons; in 1910, it had increased to 331 ; and in 1920 the population was 371.

The township does not appear to have a separate school district, probably being directly under the county school administration, which is able to economize for sparsely inhabitated townships by handling its school affairs as part of the immense unorganized school district directed by the county superintendent. The school levy for 1919 was 37.1 mills.

Brookston, Village of. - The incorporated village of Brookston is the principal community centre of Culver Township. It was incorporated in 1907, following circulation of petition in March of that year.

The petition sought village powers, under section 702 of the revised state laws of 1905, and was signed by a majority of the legal voters of Brookston, the first signer being H. C. Shur. It stated that the number of residents within the area for which corporate powers were sought was then two hundred. That would represent the bulk of the population of the township. (In 1910 the total for the township of Culver was 331.) The statement, and others made in petition, were vouched for by J. F. Ryan, and H. C. Shur, who presented the petition to the commissioners of the county. The last named county board met on March 7, 1907, and approved the petition, and ordered the matter to be put. to the public vote, polling to take place on Tuesday, April 2d, "at the general store of J. F. Ryan, situated on the west half, ne qr., section 34, t. 51, n. r. 18 w." The vote was unanimously in favor of the incorporation, forty-one votes cast being all in favor. The subsequent election brought in the following village officers: J. F. Ryan, president; H. C. Shur, Ed Donley, and Wm. R. Miles, trustees ; Rowe McCamus, recorder.

There can have been very little to the village in 1907, for the county records show the total assessed valuation then to be $S73, on which basis a levy of $44.78 was made. In 1919 the valuation was $14,683, with a tax levy of 137.0 mills, this unusually high taxation being made so by a 63 mill tax on state loan to the village. (The township levy is only 76.0 mills.)

An important special election in Brookston was that held on September 22, 1918, when the question : "Shall the Village of Brookston be separated from the Township of Culver for election and assessment purposes?" brought fifteen voters to the polling booth, all voting in favor of the separation.

The village officials, in 1920 were: Arthur Hutchins, president; John Couture. Thos. Flin and Ed. Kernaski, trustees; Oliver Olson, clerk ; Leo Michaud, assessor and treasurer.

The 1910 census taking l)y federal authorities recorded Brookston as with 160 inhabitants; in 1920 the num])er living within the village limits was only 135.

detaching part of the Township of Canosia. It is not now in existence, part of its territory reverting to Canosia, but the greater part going to constitute the Township of Fredenburg.

Petition was presented to the county commissioners on September 4, 1896, signed by Peter E. Michaels and other freeholders of township 52 north, range 15 west, and sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of township 51 north, range 15 west, all then under jurisdiction of the township of Canosia, praying that the designated territory be set apart to form a separate township under the name of Dinham.

The commissioners made known that at the next monthly meeting of their board, hearing of any objections to the proposed separation of land from the Township of Canosia would be held. No opposition showed at the October meeting, and the commissioners consequently approved the petition, and set apart the land asked for, and designated October 26, 1896, as the day upon which voters should gather at the house of Peter Michael, in the northwest quarter of section 12 of township 51-15, for the purpose of holding the first township meeting of the township erected.

Petition to reinstate the Township of Canosia to its original dimensions was filed on February 5, 1897, but the petition was denied at the February meeting of commissioners. The agitation was, however, persisted in, and eventually the Township of Dinham passed out of existence, the land reverting to Canosia. ' Eventually, however, congressional township 52-15 was taken from Canosia to form the Township of Fredenburg. (See Canosia and Fredenburg parts of this chapter.)

Duluth, - The Township of Duluth was one of the first to be organized. It is not necessary here to more than briefly touch upon its history, as that will be found in appropriate place in the pioneer Duluth chapters of this work.

In 1873, the Township of Duluth was one of the five included on "Tax Notice of St. Louis County" for that year, the township being divided into two districts, Nos. 3 and 4. Its taxable property was then valued at $571,016. The tax levy was 28 mills.

At that time there was only one incorporated place, the City of Duluth, and five townships, Duluth, Oneota, Fond du Lac, Rice Lake, and Herman. In 1920. St. Louis County had twenty-five incorporated places, and at least sixty-nine organized townships. The degree of development and prosperity is even more strikingly shown in tax lew. In 1877, the total tax lew was $29,034.41 for the whole of St.'Louis County; in 1919 the tax levy was $20,797,144.95.

The present bounds of the Township of Duluth are those of congressional township 52-12, and fractional township 51-12. Congressional township 51-13 was taken from Duluth in January, 1902, to form the present Township of Lakewood ; and congressional townships 53 and 54 north, range 12 west, were detached on September 8, 1920, to form the Township of Alden (see Lakewood and Alden articles, this chapter).

Duluth And St. Louis County 679

The townships recently detached to form Alden came within the boundaries of Duluth in 1897. The two congressional towns under reference, townships 53 north and 54 north, range 12 west, were formerly unorganized territory, and the few settlers therein had made two attempts to be brought within the jurisdiction of the Township of Duluth. The petition upon which action was taken was that signed in 1895 by W. H. Smallwood and fifty-three others, and sworn to on December 3, 1897, by Matt Smith and W. H. Smallwood. Action was taken favorably by the county commissioners at their session of December, 1897.

The officers of Duluth Township in 1920 were: F. W. Shilhon, chairman; Don D. Driscoll, supervisor; F. L. Damman, clerk; D. Sammoni, assessor; E. E. Reynolds, treasurer.

Ellsburg. - The Township of Ellsburg, situated in congressional townships 55 north, and ranges 16 and 17 west, was established, or organized, in 1914.

Archie Smith was the first signer of petition circulated in those townships among freeholders in June of that year, and A. P. Smith appears to have been the most active projector of the township petition. He delivered it to the County Court House for filing with the county auditor, and he took oath to its accuracy of statement, and regularity of preparation.

At the next meeting of the county commissioners, held on July 7, 1914, the petition was considered and resolution of approval passed. The c6mmissioners therefore ordered the first town meeting to be held at the Cameron Hotel, situated in the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 18, township 55 north, range 16 west, on the 25th day of that month. On that day the township organization was completed, in accordance with the state law.

The population of the territory in 1910 was recorded as 2i7 ; in 1920, Ellsburg is credited with 145 inhabitants. There are several small lakes within its boundaries, and its development has not passed far beyond the pioneer stage.

The school system is divided. Part is under the county superintendent directly, being included in the unorganized school district, elsewhere described, but township 55-17 is under the jurisdiction of School District No. 31, which covers townships 55-17 and 18. and part of 56-18. In that area, and under the direction of that school district, there are four schoolhouses, all of frame construction, the four valued at $8,000, in 1919. There were in that year 104 scholars enrolled. Four teachers were engaged, at average salary of $84.00. The school levy upon Ellsburg tax payers, in 1919, amounted to 36 mills on $39,035, for school district No. 31, and 37.1 mills on $147,105 valuation for school facilities as part of the county unorganized school district.

The school board and officials of district No. 31. in 1920. were: Mrs. Harold Teed, Zim, Minn., clerk; Ole Olson, treasurer; Mrs. S. W. Levin, chairman of directors.

resulted from the presenting- of a petition, signed by John Rohnu and twenty-seven other residents in unorganized congressional township fifty-three north, range twenty west, and that part of township 53-19 lying west of St. Louis River, at that time included in the Township of Meadowlands. The petitioners filed application with the county commissioners on March 10, 1920, and the commissioners set May 11, 1920, as the date upon which hearing of objections to the granting of the petition would be held. On that day, the petition was granted and the boundaries fixed as asked.

First election was held on May 29, 1920, at the Town Hall Building, in township 53-20. Those elected were : Max Bernsdorf (chairman), Emil Beldo, Martin Warlick, supervisers ; W. H. Bailey, clerk; John Greiten, treasurer; Henry Helmet, justice; Albert Horvath, constable; Matt Finnila, road master; John Horvath, pound master.

Population of township 53-20 in 1900 was three ; in 1910 it was forty-three ; in 1920 that congressional township is shown as having sixty-seven residents. That the population of that part of township 53-19 now in Elmer Township cannot be stated, as the census figures include it in those of the Township of Meadowlands.

Elmer is a separate school district, being known as School District No. 82. The present school board officials are: Henry Helmet, Box 255, Meadowlands, clerk ; Nick Guth, treasurer ; Paul Kamper, chairman of directors.

Embarrass. - Two unorganized congressional townships, sixty north and ranges fourteen and fifteen west, was set apart in 1905 by the county commissioners, to organize the Township of Embarrass, as prayed for by signers to a petition filed with the county auditor on May 5th of that year. Twenty-eight freeholders in that territory signed the petition, which was considered by the county commissioners at meeting held on May 6, 1905, when the instrument was approved in form. The commissioners did not, however, grant the petition until July 10, 1905.

The first town meeting was held in the schoolhouse situated in the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 25, of township 60-15, on July 29, 1905.

In April, 1911, the inhabitants of township 60-14 petitioned the county commissioners to separate that township from Embarrass, alleging failure of the Town of Embarrass to construct roads in township 60-14. The separation asked for was bitterly opposed by the people of Embarrass, but on February 6, 1912, the county commissioners decided to detach the eastern congressional township from the Town of Embarrass and found the Township of Waasa. This was effected by election held on February 27th (for further information, see Waasa, this chapter).

The Township of Embarrass in 1905 had an assessed valuation of $115,800. The tax levy then was $2,304.42, for all purposes. With the reduction of area, its valuation is now reduced to $50,753 for assessment, but the taxes in 1919 totaled to $4,182.05.

The school levy is 37.1 mills, Embarrass Township, for school purposes, being included in the unorganized school district directed from the county superintendent's office. Such an arrangement effects an economy to some townships of small population.

Duluth And St. Louis County 681

The present township officials are : Erick Lehto, chairman ; Nick Lehto and Matt Hill, supervisers ; John Waisanen, clerk; John Kangas, assessor; John Koski, treasurer; A. Waisanen and Charles Reinstrom, justices.

Fairbanks. - The Township of Fairbanks embraces two congressional townships, fifty-six north, and ranges 12 and 13. This area formed part of the Township of Ault until 1918.

The first attempt to separate townships 56-12 and 56-13 from Ault was made in 1912, a petition being filed with the county officials on June 11th of that year, the petitioners praying for the erection of the Township of Fairbanks, averring that for five years the officers of the Town of Ault had neglected to build roads through the part of the township in which they lived. No action was then taken, apparently, by the county commissioners.

In August, 1918, another attempt was made to detach the two northern townships from the four that then constituted the Township of Ault, the petition signed by J. O. Clapperton and others being presented on August 5th. The commissioners did not act until October 8th, when they resolved to detach townships 56-12 and 56-13 from Ault to form the Town of Fairbanks, and election was ordered to be held at the schoolhouse of district 60, Fairbanks, on October 23, 1918.

On November 2, 1918. Isaac Pust, who was one of the founders of Ault, appealed against the action of the county commissioners, representing that the petition was not signed by a majority of the resident male freeholders of townships 56-12 and 56-13; also, that the separation left only eleven freeholders in the Town of Ault. His remonstrance recommended that, in order to properly remedy matters, sections 13 to 36, inclusive, of town 56-12 be taken from Fairbanks and added to Ault. The matter remained undecided until August 6, 1919, when the county commissioners decided to deny the petition of Isaac Pust and others. Therefore, Fairbanks remains as originally organized.

The 1920 census shows the population of Fairbanks Township to be 324. The assessed valuation in 1919 was $132,749, and the total taxes levied in that year $8,089.39.

The township officers in 1920 were: J. Luvina (chairman), Conrad Johnson and Matt Antes, supervisers ; Jacob Wesala, clerk, and Nick Kylen, treasurer and assessor.

Part of the township is without school facilities, there being no need for such provision, but the populous part of the township is served by school district No. 60. That district has one frame school house, valued at $1,500. For the school year 1919-20 there were twenty-seven pupils enrolled. One female teacher was engaged at a salary of $95 a month. The school officials were John Stoeger, Fairbanks, Minnesota, clerk; W. R. Depew, treasurer, and G. S. Burham, chairman of directors.

Fayal. - The organization of the Township of Fayal in 1896 followed the beginning of important mining operations and explorations in congressional township 57-17, which is and since its erection always has been the boundaries of the Town of Fayal.

Pioneer of Mining. - David T. Adams was responsible for the discovery of merchantable ore in Fayal. In his "Memories of the early discovery and development of the Mesaba Iron Range in St. Louis and Itasca counties, Minnesota," he states, regarding Fayal explorations : "The next deposit of ore to be discovered by me in the vicinity was on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 5, and the north half of the northwest quarter of section 6, township 57-17, in the month of November, 1893, which is now known as the Fayal No. 1. * * * The Fayal No. 1 was explored by the Mclnnis Mining Company, which was organized by me on the thirty-first day of January, 1894, in honor of the late Neil Mclnnis, who had been my purchasing agent of goods to supply the camps and paymaster during the latter part of my explorations in connection with Humphreys and Atkins, on the Virginia group of mines, and who also acted in the same capacity for the Adams Mining Company. The late Marvin VanBuskirk was in charge of the men, and under him the work of development was rapid, indeed. The Mclnnis Mining Company finally sold their lease on the Fayal No. 1 to the Chicago Minnesota Ore Company, on September 6, 1894. About two and a half years later I discovered ore on that part of section 5, township 57-17, which was known as the South Fayal."

Township Organization. - Mining operations were therefore well advanced when early in 1896 a petition was circulated among the residents of congressional township 57-17, praying the commissioners of the county to organize that township, under chapter ten of the General Statutes of Minnesota, 1878. The petition was dated February 4, 1896, and was filed with the county auditor on the sixth day of that month, but it apparently had been circulated in the spring of 1895. The petition bore the signatures of one hundred and sixty-five voters of the township, the first to sign being L. McNiel, G. A. Burns, W. H. Shea, A. J. Shea, John Shea and- J. P. Welsh.

First Election. - On February 6, 1896, the county commissioners approved the movement and passed resolution granting the petition, and ordering election to be held at the "Carpenter Shop by the Fayal Iron Company, located on the northeast quarter- of northwest quarter of section 5, towaiship 57-17 on February 25th, 1896." Notices to that efifect were posted "on the front of Jackson's Store and one on a tree near Talboy's Boarding Camp," also one on the carpenter shop which was to be the polling place. Notices were posted by W. J. Bates, deputy sheriff.

Since that time, the township has been peopled mainly by men employed in the Fayal mines. There has been some agricultural development, but mining is the first consideration.

Population. - The population was 1,016 in 1900; in 1910 it was 1,141 ; and in 1920, the census takers credited Fayal Towmship with 1,360 inhabitants.

Valuation. - The assessed valuation of real and personal property in the township in 1896 totaled to $313,087, and the taxes in that year amounted to $7,858.18. The 1919 figures give some idea of the development during the period. The assessed valuation of Fayal Township in 1919 was $4,177,738. The tax levy in that year was

Duluth And St. Louis County 683

Present Township Officials. - The township officers in 1920 were : A. G. Anderson (chairman), E. A. Trenholm and Arsen Corbin, supervisors; E. M. Dormer, clerk; Louis A. O. Marzer, assessor; Philip Jacobson. treasurer.

Fern. - The Town of Fern was organized at the November, 1905, session of the Board of County Commissioners, Commissioner Ryan presenting resolution to grant petition of A. H. Farr and twenty other freeholders of congressional township sixty north, range twenty west and Commissioner Patterson moving adoption.

The petition, which was undated, state that there were at that time only twenty-five legal voters in the township and the signers sought to have township powers, in accordance with the General Statutes of the State of Minnesota, said organized township to be given the name of "Fern."

The commissioners ordered election to be held for township officers on November 25, 1905. Place of election was the residence of A. H. Farr. situated in the northeast quarter of section thirty of township 60-20.

The 1920 township officials were: August Wegener (chairman), John Magnuson and August Forseland, supervisors ; John R. Einsweiler, clerk ; Gust. Larson, assessor and treasurer.

Educationally, the township is served by School District No. 81. There is one frame schoolhouse, valued in 1919 at $3,000. The school board officials are: John R. Einsweiler, clerk; Gust Larsen, treasurer; August W. Wegener, chairman of directors. The school levy in 1919 was $1,383.35.

Field. - The Township of Field, the boundaries of which are those of congressional township sixty-two north, range nineteen west, was organized in 1906. It then included within its limits the present Township of Owens, which adjoins it on the east. On the northeast, the Town of Fields borders on the Township of Beatty, for the length of one section ; on the north it adjoins Leiding Township ; on the west, Linden Grove ; and south of it is Alango Township. The Little Fork River runs through it and through sections 11 and 12 on the extreme northeast is laid the road of the Duluth and Winnipeg Railway, the nearest railway station being Cook, in Owens Township.

A petition, dated at Ashawa (now known as Cook), Minnesota, April 5, 1906, and signed by fifty-two freeholders resident in congressional townships sixty-two north, ranges eighteen and nineteen west, the first two signers being August Buboltz and James A. Field, prayed for the organization of that territory under the township laws of the State of Minnesota, and that when organized it be known by the name of "Field." The petition testified or asserted that the total number of legal voters then resident in the territory for which township jurisdiction was sought did not exceed one hundred, and a rider to said petition left to the option of the county commissioners the question of detaching the northernmost tier of sections of township 62-18 from the Township of Beatty, which the county commissioners had erected only a short while earlier, or of reducing- the territory granted to the projectors of the proposed new Township of Field by that extent.

The petition was filed on April 6, 1906, and appears to had at the consideration of the county commissioners at their monthly session held on that day. And the record shows that the commissioners granted the petition, setting off the Township of Field as all of township 62-19 and thirty sections of township 62-18, sections one, two, three, four, five and six of that township having been mcluded in the territory set apart as that to constitute the Township of Beatty.

The first election in the Township of Field was held at the schoolhouse situated in the northwest quarter of section seventeen, township 62-18, on Saturday, April 21, 1906.

On August 6, 1912, the Township of Owens was organized, which proceeding reduced the acreage of the Township of Field to the one congressional township 62-19. (See Owens, this chapter.) That is its present extent.

In 1906, the Township of Field (62-19 and sections 7 to 36 of 62-18) had an assessed valuation of $51,089. The tax levy was $1,410.53. The land is now in a good state of development, agriculturally, the assessed valuation of township 62-19 (Field) being in 1919, $81,424, and of the thirty sections of township 62-18 (Owens), $102,332. The increase is represented in the settler development, Owens and Field townships having now many rich farms. The tax levy of Field, in 1919, was $5,434.98 and of Owens $7,597.11.

The township officials of Field, in 1920, were : Andrew Scott (chairman), A. B. Tonheim and Louis Swanson, supervisors; Peter Burtness, clerk; Theo. Burtness, assessor; John F. Buboltz, treasurer.

The township of Field is, for school purposes, part of the unorganized school district directly supervised by the county superintendent. There are three schoolhouses in the township, on sections 12, 23 and 28, but whether all are in use is not known to compiler of this record. The levy for school purposes in 1919 was 37.1 mills, probably less than the cost of providing education by the county staff.

Fine Lakes. - The Township of Fine Lakes originally formed part of Prairie Lake Township, which was organized in 1906 from unorganized territory.

Upon the action of Adolf Ylen and nineteen other residents of township 50-20 in 1909 depended the erection of that congressional township into a separate organized township of the name of Fine Lakes. These twenty men petitioned the county commissioners to separate township 50-20 from Prairie Lakes, alleging that the officials of the latter township refused to make improvements in that part of it, the officials having "spent practically all the moneys of the said Town of Prairie Lake in township 50-21, with the exception of approximately $240.00 towards helping build a county road near the western boundary line of township 50-20," and that the officials "wrongfully and intentionally discriminate against the residents of township 50-20."

Duluth And St. Louis County 685

No action was taken by the county commissioners until the March session of 1910. They then ordered hearing of objections to the granting of petition at their board meeting at the Court House, Duluth, on Friday, May 6th. On that day, no objections to such a course having been made, they decided to grant the petition of the residents of township 50-20. Accordingly that township was detached from the Township of Prairie Lakes, which by that action was limited to township 50-21, the extreme southwesterly township of St. Louis County.

The first election in the new Township of Fine Lakes was ordered to be held on the twenty-third day of May, 1910, at the Schoolhouse No. 19, situated on section thirty of township 50-20.

There are several sheets of water in Fine Lakes Township, the largest being Prairie Lake, which has an area of approximately two square miles. The township is bounded on the east by Fond du Lac Indian Reservation, on the north by the Township of Floodwood, and on the west by Prairie Lake Township. Its southern boundary is the county line between St. Louis and Carlton counties.

Prairie Lake Township (the two congressional townships) had a population of forty-one in 1900, in 1910, the same territory was inhabited by 199 persons. The 1920 census gives the following figures : Fine Lakes Township, 189; Prairie Lakes Township, 136.

Originally, Fine Lakes Township was served by School District No. 74. That district, however, now covers more than the one township, extending into township 50-19. There are four schoolhouses in the district, the four frame buildings being in 1919 valued at $3,000. Apparently only two are used, as the district only employs two teachers (female), who are paid an average of $75 a month. The total enrollment in 1919-20 year was thirty-two. The school board officials in that year were : O. R. Bolstad, Floodwood, Minnesota, clerk; N. O. Stageberg, treasurer; Adolph Ylen, chairman of directors. The school levy in 1919 was $2,421.73.

The ofificials of Fine Lakes Township in 1920 were : Ole H. Gjora (chairman), E. Nordness and E. S. Smith, supervisors; N. O. Stageberg, clerk, also assessor, and Hans O. Gjora, treasurer.

Floodwood. Organization. - The township of Floodwood is one of the comparatively old townships of St. Louis County. Its organization dates back to 1893, and when township organization was first projected, it was thought to endeavor to secure the sanction of the county commissioners to embrace within the porposed new township eight congressional townships, extending from the county line, two townships deep, to and including fifty-three north, ranges 21 and 20 west. Petition to that effect was circulated within the territory during February of 1893. And the paper was signed by Dauvet (David) Hill and twenty-five other legal voters resident in the region. However, before the petition was presented to the county commissioners it was amended to pray for the organization of congressional township 51-20 as the Township of Floodwood under the laws of the State of Minnesota. 1878. chapter 10. The petition was filed with the county auditor on March 2nd, and sworn to on that day by George C. Blackwood, one of the signers.

First Election. - On March 30, 1893, John McKay, another signer wrote to the county auditor acqainting him that the schoolhouse designated in the petition as the place where the first election in the proposed township could be held "is on Lot No. 8, Block 25, as shown by Plat of Floodwood," further stating that: "We have two lots for the school, viz: Lots 8 and 9, block 25, but the schoolhouse is built on Lot No. 8. This place has been platted out of south half of southeast quarter and also northeast quarter of southeast quarter of section 6, township 51, range 20."

The committee appointed by the county commissioners to consider the matter brought forward by the petition resolved at an April, 1893, meeting that the petition be granted, and that election be held at the designated schoolhouse on the twentieth of that month. The county commissioners therefore on April 4th made an order accordingly.

Boundaries. - The boundaries of the Township of Floodwood have since remained unchanged, although organized townships have since surrounded it, Fine Lakes on the south, Halden on the west, Van Buren on the north, and the Indian Reservation on the east. The St. Louis River passes through the township, from the northwest to the southeast, and the territory is excellent farming acreage. The prosperous farming community has developed the village of Floodwood.

Population. - The population of the township in 1900 was_310; in 1910 it was 745, and in 1920 the census stood at 722. These figures include those of the Village of Floodwood. which in 1900 had a population of 224; in 1910 a population of 481; but in 1920 only 277.

Present Township Officials. - The township officials in 1920 were: Simon Reylik (chairman), John Stenback, Sr., and Charles Nissi, supervisors; H. A. Shumaker, clerk; John H. Stenback, Jr., assessor, and M. W. John-son, treasurer.

School History. - The Township of Floodwood is part of the area embraced in Independent School District No. 19. which centers in the Village of Floodwood and serves the three congressional townships 52-20, 52-21 and 51-20. The School District has three frame schoolhouses and one of brick construction, the whole property being valued at $55,000. The enrollment in 1919-20 year was 310, the main school being at Floodwood. The teaching stafif consists of twelve female teachers, in addition to one male, who receives $150 a month salary. The other teachers receive an average salary of $90 monthly. The school board officials in 1920 were: Frank W. Hutchinson, clerk; A. O. Molden, treasurer; Fred Wain, James Girvan, R. W. Wilson and John Stenback, Jr., directors; A. J. Meldahl, superintendent.

Floodwood Village. - A petition, dated March 18. 1899, was circulated among the residents of the village, seeking to secure the incorporation, under the laws approved March 10. 1885, as the Village of Floodwood. twelve hundred and eighty acres including and contiguous to the one hundred and twenty acres shown on Plat of Floodwood, township 51-20.

Duluth And St. Louis County 687

The petition was signed by thirty-four voters, the first three to sign being Jean W. News, John McKay, and A. A. Hall. These three residents took oath to the accuracy of statements made in petition.

The county commissioners approved the petition, and ordered an election to be held "at Town Hall location," section 6, 51-20, on May 10, 1899, the commissioners appointing the same three men to act as inspectors of election.

The election was duly held and forty-one votes were cast forty being, in favor of the incorporation. Hence, the community then took corporate powers.

On November 4, 1914, an election was held "for the purpose of voting on the proposition of detaching and taking out of the incorporated Village of Floodwood" the unplatted lands, and "separating the village from the Town of Floodwood for all purposes whatsoever." The election showed that thirty-eight of thirty-nine votes cast were in favor of the detaching, consequently the area embraced in the incorporated village was reduced, and to an extent this explains the difference in 1910 and 1920 census returns.

The village officials in 1920, were : Garfield Blackwood, president; J. C. Arnold, Chas. Williams, A. O. Molden, councilmen ; M. R Adams, clerk; James Girvan, assessor; J. L. Lalin, treasurer.

Floodwood Township is eminently agricultural. Some of the lower lands are peaty and the high lands are sandy, with a clay subsoil. Grasses average from two to four tons an acre, and potatoes from 200 to 500 bushels an acre.

The Village of Floodwood is a typical agricultural community ; it has good general stores, each doing more than a $50,000, yearly business, a good banking institution, the Floodwood State Bank, which has a yearly deposit of about $45,000 and there is a strong agricultural co-operative society and a thriving creamery. It also has a newspaper, an excellent brick schoolhouse and a hotel. The Floodwood Farmers' Co-operative Society has a membership of about eighty producers, who pool their agricultural products shipped to other markets, and what they need to buy from outside markets they buy collectively, at wholesale prices, through the society. The creamery was organized by the farmers in May, 1911. It has about 100 stockholders and practically all the dairy farmers of the neighborhood use the creamery.

Fredenberg. - The Township of Fredenberg was erected in 1904 out of part of the Township of Canosia. residents in that part of the last-named township (52-15), praying the county commissioners, in petition presented on July 6, 1906, to set apart as the Township of Fredenberg congressional township fifty-two north, range fifteen west, declaring that "said Township of Canosia is so divided by lakes, rivers, marshes and other natural impediments that it is inconvenient for all the citizens * * * ^q transact town business."

The county commissioners decided to hear objections to the petition on August 4th. On that day they set apart township 52-15 as the Township of Fredenberg. and ordered the first township meeting to be held at the schoolhouse on the southeast quarter of section 24 of that township on August 23, 1904.

In that year the assessed valuation of Fredenberg Township was $145,818. It has since scarcely changed, being a few hundred dollars less in 1919. Taxes in 1904 totaled to $2,945.52; in 1919 the levy was $5,784.98.

Population of the township in 1910 was 115; in 1920 it stood at only eighty-seven. It is, therefore, only sparcely inhabited, yet it is a separate school district, being in School District No. 38, which covers two townships, 52-15 (Fredenberg), and 53-15 (unorganized territory). Township 53-15 had only twenty-seven inhabitants in 1910 and no population was reported to the 1920 census. There are four schoolhouses in Fredenberg Township, or there were four a few years ago, but the school report for 1919-20 school year shows that in District No. 38 there were two frame schoolhouses, valued at $5,000, but as only one teacher was employed during that year, it is presumed that only one schoolhouse was used. The enrollment was twenty-two; the teacher was paid $86.00 a month and the tax levy for that year was $4,897.64. School board officials were : R. T. Williams, clerk; F. W. Johnson, treasurer; H. P. Stuberud, chairman of directors.

French. - On Saturday, August 26, 1905, "in that certain twostory log building known as the French House, situate on southwest quarter of southeast quarter, section twenty-three of township sixty north, range twenty-one west" was held, by order of the county commissioners the first town meeting of the newly-erected Township of French, which the county commissioners were influenced to form by a petition signed by William French, and a majority of the freeholders of township 60-21.

The petition, which was presented by and sworn to by William French, stated that at the time it was circulated among the residents of the township, there were not in excess of forty voters resident in the territory for which township powers were sought, under chapter 10, of the Laws of the State of Minnesota, 1894.

School District No. 54 embraces only French Township. There is a schoolhouse, valued at $2,400, and a female teacher is employed at a salary of $95.00 a month, notwithstanding that the enrollment for the year 1919-20 was two. The school levy in that year was $905.46, seemingly an expensive method of teaching two pupils. The school board officials in that year were : Hattie Fritcher, clerk ; Sarah Portugue, treasurer; W. H. French, chairman of directors.

Gnesen. - The Township of Gnesen was organized in 1879. Its proximity to Duluth will eventually make its land valuable, although up to the present, it cannot be said that its advance has been rapid. In 1879 its assessed valuation was $32,086, which figure by forty years of development was increased to $183,218, the valuation of the township in 1919. Taxes certainly have increased more rapidly, the twenty-two mill levy of 1879 becoming 81.7 in 1919 including a school tax of 36.2 mills.

Gnesen has advanced slowly mainly, perhaps, because of lack of railway facilities. The Northeastern Railway is the nearest, passing within a few miles of the northwestern part of Gnesen Township. Otherwise, there is only roadway means of transportation and the roads are not very good, excepting the Vermilion Road, which passes through the eastern half of Gnesen, entering in section 35 of township 52-14, and passing out in section 2 of 53-14. There are several small lakes in Gnesen, which is bounded by Fredenberg and an unorganized township on the west, by unorganized territory on the north, by the Township of Normanna on the east and by Rice Lake Township on the south.

The present township officers are : Jos. Trudel, chairman ; Peter Trader and John Krezewski, supervisors; S. C. Machnikowski, clerk; John Jakubek, assessor; Jacob Mosiniak, treasurer.

Its educational district is known as School District No. 8. Three frame schoolhouses are in use in the township, the value of the three being estimated in 1919 to be $6,900. The school in that year had an enrollment of 101 scholars. There are five female teachers; the average salary was $91.00 a month; and the school term was eight months. The school board is constituted as follows : Frank Labud, clerk; Ignace Karalus, treasurer; John Jakubek, chairman of directors.

Grand Lake. - The Township of Grand Lake was organized in 1895, out of territory formerly part of the Township of Canosia. It resulted from the circulation of a petition signed by residents in townships 51-16 and 52-16 in March, 1895, asking that the two congressional townships be separated from the Township of Canosia, and given the township name of Grand Lake. William Keir was the first signer of the petition, which w^as referred by the county commissioners to the county attorney on May 7th. No further action was taken until October 8th, when the instrument was found to be in regular legal form. It was then filed by County Auditor Halden, and considered by the county comissioners on the same day. Hearing of remonstrances was set for November 5th, when the commissioners organized the Township of Grand Lake, embracing the two congressional townships named in petition, with township powers as provided by Chapter 10, General Statutes, 1878.

The first election was held at the schoolhouse situated in the northeast quarter of section 22, township 51-16, November 23, 1895. There has since been no change in the boundaries of Grand Lake Township.

The Cloquet River runs through township 52-16 and two railways pass through, the Duluth, Missabe and Northern and the Duluth and Winnipeg, and there are several good roads.

'I'hr township is iti school district No. 15. which serv(\s the full area of Grand Lake, i. e., township 51 and 52, range 16. There are three frame schoolhouses, valued in 1919 at $15,000. The teaching stafT (four female teachers) get an average pay of $80.50 a month.

The enrollment in 1919-20 school year was sixty-five. The school levy in 1919 was $3,061.00. The school board officials in that year were: S. N. Peterson, Twig, clerk; Arvid Anderson, treasurer; Ed Anderson, director.

The township officials in 1919 were: Ben Clauson (chairman), Ed Nelson and Martin Holland, supervisors; A. W. Kroll, clerk; Carl A. Anderson, assessor; S. N. Peterson, treasurer.

Great Scott. - The Township of Great Scott, which embraces three congressional townships, and one tier of sections of another, all of range nineteen west, has administration of rich mineral territory. Within its bounds are some of the substantial mining properties of the Mesabi Range, properties which have developed the prosperous villages of Buhl and Kinney. The jurisdiction of the Township of Great Scott is over townships fifty-seven, fifty-eight and fifty-nine north, and the southernmost tier of township sixty north, all of range nineteen west.

Great Scott Township was so named under somewhat singular circumstances. The principal petitioners called upon the county commissioners, presenting their petition, which prayed for the organization of the territory, but left to the commissioners the task of naming the township, when organized. This the commissioners did not want to do, and requested the petitioners to decide upon a name. Much pondering and discussion among the projectors followed, but without result. At last one of the commissioners impatiently ejaculated: "Great Scott!' Still thinking of a name?" "That will do," replied one of the promoters of the township. And under that cognomination the township has since been recorded in county records.

The villages of Buhl and Kinney will be separately dealt with, as they need a more detailed description than does Spina, the other incorporated place of the township.

Spina (Village of). - The Village of Spina secured corporate powers only after a long struggle against opposing interests, and by dint of persistent effort. Twice the attempt to incorporate was defeated at the polls and the third attempt was successful probably because of another movement then being prosecuted to attach Spina location to the incorporated Village of Kinney.

The first petition bears date of September 14, 1909. The paper was signed by a sufficient number of the 222 people then resident in the location and asked for the incorporation of about 450 acres of land, the acreage including and adjoining the platted townsite of Spina, the whole being in sections fourteen and fifteen of township 58-19. The first signers of the petition were Alex. Renlund, Louis Cordileone and Fred Erickson, and it came before the county commissioners at their November, 1909, session. It received their approval and they ordered election to be held on December 12, 1909, "at the restaurant of Louis Cordileone, lot 8, block 5, townsite of Spina." Before election could be held, however, the county commissioners reconsidered their resolution, ordering election to decide the matter of incorporation and withdrew their approval of the petition. Why, is not recorded in the papers available to compiler of this.

On December 21, 1909, another petition was in circulation, this petition reducing the acreage for which incorporation was sought to 360 acres of section 14, including twenty acres platted as the townsite of Spina. The petition was filed with the county auditor on January 4, 1910, and on January 18th considered favorably by the commissioners. Election was to be held on February 9th, but the order was withdrawn by the commissioners. The petition remained without action until October 7, 1910, when the commissioners decided that election should be held on. November 1st.

Of fifty-one voters at that election, thirty-three voted against the incorporation. The "Report of the Inspectors of Election" stated that they found the place selected as the place of election was "in a room adjoining a saloon." They considered it "an improper place and, therefore, held the election in Johnson's Boarding House, immediately west of the designated poling place."

No further attempt to secure the incorporation of Spina was made until 1913. A petition signed by Luigi Cordileone and others and filed with the county auditor on August 26, 1913, sought to bring about the incorporation of only twenty acres, that is all of the land platted as the townsite of Spina, the twenty acres being the western half of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section fourteen, township 58-19, upon which townsite there were then resident 237 persons. The petition was signed by twenty-seven persons, who were all sworn to be legal voters of that place.

At about the same time the county commissioners were advised that a petition had been presented to the village council of Kinney by certain residents of Spina location, asking that Spina be annexed by the incorporated Village of Kinney. The petition had even been adopted by the Kinney Village council, and a date fixed for election, when the county commissioners, on September 6th, granted the petition of Luigi Cordileone and ordered notices to be posted in the townsite of Spina calling upon voters to ballot, on October 10, 1913, and designating the "vacant store building, lot 17, block 3, townsite of Spina" as the place of election. The voting was in favor of incorporation.

The assessed valuation of the village of Spina in 1913, was $11,069. In 1919, it was $15,582. Its place in the township is therefore not a very important one, when one considers that Kinney's valuation runs near to two millions and Buhl's to almost ten million dollars. However, possibilities of growth in visible wealth as well as population are ever present on the Mesabi Range, and the present Spina may be the nucleus of a much greater Spina a decade or so hence.

Mining. - The mines of Great Scott Township are all in township 58-19. and a full review will be found in the Buhl-Kinney chapter. The principal mines are, or have been, the Grant. Thorne, Sharon, Shiras, Woodbridge, Itasca (Dean), Cavour, Yates, Kinney, Dean, Wade, Deacon, Wanless, Seville, Whiteside and Frantz. The ore shipped from Buhl and Kinney in 1919 season totaled to almost one and a half million tons and immense stripping operations are under way in one mine, where an electric 300-ton shovel has been introduced. The available reserve of ore in the Buhl group of mines runs into eight figures.

Schools. - The schools of Great Scott Township arc excellent, some of them being models of architectural excellence, and practical utilitv. The high school at Buhl and the Wilson School at Kinney are schools of which the township might well be proud. The school district is known as Independent School District No. 35. which centers at Buhl, and has direction of education throughout townships fiftv-eight and fifty-nine north, range nineteen west. (See Buhl- Kinney Chapter.)

valuation of the incorporated places. The total taxes amount to 83.8 mills, with a school tax of 41.5 mills. The school levy in 1919 for Independent School District No. 35 amounted to $484,464.08, that to provide education to 1,166 children, the majority of whom are of foreign-born parents, natives of seventeen different countries, chiefly European. Many of the children are unable to speak in, or understand, the English language when they first attend school, Americanization is soon achieved, however.

Population. - There were 108 people in the township when the 1900 census was taken. In 1910, the population was 2,322, and in 1920 there were 3,963. The bulk of the inhabitants are resident in Kinney or Buhl village. Kinney's 1920 population was 1,200, while Buhl had 1,005 in 1910 and 2,007 in 1920.

On May 13th of that year a petition was signed by Joseph B. Todd and other freeholders of the territory for which township powers were sought, and in due course presented to the board of county commissioners, with the request that if granted, the new township be named "Savanna."

The petition was approved "in form and execution" by the county attorney on June 18, 1903, but was not passed by the Board of County Commissioners until September 3rd. The commissioners then ordered the first town meeting of the township of Savanna to be held at the schoolhouse situated on the northeast quarter of northeast quarter of section 14, township 51-20, on Wednesday, September 23, 1903.

Election was accordingly held and the first officers of the township of Savanna were: Nels Wuotila (chairman), Henry Peterson and Aug. Wuotila, supervisors; L. Randall, clerk; Aug. Anderson, treasurer; Jacob Jurvelin, assessor; Henry Peterson and Aug, Wuotila, justices ; Joseph Kangas and Aug, Anderson, constables.

Shortly afterwards, the county auditor was advised by the state auditor that another name for the newly organized township must be chosen, as "Savanna" was the name of another township in the state. "Roosevelt" could not be secured, for the same reason. The county commissioners, therefore, on October 6, 1903, decided to name the township "Halden," the patronymic of the then county auditor. Their naming was subsequently confirmed by the voters.

The township officials in 1920 were: Waldemar Alho (chairman), Glenn F. Chapin and Nathan Nelson, supervisors; S. Magnuson, clerk ; John Hannula, assessor and treasurer.

Halden has no separate school district. It is part of the immense unorganized school district which is directly supervised by the county school superintendent. The school levy, in 1919, was 37.1 mills. At one time, the township of Halden was in School District No, 19, Apparently, the county unorganized district is more economical for the taxpayers.

Duluth And St. Louis County 693

Hermann. - Prior to May, 1897, the Township of Hermann comprised two congressional townships, 50-15 and 50-16. In 1873, the valuation of the township was $18,757.00 for assessment. The total tax levy in that year was forty mills, and as distributed, the revenue was :

In 1897, the assessed valuation of the township was $222,484. The total tax levy was $5,651.09. In May of that year, congressional township 50-16 was detached from Hermann Township, to form the Township of Solway. With the necessary settling of accounts, the statement of Otto Zebott, clerk of Hermann, showed that, on that date, the township had no outstanding bonds ; that outstanding orders totaled to about $20; and that there was $77.11 in the treasury.

Hermann Township since 1897 has been limited to the one congressional township, 50-15. Its assessed valuation in 1919 was $206,- 638, with taxes amounting to $17,068.30 levied.

The population is not given prior to 1900, but the statistics since that year are: 1900, 625 persons; 1910, 925; and 1920, 842 persons resident in the township.

The Hermann Township officials in 1920 were : C. R. Olson (chairman), Ernest Zebott and Otto A. Witte, supervisors; James R. Grady, clerk ; Wm. Janzig, assessor, and H. Halvorson, treasurer.

School District No. 6 covers the one township 50-15 only, and therefore comes directly into the levy of Hermann. There are four frame schoolhouses in the district, the four valued at $35,000. The school year is of eight months' duration and with an enrollment of 184 scholars in 1919-20, fourteen female teachers were regularly employed, at an average salary of $81. The school levy amounted to $7,232.33. The school board officials, 1919, were: Rudolph Martin, clerk; Emil Johnson, treasurer; Chas. Avery, director.

Industrial. - A petition circulated in November, 1890, and signed by John Johnson Holm and other freeholders of township 51-17 appealed to the county commissioners to grant them township powers and privileges. The petition asked that the proposed town, if organized, be named "Industrial," and designated the house owned by James Erickson, and situated on the southeast quarter of section 2, of township 51-17, as the place at which the first town meeting could conveniently be held.

The county commissioners, on February 7, 1891, granted the petition, and ordered election to be held "at the saw-mill on the southwest c|uarter of the southwest quarter of section 22, township 51-17." on February 26. 1891.

In the next year, on October 25, 1892, a majority of the white residents of township 50-17 sought, by petition of D. F. Lemire and fourteen other voters, to prevail upon the county commissioners to annex to the township of Industrial all of fractional township 50-17 not included in the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation. The petition was disapproved by the commissioners, and nothing further was done to affect the boundaries of the Township of Industrial until April 7, 1911, when Nick Lyngstad and others presented another petition, making a like request, and on June 7th of that year "all that part of township 50 north, of range 17 west, lying south and east of the St. Louis River in St. Louis County" was attached to and made part of the Township of Industrial.

The population in 1900 was 158; in 1910 it was 362; and in 1920 a material increase was shown, the census tabulation crediting the enlarged township with 789 residents.

The township officials in 1920 were: H. Pichelmann, chairman; M. Bloom, supervisor; M. Galvert, clerk; F. A. Balcom, assessor; and W. Longton, treasurer.

The school system is under the direct supervision of the county school superintendent, there being no separate school district in Industrial. Its territory is embraced in the huge unorganized school district directed from the county offices at Duluth. The school levy, in 1919, consequently amounted to 37.1 mills.

Kelsey. - The Township of Kelsey has been in existence for more than twenty-five years. It was organized in 1895, out of unorganized territory, its limits being congressional township 54-18 originally. Later, the township was enlarged to include townships 53-19 and 18 (now Meadowlands), 54-17 (now part of Cotton), 54-18 (the present bounds of Kelsey), and 54-19 (now part of Toivola).

Organization. - The organization of Kelsey Township in 1895 was the outcome of petition of F. C. W. Zacher and other legal voters of township 54-18. The petition was dated July 9, 1895, and sought township powers for that territory, under authority of chapter 10, General Statutes of 1878, requesting that the new township, if organized, be named "Kelsey."

The petition came before the county attorney, for examination on July 9th and on that day he reported to the county commissioners that the document was correct in form and execution. On motion of Commissioner Swenson, township 54-18 was set oflF as the Township of Kelsey, in accordance with petitioners' wishes.

First Election. - The first election was held "at the Pump House of the Duluth, Missabe and Northern Railway Company," situated on the NE quarter of section 22, of that township, on July 29, 1895."

Area Increased. - At about that time, the inhabitants of adjoining and contiguous territory manifested a desire to be included in the organized Township of Kelsey. A petition was presented to the county officials on August 6, 1895, asking that four other unorganized congressional townships, 53-13, 53-19, 54-17, and 54-19, be annexed to the Township of Kelsey. The petition was signed by a majority of the legal voters of those townships, and the county commissioners acted quickly, granting the petition on August 6, 1895.

Organization of Meadowlands and Cotton. - So, the area of Kelsey Township remained until 1903. On May 6, 1903, a petition was prepared, in the hope of bringing about the separation of three congressional townships from Kelsey. The document was signed by C. J. Keenan and others, and asked that townships 53-18 and 53-19 be detached from Kelsey to form a new township, to be known as "Meadowlands" and township 54-17 to form a separate township under the name of Cotton, leaving townships 54-18 and 54-19 as the territory of the Township of Kelsey. Hearing of remonstrances was held by the county commissioners, and on the 13th day of July, 1903, they reorganized Kelsey, and erected the townships of Cotton and Meadowlands, in accordance with petition (see Cotton and Meadowlands articles, this chapter). The organization came under authority of Chapter 152, General Laws of Minnesota, 1901.

Reorganization of Kelsey. - A special election was held on July 31, 1903, at Kelsey School House, to regularize the new organization of the Township of Kelsey, and the following named residents then took office: John E. Grandy, (chairman) ; William Conners and H. A. Mickelson, supervisors; J. D. Post, clerk; J. McKay, treasurer. At the first town meeting it was resolved that township officers be paid a remuneration of $1.50 a day and expenses, on the day of town meetings, or when upon the business of the township.

Taxes. - The Township of Kelsey had an assessed valuation of $34,144 in 1895. Presumably this embraced the five congressional townships. In 1919, the assessed valuation of Kelsey (54-18), was $82,071. Taxes in 1895 amounted to $1,024.32; in 1919, the tax levy was $5,203.30.

Erection of Toivola. - The area of Kelsey was reduced to the one township in 1911, when the Township of Toivola was formed from townships 54-19, which was part of Kelsey, and unorganized township 54-20. The separation was affected on July 29th. (See Toivola.)

Transportation. - Two railways, the Great Northern and the Duluth Missabe and Northern, pass through the township, and the White Face River winds through Kelsey from east to southwest.

School Systems. - Its school district is designated No. 75. There are two schoolhouses, both of frame construction, the two valued at $1,200 in 1919. The school term in that year was of eight months duration. The enrollment was 43 scholars. Four female teachers constituted the teaching staff, they receiving an average salary of $80 a month during the school year. The school levy amounted to $2,470.34. The school board officials were : E. L. Channer. Kelsey, clerk; H. Person, treasurer; H. D. Makinster, chairman of directors.

Korpi. - A petition signed by fourteen legal voters of unorganized township 60 north, range 19 west, the first signer being Charles Kolander. sought permission of county commissioners to organize that territory into a township to be known as '"Korpi." Petition stated that at the time of signing, there were not more than twentyfive male freeholders, "not less or more," in the territory.

The southernmost tier of sections of township 60-19 now belongs to Great Scott Township. Federal census statistics show that township 60-19 had a population of 122 in 1910. and 92 in 1920.

Kugler, - The Township of Kugler, 61-15, was organized in 1904. Petition was filed on August 24th of that year, signed by Martin Nelson and others of congressional township 61-15, which the petitioners sought to have organized, under chapter 10 of the Statutes of Minnesota, 1894, as a township designated "Nelson."

At session of Board of County Commissioners September 6, 1904, the Township of Nelson was organized, and the first town meeting was held at the schoolhouse situated on section 8, of township 61-15, on September 26th.

Later, it became knovvm that another name must be selected for the new township, as there was already a Nelson Township in another part of the state. The commissioners therefore, with the consent of the freeholders of the territory, named the township "Kugler," that being the name of one of the county commissioners.

Kugler Township borders on the Vermilion Range, and possibly has mineral deposits of value, although no mining operations have been undertaken within its boundaries. The township is marshy and peaty in places, and several streams pass through it. The Duluth and Iron Range Railway passes through the township, with two communities, Athens and Rivers, served by the railroad. Rivers is the larger community, although both in reality are little more than stopping places.

The township officials in 1920 were : Albert Hoppa, (chairman) ; R. Johnson and Peter Pearson, supervisors; C. E. Wahlston, clerk; John Fredrickson, assessor; Gust Lee, treasurer; A. D. Fuller, justice.

Kugler, for school purposes, is in the unorganized school district directly supervised by the county school administration. The school levy in 1919 was 37.1 mills.

Lakewood. - The Township of Lakewood, which embraces almost all of congressional township 51-13, was formerly part of the Township of Duluth.

Petition to set apart, from that township, congressional township 51-13 was circulated in November, 1901, and signed by D. J, McDonnell and twenty-one other residents and legal voters of that territory. The petition argued that it was convenient to the citizens of township 51-13 to attend to township afifairs of the Town of Duluth, which at that time embraced more than forty square miles.

A hearing was set for January 7,- 1902, before the county commissioners at Duluth Court House. No material remonstrances then developing, the commissioners approved the petition, and notices were prepared, calling the first town meeting of the newly organized Town of Lakewood, January 25, 1902, at the schoolhouse situated on the northeast quarter of section 14, township 51-13. For some reason, the town meeting adjourned until February 15, 1902, to meet then at the house of Z. Perault, on the south half of northeast quarter, section 21, of that township. At that adjourned meeting, the township organization was completed by the election of the following named residents as first township officers : David Jamieson, (chairman) ; Z. Perault and S. Wakelin, supervisors; Wm. M. Jameson, clerk; D. J. McDonnell, treasurer; Jas. Mohan, assessor; Worth Axford, justice; Frank Erickson, constable.

Duluth And St. Louis County 697

At one time Lakewood Township was in School District No. 20. District No. 62 now serves part of township 51-13. There are three frame schoolhouses in use, the three valued at $5,000, in 1919. The enrollment in that year was 62, for a school year of nine months. Four female teachers were apportioned to the district, and they averaged a salary of $85 a month. The school levy was $3,854.10. The school board officials were: F. J. Monkhouse, clerk; Joseph Pommerville, treasurer; D. J. McDonnell, chairman of directors.

Lavell. - Lavell Township, which now embraces three congressional townships, was first organized to have jurisdiction over unorganized townships 55-19, in 1904.

A petition, signed by Richard Carrigan, Martin Lavell, and others who were legal voters of congressional township 55-19, was prepared during the winter of 1903-04, asking the county officials to organize that territory, and name the township so organized "Lavell." Martin Lavell presented the petition at the county offices for filing on August 4, 1904, and then took oath that statements made in petition were correct.

The matter came before the county commissioners at their meeting on that day, and met with their approval. They ordered an election to be held at the house of Martin Lavell, sw qr. ne qr., sec. 18, twp. 55-19, on August 23, 1904. Martin Lavell, acting as deputy sherift", posted notices to that effect.

The election completed the organization of the township, and within ten days another petition was in course of preparation, the residents of congressional townships 56-19, 56-20, and 55-20, seeking to have that territory annexed to the new Township of Lavell. The petition was signed by P. E. Meehan and others, in sufficient number, to influence the county commissioners to act upon the request. They placed these three unorganized townships into the Township of Lavell, taking that action at their monthly meeting of October, 1904, having considered the petition at their September meeting and called for the hearing of remonstrances at the October session.

The boundaries remained so until November, 1913, when congressional township 56-20 was separated from Lavell, and added to the Stuntz territory (see Township of Stuntz, this chapter).

Lavell Township is content to let its school system be part of the unorganized school district administered by the county school superintendent. Such an arrangement is probably less expensive for the township, the population being scattered. Lavell Township had a population of 548 in 1910, and 632 in 1920.

The township officials, 1920, were: John Turkula, chairman; Jacob Hellman and Fred Rekkala, supervisors; Alex Narva, clerk; Matt Korpi, assessor; and Herman Lammi, treasurer.

Leiding. - The Township of Leiding was organized in 1907. and now embraces four congressional townships 64 and 65, ranges 19 and 20. The Duluth, Rainy Lake and Winnipeg Railway passes through the township, which is the administrative centre of big logging interests. Glendale, Orr. and Cusson are the railway stopping places, communities having developed at each place, Orr being a trading centre, and Cusson the largest village, being the logging headquarters village. Pelican Lake, probably more than half a congressional township in area, is situated in townships 64 and 65, range 20, a fraction of it breaking into range 2L There are several other smaller lakes, and the township is rapidly becoming cleared of timber, and promises to eventually be good agricultural land.

Organization. - A petition, dated August 27, 1907, signed by Frank Korpi (or Karpi) and thirty-four other freeholders of congressional townships 64 and 65, range 19, and of township 64-20, sought to obtain the permission of the county commissioners to the organization of the territory into one township, under section 451, of the Laws of Minnesota, 1905, said organized township to take the name of Leiding, who was the main projector. It stated that the residence of Charles Leiding would be a convenient place at which the voters might assemble for the holding of the first town meeting. The petition was sworn to by Carl Laitenen, of Pelican Lake (Gheen P. O.), on August 27, 1907, and was filed with the county auditor, at Duluth, on September 10th.

First Election. - The county commissioners met, in monthly session, on that day, and the petition came before them for consideration. They approved it, and set apart the three townships at that meeting, and designated the territory "Leiding" township. They also ordered election to be held on September 28, 1907.

In April, of 1909, Charles Oakman, Nils Johnson. William Orr and seventeen other residents of township 65-20 sought to attach that congressional unorganized township to the township of Leiding. Petition to that effect was filed with the county officials on April 12, 1909, was approved by the county attorney May 4th, and considered by the board of county commissioners at their sessions of May, July, August, and October, 1909. They finally fixed a date, December 3d of that year, upon which they would hear remonstrances against the projected annexation. On December 3d they granted the petition.

Township of Pelican. - An attempt was made in 1914 to detach from Leiding, the two townships of range 20, so that they might be organized as the Township of Pelican. Petition was circulated in those two townships toward the end of the year. It was signed by Nils Nilson, William Orr, and others, and sworn to on January 6, 1915, by Fred Swartz, who testified to the accuracy of the statement that the legal voters in the territory at the time of the circulation of the petition did not exceed fifty.. Thirty-three signed, asking for organization under section 452, General Statutes, 1913, and indicating that election place could conveniently be the Town Hall at Orr, in the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 1 of township 64-20.

Movement Defeated. - The petition was considered by the commissioners at their January, 1915, session, and they set a hearing of objections for February 15th next. Nine days before that date, however, the petitioners requested the commissioners to withdraw the petition ; consequently, the petition was dismissed.

Duluth And St. Louis County 699

Cusson (village) was platted in 1909, and so named in honor of S. J. Cusson, who at that time was the general manager of the lumber and logging company. The village has always remained a "company town," all the real estate and buildings belonging to the Virginia and Rainy Lake Lumber Company. Cusson is the administrative headquarters of the company's logging operations, which are of magnitude. It is a self-contained community, having good water, electric lighting plant, movie, school, and other community conveniences. Everybody living in the village is in the employ of the. logging company. There are an average of 125 skilled workmen resident in Cusson, chiefly belonging to the railroad and machine shops of the company, which owns and operates 130 miles of railway to their many logging camps. At Cusson there are boarding houses for single men, and twenty-five dwellings for married men, who are able to rent a six-room house, with electric light and steam heat for about $10 a month, with free light and water. Cusson, in reality is a pretty village, certainly not a place such as one is apt to imagine a community identified with the logging camps would be. It is well administered, F. H. Gillmor, who laid out the place in 1909, and who has been general superintendent of logging operations for the company for many years, makes his home in it, and he, together with his assistant, Mr. Erickson, looks well after the comfort and well being of the people in general and sees to it that the village is held to a sane standard of orderliness. Mr. Gillmor is one of the pioneers of the northern part of St. Louis County. He has been directly responsible for the clearing of timber from at least 200.000 acres of the northern part of St. Louis County, and has been in charge of the logging operations of the two principal lumber companies that have operated in that region, the Weyerhauser interests and the \'irginia and Rainy Lake Company. He was with the former for eight years, and with the latter for twelve years, all spent in St. Louis County, north of Virginia. For nineteen years he has been superintendent of logging, and has caused to be cleared from the land of Northern St. Louis County from one and one-half to two billions of feet of timber. That in itself, in the turning of standing timber into cash was an appreciable service to the county, which of course directly benefitted in taxation ; but when it is realized that the clearing of timber means that the way is clear for the permanent settler, the part Mr. Gillmor has had in the pioneer work of the county has certainly been substantial, and worthy of record. Some of the cutover land north of Virginia has proved to be as good agricultural land as there is in the county.

The Village of Orr was laid out by William Orr when the railway was built through the township. He owns a store which is stated to have done a business of more than $50,000 a year. He does much trading with the Indians of the Boise Fort Indian Reservation, bordering Pelican Lake. At Orr is a state bank, of which \Vm. Orr is president.

Township Officials. - The townshij) officials of Lciding in 1920 were: Nils Johnson, chairman; John Gahrielson and j. .A. Fisher, supervisors; George Marette, clerk; G. IT. W'irkkula. assessor; Frank Wardas, treasurer.

county school administration. The townships of range 20 are in what is called the unorganized school district of the county, a school district in which there are 139 frame schoolhouses, to which go almost 4,000 children, and which district employs 162 teachers, and spends about $15,000 a year for transportation of pupils. The school levy, in that part of Leiding Township served by the Unorganized School District in 1919 was 37.1 mills, on a valuation of $263,035. Townships 64 and 65, north of range 19 west, are the limits of School District No. 66, in which are two frame schoolhouses valued at $5,000 in 1919. The enrollment was sixty-two, and three female teachers were employed, in the year 1919-20, at an average salary of $100.00 a month. The school levy was $4,493.11. The school board officials were: Frank Wardas, Orr, Minnesota, clerk; Peter Marion, treasurer; Nils Johnson, chairman of directors.

Linden Grove. - The township of Linden Grove was organized in 1907. A petition filed with the county auditor in December of that year, and signed by C. J. Everson and others, sought to induce the county commissioners to organize congressional townships 62 and 63-20 as one township under chapter 143 of the state laws of 1905, the town organized in accordance therewith to take the name of "Linden Grove." The petition asked that the first town meeting be held at the residence of Norman Linsey, situated in the northwest quarter of section 9, of township 62-20.

C. J. Everson took oath to the accuracy of statements made in petition, and that in the territory at that time were resident not more than sixty legal voters.

The county commissioners met at Duluth on December 10, 1907, and on that day formed the township of Linden Grove, with boundaries as asked for in petition. And they ordered the election to be held on December 28, 1907.

Linden Grove had jurisdiction over the two congressional townships until 1916, when township 63-20 was set apart to form the township of Willow Valley (see Willow Valley, this chapter).

Linden Grove, with two congressional townships, was found to have a population of 223 in 1910; in 1920, the census showed that 225 persons were then resident in its reduced area, township 62-20.

The township had no railway connection nearer than Cook, about seven miles from its eastern boundary, but it has some prosperous farmers. The township is watered, as well as drained, mainly by the Little Fork.

Linden Grove was at one time in School District No. 53, but that school district has been dissolved, and the territory is now part of the Unorganized School District directly supervised by the county administration. The tax levy for school purposes in 1919 was 37.1 mills.

The township officials, in 1920, were: Ben Wilkins (chairman), L. W. Simmons, supervisor; C. J. Everson, clerk; J. B. Wien, assessor; John Frandson, treasurer.

McDavitt - The township of McDavitt was erected in 1894, such action by the county commissioners following the presenting of a petition by the voters of township 56 north, range 18 west. The petition was signed by Dagobert Mayer and twenty-four other residents of the township named, which they sought to have organized

Duluth And St. Louis County 701

The request was granted by the commissioners on March 7, 1894, the commissioners then ordering notices to be posted in conspicuous places throughout the township calling the voters to the first town meeting, to be held at the residence of Ole Thorpe, situated in the southeast quarter of northeast quarter of section 10, on March 26th.

The election was duly held, and the township has since remained as originally constituted, as to boundaries. It is now well-developed agricultural hmd in parts of the township, through which pass two railways, a third its northeastern corner. There are several small sheets of water, and the St. Louis river winds its way tortuously through the township from northeast to southwest.

The township officials in 1920 were: Jest Mobrcten (chairman), Charles Newberg and Emil Johnson, supervisors; H. P. Teed, clerk; Ole Olson, assessor; Chas. Stenlund, treasurer.

McDavitt township is served by two school districts, No. 31 (see Ellsburg township, this chapter), and No. 80. There is only one schoolhouse in district No. 80. It is valued at $1,000. There was an enrollment of 28 scholars in 1919-20 year. The one teacher (female) received $75.00 a month salary, for a term of eight months. The school board officials, in 1919-20, were: John Mobrotin, Forbes. Minnesota, clerk; S. M. Anderson, treasurer; Severin Johnson, chairman of directors. The school levy amounted to $1,046.30. The school levy (on $45,435) for School District No. 31 was 36.1 mills.

Meadowlands. - The township of Meadowlands was erected in 1903,. out of part of the township of Kelsey. A petition was prepared by the inhabitants of congressional townships 53 north, ranges 18 and 19 west, asking that those townships be detached from the township of Kelsey and organized.' said new township to take the name of Meadowlands.

Organization. - The i)etition came before the county commissio'ners at their session of July 13. 1903. They approved the petition, having a month earlier called for remonstrances.

First Election. - The election was accordingly held at the house of I>. J. jochem. situated on section 23, of township 53-19, on July 31st, and the following were elected: Andrew Nelson (chairman), Nels J. Matson and L. Miller, supervisors; Dan O. Anderson, clerk; Gust. Anderson, treasurer; John M. Olson and J. II. Miller, justices; Joseph Miller and Chas. E. Lowe, constables.

Valuation. - In that year the township had an assessed valuation of $4/).058. The land has been much improved since, the valuation standing in 1919 at $253,035. Taxes in 1903 amounted to $1,381.74; in 1919" the township was called upon to pay $20.1Ui.28. $12,000 of which was the school levy.

School System. - Meadowlands school system is designated Inde- ])endent School District No. 50, which serves all of township 53-18 and i)art of township 53-19. The district has three schoolhouses, all frame, the three valued at $15,000. in 1919. There is an excellent and large consolidated school at Meadowlands (village). The district employs a staff of eight teachers, one male, whose salary was $177 a month. The seven female teachers had an average salary of $139 a month for the school-year of nine months. Professor E. R. Hephner is the superintendent, and the school board officials are: A. F. Johnson, Meadowlands, clerk; Andrew Nelson, treasurer; D. O. Anderson, Charles Palmer, John Sontra and H. A. Heldt, directors. The district has a good reputation, its standard of education being excellent.

General. - The population of Meadowlands in 1910 was 451 ; in 1920 it stood at 773. It is the center of fine agricultural land, and there are some excellent farming properties in the township. The Duluth and Iron Range Railway Company has a large demonstration farm at Meadowlands. The White Face river passes through the township, and to the west, dividing Elmer township from Meadowlands, the St. Louis river runs. Its course through township 53-19 places about six sections of that township within the limits of Elmer (see Elmer township,- this chapter). Two branches of the Duluth, Missabe and Northern railway passes through Meadowlands township, one branch having a station at Meadowlands, and the other at Birch and Payne. The Great Northern railway also passes through, so that in railway facilities Meadowlands is favorably situated.

Present Officials. - The township officials in 1920 were : Chas. F. Palmer (chairman), Max Bernsdorf and Roy Speece, supervisors; Max Schleinitz, clerk; Ralph E. Armstrong, assessor; Herman A. Heldt, treasurer.

Mesaba. - The township of Mesaba, the boundary of which is that of congressional township fifty-nine north, range 14 west, seemed at one time to be of much more importance to St. Louis County than it appears to be today. In it were undertaken some of the first explorations for iron ore of the Mesabi range.

A Pioneer's Story of the Mesabi. - David T. Adams, now of Chicago and Duluth, but in the eighties and nineties of the nineteenth century one of the most successful and capable mining pioneer explorers of the Mesabi Iron Range, writes, under date of December 7, 1920:

"The actual Mesabi range in which iron ore of commercial grade was found is that part lying horizontally in the low lands along the easterly foot of the height of land in Minnesota known as the Mesabi Heights, from a point in township 59, range 14, southwesterly through St. Louis County and into Itasca County, comprising a total distance of approximately 110 miles. It is a hematite formation, and is covered in the main by glacial drifts and erosion from the high lands to the north. A change in the formation takes place in about the center of township 59-14, and from there on, northeasterly to its terminus on the east side of Birch Lake, in the Vermilion range basin, is a magnetic formation, projecting above the surface and surrounding country, and in some places pitching sharply to the south under the gabbro, which is found in that locality. It was not known that the magnetic formation, comprising the eastern end of the Mesabi range, changed in character and had any connection with the hematite formation to the west of a point in township 59-14, until some time during the years 1883 and 1889. Fragments of rock from the formation and clean pieces of hematite ore were strewn over the surface along its entire length, from about the center of township 59-14, St. Louis County, and extending for several miles to the south of the range, and in some places to the north, covering a large area in width, as well as in length. And until the years between 1883 and 1889 no one seemed to know anything about the western part of the range, or its trend, excepting to advance the theory that a blanket formation existed somewhere inside of the borders of the drift area, and that commercial deposits of ore could not exist in the formation on account of its nature and horizontal position which was a complete change, and unlike any other iron range in the Lake Superior region, or anywhere known at that time.

"There have been many conflicting stories written by outsiders on the discovery of the Mesabi range, some contending that the range was known to the Indians for generations, and by the earliest white inhabitants of northern Minnesota. Their contentions were true in certain respects. What is known as the eastern end of the Mesabi range, which outcrops boldly and is magnetic in character, was known to exist years before the Mesabi Range proper was discovered. * * *

"My attention was attracted to the possibility of the existence of commercial bodies of hematite ore in the southeastern slope, or in the low lands of the Mesabi Heights, in the year 1883. In the fall of that year, I made a trip from Agate Bay (where now is the city of Two Harbors, Lake county, Minn.), accompanied by one James Lane. Our route was across country, following as nearly as possible the survey of the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad, which was then being constructed from Agate Bay to Tower. The purpose of the trip was to inspect the country, along the survey, for its mineral possibilities. At a point about one mile southeasterly of what is known as the Mesabi Gap, and south of the Tamarack swamp which lies at the foot of the gap, my attention was attracted by fragments of quartz and clean pieces of hematite ore strewn over the surface, at a point which I learned after to be in section 20, township 59-14. I spent a few days in that vicinity, exploring the country as far east as the magnetic cropping, and southwest over the hematite formation in the footlands along the slope of the Mesabi Heights for some distance. In this latter direction I found numerous indications of drift ore and quartz, as far as I went. I ascended the hills to the north of the places where I found the drift in the bottom lands to be the thickest, and in each ascent I made I found that the drift ore of the character found in the low lands at the foot of the heights disappeared completely, which was conclusive evidence that the numerous pieces of clean drift ore found in the low lands to the south of the Heights did not come from its summit, nor from the Vermilion range to the north, but must have come from an iron formation under the surface of the low lands, immediately south of the Heights. The drift ore did not show any great glacial wear, indicating plainly that the fragments of the ore were pressed up from the formation by frost, or broken from the ledge and washed to the surface by floods or torrents descending from the high lands through ancient water courses. The theory I formed at that time on the possible occurrence of merchantable deposits of ore in the low lands along the southeasterly slope of the Mesabi Heights (only more in detail) was never changed, and was always followed by me during all of my exj)lorations in after years on the Mesabi range. I returned from this trip the same way I went in, and did not return to the range again for three years. * * *

"Some time during the spring of 1887, I made another trip to the west end of the range, accompanied by A. J. Harding, then of Duluth. On this trip, I traced the range to the southwest, from the ledge in Prairie River to the Mississippi River. * * * i then travelled northerly from Prairie River for a considerable distance, examining the drift ore as i went, and tracmg it to the north l)oundaries of its source. After five or six days to the east, I returned to Prairie River, and pitched camp on the south side, between the upper and lower rapids. That same night, Captain LeDuc, then of Duluth, but a veteran explorer and mining man of the Michigan ranges, and his son, Ernest, who had come through the country from 59-14, on the eastern end of the range, pitched their tent alongside mine, and we all spent a delightful evening around the camp fire, talking of former exploring trips, * * * and of the possibilities of the new range. In the course of our conversation, the captain told me of many places where he had found drift ore and quartz on the surface, also that in his opinion some of the largest bodies of hematite ore in the world would be found in the future somewhere between township 59-14 and where we were camped. I heartily agreed with him, as he was the only man I had heard, up to that time, express that view. * * *

"In, about, the winter of 1887, and during the spring and summer of 1888, Captain John Mailman of Duluth did some exploring on the east end, in section 11, of 59-14. He w^as the first to start actual explorations on the east end; and in the exact place, section 20-59-14, where I found my first drift ore in the fall of 1883. Captain Frank Hibbing did some work. * * * but none of these explorations proved a success.

"In, or about, the fall of 1888, I gathered about 500 pounds of banded magnetic ore and slates from croppings in township 59-14, in the interest of Judge Ensign, Colonel Gagy, Major Hover, and a Mr. Peatre. I took the ore to New Jersey (the name of the place I have forgotten), and had a concentrating test made on a magnetic concentrator invented by one George Finney - possibly the first of its kind in existence. The separation was successful ; the ore after treatment analysed well over 60 per cent in metal, but on account of the high cost of treating the ore at the time, nothing further was done by us, in trying to commercialize the magnetic ores of the eastern Mesabi. In the winter of 1888 and 1889, I did some work in section 11-59-14 on the magnetic formation, with no success."

Mesaba Village Township Organization. - From the foregoing extracts from the narrative of Mr. David T. Adams, it will be realized that the thoughts of mining men of St. Louis county were, as regards the Mesabi range, first centered on township 59-14, which now is the township of Mesaba. In the early '90s, lumbering operations, and mining explorations were active in that township, and a community formed in section 21, it being ascertained that 201 people were resident there on May 25, 1891, when a census was taken for the purposes of prosecuting an endeavor to get corporate powers for the community. A petition, bearing date May 29, 1891, was circulated in that part of congressional township 59-14, and signed by E. P. Lowe, F. C. Colvin, and thirty-eight others, praying the county commissioners to grant the inhabitants corporate powers, under chapter 145, General Laws of Minnesota, 1885, as a village called "Mesaba," with boundaries as follows: eighty acres situated in section 21, being the southern half of the northwest quarter of that section of township 59-14, said eightv acres having already been platted, and the plat recorded at the office of the Register of' Deeds, on May 13, 1891, and designated the "Mesaba Central Division."

Duluth And St. Louis County 705

an election was ordered to be held at the schoolhouse, lot 32, block 1, of townsite of Mesaba Central Division, on July 7th. It was duly held, and resulted in seventy-seven of the eighty-two votes cast being in favor of the incorporation.

Petition to annex land in the south part of the north-eastern quarter of north-western quarter of section 21 was presented to the county officials early in March, 1893. Election was held in the village on May 16th, and, of 31 votes cast, 28 favored the addition to the village.

Village and Township Assessment. - The village of Mesaba has almost passed away. Its population, never big, has dwindled to an insignificant number. In 1910 there were 84 people living in it, and in 1920 only 54. It had had two or three spurts of activity in its history, but they have not been of long duration or much consequence. It is rather remarkable that, in 1914, a Town Hall of brick and stone was built at a cost of $9,000, and a water and lighting system installed. While there are several mines in the township, the assessed valuation of both village and township does not exceed $440,000. And the population of both township and village has dropped from 697 in 1910 to 115 in 1920.

The village officials in 1920 were: John Wallace, president; Geo. H. Saliday, Jack Reed, and A. D. McRae, councilmen ; A. P. McRae, clerk; Chas. W^allberg, treasurer.

Not many of the old pioneers of the village and township still reside in it. Judge A. D. McRae is probably the oldest resident, and he dates back, in residence, only to 1899.

There is a fine school building at Mesaba, but the village and township school system is under the direction of the Aurora district (No. 13).

Organization of Township. - The incorporation of the village of Mesaba preceded the organization of the township of that name. The township was not formed until September, 1892, fifteen months after the village took corporate power. It was then brought about in response to a petition signed by A. M. McKinley, E. P. Lowe, D. B. Clark, F. S. Colvin, and others, the commissioners granting the petition on September 6th.

First Township Officials. - Election was held, "at the Mesaba Lumber Companv's store building in the village of Mesaba." on September 24, 1892, and brought the' following into office: N. B. Shank (chairman), Thos. McDonald and Frank Schue, super\-isors ; G. J. Hardv, clerk; F. S. Colvin, treasurer; Jas. A. Robb, assessor; D. B. Clark and John L. Olson, justices; Fred Nelson and Fred Clark, constables. According to custom, the clerk notified the county auditor of result of election. After listing names of officers he added: "all good Rej)ublicans but one."

Mining in Township. - Mining has not been appreciable in the township. John Mailman's work of test-pitting and shaft-sinking did not create or hold interest after the great discoveries further west on the Mesabi range in 18<X) and later." John Mailman had leased land from Lazarus Silverman, i)f Chicago, ami in association with Trimble had gone well forward with his work when the rush westward occurred. The Mailman property passed through many hands during the next decade or so. In, about, 1905, it came into the control of Capt. M. L. Fay. Later, the lease was sold to Capt. G. A. St. Clair, and the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad Company built a five-mile spur to connect the property with their system, in 1907. It became known as the Spring mine, and in 1907, 15,000 tons of ore was shipped from it, 20,000 tons in 1909, and 30,000 tons in 1910, since which year it has not been worked.

The Mayas mine, Northeast quarter southwest section 15, township 59-14, also belonged to the St. Clair interest. It was explored in 1905, and began shipping in 1906, in that year shipping 107,244 tons, and slightly more in the next year. Nothing further came from it until 1918 when (as from the Vega mine) came 4,382 tons, and in 1919 8,799 tons.

From the Knox mine, explored by Hartley, Congdon and others in 1903, shipments began in 1909. Only about 350,000 tons has, however, been won from this mine, which is situated in southeast quarter southwest section 19-59-14. It is now owned by the Graham Iron Company, which company also operates the Graham mine, 2-59-14. That started shipping in 1913, and in the next four years produced more than eleven hundred thousand tons. The Vivian mine, 20-59-14, owned by the Northern Pacific Railway Company, was operated for three years, 1913-15, and yielded about 73,000 tons. The only other mine in 59-14 is the Adriatic, west quarter northeast section 30-59-14, operated by the Adriatic Mining Company. The mine was explored by O. D. Kinney, E. B. Hawkins, and others in 1901-02, and is one of the Pickands Mather and Company properties. The first shipment from it was in 1906, and only 1,100,000 tons have been mined there altogether.

Taxes. - That is the extent of the mining operations in Mesaba Township, and there is not much more ore in sight. Still, even yet the township pays a substantial sum in taxes. In 1892, the tax levy in township and village of Mesaba totalled to $806.99; in 1919 the levy was $32,246.61.

Township Officials, 1920. - The township officials, in 1920, were: John Wallace (chairman), Chas. Wallberg and Even Froen, supervisors; C. M. Ford, clerk; A. P. McRae, assessor; J. C. Schmid, treasurer.

St. Louis County, Minnesota, was erected in 1856, and in the same year the village of Fond-du-Lac was surveyed by Richard Ralf, and platted into village lots. The plats were signed by James A. Markland, attorney for the proprietors.

The townships of St. Louis County in 1873 were Duluth, Oneota, Fond-du-Lac, Rice Lake, and Hermann. All else was classed as "outside lands."

At about that time a petition was circulated, with the object of "incorporating as the village of Fond-du-Lac all of sections 5. 6, 7 and 8 of township 48-15," a portion of the territory "duly platted into lots and blocks, as the town of Fond-du-Lac," and duly recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds ; and sections 6 and- 8 "platted as East Fond-du-Lac"; the balance unplatted, it being asserted that no part was in any incorporated village or city.

The petition was approved and granted on March 3, 1893. Accordingly, election was held, on April 11th, W. H. Hollenbeck, B. F. Bishop, and C A. Krause acting as inspectors of election. They certified that at the School House of District No. 2, of St. Louis county on April 11, 1893, the election was held, and that, of forty ballots cast, thirty-one votes were in favor of incorporation, and nine against.

Historic Foxd Du Lac

On July 7, 1896, a petition, signed by Olaf Gulbrandson and thirty-five others, sought to change the name of the township of Fond-du-Lac to "Midway." The county commissioners granted the petition on that dav. The townshij) then had an assessed valuation of $96,590; in 1919 it" was onlv $123,277. The taxes in 1896 amounted to $2,023.31. In 1919 they totalled to $7,024.45.