"History and Description of Lyon County, Minnesota", 1884
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Town of Shelburne.
The town of Shelburne is situated in the southwest corner of the county. It was first settled in
1871 by
E. K. Ronning,
C. P. Myran and
Christopher Johnson, Norwegians. The town was organized
Sept. 6th 1879. The first town officers were
P. C. McCann, chairman;
D. A. Aurandt and
W. F. Randall, supervisors,
W. N. Olin, town clerk;
F. W. Howard assessor;
E. Peterson, treasurer;
E. F. Dickson and
H. P. Sandeen, justices;
Charles Howard and
Andrew Gilbertson, constables.
The first religious services were held in the fall of
1876 by Rev. Mr.
Eglanda Norwegian Lutheran. That society built a frame church on section 20 in the fall of
1880. The society sold the first church building to school district No. 58, since which they have built a large and very commodious church, which is an ornament to the town. The first school district was organized in
1880, including the whole town. The first school was taught by Miss
Sadie Bartlett in
1881. The town has now three school districts.
Shelburne has one railroad running through it, the Dakota Central. A station has been established about 60 rods west of the
Redwood river, called
Redwood.
The surface is rolling prairie, splendid soil, as good as can be found in the state, and is well adapted for dairying or stock raising. Hay is plenty and can be put in the stack to cost not exceeding one dollar per ton. The town is watered by the
Redwood River and numerous small lakes. By digging from 15 to 25 feet good water can be obtained.
The western part of the town is settled by Norwegians, a very industrious class of people who are acquiring fine homes. The eastern part is settled mostly by people from the
New England states.
With the completion of the Duluth R. R.
Shelburne is quite likely to get a station near its east line, which will give it the best of market facilities.
The
Redwood river flows through the town from south to north near the center of the town.
Shelburne is a new town and rather scantily populated. The last vote of the town, that on the question of aiding the Duluth railroad was 23, of which 20were for the bonds. This should give the town a probable population of about 130.
The last assessed valuation of
Shelburne was $27,791.
The assessor's report for
1873 gave the town 1241 acres of improved land of which 540 were wheat, 313 oats, 89 corn, 255 barley, 20 potatoes, 18 flax.