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Norman County Townships

Norman County 1895

        1896 Norman County Township Maps

Anthony Township

Anthony Township was organized January 1878, with first officers named in 1883. The township was named for Anthony Scheie, the first settler. Mr. Scheie, a Civil War veteran, received a soldier's homestead in Section 18, Anthony Twp. and came to the area in 1872. Other early settlers were Elias and Nels Salverson, Augustine Austinson, R. Bersagel, Alexander Running, Lewis Johnson, and Halvor Helgeson. There was once a post office, store, and church at Anthony. Now only a church remains.

Check out the 1885 & 1890 Anthony Township Census

Bear Park Township
#T146N,R43W

The Bear Park Township was organized in 1881 while still part of Polk County. It was heavily timbered, and had bears, therefore the name Bear Park. There were once post offices at Rindahl and Ranum. John Ledning (Ledding) filed the first claim, and Ole L. Garden was the first to settle. Other early settlers were Sverre J. Lee, Gulbrand Saxun, Ole Holoien, O. Stromberg, and Peter Hassel. Early township officers were: S.J. Lee, Gilbert J. Saxum, Gustaf Kyllander, Andrew Melhus, Ole Rindal, Ole Flescher, C. T. Petterson. This part of Norman County was taken largely by homesteaders. There were three churches in Bear Park Twp., namely, Norman, Zion, and Faaberg.

Check the 1885 & 1890 Bear Park Township Census

Flom Township
T143,R43

Flom township was formed from the territory embraced in Congress, Township 143, range 43. Flom township is bordered on the north by Fossum township, on the east by Mahnomen County, on the south by Becker County and on the west by Home Lake township. The exact date of the township's organization is not known. The date of organization was probably about 1878. (Some records say 1881.) First records were from 1882. Flom township was named for one of its prominent citizens, Hans E. Flom. At first the county commissioners named it Spring Field township, but they later changed the name to Flom.  Town board members were: Hans E. Flom, John Nysetvold, Nels Nelson, Nels Mithun, A. L. Tomtengen. Flom Township was settled in the early 1870's. The first settler was said to be Ole Lein, followed by Erik Flom, Soren Bergerson, Erick Erickson, John G. Gjertson, Ole Rogen, Nils Nelson, and Simon H. Flom, all before 1875.

Check out the 1885, 1890, and 1910 Flom Township Census

Fossum Township

Fossum Township was organized in June 1881 while the area was still part of Polk County. Reportedly, Fossum Township included a larger area. Supposedly the township was named for an early settler named Fossum. The 1918 Turner and Semling history gives records of some early homestead claims. The early settlers include: P.S. Olson, Aamoth Brothers, A. J. Hanson, John Jensven, Christian Quall, Louis Quall, A. B. Peterson, Erik Eiken. The first five located in the territory as early as 1872. A letter from Chester Runck, Twin Valley, tells of a burial of three unmarked graves. This is 1/2 mile north and 1/2 mile west of old Faith Store. There was formerly a log house there on the Fjeld family land. He gave no names or dates. Possibly they were members of the Fjeld family.

Check out the 1885 & 1890 Fossum Township Census

Good Hope Township

Good Hope Township was organized June 1892. This was the last area to be settled in Norman County.

Green Meadow Township

Green Meadow Township was organized as part of Polk County on January 7, 1880. First settlements were as early as 1877 to 1880. Lands were taken up by homesteaders, tree claims and purchases from railroad land. There was once a small hamlet called Betcher, nine miles northeast of Ada, MN. The earliest settlers have burials in the Luchau Cemetery and St. John's Cemetery.

Halstad Township

Halstad Township was organized September 1879 while still part of Polk County. It was named for Ole Halstad, an early pioneer. The first two settlers, "squatters," Charles Holmberg and August Oberg, came in 1870 to cut wood for steam boats that plied the Red River. First settlers who entered lands came in 1871 and 1872.

Check out the 1885 & 1890  Halstad Township Census

Hegne Township
T144,R47

Hegne townships comprises all of congressional township 144, range 47. It is situated to the south of Anthony township, to the west McDonaldsville township, to the north Mary township and to the east of Hendrum township. This township, like all of those situated within range 47 in this county is without railroads or villages.

Hegne township was organized March 18, 1881, when the areas was still part of Polk County. At that time, the township was taken from a portion belonging to McDonaldsville township. The township was named for Andrew Hegne, an early settler. The first born in Hegne township was his daughter, Andora Sofie, November 1, 1880. Organizers of the township included: Hans Hellerud, Andrew E. Hegne, Christian Olson, E. C. Helland, Reinhard P. Idtse, A. C. Tvedt, August Austinson, P.W. Nelson, Nels Hansen, Iver B. Homeland, Tollak Belestson, Carl Anderson, Jacob Ness, and Svend Johnson. E.C.

Check out the 1885 Hegne Township Census

Among the early homesteaders and settlers in Hegne township were: T.S. Bjorem, Mike McLaughlin, John Wright, H.W. Dow, Ole T. Nelson, ? Schmidtknecht and Jacob Thomas. E.C. Helland, the first township clerk, prepared a list of the early settlers of Hegnes township:

Hegne Homestead and Other Land Records

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Hendrum Township

Hendrum township, which is situated on the west line of the county, is the second from the southern boundary of Norman County . It was organized in 1880 while still part of Polk County. The first white people were a group of French trappers. The first to settle the land were Ole Nygaard and Ole Ingebrigtsen who came in 1874, followed by Nygaard's wife and her parents, John and Martha Berg, and John Satre in 1875. The French trappers who were here were located in Section 30 the NE 1/4 and here their families were buried. There are no markers. Several early families, the John Erickson's, John Wangberg's, Ole Wang's, Jacob Storsvedt's, H. O. Rask's, and the Carl J. Wold's all lost children to the diphtheria epidemics. In the 1881 epidemic 27 children were lost to these families. The most tragic case was the John Erickson family who lost 5 children in the first epidemic in 1881, with only one child Annie surviving the disease. They were hit again after they had 6 more children and lost them all to a second epidemic of diphtheria.

Check out the 1885 & 1890 Hendrum Township Census

Home Lake Township

Home Lake Township was organized April 1881 while still part of Polk County. From information held by the Norman County Historical Society, some of the early settlers were: P.O. Waller, Jonas Homelving, Peter Helle, John C. Narum, C.H. Tvedtstulen, Carl Solien, Jens Husseby, Osten Hanson, John L. Vangsnes, and Anton Lerud. First arrivals to the township were in 1871. Sven K. Syre homesteaded in 1886. There is a small village of Syre, which once had a post office, two general stores, and a church. The 1910 atlas shows a creamery as well. At present there is only a fertilizer business. The church  no longer exists as it is being now used as a grainery.

To view information on early Home Lake settlers check out this page.

Check out the 1885 & 1890 Home Lake Township Census

Lake Ida Township

Lake Ida Township was organized March 19, 1879 when still a part of Polk County. The township was named by German Bennett for a girl named Ida to whom he was engaged. There is a so-called Lake Ida in Sections 8 and 17. Bennett was the first settler in the township north of the river. Other early settlers were John Matson Linbeck, Derrick West, A.K. Strand, Wesley and Elmore Jenkins, Andrew Starkson, John Danielson, Peter Hassel, Olaus Halvorson, and Christian Matti. Earliest land entries in county records show Alexander Holden in 1875 and German Bennett in 1878.

Check out the 1885 & 1890 Lake Ida Township Census

Lee Township

Lee Township was organized by the county board on January 3, 1882, being the first civil township formed after Norman County was detached from Polk County. It was first named Norman, but later changed to Lee Township, in honor of Ole J. Lee, an early settler. Earliest settlers were: Peter Lien in 1872, J. J. Crosby, Ole J. Lee, T. Odegaard, and Ole Hoven, who were all here by 1879. Sophia Krogstad seems to have been one of the earliest to claim land, but the date is not known. Other early land claims were made by Jens O. Lee, Hans Reitan, Olivia Johnson, Oscar Berg, Martin Olson, Jack Eastwood, and John Jacobson. There have been four churches in the township, namely, Bethania, Kirkebo, Bethlehem, and Landstad. Presently two remain with Bethlehem joining Kirkebo and Bethania disbanding.

Check out the 1885 & 1890 Lee Township Census

Lockhart Township

Lockhart Township was organized in May 1882. It was named for Charles Lockhart, owner of a large farm of several sections in the township. Early settlers came about 1879 and the early 80's. A post office was established in 1883 at Rolette, 1 1/2 miles north of present Lockhart. In 1902 it was moved to Lockhart. In 1883 the school was built at Lockhart and early church services were held there. Since many of the early settlers were from Germany, the German Methodists were the first to build a church in the township.

Check out the 1885  Lockhart Township Census

Mary Township

The Township of Mary was organized about 1877, while still a part of Polk County. The township was named for Mary, wife of Jacob Thomas. Jacob Thomas and Peter Thomas were first settlers who came in 1877. John Ambuehl filed a claim in 1878 and it was proven in 1883. Other early land records give Andrew Turbin, Michael Hennen, Nicholas Solve, Rosalin Diemert, and John Fahnlander in 1881. A Simonet and Rudolph Fetting are listed in homestead and land records for 1882. There was once a post office called "Goldner." This was located in the SE 1/4 of Section 16 of Mary Township. This was 1/2 mile east of the St. Mary's Church. This post office was closed and moved to Borup in 1903. There was a Catholic church and Cemetery in this township. The cemetery is still maintained.

Check out the 1885 & 1890 Mary Township Census

McDonaldsville Township

McDonaldsville Township was organized in 1874, before Norman County was separated from Polk County. Originally McDonald Township was named for the McDonald family. The "ville" was added when Norman became a separate county in 1881. From the 1918 history by Turner and Semling, the earliest settler was Paschal La Chapelle in 1870. Followed by H.K. Woodward and John Wright in 1876, Alexander Holden in 1877, John Hamilton, James Walker, Henry Hunting, Ole Haugen, Frances Beck, and Robert Barton all in 1879.

Check out the 1885 McDonaldsville Township and Village of Ada Census

Pleasant View Township

Pleasant View Township was at first a part of Polk County and had its first township meeting in 1880. It is believed that the first settlers came to this township about 1879. There is a site known as Hadler, (first called Wicklow) named for Jacob Hadler who came in 1879 and about 1901 helped obtain railway siding to Hadler, so the farmers might have a market price for their grain.

Check out the 1885 Pleasant View Township Census

Rockwell Township

Rockwell Township was organized September 1882, first named Wheatland, but soon changed to Rockwell. First officers were; P. Johnson, K.T. Hove, P. Kirkhoff, and M. Monson. First to become settlers were: C. I. Dahl, Salve S. Thorpe, Lars Thorson, Lars Haugen, Gilbert Bilden, and Dahl Brothers.

Check out the 1885 Rockwell Township Census

Shelly Township

Information taken from "History of the People of Norman County" and "This is Our Story Shelly, Minnesota 1897-1997"
"This is Our Story Shelly, Minnesota 1897-1997" may be purchased for $35.00 by sending a check or money order payable to Shelly Centennial Book,
%Nancy Nelson, P.O.  Box 123
Shelly, MN 56581

Shely Township was first organized January 15, 1874 and included what is now Halstad Township. Polk County was also organized in 1874. Polk County at the time included what is now Norman County. The first officers were: Supervisors: Ole Oien, Andrew Paulson, and L. B. Larson; Assessor: J. T. Redland; Justices of the Peace: Andrew Hawkins and Ole Halstad; Clerk: John Shely; Treasurer: Peter Paulson; Constables: Enock Johnson and L. L. Houske.

The first official meeting of Shely Township was held in March 1874. The voters confirmed the same officers. Two additional men were elected as road supervisors. Engel Swenson was elected supervisor of road district #! and J. J. Grothe was elected for road district #2.

In August of 1879, a meeting was called. This meeting may be said to be the first meeting of what is now Shelly Township. Halstad Township had now been organized and split away from Shely Township. It was determined at that time to divide jointly the assets and determine who should be responsible for the road between the two townships. After all was said and done, it was determined that Shely owed Halstad $2.53 in cash.

Shely Township took its name from John Shely, who was the first permanent settler in Norman County. John Shely was elected as the first township clerk. John Shely died at Crookston in 1898.

In August of 1897, the Great Northern Railroad constructed a depot. They put the name "Shelly" on the new depot, spelling it with two L's. This is the date of the beginning of the village of Shelly.

Earliest settlements in the county were made in this township. John Shelly came in 1870 and was followed by L.H. Gordon, John Redland, and O. P. Ojen. According to the 1976 "History of the People of Norman County", there was once a trading post near the Tronnes farm called "Polk City." There was a ferry across the Red River there. There were several businesses including a post office, but all were destroyed by fire and never rebuilt. The post office was moved to the Holte farm and called "Colenso." A few years later it was moved to the Ueland farm and called "Kalmer." There it remained until the post office was established at Shelly.

Check out the 1885 Shelly Township Census

Spring Creek Township

The township was organized August 26, 1880. This township had a large immigration in 1898. These people came from Iowa, Illinois, southern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The Great Northern Land Company sold land in this township to a group of farmers from the neighborhood of Emmetsburg, Iowa.

Check out the 1885 Spring Creek Township Census

Strand Township

Strand Township was organized March 1880 by commissioners of Polk County (then including Norman). It was first named Herman, for Herman Gunderson, first settler. Later the township was named Strand, short for Stranden, a Norwegian word meaning shore. To the early Norwegian settlers, the sandy area was reminiscent of Norway's sandy beaches. There was once a village post office at Strand at the central eastern edge of the township. First settlers were Herman Gunderson, Charles Benson, and Tron Rishof. Mr. Rishof established a store and was the postmaster at Strand. The only existing village is Gary, MN.

Check out the 1885 Strand Township Census

Sundahl Township

The township was organized September 29, 1880, as Sundahl Township, then part of Polk County. The 1918 history states the the township was named after the birthplace of John Holten, in Norway. The 1976 history states that it was named by Jacob Erstad from Sundal, Norway. The three earliest settlers were reportedly German families. The 1918 history states that the following were active in the development of Sundahl township: Jans Juelson, Ole Wennevold, Halvor Degernes, Jacob Anton Nelson, and Peter H. Hanson. There was once a flag-stop post office called Flaming in Sundahl Township. Sundahl Post Office was established in 1884 and was discontinued by 1918.

Check out the 1885 Sundahl Township Census 

Waukon Township

Waukon Township was organized February 1880. It was named for Waukon, Iowa, from where many of the early settlers came. Waukon is evidently an Indian name meaning "devil." There was once a Waukon Village located in Section 15, with a creamery, general store, and post office. The community is now served by rural route from Gary, MN.

Check out the 1885 Waukon Township Census

Wild Rice Township

Wild Rice Township was named for the Wild Rice River which flows through the area. The township was officially organized March 1881, as part of Polk County. However, this area was settled as early as 1870. A settlement called Twin Valley was begun about 1874 at the location of later Heiberg hamlet. When the Northern Pacific Railroad was built, the village was moved two miles south, this in 1887.

Check out the 1885 Wild Rice Township Census

Winchester Township

Winchester Township was organized March 1884 at the home of Samuel Fulton. At this time it was named Merton, but changed to Winchester in June 1884. The earliest settlers of Winchester Township included August Sherf and J. F. Pregge in 1878. There was once a station called Wheatville 3 miles north of Borup. It had a few business places and a post office in the 1900's. A post office was established at Borup in 1896 and the town was platted in 1899 on land owned by Ole Mattison and August Stilger. There have been three churches in the township, namely, Union, German Methodist, and Winchester Lutheran. Cemeteries were at the German Methodist and Winchester Churches. Union Church was in existence probably only a few years, by 1918 it was only a Sunday School known as Union School. It is not known when it was discontinued.

Check out the 1885 Winchester Township Census

Information for this document was gathered from the following sources:

• "Cemeteries of Norman County, Volumes 4, 5, 6" Compiled by the Red River Genealogy Society.
• " History of Clay and Norman Counties," 1918 in two volumes by Turner and Semling.
• "A History of the People of Norman County," 1976 by Norman County Historical Society.
• "Under Prairie Skies," a Centennial History of Ada, MN, by Lenora I. Johnson.
• "History of Polk County," 1916
• "Centennial History of Halstad, MN"
• " Perley, MN Centennial"
• "Hendrum--100 Years."
• " This Is Our Story, Shelly, MN 1897-1997"

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This site is maintained by Colleen Goltz with
the dedication and assistance of the
 Norman County Genealogy Society.
Last modified Friday February 04, 2005