The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village continued from 8-27-20 edition of the Star Herald.
 
Beaver Creek
         On the banks of the “roaring” Beaver creek, eight and one-half miles southwest of the capital city of Rock county, is the little village of Beaver Creek, a village which has played an important part in the history of Rock county. Excepting Luverne, Beaver Creek is the oldest municipality in the county. Founded during the closing days of the great grasshopper devastation, it rapidly grew to a place of importance, and before it had reached years of discretion was contesting with Luverne for county seat honors. For a dozen years after its founding Beaver Creek continued to prosper; then came a bad fire, followed by the lean years of the early nineties, and the town took a backward step. At one time its very existence was threatened by the establishment of a rival town a few miles away. Better times came, and during the last decade Beaver Creek has advanced until it again takes rank among the progressive places of a prosperous county.
         Situated in the midst of a fine farming country that is thickly settled with an intelligent class of people, Beaver Creek has an exceptionally good, though limited, trade territory. It is served by the Worthington-Mitchell branch of the Omaha railroad, of which road it was at one time the terminus. The village has substantial business houses and fine residences, as well as the public enterprises and institutions that make a community a desirable one in which to live.
         The site on which Beaver Creek is located was recognized from the very earliest days as a desirable one on which to locate a town, and so early as 1873 a plat for a town only a stone’s throw from the present village was surveyed, with the intention of founding a city. R. D. Buchanan, the promoter of a colony of New Yorkers who located in the vicinity, conceived the idea (and started to put into execution his plan) of founding a town at a point just southwest of the present village. During the month of May he had the site surveyed1 and promised the early founding of the town. Mr. Buchanan came out to Rock county with another colony in August, with the announced intention of giving his attention to the new enterprise, but that is the last mention in the local press we have of the city. Like many another city conceived in the western country in an early day, it “died abornin’.”
         Beaver Creek had its birth in the fall of 1877, and came in to existence as a result of the extension of the Worthington & Sioux Falls (now the Omaha) road to that point. The year before this the road had been built from Worthington to Luverne and the survey extended westward to Sioux Falls. In August, 1877, Ex-Governor Stephen Miller, then in the employ of the railroad company, began purchasing right-of-way for the road west of Luverne, work of constructing the line was commenced in October, track laying was completed to the site of Beaver Creek early in December, and in the first part of January train service was established to the new station.
         Before the line was completed to the site, however, the town of Beaver Creek had made its debut. Charles Williams, who owned a farm on section 28, Beaver Creek township, donated eighty acres of land to the railway company for townsite purposes (reserving one block of the plat for himself), the selection of the site being announced about the middle of September.2 From the eighth to the eleventh day of October, inclusive, O. D. Brown, a surveyor, was engaged in platting the townsite for the Worthington & Sioux Falls Railroad company; the dedication was made October 27 by Horace Thompson, president, and George A. Hamilton, secretary, of the railroad company, and the plat was filed in the office of the register of deeds October 30. The original plat consisted of nineteen blocks.3 The name first proposed for the prospective town was Bishop, in honor of General J. W. Bishop, manager-in-chief of the Sioux City & St. Paul railway lines, but before the plat was put on record the new town was named Beaver Creek, after the creek and township of that name.4
         1“… In response to this demand it has been deemed the part of prudence and good judgment to start another town, and the valley of the Beaver is the locality selected, at a point about ten miles west of Luverne. It is situated on the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 29, township 102, range 46, upon land donated for the purpose by Ira Crawford, Esquire. The survey has been made and the town platted by P. J. Kniss, county surveyor.” Rock County Herald, May 30, 1873.
2“Mr. Williams was among the earliest settlers on that wide reaching prairie, and now, after brief period, he finds himself located almost in the path of the iron horse and his dwelling in the very heart of a prospective village.”—Rock County Herald, October 5, 1877.
         3Additions to Beaver Creek have been platted as follows:
         First, by Daniel Shell and C. H. Smith, July 1, 1886; surveyed by Orrin Nason.
         Crawford’s, by J. F. Crawford, Daniel Shell C. H. Smith and F. S. Gibson, February 9, 1887; surveyed by Orrin Nason.
         County Auditor’s Outlots, by County Auditor, October 16, 1909; surveyed by W. N. Davidson.
         4The creek was so named because of the many beaver and their dams which lined the stream when the first settlers came. The township was named after the creek at a meeting of the settlers held in August 1872.
 
         The story of the village of Beaver Creek will continue in the September 10 edition of the Star Herald.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village continued from 8-20-20 edition of the Star Herald.
 
Hardwick
The Lodges
         Four lodges have active organizations in Hardwick, the Modern Woodmen of America, Royal Neighbors of America, Odd Fellows and Rebekahs.
         The oldest of these is Hardwick Camp No. 3851, M. W. A. It was instituted May 11, 1896, by M. H. Carleton. Following were the first officers and charter members: J. F. LaDou, V. C.; J. P. Kennedy, W. A.; E. H. Albrecht, clerk; H. T. Holverson, banker; L. M. Larson, escort; Thomas Kennedy, watchman; D. J. Stoakes, sentry; T. E. Kirby, H. F. Heiden, H. N. Warner, S. A. Dailey, C. J. Moe, Henry Meyer, Ole J. Foss, S. Sanderson, George O. Ross.
         Valentine Lodge No. 1993, R. N. A., was instituted February 16, 1901, with the following charter members: Petra Moe, Minnie T. Case, Emma Piepgras, Marie LaDou, Liza Abbott, W. L. Armstrong, Stella Fellows, Mina C. Dailey, Ella S. Beaty, Lydia Groen, Ella Reed, E. O. Bredekken, S. A. Dailey, L. M. Larson, Florence Bruce, J. F. LaDou, David Fellows, George Piepgras, Clara Peterson, Mary Harding.
         Hardwick Lodge No. 90, I. O. O. F., which now has a membership of about fifty, began its organization February 12, 1909, with the following named nine members; M. L. Wahlert, Herman Hemme, O. H. Gravatt, John Oye, Hans H. Hansen, William F. C. Krohn, John F. Krohn, John Holmbeck, M. L. Hatch.
         Evangeline Lodge No. 125, Rebekahs, received its charter March 15, 1910. Its first officers and charter members were: Lousie Wahlert, noble grand; Nina Hagedorn, vice noble grand; Tena Hatch, secretary; Dora Ahrendt, treasurer; John Oye, chaplain; M. L. Wahlert, M. L. Hatch, P. D. Whyte, Bertha Whyte, W. O. Larson, T. H. Marxon, Caroyln Paustian, Lillian Paustian, Anna Heckt, Maria Oye, H. J. Hemme, Anna Hemme, Emma Will, Nora Piepgras, Anna Wiese.
 
Fire Department
         Hardwick has an efficient fire department with an active organization. So early as the spring of 1899, before the water works system was installed, we find the city council investing $25 for three patent fire extinguishers. This constituted the fire department of the village for about two years. After the water works plant was installed, in January, 1901, a cart and hose were purchased and a department organized. A reorganization was effected in 1905, when E. Olson was chosen chief. Since that time the department has maintained an active organization. The present officers were W. T. Murray, chief; L. A. Tollefson, assistant chief; E. V. Iverson, secretary; O. H. Gravatt, treasurer.
 
The Bank
The Farmers State Bank of Hardwick is the only financial institution of the town. It was organized as a private bank in January, 1893, by A. W. Sleeper, E. E. Brintnall and D. J. Hawley. It opened its doors in a lumber office and was under the local management of Mr. Hawley. In May, 1893, it passed to the control of E. E. Taylor and George O. Ross, and during the next eleven years Mr. Ross conducted the bank. From June, 1904, until after the reorganization D. J. Ross was the cashier and local manager.
         The Farmers State Bank succeeded the private institution December 13, 1907, when it began business with a capital stock of $10,000. The officers of the new concern were E. E. Taylor, president; D. J. Ross, cashier. Other incorporators were B. B. Van Steenburg, A. E. Buck, O. H. Gravatt, H. T. Holverson and C. H. Christopherson. Mr. Ross was succeeded as cashier April 30, 1908, by O. H. Gravatt, the present officer in charge. In January, 1910, the stock owned by H. H. Buck was purchased by local parties, and the stock is now owned almost entirely by residents of Hardwick and vicinity. The officers and directors in 1910 were as follows: H. T. Holverson, president; O. H. Gravatt, cashier; M. L. Wahlert and E. E. Taylor. In Decemeber, 1910, the capital stock was increased to $15,000.
 
         The story of the village of Hardwick will continue in the Sept. 3 edition of the Star Herald.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village, continued from 8-13-20 edition of the Star Herald.
 
Hardwick
         With the prosperous times in the country a decade ago, Hardwick kept pace and made rapid strides forward. The town’s second railroad — the branch from Worthington — was completed in 1900. The federal census of that year gave the village a population of 259. A system of water works was installed by the village in that year at a cost of $1590.30
                  The year 1901 was an exceptionally active one in building operations. The village authorities purchased shade trees, with which they lined the streets and otherwise made arrangements for making a “city beautiful.” Each year witnessed an increase in the business blocks and residences erected. Several brick blocks were put up in 1905, and later most of the board walks of the town were replaced with cement. A city hall was erected in 1908.
         The Hardwick of today differs vastly from the site a quarter of a century ago, when the few people residing in northern Rock county were vainly endeavoring to have the railroad company do something in regard to locating a town on “section 26.” The growth of this town vividly illustrates the changes that have occurred in northern Rock county during the last twenty-five years. The population of Hardwick in 1910 was 292, a substantial gain over former enumerations.
 
The School
         For several years before a school was conducted in Hardwick, the school of district No. 48 was maintained about a mile from the townsite. Among the teachers of this country school were Sarah Maher, Flora Mather, Emma A. Wright, Elma Crossman and Myra Ferguson. In 1892 thirty-seven pupils were enrolled. At a school meeting of the district on August 12, 1892, it was decided to erect a school house in the new village, and the old building was sold to J. B. Reed, for $90. The same fall a one-room building, 24x32 feet, was erected, but school was not begun in it until November, 1893, when E. W. Hunnicutt was employed as teacher. A year later another story was added to the building.
         This pioneer building served the district many years. In the spring of 1906, by a vote of 33 to 21, the electors decided to bond for $7000 for the purpose of raising money to build a new school house. Following this action the present building — one of the finest in the smaller towns of the county — was put up at a cost of $10,000. It is a four-room building, was built of Luverne pressed brick, and was constructed by Greene and Gilham. The present enrollment is about one hundred, and three teachers are employed.
        
The Churches
         Four church societies have organizations in Hardwick, of which two have houses of worship. The Presbyterian was one of the first organized and that society was the first to erect an edifice. The building was dedicated January 23, 1898, by Rev. W. J. Johnson and Rev. J. D. Gibbs. The total cost of the building was about $1400. Services are now not regularly held. Rev. R. H. Moodie is the present pastor.
         The German Lutheran Synod church was organized in the nineties by Rev. Brinkman with only five or six members. For several years services were held in the school house, but in 1901 the church edifice, costing nearly $2000, was put up. Services are held every two weeks by Rev. H. AmEnde, of Jasper.
         The Independent German Lutheran church was organized several years ago. Services are held every third Sunday in the Presbyterian church building by Rev. E. C. H. Peithmann, of Webster, South Dakota.
         The United Norwegian congregation maintains an organization. Services are conducted every third Sunday by Rev. O. J. Mundahl, of Luverne.
30This was replaced in 1909 by modern equipment at a cost of several thousand dollars, and Hardwick now has one of the best water works plants in the county with water and power sufficient to supply the wants of a town many times its size.
         The story of the village of Hardwick will continue in the August 27 edition of the Star Herald.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village continued from 8-6-20 edition of the Star Herald.
 
Hardwick
         Hardwick became a municipal corporation in 1898. So early in its history as 1893, however, the first attempt to bring about this desired condition was made. On July 20, 1893, a petition was presented to the board of county commissioners, asking it to take the necessary steps to bring about the incorporation of ten square miles of territory as the village of Hardwick, it being necessary to take in that much territory to secure the number of inhabitants required by law. The commissioners referred the matter to the county attorney, who held that the facts set forth in the petition did not satisfy the requirements of the law, and the county board refused to grant the petition. The residents of Hardwick employed A. J. Daley as their attorney and secured an alternate writ of mandamus from the district court, demanding that the commissioners either grant the petition or show cause in court why it should not be granted. At the hearing, which was set for August 4, Judge Brown quashed the writ, upholding the action of the county board, and Hardwick continued under the local government of Denver township.
         The matter of incorporating was again taken up in the fall of 1898, and on October 7 the county commissioners called a special election, to be held October 10, to decide the matter. Out of a total of thirty-seven votes, twenty-six were in favor of and eleven against incorporating the four southeast corner sections of Denver township into the village of Hardwick. The first village officers were chosen at another election, on October 25, and soon thereafter Hardwick began its municipal career. Following is a list of those elected to office during its history: 24
         1898—President, J. B. Iverson; trustees, H. T. Holverson, James P. Kennedy, John Overland; recorder, George O. Ross; treasurer, L. M. Larson; justices, William Ross, F. W. Case; constables, C. J. Moe, Thomas Kennedy.
         1899—President, J. B. Iverson; trustees, H. T. Holverson, James P. Kennedy, John Overland; recorder, L. M. Larson; treasurer, George O. Ross; justices, J. F. LaDou, William Ross; constables, Thomas Kennedy, D. J. Stoakes.
         1900—President, J. B. Iverson; trustees, H. T. Holverson, James P. Kennedy, F. W. Case; recorder, J. D. Thompson; treasurer, L. M. Larson; justice, Thomas Trenhaile; constable, Thomas Kennedy.
         1901—President, J. B. Iverson, trustees, H. T. Holverson, James P. Kennedy, Q. Stark; recorder, J. D. Thompson; treasurer, L. M. Larson; justices, Thomas Trenhaile, F. W. Case; constables, Thomas Kennedy, H. Schroder.
         1902—President, W. T. Berry; trustees, R. A. Hecht, F. W. Case, John Overland; recorder, J. D. Thompson; treasurer, L. M. Larson; justice, William Ross; constable, E. I. Harding.
         1903—President, Q. Stark; trustees, R. A. Heckt, D. J. Stoakes, James P. Kennedy; recorder, H. T. Holverson; treasurer, L. M. Larson; justice, A. H. Higley; constables, Thomas Kennedy, C. J. Moe.
         1904—President, Q. Stark; trustees, James P Kennedy, D. J. Stoakes, L. M. Larson; recorder, H. T. Holverson; treasurer, R. A. Heckt; justice, William Ross; constable, Thomas Kennedy.
         1905—President, E. C. Heckt; trustees, John Overland, Otto Bargenquest, F. W. Case; recorder, A. J. Hemmings; treasurer, R. A. Heckt; justice, O.E.. Fellors;25 constable, William Ryan.26
         1906—President, H. T. Holverson; trustees, John Overland, Adolph Carl, F. W. Case;27 recorder, T. S. Hartley; treasurer, R. A. Heckt; justices, M. L. Wahlert,28 E. T. Thorson; constables, W. T. Murray, O. Bakka.
         1907—President, H. T. Holverson; trustees, John Overland, R. A. Heckt, James P. Kennedy; recorder, D. J. Ross; treasurer, E. C. Heckt; justices, T. O. Tollefson, T. S. Hartley; constables, Emil Paustian, Will Mannigel.
         1908—President, James P. Kennedy; trustees, Thomas Trenhaile, D. J. Stoakes, R. A. Heckt; recorder, H. T. Holverson; treasurer, E. C. Heckt; justice, E. T. Thorson; constable, Albert Sodeman.
         1909—President, James P. Kenendy; trustees, Thomas Trenahaile, D. J. Stoakes, R. A. Heckt;29 recorder, H. T. Holverson; treasurer, E. C. Heckt; justices, P. T. Petersen, W. F. Ihde; contables, W. T. Murray, Emil Paustian,
         1910—President, James P. Kennedy; trustees, D. J. Stoakes, F. G. Hartley, O. H. Gravatt; recorder, H. T. Holverson; treasurer, E. C. Heckt; justice, P. T. Petersen; constable, W. T. Murray.
         1911—President, James P. Kennedy; trustees, T. S. Hartley, O. H. Gravatt, J. H. Johnson; recorder, J. B. Iverson; treasurer, E. C. Heckt; assessor, M. L. Wahlert; justices, P. T. Petersen, H. T. Holverson; constables, W. T. Murray, Henry Hoffman.
         24Saloon licenses have always been granted in Hardwick. During its municipal career the question of license has been voted on three times—in 1899, 1900, and 1903. License carried each time, the vote being, respectively, 29 to 21, 37 to 18, and 42 to 20.
         25In April, 1905, H. T.  Holverson and A. H. Higley were appointed justices.
         26Thomas Kennedy was appointed constable in April, 1905.
         27Resigned in May and was succeeded by M. L. Wahlert.
         28Resigned in June and was succeeded by O. H. Gravatt.
 
         The story of the village of Hardwick will continue in the August 20 edition of the Star Herald.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village continued from 7-30-20 edition of the Star Herald.
 
Hardwick
         At the close of the year 1892 we find that there were in the new town three general stores, one hotel, one lumber yard, one fuel yard, two grain warehouses, two blacksmith shops, one saloon and one livery stable. Within the year Hardwick had developed into a hustling little village.20 The list of building improvements for 1892 as reported by the local press was as follows:
John Scharnberg, hotel—$3000; School building—$1000; J. H. Dressen, store building—$1000; Herman Lenz, store building—$1000; H. T. Holverson, livery barn—$800; W. E. Littel, residence—$650; J. C. Johnston & Co., lumber sheds and office—$600; A. A. Walvatne, store building—$500; William Olson, blacksmith shop—$500; Charles Anderson, residence—$400; J. B. Reed, residence—$300; E. Olson, blacksmith shop—$300; Henry Melarchy, butcher shop—$200; Total $11,050.
         The survey of the townsite was made September 1 and 2, 1892, by W. N. Davidson. The dedication was made Septmeber 12 by A. A. Walvatne and A. W. Sleeper, and the instrument was filed for record September 24.21  The original plat consisted of only four blocks. The streets east and west were named First, Main and Third; north and south the site was divided by Summit street.22
          The founding of new enterprises continued during the early part of 1893. A building was erected and a bank founded, under the management of D. J. Hawley, who in May was succeeded by George O. Ross; D. J. Stoakes opened a hardware store; the first grain elevator was erected by Otter Otterson; Hauger & Sacket put up a building and opened a feed mill. Thereafter for several years there was little advancement in Hardwick. The town maintained an excellent grain market, and hundreds of carloads were shipped each year; the few business houses were well supported and the village continued to hold its own with the neighboring hamlets during the lean years of the middle nineties. A directory published in the fall of 1898 showed the following business enterprises:23  J. B. Iverson, Hulett Brothers & Co. and Heckt Brothers, general merchandise; Q. Stark, hardware; Stephen Brothers, meat market; J. C. Johnston & Co., lumber yard, L. M. Larson, manager; T. O. Tollefson, livery, grain and live stock; August Stroehbeen, Hardwick hotel; Hardwick Elevator company, grain; Holverson & Jargo, grain; E. A. Brown, grain and live stock; Davenport  Milling company, grain, J. Case, manager; A. T. Martinak, restaurant; T. F. Lange, barber shop; Engebret Olson, blacksmith shop; John Overland, blacksmith shop; August Stroehbeen, saloon; P. E. Matthieson, saloon.
         20“No town in Rock county of equal age has come to the front more rapidly and developed brighter prospects of becoming a prosperous business point than Hardwick. It is surrounded by a splendid farming country, which until recently has been sparsely populated, but it is now rapidly coming into the hands of well-to-do and enterprising farmers.”—Rock County Herald, December 30, 1892.
         21 The land on Section 35 upon which the original plat was located was originally the plat of the Western Land Company. In 1890 it came into the possession of A. A. Walvatne, who in the summer of 1892 disposed of part of it to A. W. Sleeper.
         22Additions to Hardwick have been platted as follows:
         Ross’, by George O. Ross, May 10, 1899; surveyed by W. N. Davidson.
         Kennedy’s, by Thomas F. Kennedy and James P. Kennedy, April 28, 1900; surveyed by W. N. Davidson.
         Houg’s by Johanna Houg, July, 1900; surveyed by W. N. Davidson.
         County Auditor’s Outlots, by County Auditor, April 30, 1902; surveyed by W. N. Davidson.
         Ross’ Second, by George O. Ross, January 1. 1901; surveyed by W. N. Davidson.
                  23“Hardwick has maintained a steady and substantial growth and is destined to become one of the most important business points in Rock county outside of Luverne. It has an excellent grain and stock market and has a large and increasing trade from a section of the county which is rapidly increasing in population. Several new buildings have been erected this season and more are contemplated.”—Rock County Herald, October 14, 1898.
 
         The story of the village of Hardwick will continue in the August 13 edition of the Star Herald.
                  Donations to the Rock

The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village continued from 7-23-20 edition of the Star Herald.
 
Hardwick
         There was practically no change at the station during the next few years. Otter Otterson continued buying grain for E. A. Brown, and later John Otterson bought for the Iowa, Minnesota & Dakota Grain company, which succeeded Cudahy & Butler. In 1889 Engebret Olson opened a small blacksmith shop on what is now the northeast corner of block four of the original plat, and he continued in business until after the founding of the town.
         Several items of importance occurred during 1891. That year John Otterson erected the first building of permanent character in Hardwick. It is the building on the lower end of Main street now occupied by Mr. Otterson as a residence; when the postoffice was established it was opened in this building. During the summer the depot was put up and it was opened September 1 with William Little in charge. Early in the year the farmers in the vicinity petitioned for the establishment of a postoffice at Hardwick, and in December the office was put in operation with John Otterson as postmaster.19
         19Mr. Otterson conducted the postoffice until 1894. E. H. Albright served until April, 1887, since which time John B. Iverson has been postmaster. One rural route is supplied from the Hardwick office. It was established January 15, 1904.
         By this time Hardwick had developed into an exceptionally good grain market, and toward the close of the year came the announcement that the following year would see the founding of the town, with stores, shops and other enterprises that make a town.
         Almost with the beginning of the year 1892 came the first business men to start the new enterprises. In February Herman Lenz, a farmer residing in the neighborhood, completed a small store building and put in a stock of general merchandise. The next month A. A. Walvatne erected a building adjoining Mr. Lenz, in which Thomas Trenhaile opened the second general store. Before the spring was over Engebret Olson moved his blacksmith shop closer to the new village and William Olson came from Larchwood, Iowa, and opened a shop in opposition; T. Staven came from Trosky and built a wagon shop; John Scharnberg erected a hotel and a little later opened a saloon in connection. During the summer Henry Melarchy opened a meat market; John H. Dressen erected a building and started the town’s third general store; John Niemer started the first livery barn. During the fall J. C. Johnston & Co. erected sheds and office building and started a lumber yard, under the management of Dunk Wills; a new grain buying firm appeared; John Otterson added flour and feed to his stock of fuel; a school house was erected; and several of the new comers built residences. The first child born in the village was a son born to Mr. and Mrs. John Otterson on June 20.
        
         The story of the village of Hardwick will continue in the August 6 edition of the Star Herald.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village continued from 7-16-20 edition of the Star Herald.
 
Hardwick
         According to the last census figures, Hardwick ranks third in size among Rock county villages. It is a compactly built, neat appearing, prosperous little municipality located nine miles north of the county seat, at the junction of two lines of the Rock Island railroad. Otherwise described, it is in the southeast corner of Denver township, the platted portion of the village being on sections 26 and 35. Like Hills, it is comparatively new town but has outstripped some of the older places in the county.
         As a town, Hardwick’s history dates back only to the year 1892, but the actual history of the place began several years before that time. Prior to the fall of 1884 the site of the present village was unoccupied by human habitation, and the honor of erecting the first building on the site belongs to a young Norwegian emigrant, Knute Taamasgaard by name. At that time Mr. Taamasgaard, who was employed on the farm of Otter Otterson, made “squatter’s” settlement on the land in question and constructed a diminutive dug-out and sod shanty, in which he and his wife resided about two years.
         On the eleventh day of September, 1884, the tracklayers of the Burlington railroad, building from the south, reached the site of the present town. Rumors at once became rife regarding the establishment of stations on the new road between Luverne and Pipestone. During the month of September it was announced that one station would be located near Poplar creek in Pipestone county, to be named Trosky and another on Otter Otterson’s farm, the northwest quarter of section 26, Denver township, to be called Denver. During the next month the town lot company connected with the Burlington road started the town of Trosky, but no steps were taken toward the building of the village in Denver township, the name of which, it was announced in October, was to be changed to Jasper. Although land for depot grounds was deeded to the company by Mr. Otterson, the officials took no action in regard to founding the new station during 1884.16
         The people of northern Rock county, being long distances from market, were anxious for the opening of a station at some point along the line. The railway officials taking no action during the summer of 1885, the residents of Denver, Rose Dell and Mound townships circulated a petition in August, asking that the Burlington officials establish a station on Otter Otterson’s farm — the location previously selected. The petition was signed by sixty-nine settlers. Within a few days after it was presented, on August 19, 1885, E. S. Ellsworth, the Burlington townsite agent, came to the site and under his direction a section house was built on Mr. Otterson’s farm. Mr. Otterson was employed by the railway company to look after the shipment of grain from that point—and that was the extent of the preparations for founding a town at that time. The matter of platting a townsite was under consideration by the authorities for a few weeks, but no action was taken.
         “Rumors of the establishment of the station were received in the spring of 1886, but no action was taken until the fall of that year. In October the station was definitely located on the line between sections 35 and 2617 and a side track was constructed. In November a depot platform, 16x20 feet, was built, but the station was not named or put on the time card of the company until later. The grain buying firm of Cudahy & Butler bought grain at the new station that season. In the spring of 1887 the station was named Hardwick, in honor of J. L. Hardwick, the master builder of the Burlington road, and the next fall it was placed on the railroad time table. Otter Otterson bought grain and stock for E. A. Brown, who had succeeded to the business at the new station, during the season of 1887, and did a thriving business.18
                  16 “Nothing definite can be learned concerning the location of a station between this point and Trosky, but there is still reason to believe that the site originally selected on section 26 will be adopted.” —Rock County Herald, November 21, 1884.
         17“It appears to be definitely determined that the new station in Denver township will be located on the north line of section 35. The location is certainly not the best that could have been chosen to secure the most business for the company, but the location selected is probably more advantageous than any other for the town lot company,” — Rock County Herald, October 29, 1886.
         18“Since the crop of 1887 began to come into the market E. A. Brown has shipped fifty carloads of grain from Hardwick, the station in Denver township, and has shipped in all since that time over two hundred carloads of grain and livestock.” — Rock County Herald, January 13, 1888.
        
         The story of the village of Hardwick will continue in the July 30 edition of the Star Herald.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village of Hills continued from 7-09-20 edition of the Star Herald.
 
The Churches — Hills has three active church organizations, the Immanuel Norwegian Evangelical Union (Synod), the United Norwegian Lutheran and the Trinity Norwegian Lutheran Free. For many years the Presbyterian society also maintained an organization, and the church building of that society still stands.
         The Immanuel Norwegian Evangelical Union church of Hills antedates the town by several years. The original organization is the oldest of the Norwegian Lutheran churches in Rock county, having been organized at the home of Ole P. Steen, in Clinton township, on July 10, 1872.14  Rev. Elof Olson was the first pastor of the congregation and assisted in the organization. He was succeeded by O. Sando (1873-1878), C. A. Naeseth (1878-1882), A. Thurmo (1882-1894), and J. H. Lunde (1894-1911), who also served all the other synod churches in the county. The church was incorporated October 11, 1881. Services were held at the homes of the members until 1886.
         During the summer of 1884 a church edifice was started on the site where was later built the town of Hills. When it was nearing completion it was struck by the terrible cyclone of July 21, 1884, and entirely destroyed, causing a loss of $1800. One of the carpenters at work on the building was killed and another seriously injured. At a meeting on July 26, 1885, it was decided to erect another church edifice on the same site. The new building was completed late in December, 1885, at a cost of $2,600. An addition was made in 1900, making the total value of the building about $4000. A parsonage was completed in November, 1902, at a cost of $3500. The Immanuel church of Hills is one of the strongest, as well as oldest, in Rock county. The congregation of this church and the one at Beaver Creek numbers at the present time about 525.
         The United Norwegian Lutheran church of Hills is also one of the pioneer religious societies of Rock county. It was organized as a Norwegian Lutheran church in July, 1878, under the direction of Rev. H. Z. Hvid, and on May 5, 1879, the congregation allied itself with the United Norwegian Lutheran society. The first officers of the society were Ole Sandbo, secretary; Paul O. Sandbo, C. C. Moe and Joseph Jacobson, trustees; John Nelson, treasurer; A. Gunderson and Erick Evenson, elders; Ole. O. Blegen, deacon.
         The first regular pastor of the church was Rev. J. C. Jacobson, who accepted the call on September 24, 1878.15  He  was succeeded October 25, 1880, by Rev. H. Wang, who served until 1890. Rev. Theodore Fossum took the pastorate at that time and served fourteen years. He was succeeded by Rev. C. S. Salveson, who served six years. The present pastor, Rev. H. O. Bjorlie, took charge of the church in 1910. One of the early day buildings of Hills was the brick church of this denomination, erected in 1891 at a cost of $3000 and dedicated in the fall of 1892.
         The Trinity Norwegian Lutheran Free church of Hills is a comparatively new organization, but one of considerable strength. The Lutheran Free faction withdrew from the United church in 1903, and Rev. K. J. Wang accepted the call as pastor. In October of the same year it was decided to erect a church edifice. C. C. Moe, Chris Sandbo and Charles Nelson were appointed a committee to solicit funds and John Nelson, L. O. Kolsrud, C. F. Skovgaard, Thomas Johnson and Olaf Skyberg were named the building committee. A church costing $6000 was erected and dedicated September 25, 1904.
         The only English-speaking church that ever maintained an organization in Hills was the Presbyterian, which was organized in the nineties. Under the pastorate of Rev. W. F. Finch, a church building costing $2000 was put up in 1897, and it was dedicated June 5, 1898, by Rev. R. N. Adams, D. D. For several years the organization was quite prosperous, but for the last five years of its existence was poorly supported. In 1908 it had not a resident member, but services were held until the next year, when service was discontinued.
                  14The voting members who signed the constitution were Ole P. Steen, Sven Sanderson, Ole Rud, Asle Skattum, Peder Tuff, Christopher Berge, Anders Anderson, Thore Schulzen, John Steen, Christian Clemetsen, Hans Olsen, Ole Finkelsen, Goodman Anderson and John Nelson.
         15Rev. Jacobson’s salary was fixed at $125 in cash, and he was also to be the recipient of a certain number of free will offerings every year; in addition each member of the congregation was expected to assist the pastor with one day’s plowing and to furnish him with one bushel of oats every year. For this remuneration the pastor agreed to conduct at least thirteen preaching services during the year.
 
         The story of the village of Hills will continue in the   July 16 edition of the Star Herald.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 

The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village of Hills continued from 7-02-20 edition of the Star Herald.
 
         Since Hills has become an incorporated town, its growth has been steady. Over $30,000 were expended on building improvements in 1904. The state census of 1905 gave the town a population of 320. In 1908 the building improvements footed up over $15,000 and in 1909 to the same figure. The census of 19010 showed a population of 398, giving Hills second place among Rock county towns.
         The School — The first school taught in Hills was conducted by Miss Jennie Wright. The district had not been organized and the expenses were paid with money raised by subscription. The district, comprising five sections, was organized in 1893, and the school that year was taught by Miss Myra Ferguson in the town hall. The members of the first board of education were Olaf Skyberg, P. H. Bly and Nels Iverson. In 1894 a block of land was purchased by the district and a two-room frame building was put up at a cost of $3000. A S. Johnson and Betsey Rovang conducted the first school in the building. As the town grew, the old building became too small to accommodate the district  and in the fall of 1903 an addition was built at a cost of $3000. Just after its completion, January 7, 1904, the building was totally destroyed by fire. Steps were at once taken to rebuild, and early in September the present four-room school house, 32x72 feet, was completed at a cost of $7800.