Rock County will celebrate its 150th Anniversary this year. The news will be the history of Rock County, townships, and communities. The following appeared in the Rose History of Rock County, printed in 1911.
 
County and Township Organization — 1870-1878 (continued from 02-20 edition)
Luverne
         The petition asking for the creation of Rock county’s first township was dated February 15, 1871, and was presented to the county commissioners on that date. It was signed by E. N. Darling, Ed McKenzie, P. J. Kniss, William Blasdell, G. W. Daniels, Horrace Plum, L. A. Daniels, Philo Hawes, William Greer, John Jones, H. Sawyer, J. C. Phelps, G. Webber, S. Wilcox, S. D. Gregory and C. C. Jones. The commissioners took the requested action on February 16 and created Luverne township (named after the village), embracing the present townships of Luverne and Mound and the east half of Magnolia.
         Two days later the southern tier of townships was authorized to being township government under the name of Grant. The few settlers in other parts of Rock county were then without township organization, and to bring all parts of the county under legal government the commissioners on May 27, 1871, declared Luverne township’s boundaries extended to include all of the nine present day northern townships. The action taken in response to a petition to that effect signed by J. F. Shoemaker, P. J. Kniss, E. S. Gregory, H. A. Gregory, G. W. Daniels, P. F. Kelley, L. A. Daniels, L. McDermott, James Kelley, Horace Plum, Philo Hawes, John Ryan, Ed McKenzie, J. C. Gregory and Stephen Wilcox. Luverne township included all this territory until it was reduced by the various acts of creating other townships.
        
         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.

Rock County will celebrate its 150th Anniversary this year. The news will be the history of Rock County, townships, and communities. The following appeared in the Rose History of Rock County, printed in 1911.
 
County and Township Organization — 1870-1878 (continued from last week’s edition — 02-06 — of the Rock County Star Herald)
 
         A few months after the passage of this act the residents of the county prepared and presented to Governor Horace Austin a petition asking him to appoint J. F. Shoemaker, Jonathan Phelps and Amos Estey commissioners to locate the county seat. The governor took the necessary action and on August 9, 1870, appointed the gentlemen whose names had been suggested, instructing them to meet and select the seat of government for the new county. The meeting was held at the home of Jonathan Phelps, four miles south of Luverne, on the first day of September, all three commissioners being present. There was not much difficulty in selecting a site. Mr. Shoemaker proposed Luverne, which was then the only place in Rock county boasting a name, it having already been named by Philo Hawes, who had his home on the site. Messrs, Phelps and Estey proposed a location farther south, but finally acceded to Mr. Shoemaker’s choice, and all signed the report which was written by Mr. Shoemaker and was in the following language: “After due consideration we have agreed to locate the county seat of Rock as follows: At Luverne, on the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 11, in town one hundred two, range forty-five.”
         When Governor Austin selected the men to locate the county seat, he also requested that a mass convention be held to suggest the names of men suitable to serve as commissioners to organize the county. His request was complied with, and a mass convention was held at the home of Philo Hawes. This first Rock county convention was fairly well attended. E. N. Darling was made chairman and J. F. Shoemaker, secretary. Politics did not enter into the deliberations, the only thought being to select good men to recommend to the governor. The voting was by ballot, and the three men recommended were later named by the governor.
         Governor Austin issued a proclamation on September 24, declaring Luverne the county seat of Rock county. He named Daniel Wilmot, H. A. Gregory and Abraham McMurphy county commissioners, to serve until their successors, chosen at the general election in November, should qualify. They were empowered to take the initial steps toward organization and to make provision for holding the first county election.
 
         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.

Rock County will celebrate its 150th anniversary this year. The news will be the history of Rock County, townships, and communities. The following appeared in the Rose History of Rock County, printed in 1911.
 
County and Township Organization — 1870-1878
         When the early day settlers located in the unorganized county of Rock, it was attached to Jackson county for civil and judicial purposes. What little official business the new settlers had to attend to was done at the county seat village of Jackson, where was also located the government land office. There was no agitation among the settlers in favor of county organization prior to the fall of 1869. In fact, up to that time the county had a population considerably less than one hundred people (including possibly twenty-five voters), the census taken in the summer of 1870 showing only 138 inhabitants.
         Although by the original act of 1857 Rock county had been created, no provision had been made for its organization. Therefore, when the settlers decided to begin county government it was necessary to secure legislative action. Late in the fall of 1869 some of the settlers, notably J.F. Shoemaker, Jonathan Phelps, Amos Estey and E. N. Darling, took the initiative in bringing about organization. A petition to the legislature was written by Mr. Darling, assisted by Mr. Shoemaker, and circulated throughout the settled portions of the county. The petition was signed by every voter, and the proposition met with the hearty approval of everybody. There was no public meeting held to ratify the step, but it practically had a public endorsement, for at every public gathering the proposed action was the subject of discussion among the settlers, and none argued in the negative.
         The petition was sent to the lawmakers at St. Paul during the session of 1869-70. That body looked with favor on the request of the settlers from the extreme southwestern corner of the state and passed an act, approved by the governor March 5, 1870, entitled “an act to organize Rock county.” Section one read as follows:
         That the governor take such action under existing laws as may be necessary to organize the county of Rock, and appoint three disinterested persons commissioners to locate the county seat of said county. The place designated by said commissioners, or a majority of them, when reported to the governor, shall remain the seat of justice of said county until confirmed of changed by a vote of the legal voters of said county when submitted to them in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of the state of Minnesota.
 
         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 Rock County Herald on January 20, 1905.
 
Petition for Cement Walk
On North Side Luverne St.
Common Council Grants Petition for Four Blocks of New Walk — Action Taken in Public Rest Room Matter — Plans and Estimates to be Made
The common council met January 17, 1904, pursuant to adjournment and was called to order at 8 p.m. with all members present except Mr. Leet.
A petition for cement sidewalk on the north side of Luverne street from Cedar street to Blue Mound avenue, signed by Fred Miercoart and others, was read.
Same was on motion granted and the city attorney was instructed to prepare a resolution ordering said sidewalk constructed, and have same ready for action at the next regular meeting.
H. J. Miller and A. J. Daley as a committee of the Citizens’ club came before the council and presented the following resolution for consideration by the council. (Resolution is given on first page).
The committee requested that the council obtain plans and estimates the cost of making the changes suggested.
Moved by Philbrick, seconded by Kinne, that the president secure the services of an architect to submit plans and furnish estimates of cost of making changes in the city hall as suggested by the Citizens’ committee, all members voting aye on the question. Council on motion adjourned,
E. C. Schwartz,
Recorder
 
         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 Rock County Herald on January 20, 1905.
 
To Save Our Shade Trees
Danger From Scale Insects
Remedy Recommended by Prof. Washburn Which Should be Applied While Trees are Bare
I wish to call the attention of the city council, the owners of trees near the city hall and all others who are interested in the beautiful shade trees for which Luverne is noted, to the condition of the Maple trees near the city hall.
Perhaps it is not realized that the eggs from the scale infesting those trees have scattered and now cover all the other young trees in that vicinity.
I took Prof. Washburn to see them when I had him here last summer. He recommended that the trees be trimmed back and the branches burned. That would have destroyed the most of the bugs.
Then he recommended that the trees be sprayed with a solution of lime, sulphur and salt while the trees are bare to kill the eggs. This solution will not do when the trees are in leaf.
The formula follows:
Quick lime, 50 pounds; sulphur, 50 pounds; salt, 50 pounds; water, 150 gallons.
Shake the lime thoroughly, then add the sulphur; cover with water and boil briskly for at least one hour, then add the salt and boil for 15 to 20 minutes longer; add water to make 150 gallons. Apply with spray pump.
Very truly,
C. E. Older
 
         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 Rock County Herald on January 13, 1905.
 
The committee in charge of the Modern Woodmen’s annual dance which is to be given next Thursday, January 19, have completed all arrangements in a very satisfactory manner and the indications are that the dance will be one of the most enjoyable entertainments of the kind ever given by the lodge.
As previously announced the dance will be held in Union hall; Odd Fellows’ ball will be used for cards and other games, and supper will be served in the Arcade building.
The lodge has secured Prof. Ainsworth’s orchestra of Mason City, which has no equal in the entire northwest.
As announced in these columns a few weeks ago, the lodge this year will not send out invitations except to neighboring lodges as a whole, and to the members of their own lodge. This action is taken to avoid the possibility of missing some whom the lodge would like to have attend, a result which it is practically impossible to avoid in sending out a large number of invitations.
Therefore, to the general public, they extend through the columns of the Herald, a cordial invitation to attend. All are invited and all will be made as welcome as they have ever been at any previous party given by this hospitable lodge.
The price of tickets for the dance will be $1, which will include supper for two. No admission will be charged to the card rooms. A charge of 25 cents per plate will be made for supper to all who do not dance, and also to those holding dance tickets who bring more than one lady to supper with them.
 
         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 Rock County Herald on January 13, 1905.
 
Barely a quorum of the members of the Maplewood Cemetery association turned out Monday evening to attend the annual meeting held in J. H. Furlow’s office.
While this fact indicates the implicit faith and entire satisfaction  of the lot owners in the present board, the officers would much prefer to have seen a large turnout.
The directors whose terms expired were Messrs. A. D. LaDue and W. E. E. Greene, and both were re-elected for the term of three years.
The financial affairs of the association, as indicated by the statement published in these columns last week, is in excellent condition. The association now has a balance of $1,802.87 on hand, with no indebtedness.
In this connection it is proper that credit should be given to the Ladies’ Cemetery association for their part in aiding the association in a financial way. During the past year the ladies have raised their own efforts and donated to the association $500 for the purpose of assisting in the construction of a chapel and vault at the cemetery.
At this meeting it was decided to advertise for bids for the construction of the chapel above referred to. The vault was completed last fall and is now in use and the chapel will be built to join it in accordance with the plans drawn before the vault was built.
The report of J. S. Joles, actuary, shows that thirty-five bodies were interred in the cemetery during the past year, and that the vault now contains four bodies.
 
         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 Rock County Herald on December 18, 1931.
 
Rock County’s Total Population is 10,962
 
Second Census Bulletin Gives Detailed Report of 1930 Enumeration; Luverne Has Population of 2, 644
Rock County’s total population is given as 10,962 in the second series population bulletin of Minnesota for 1930, in the 15th census of the United States. The report embodies a detailed tabulation of the number of persons in every city, village and township, segregating the farm from the urban population, and lists the population in every place.
According to the table, there are 6,738 persons residing in the rural districts of the county, this figure representing slightly more than half of the total figure. There are 5,773 of the male sex, 5,189 of the female sex, and 6,219 of the age of twenty-one years and over. The divisions of the county follow:
Battle Plain — Total-504; Male-283; Female-221. Beaver Creek — Total-751; Male-401; Female-350. Beaver Creek Village — Total-224; Male-110; Female-114. Clinton — Total-730; Male-399; Female-331. Denver — Total-475; Male-257; Female-218. Hardwick — Total-247; Male-140; Female-107. Hills — Total-407; Male-195; Female-212. Jasper (Rock Co.) — Total-100; Male-49; Female-51. Jasper (total) — Total-769; Male-386; Female-383. Kanaranzi — Total-558; Male-306; Female-252. Luverne city — Total- 2,644; Male-1,284; Female-1,360. Luverne twp. — Total-503; Male-282; Female-221. Magnolia — Total-416; Male-232; Female-184. Magnolia vil. — Total-240; Male-120; Female-120. Martin — Total-875; Male-481; Female-394. Mound — Total- 463; Male-258; Female-205. Rose Dell — Total- 644; Male-344; Female-300. Springwater — Total-634; Male-339; Female-295. Vienna — Total-547; Male-293; Female-254.
         Nobles county has a total population of 18,618, 10,644 persons being listed among the farm population; Murray county has 13,902, with 10,236 on farms and Pipestone county has 12,238, of which 6,230 are on farms. The city of Worthington shows a figure of 3,878, Slayton, 1,102 and Pipestone 3,489.
         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 Rock County Herald on December 4, 1931.
 
Will Open Bids on New Paving December 22
 
Eleven Miles on No. 6 from Luverne to Iowa Line is Included in Projects Under Consideration
 
1932 Program Calls for 428 Miles of Concrete
 
Paving Luverne to Adrian Link Will Make Continuous Pavement from Cities to Iowa and Dakota Boundaries
 
Bids on 223 miles of truck highway paving, including eleven miles on No. 6 running south from Luverne to the Iowa line, to be built in 1932, will be opened at the offices of the Minnesota Highway department December 22nd, according to announcement made this week by Commissioner C. M. Babcock.
The list of projects on which bids will be taken at that time constitute more than half of the 1932 tentative paving program. Proposals were opened in November on one hundred miles of hard-surfacing for the coming year.
All the projects on which bids will be considered December 22nd are connecting links between pavements already built, or extensions of existing pavements. The proposed work will complete several important continuous paved routes.
The list includes the following projects:
Paving T. H. No. 6 from Luverne to the Iowa line. No. 9 is now paved from Luverne to the Dakota line, and when the link from Luverne to Adrian is completed, there will be continuous pavement both to the Iowa and South Dakota boundaries on the Sioux Falls and Sioux City routes.
Lake City to Wabasha and Alexandria to Brandon, which will provide continuous pavement on T. H. No. 3 from LaCrosse to Brandon, a distance of 299 miles.
Four jobs on T. H. No. 8, which with sections already completed will make continuous pavement from Bemidji to East Grand Forks.
Paving T. H. No. 15 from Fairmont to junction with No. 16 near Madelia, which with pavements on other routes will make continuous hard surface as far southwest as Adrian.
Pave the new grade on T. H. No. 18 from Zimmerman to Milaca. With pavement built this year this will make continuous pavement to Omaha on this route.
Pave No. 20 from Chatfield to Fountain and Preston to the Iowa line. This with work already done or under contract will complete the paving of T. H. No. 20 (U.S. 55) and furnish a new short all-paved route from Minnesota points to Chicago.
Start paving T. H. No. 30 from the junction with paving on No. 8 to Bejou. This is a link in what will eventually be a paved route to Crookston via Detroit Lakes.
Extension of paving on T. H. No. 5 from present terminus south of Mankato, to Amboy.
The project on trunk highway No. 6 will necessitate the spreading of 128,620 square yards of concrete, and 174,000 cubic yards of excavation.
 
         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.