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1870: Story of Rock County's organization continues

Subhead
Bits by Betty
Lead Summary
By
Betty Mann, President, Rock County Historical Society

This is to continue my article from last week:
 
ORGANIZATION OF ROCK COUNTY
 
On the 17th day of October, 1870, this board held its first meeting at the house of H. A. Gregory. Daniel Wilmott was chosen chairman, and P. J. Kniss, clerk pro tem. The first work of the board was to call an election to be held in November, 1870. They divided the county into three election precincts or commissioners’ districts.
District No. 1 consisted of all that territory lying north of the south line of sections 1,2,3,4,5, and 6, township 102, ranges 44,45,46,47. In this district E. N. Darling, J. F. Shoemaker, and E. S. Gregory were appointed as the first judges of the election, and the house of E. S. Gregory was designated as the place for holding the same.
District No. 2 comprised all the territory lying south of the District No. 1 as far as the south line of section 24, township 101, ranges 44,45,46,47. In this district the election was to be held at the house  of J. C. Gregory; and M. C. Smith, J. C. Phelps, and J. C. Gregory were appointed first judges of election.
District No. 3 embraced the balance of the county, and John H. Ferguson, Frank S. Mason, and A. B. Thompson were chosen as judges of election; the election to be held at the house of the first named.
This ended the business of the board at its first meeting, and it then adjourned to the house of A. McMurphy, Nov. 9, 1870.
The election was held as ordered and resulted in the choice of the following named gentlemen as the first county officers of Rock County: County Auditor, Ed McKenzie; Treasurer, J. F. Shoemaker; Register of Deeds, John H. Ferguson; Sheriff, S. D. Gregory; Clerk of Court, H. A. Gregory; Surveyor, P. J. Kniss; Court Commissioner, Amos E. Estey; County Attorney, L. B. McCullum; County Commissioners, E. N. Darling, Philo Hawes, and L. B. McCullum. At the same time H. C. Gregory was elected as the first Justice of the Peace in Rock County.
When the county was first organized the county officials kept their offices at their respective homes; J. H. Ferguson, the register of deeds, keeping his office at his claim, within a mile of the Iowa State line. When B. S. Wold put up his store, a desk for county business was used there, and the offices shifted about several times before being finally anchored in their present quarters.
Next week the article will continue with the organization of the townships.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

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