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 03-05 edition)
Beaver Creek
The third town to begin local government in Rock county was Beaver Creek.
There was quite a large immigration to this part of the county in 1872, including a colony from Wisconsin, and in the month of August of that year the settlers gathered in Eli Grout’s sod shanty to select a name and prepare a petition for the organization of the township.
There was quite a contest over the selection of a name, and many were proposed. James Comar proposed the name Beaver Creek, in honor of the stream which flows through the township, and that was selected, a name which seemed to give entire satisfaction.
The petition was presented and on September 10, 1872, the board of county commissioners authorized its organization, with the boundaries it has ever since held.
On September 16 the commissioners named the following officers to conduct the first town meeting: E. T. Sheldon, chairman; C. R. Henton and A. H. Grout, supervisors; Eli Grout, clerk.
It is said that at the time of organization there was not a frame house in the township, all living in sod shanties or covered wagons.
Following are the names of those to whom government land was granted:
Warren Howard (14), Charles Williams (28), Ira Crawford (29), Robert McDowell (9-17), William O. Crawford (20), Layton L. Hale (31), Nehemiah Marsden (2), Clarence E. Older (19), James Marshall (29-32), Leander L. Bergess (21), Lorenzo D. Vickers (2), Wallace Searles (2), Edmund T. Sheldon (22), James Comar (14), William E. Vary (12), Benjamin F. Comar (15) Chester H. Evarts (34), Joseph B. Evarts (33), Henry S. Lains (24r47), James E. Vermilyea (17), John Hofelman (31), John J. Mosier (35), John J. Conover (23r47), Toloof Toloofson (6-12r47), Robert O. Crawford (20-29), Eugene R. Wilcox (30), Joseph H. Adams (22) Samuel C. Hendershott (8), John Brooks (35), Hiram Brooks (35), Eugene M. Swift (2), Almon Hulett (25r47), Charles Biggs (25r47), Moses Ferguson (23), Erick F. Norelius (14), Stephen E. Timmons (12), Warren L. Kerney (28), William Nurnberg, Jr. (32), Cyrus R. Henton (22), Aretta L. Sheldon (22), Edmund E. Ells (30), Nathaniel F. Revell (4), Alfred H. Osborn (30-31), Frederick Miercort (26), Aldro H. Grout (24), Christian O. Rummeng (23r47), Ole Benson (2r47), Orlando H. Williams (27), Luther T. Bailey (17), Horace A. Pinney (35r47), Deo Datus P. Bingham (26r47), Erick Olsen (8), John M. Allen (12), Charles H. Marshall (33), Thomas D. James (29), Levi C. Bennett (25r47), Elling Anderson (7), Almon Ells (19), Ole Jens Bjerkestol (13r47), George W. Webber (4), Charles Walkup (23), John Swenson (10), Elsie Ellens (34), Joseph H. Stearns (25r47), Sam Tollefson (7), Maryett Silver (27), William Ells (19), William T. Henton (30), John Munz (33), Andrew Toloofson (6), Silas A. Pinney (35r47), Christopher Holfer (27), Jacob Merkel (21), Mary C. Trindle (17), John Danielson (12r47), Jane Hendershott (8), Bishop I. Crossman (26), Albert E. Snow (23), Eli L. Grout (24), Kari Nelson (14r47), Charles Hitgenboeker (26), George W. Pinney (26r47), James D. Campbell (32), Lars Arneson (1r47), Tosten O. Tokheim (1r47-10r47), Albert A. Osmun (28), Howard T. Cummings (33), Ole P. Rollag (13r47), Thaddeus P. Grout (34), Louis Larson (14r47), Lars Benson (2r47), Jennie M. Grout (23r47), Christoffer O. Forseth (23r47), John Bollman (21), Knudt N. Knudtson (7), Aslag T. Tokheim (14), James B. Dunn (24), William Grout (24), Nels Skardal (2r47), Ole Arneson (6), Edward H. Bronson (27), Royal D. Buchanan (35r47), Gilson M. Henton (18), Morgan Bennett (18), Iver D. Iverson (11r47), Daniel Iverson (11r47), Abram Osmun (21), Gilbert H. Henton (21), George W. Hulett (24r47), Ira Crawford (29-32), Edmund T. Sheldon (15), Morris C. Smith (17), Hiram H. Strever (17-20), John Williams (28), Eliza Munro (20), Hans Mickelson (18), Simon A. Tobiason (6), Mikkel Mickelson (9-10), George E. Henton (30), Daniel B. Olson (12r47), Gunder L. Haugstvedt (12r47), Zayne R. Biggs (34r47), Peter Kille (4), Layton L. Hale (31), Heirs of Halvor Abrahamson (23r47), Ira H. Chapman (26r47), Ole T. Tokheim (11r47), Lorenzo S. Welker (5-8), Ole I. Forseth (22r47), William H. Patterson (32), Willard Walkup (26), Horace A. Pinney (26r47), Elwood M. Percival (35r47), Bjorn Olson (1r47), Tosten Asbjornsen (14r47), Charles Briggs (13r47), Ole J. Bjerk (18), Jacob H. Jelle (3r47), Johannes J. Vitterhus (1r47), Lizzie E. Jordahl (2r47), Cassius C. Olmstead (34r47), Martin Oppen (4), Anne Nordvold (10), Moses Ferguson (23), Philip E. Brown (32), Eugene M. Swift (12), Fritz Hagedorn (12), John Reimer (8), Almon S. Chapman (24r47), Christ Hoefer (35), Polly McKisson (23r47).
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.