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 03-26 edition)
Martin
The southwestern corner township had only one and one-half sections of railway lands within its borders and its settlement in the early days was quite rapid, most of the first settlers being Norwegians. It remained a part of Clinton township until March 12, 1873, when, upon the petition of Hans Jenson and others, it was erected into a separate political division. At this time only township 104, range 46, was organized as Martin township, the fractional part of range 47, although a long distance from the mother township, continuing to be a part of Clinton. Not until July 24, 1876, was the fractional strip given to Martin. The township was named in honor of John Martin, the first settler in the precinct. He located on section 13 in 1869 and built the first house in the township. The records show the following to have received patents to government land: Goodman Anderson (26-27), Asle Skattum (33), Frederick Baugert (29), August Winter (32), Osmund Berkland (21-23), Elbridge D. Hadley (12r47), Frederick Finke (26-28), Gordon R. Badgeson (28), William H. Glass (12r47), Paul Olsen (22-23), William Gyke (30), Thomas B. Taylor (11r47), Calvin Denney (14), Charles J. Hadley (12r47), Haaver A. Tvanger (28), Sylvia Herrick (12r47), Erick Colby (10), Martin Benteeliet (12), Abraham Halvorson (24r47), George W. Hayes (2), Milo A. Bacon (2r47), Fred Nuffer (11), Robert Lucas (26r47), Nils Iverson (27), Charles C. Cox (8), Neils Arildson (30), John Miller (12), Christian Borchers (11), Walter M. Lee (28), Daniel R. Bowen (35), James Erikson (32), Hector V. Hamlin (5), Charles O. Hartson (2), Gerd L. Thaden (2), Hans J. Hage (6), Hels O. Sjursen (31), Elwood M. Percival (2r47), William A. Johnson (25r47), Hans Z. Hvid (24), Joseph Jacobson (24), Amund Haaverson (17) Knut O. Egge (29), Mahlon South (24r47), Julia Amson (19), Liberty Price (1r47), Hans Nireson (31), Anders Julson (9), William O. Crawford (4), C. E. Halls (18), Nels Jacobson (20), Even Finkelson (9), Hans Jensen (30), William H. Doran (8), Ole Sevatsen (8), Ole Olson (23), Endre Haaverson (21), Ole Olsen Blagen (35), Julius Thiel (12), Charles B. Trowbridge (18), Casper Taubert (4), Minerth Lukensmeyer (11), Lewis S. Sayre (34r47-35r47), Torgus O. Strandness (20), Ole H. Schien (14r47), E. B. Trowbridge (17), James Bedggood (2r47), Erick E. Sevatson (8), Niels Johaneson (22), Nels Gullickson (17), Gustav Pederson (24r47), Anna M. Aanenson (26r47), Ira H. Bowen (26), Andrew Andrewson (24), Sever Sjursen (24r47), Heirs of Gunder Sjuresen (25r47), Julia Munger (1r47), Gilbert Thompson (19), Peter H. Tveten (13), Haagen Tuff (32), Henry Olsen (23), Louis Pederson (23r47), Osmund Berkland (20), Peder G. Tuff (33), Nelson Anderson (24), Mary Nielson (21), Anne P. Somdrol (34), Henrich F. Kothe (11), Haldor Knudsen (35), Christian C. Moe (22), James Oleson (14r47), Heirs of Knut Gilbertson (19), Peder O. Skyberg (15), Ole O. Skyberg (10), John O. Strand (26r47), John O. Tyler (17), William O. Ellingbee (29), John O. Goldberg (15), Andreas Gunderson (21), Gyri Magnuson (25r47), Isabell Peterson (32), Lars O. Thoreson (9), Barnheart Jenssen (2), Hans G. Hoff (31), Cynthia Cox (5), Lars Engebretson (35r47), Engbret Larson (35r47), Maggie Peck (23r47), Bent Enderson (10), Knut H. Helgeson (31), Tollef Gilbertson (18), James Eschels (11-10r47), Hiram Heath (5), Daniel T. Scofield (6-7), Hugh Stall (6), Augustus Robideau (34-30), Marit Kjos (34), Alonson C. Scofield (7), Jacob Jorgenson (3), Orlando S. Hathaway (14), Annie Johnson (11r47), Lars O. Kolsrud (26), William Jacobsen (7), Samuel H. Schoemaker (11r47), Ole M. Rudd (30), William Larson (15), Torgus O. Strandness (29), Bahne Bahnson (5), Aanen Gahrsen (13r47), Olivia O. Skyberg (33), Larine Evenson (26r47), Ole Thompson (13r47), Herman Lukensmeyer (14), Frances B. Myrick (9), Gilbert Georgeson (4), Lewis Pederson (23r47), Lars T. Viste (35r47), Knud K. Dakken (26r47), Gustav Pederson (23r47), Amund T. Sexe (13r47), Ole Sandbo (22r47), Harrison White (3), DeWitt C. Prentice (3r47), Gullik G. Sundem (7), Henry F. Loeffler (1r47), Andrew Anderson (18), Heirs of Pedar Evenson (14r47), Alden O. Mudge (22r47), Ole A. Helgeson (25r47), Erik O. Loberg (15r47), Joseph Hathaway (3r47).
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.