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 04-23 edition)
Mound
The grasshopper scourge of the early seventies had a depressing effect on the settlement of Rock county, and it was three years after the creation of Springwater township before there was any more township making. Mound township was the next to perfect an organization, and when that was done Gregory township was reduced to the three northern townships. Mound township was named in honor of the vast pile of rock that lies within its boundaries and was created April 21, 1877, after considerable discussion. A petition signed by J. F. Shoemaker and twenty-one others was presented to the board April 21, asking that the board take the necessary action, and at the same time a remonstrance signed by Charles Helgeson and eighteen others was presented. After consideration the commissioners decided that the township was ready for organization and named May 3, 1877, as the date for holding the first town meeting, which was held on the northeast quarter of section 34. Title to Mound township lands have been given by the government to the following named persons:
John F. Shoemaker (25-30), James Kelley (25-34), Cadawallader Jones (35), Miranda J. Skinner (28), Eugene A. Loomis (26), Joseph Dickson (36), Sarah McNeal (28), Tollef O. Tollefson (12-14), Charles F. Brannick (20), Lewis A. Lewison (32), James Green, Jr. (30), Clarence E. Older (34), Nelson R. Reynolds (30), William H. Patterson (32), S. Torgeson Omas (4), Francis Brannick (20), Ben Rice (32), Lawrence McDermott (26-36), Gerald McEnery (18), William H. Glass (34), Dennis McCarthy (28), Edward E. Needham (18), John Kelley (32), George Mead (26), Henry C. Wilson (2), Halvor Larson (4), Andrew Torgeson (10), Mary Plum (24), Peder O. Froke (10), Thora Torgeson (4), Otter Knudsen (14), Anders Froke (10), Ole Olsen (12), Jens O. Plomason (2), Andrew Olsen (2), Terge Anderson (4), Andrew Erickson (26), Sven Olesen (12), Ellen Helgeson (8), Jens. O. Helgeson (8), Cadwallader J. Lynch (24), Michael McCarthy (20), Heinrich Hofelman (6), Ole Knudson (10-14), Rasmus Halvorson (12), Dennis Denovan (22), Serat Anderson (14), William C. Davis (6), Jens Peterson (10), William Ward (34), John Green (30), Michael Chambers (22), Christopher Helgeson (8), Terence Lee (28), Frederick R. Wheareatt (22), Horace F. Kilgore (20), Andrew Olson (2), James Cady (22), Fred B. Redfield (24), Zane R. Biggs (24), Heirs of Nels Nelson (13), James C. Kelley (24), Jay R. Mason (2), Clarence A. Dike (18), Clarence B. Davis (6), Edward O. Krook (14), Lewis Wold (32).
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.