The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
Rock County Village of Hills, continued from 6-25-20 edition of the Star Herald.
Hills became an incorporated municipality in 1904. It had a population to warrant taking the step ten years before, but the fear of many of the residents that incorporation would result in the licensing of saloons precluded taking any action at that time. In the fall of 1899 the matter was made an issue and came to a vote. A census of the village was taken, showing a population of 282. A petition was circulated10 and presented to the county board, asking for action looking toward incorporation. The commissioners took favorable action and named November 29 as the date and the opera house as the place for holding an election to decide the question. The result was a tie, thirty votes being cast for and the same number against incorporation. This defeated the proposition. Almost every year thereafter until incorporation was effected in 1904, the question was agitated, but sentiment was against taking the step because of fear that it would lead to the opening of saloons.
A census of the proposed incorporation (including 390 acres on sections 21 and 28), taken September 13, 1904, showed a population of 351. On that date another petition was circulated,11 asking the required steps to be taken by the county commissioners. The petition was presented September 14, and two days later was acted upon favorably, the commissioners naming John Helgeson, William F. Finke and Ole M. Ruud inspectors to conduct an election November 15, 1904. At the incorporating election sixty-eight votes were cast, of which fifty-three were in favor of and eighteen against incorporation.
The first municipal election was held December 8, 1904, when the village’s first officers were chosen. A few days later those elected qualified and entered upon their duties. The results of the annual elections have been as follows:
1904—President, O. B. Severson; trustees, W. A. Larson, J. N. Jacobson, J. C. Steensen; recorder, Olaf Skyberg; treasurer, S. A. Christianson; justices, F. B. Myrick, O. T. Rovang; constables, Oswald Ruud, Gulick Rogness.
1905—President, O. B. Severson; trustees, W. A. Larson, J. N. Jacobson, K. K. Hellie; recorder, Olaf Skyberg; treasurer, S. A. Christianson; justices, A. C. Finke, O. M. Ruud; constables, Edward Larson, J. H. Finke.
1906—President, O. B. Severson; trustees, J. N. Jacobson, W. A. Larson, K. K. Hellie; recorder, Olaf Skyberg; treasurer, S. A. Christianson; assessor, F. C. Nuffer; justices, A. C. Finke, H. A. Twange; constables, Henry Nelson, F. E. York.
1907—President, W. F. Finke; trustees, J. N. Jacobson, W. A. Larson, Anton Hynden; recorder, Olaf Skyberg; treasurer, O. J. Nash; assessor, F. C. Nuffer; justices,12 S. J. Froshaug, A. C. Finke; constables, H. A. Nerison, M. P. Halvorson.
190813—President, W. F. Finke; trustees, G. O. Rue, Otto Nelson, K. K. Hellie; recorder, Olaf Skyberg; treasurer, O. J. Nash; assessor, K. N. Knudtson; justices, B. O. Mork, A. C. Finke; constables, M. P. Halvorson, H. A. Nerison.
1909—President, W. F. Finke; trustees, H. M. Moen, K. K. Hellie, Otto Nelson; recorder, Carl Omodt; treasurer, O. J. Nash; assessor, F. C. Nuffer; justices, K. N. Knudtson, Niels Jacobson; constables, H. A. Nerison, Oscar Qualley.
1910—President , J. N. Jacobson; trustees, W. F. Finke, K. K. Hellie, William Thompson; recorder, J. B. Stordahl; treasurer, O. J. Nash; assessor, F. C. Nuffer; justice, K. N. Knudtson; constable, A. G. Qualley.
1911—President, J. N. Jacobson; trustees, K. K. Hellie, W. F. Finke, P. P. Sundahl; recorder, J. B. Stordahl; treasurer, C. J. Woodrow; assessor, F. C. Nuffer; justices, Niels Jacobson, H. A. Twange; constable, E. Nerison.
10 Signed by August C. Finke, O. F. Starr, W. J. Kinne, F. C. Nuffer, A. V. Greene, L. Quam, W. Jennings, Hans Nelson, John Helgeson, Martin B. Hippi, S. S. Brovald, D. S. Walter, Anfin Osboe, O. T. Rovang, S. Hagen, Ole Lund, E. W. Munson, Halvor Julson, P. H. Bly, H. E. Wyum, J. F. Jordan, John Rudd, F. W. Purcell, Helge Rue, G. Rue, J. N. Jacobson, M. Anderson, G. B. Anderson, Ole Severson, F. H. Fritz, Ole O. Rue, Jr., J. R. Wright, F. A. Webster and Ole M. Ruud.
11Signed by John Helgeson, P. L. Breden, R. G. Garner, A. C. Finke, O. T. Rovang, J. H. Finke, O. J. Nash, J. H. Cox, C. W. Olander, Edward Larson, G. Rogness, Fred York, J. F. Jordan, F. B. Myrick, O. B. Severson, W. Jennings, Lars Engebretson, A. Hynden, Iver Thompson, H. A. Twange, Jacob Nerison, John Thorson, Carl, Loftness, Evan Sather, D. S. Walter, J. N. Jacobson, Halvor Julson, Nels G. Sundem, W. F. Finke, K. O. Rue, W. A. Larson, S. S. Brovold, A. T. Sexe, William Thompson, A. E. Cleveland, H. E. Wyum, Martin Nelson, Ole O. Rue, T. Nigaard, Peder Holverson, T. Lien and K. K. Hellie.
12Were appointed.
13Hills has never had a licensed saloon. Prior to 1908 the question was not put to a vote and the council did not grant license. In 1908 the vote was twenty-three for license to forty-seven against. In 1909 the question was not an issue and in 1910 the vote was twenty-eight for to sixty-two against.
The story of the village of Hills will continue in the July 9 edition of the Star Herald.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
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