The area that is today’s Stearns County since it came under the sovereignty of the United States (1803 purchase from France) has been politically a part of several entities. It has been a part of Louisiana Territory, Missouri Territory, Michigan Territory, Wisconsin Territory and Iowa Territory. From about 1820 until 1834, the area was without any organized government.
The Territory of Minnesota was created March 3, 1849 and the revised Territorial Census of 1849 showed 3,253 males and 1,747 females.
The Territorial Legislature, on October 27, 1849, divided the territory into nine counties. Stearns was a part of Dakotah and Wahnahta. The boundary line between the two was a line starting at the mouth of the Clearwater River and drawn due West to the Missouri River. Wahnahta was North of this line and Dakotah was South. In 1851, the Territory was re-divided into new counties and council districts, Stearns was part of Cass county and in the Fifth council district.
The county of Stearns was organized by the 1855 Territorial Legislature and was part of the Fifth Council District.
There is a Territorial Census for the year 1857 and Minnesota was admitted as the thirty-second state May 11, 1858. Eleven townships in Stearns County were established on May 19, 1858: Clearwater, Hanover, Lake Henry, Marysville, Richmond, St. Cloud, St. Domingo, St. Joseph, Sauk Centre, Two Islands, and Winnebago. At the Board of Supervisors meeting held 3 August 1858, the townships were reorganized and renamed.
Through the rest of 1858 and 1859, there continues a process of changing the boundaries and names of the townships in Stearns County. Below is a list of the 13 townships and their areas in 1860. The designations are Township (all North and are numbered 121 to 127 south to north) and Range (all West and are numbered 27 to 35 east to west). Using Tom Steichen’s township maps, Raymond is T125R35, St. Martin is T124R32 and Rockville is T123R28. The Bureau of Land Management web site may also be of help.
Marion
T124R32 and T124R33
Fair Haven
T122R28, part of T121R28 and part of T121R29
Berlin
T123R28
Lynden
South half of T123R27, T122R27 and in T121R27 the parts of those that lies west of the Mississippi and Clearwater Rivers.
Wakefield
T122R30 and T123R30
Verdale
T122R32, T123R32, T123R33, T123R34, T123R35, T124R34 and T124R35.
Sauk Centre
T125R32, T125R33, T125R34, T125R35, T126R32, T126R33, T126R34, T126R35 and the fractional part (sections 31 to 36) of T127R32, T127R33, T127R34 and T127R35.
Munson
T122R31, T123R31, T124R31 and South half of T125R31 and West half of T124R30 and Southwest quarter of T125R30.
St. Joseph
T124R29 and South half of T125R29 and East half of T124R30 and Southeast quarter of T125R30.
Brockway
North half of T125R28, T125R29, T125R30, T125R31, and T126R28, T126R29, T126R30, T126R31 and the southern tier of sections (31 to 36) in T127R29, T127R30, and T127R31 [T127R28 also?]
Maine Prairie
T122R29 and T123R29
St. Cloud
T124R28, except the Southeast quarter, and the South half of T125R28.
St. Augustine
The southeast quarter of T124R28 and the fractional parts, West of the Mississippi River, of the North half of T123R27 and [if any part of] T124R27.
The 1860 US Census for Stearns County does not have the Township names on the various pages but uses Post Offices. The PO’s used are Brockway, Clear Water [Wright Co.], Clinton [St. Joseph], Cold Springs, Fair Haven, Kennebeck [St. Martin], Merion [St. Martin], Marysville, Neenah [St. Augusta], Oak Grove, St. Augusta, St. Cloud, Sauk Centre, and Torah [Munson]. The names in brackets are my guess as to the township they are in. More information about locations of the PO’s.
In the 1860′s until the time of the 1870 census, there continues the changing of boundaries and names of the various townships. There were 28 organized townships by 1 June 1870 were: Albany, Avon, Brockway, Crow Lake, Eden Lake, Fair Haven, Getty, Grove, Lake Henry, Le Sauk, Luxemburg, Lynden, Maine Prairie, Melrose, Munson, North Fork, Oak, Paynesville, Raymond, Rockville, Sauk Centre, St. Augusta, St. Cloud, St. Joseph, St. Martin, St. Wendel, Wakefield, and Zion.
During the 1870′s more changes were made and new townships formed until the last one, Collegeville. Ashley township was organized 9 June 1870 and may show up on the 1870 census. The others were: Crow River, Farming, Holding, Krain, Lake George, Millwood, and Spring Hill.
The following are the names of the townships and their evolution in those early years. Also there are names of early settlers within those towns. There is no claim as to the completeness or accuracy of the infomation.
Albany township, formed at the 8 January 1868 county board meeting, was comprised of the area, T125R31 and T126R31 and sections 31 to 36 of T127R31. It had been part of Avon [Munson?] and Brockway. Later, 20 March 1872, Krain was formed leaving Albany as T125R31. The area (T125R31) at the time of the 1860 census was part of Brockway (the north half of T125R31) and Munson (the south half of T125R31). Early settlers were John Schwinghammer, Jr. who came looking in 1862 returning in 1863 with his father in sections 22 and 23 and Isidore Obermiller, Paul Obermiller, John Platz, John Christen, Jacob Christen, Peter Dirkes, George Leissle, and Simon Groetch came in the next four years. John Schwinghammer, Sr. died in 1867.
Ashley township was erected on 9 June 1870. The area, T126R35 and sections 31 to 36 of T127R35, had been a part of Sauk Centre township at the time of the 1860 and 1870 census. There were some claims made prior to 1862 but were abandoned during the Indian uprising. Permanent settlement began in 1865 with Henry Vessey on section 36, John Eberspacher (section 3), James Willard, William Holmes, H. Newman and James Jardine in the northeastern part in 1866. J. S. Frederick settled on section 7 in the summer of 1866.
Avon township was erected 4 January 1866 made up of T125R30 parts of which had been Brockway, Munson and St. Joseph. The area (T125R30) at the time of the 1860 census was part of Brockway (the north half of T125R30), Munson (the southwest quarter of T125R30) and St. Joseph (the southeast quarter of T125R30). Early settlers were James Tanner in 1856, John Barrett on section 12 in 1859, and later Peter Gothard, Nicholas Knoblach, Mathew Solinger, Nicholas Kepper, Nicholas S. Kepper and John Kepper.
Brockway township was one of eleven townships formed at a meeting of the county supervisors on 19 May 1858. It had been originally called Winnebago. It was renamed Calais on 2 November 1858 and at the same meeting changed to Brockway. The original area was the north half of townships T125R28, T125R29, T125R30 and T125R31, all of townships T126R28, T126R29, T126R30 and T126R31, and sections 31 to 36 of townships T127R29, T127R30 and T127R31. The present day area is T126R29, sections 31 to 36 of T127R29 and a portion of T126R28. Early settlers in 1855 were Milton Young, George Day, Winslow Getchell, Nathaniel Getchell, Asa Libby, Winslow Libby, William Gordon, James Y. Demeritt William McNeal, and Andrew McCrea.
Collegeville township erected 8 January 1880 the last one to be erected in the county. Its area T124R30 was taken from Farming, St. Joseph and Wakefield. [I question whether it was ever a part of Wakefield.] At the time of the 1860 and 1870 census this area was part of Munson (the west half) and St. Joseph (the east half). Early settlers were in 1858 George Scherer, Joseph Jonas and in 1866 Peter Eich all in section 26, John Obermiller on section 2 in 1858.
Crow Lake township was erected 9 June 1868 and included the area T123R35 and the west half of T123R34 was taken from Verdale. The portion of T123R34 was later made a part of Crow River. The area T123R35 at the time of the 1860 census was part of Verdale. Early settlers were C. H. Johnson and John Johnson in 1861.
Crow River township T123R34 was formed 3 January 1877 from parts of Crow Lake and Lake Henry. Early settlers in the area were Gilbert Anfinson, T. Wronson and H. Jorgenson in 1860, Peter Knudson by 1864. The west half was Crow Lake for the 1870 census, the east half was Lake Henry. The whole area was Verdale at the time of the 1860 census.
Eden Lake township T122R31 was erected 2 January 1867 from a part of Munson township. Early settlers were Charles Holifer on section 4 in 1856, Ferdinand Zaczkobski on section 5, and B. Pirz on sections 5 and 6. David J Hanscom in 1859 on section 25, Haley Clark on section 24 in 1860, Thomas A. Allen in 1864. At the time of the 1860 census the area was part of Munson township.
Fair Haven township was formed 8 February 1859 and consisted of T122R28, part of T121R28 and part of T121R29. Its area was reduced in 1861 by the fractional T121R29 and portions of T122R28 (todays panhandle) to Maine Prairie. Early settlers were Thomas C. Partridge, Lovinus Abell, Sylvester Wolcutt, George W. Root, Henry Root, H. Hill, John G. Smith, John L. Dean, all of Mecca, Ohio. Later in the year E. O. Haven, Aaron Scribner, William H. Day, Alanson Smith, E. G. Parsons, Joshua Kent, Stephen C. Kent, V. W. Olds and Henry Block. The spring of 1857 brought the arrival of J. W. Coats, A. J. Brockett, Miner Sperry, Newton Scoville, Charles Abell, Lucius Belden, Alfred Dean and George W. Dean, A. Montgomery, and John K Noyes. Summer brought J. C. Winslow, D. A. Perkins, Josiah Noyes, A. J. Whitney, Joseph H. Lock, James Tucker and Elijah Townsend. Some of these came initially with their families and some without their families though the families usually arrived within a year. 1858 brought Stinson Lovejoy, Frank Crane, John Metcalf, B. H. Winslow, Michael Patten, Mrs. George R. Whitney, J. C. Boober, James Elmer, James Jenks, and O. D. Webb.
Farming township was erected 8 January 1873 and consisted of T124R31 and the west half of T124R30 all from Munson township. In 1880 the portion in T124R30 was taken from Farming to form Collegeville township. Early settlers were Nicholas Evans, John H. Terfear, William Korte and his brother. The area was part of Munson for the 1860 and 1870 census. Earlier it had been part of Hanover and Richmond.
Getty township was formed 5 January 1866 by taking T125R34 and T125R35 from Sauk Centre township. T125R35 was later taken to form Raymond township. Early settlers of the area were John J. Getty, John H. Layman, A. J. Bennett, Franz Pesheck and Jacob Hurley. The area was part of Sauk Centre township for the 1860 census.
Grove township formed 2 January 1867 by taking T125R33 from Oak township. Early settlers were Henry and brother Xavier Schaefers, Joseph Maly, Henry and Herman Meyer and their widowed mother, August Illies, G. P. Steward, Joseph Nahte. The area was a part of Sauk Centre township at the time of the 1860 census.
Holding township was erected on 17 September 1870. The area, T126R30 and sections 31 to 36 of T127R30, had been a part of Brockway township at the time of the 1860 and 1870 census. First settler to come was Randolph Holding in May of 1868. Also that year came Casper Fuchs, Inglebert Muck, Isham Hall, S. A. Blood and Henry Young, Sr. In 1869, James Hall, G. W. Bolton, Alexander Stewart, Joseph E. Fugate, Henry Sand, and John Sand moved into the area.
Krain township was organized 20 March 1872 by taking T126R31 and sections 31 to 36 of T127R31 from Albany township. William Henry Helsper, James Graham and James Gasperlin were the early settlers in 1868 and 1869. The area was part of Brockway at the time of the 1860 census and part of Albany in 1870.
Lake George township T124R34 was erected from Getty (north half), Spring Hill (southeast quarter) and North Fork (southwest quarter) on 1 September 1877. Early settlers were Gerhard Stalboerger and John Felling. Parts of this township have at various times been part of these other townships: Lake Henry (original eleven) Verdale, North Fork, Getty, St. Martin, and Spring Hill. The area was part of Verdale for the 1860 census. For the 1870 census: the north half is Getty; the southwest quarter is North Fork; and the southeast quarter is St. Martin. [There is the probability that people living in this area are listed in the wrong township for the early census reports.]
Lake Henry township erected on 28 June 1869 was composed of T123R33 and the east half of T123R34 all from St. Martin. The east half of T123R34 was later taken to form Crow River in 1877. Early settlers were Xavier Popping and Michael Kraemer. The area was part of Verdale at the time of the 1860 census.
Le Sauk township was erected 5 June 1861 [elsewhere the date is given as 1860] with the name of Tecumseh and was composed of the portion of T125R28 lying west of the Mississippi River. In 1863 the name was changed to Frenchville and then to Le Sauk. Early settlers were Philip Beaupre, J. B. Sartell, Mr. Stone, Mr. Condor, Mr. Fadden, Appleton Webb, Joel Bailey, Mr. Grant, Samuel Cox Johnson, William Connell, and Adam Langer. The north half of the area was part of Brockway and the south half a part of St. Cloud for the 1860 census. If the 1860 date is correct the area would be under Le Sauk.
Luxemburg township was organized 3 September 1867 by taking T122R30 from Wakefield. Early settlers were Nicholas Post, Paul Ryezck, Thomas Wirtzfeld, Cornelius Lutzen, Peter Weiler, and John Schrifels. The area was part of Wakefield in 1860.
Lynden township was comprised of T121R27[?] , T122R27, and the south half of T123R27 the parts of those three that lies west and north of the Mississippi and Clearwater Rivers. This was the area as of the redefining resolution of 4 May 1859 and is the same today. Earlier it had been in whole or in part of Corning and Clearwater and St. Cloud townships. Early settlers were T. C. Porter, John Townsend, Joseph Townsend, Peter Townsend (3 brothers), W. T. Rigby, G. B. Benson, William McDonald, John McDonald, Jonathaan Dallas, William Dallas, M. D. Cambell, his brother James Cambell, Abel Kent, J. W. Stevenson, George T. Cambell, Simon Stevens, John H. Stevenson, S. A. Clifford, W. D. Davis, Truman Parcher, L. C. Johnson, Martin Johnson, Stephen Oyster, E. G. Mathews, George E. Warner, T. Heaton, A. C. Powers, B. T. Lyons, Charles Dally, Joseph Pratt, and ___ McConney. The area is closely associated with Clearwater village which is mostly in Wright County though a part is in Stearns.
Maine Prairie township was formed 3 August 1858 with the area T122R29 and T123R29 and a fractional part of T121R29 (this fractional area was part of Fair Haven at the time of the 1860 census) Earlier the name had been Marysville. Between 1860 and 1870 its boundaries were increased and decreased in various directions. T123R29 was taken in 1861 to form Rockville. Maine Prairie got a fractional part of T121R29 from Fair Haven. Maine Prairie got its “panhandle” from Fair Haven on 13 March 1867. Early settlers were A. B. Greely, A. S. Greely, Rev. Alvin Messer, Ansel Crommett, Dudley S. French, J. H. French, D. W. Fowler, Joseph Dam, Joseph E. Young, Samuel Young, William Heywood, William L. Heywood, Albert Staples, A. T. Crommett, William Milligan, Horace Greely, Martin Greely, Hiram Millett, Moses Ireland, John Farwell, Orlen Farwell, Frey Kimball, R. F. Adley, James Taylor, George Clark, Daniel Spauling, Ruel Furlong, John P. Guptill, Marilla French, Almira French, James Simmons, D. Sutherland, D. A. Hoyt, S. Leavett, Aaron Scrbiner, Andrew F. Perkins, Daniel Perkins, William Stewart, Henry Huchinson, “Doc” Mayo, James Kimball, John Dolan, Edwin Kidder, Thomas Straw, and A. Wade.
Melrose township was erected 2 January 1867 by taking T126R33 from Sauk Centre. Sections 31 to 36 of T127R33 were annexed from Sauk Centre 8 January 1867. Early settlers were brothers Moses W. and Warren M. Adley and brothers Robert and E. C. Wheeler. The area was Sauk Centre township for the 1860 census.
Millwood township was organized 29 March 1871 by taking T126R32 and a fractional part of T127R32 from Oak township. Early settlers were William Armstrong, Thomas Hanigan, John J. Ahearn, Edwin Lovell, Edward Graham, and Barney Barthle between 1866 and 1868. By 1871 William Graham, Henry Wheaton, John Buttweiler, George I. Oldham and James Duggan were also in the township. At the time of the 1860 census the area was part of Sauk Centre township and for the 1870 census part of Oak township.
Munson township was organized 4 May 1859 and consisted of T122R31, T123R31, T124R31 and the south half of T125R31 and the west half of T124R30 and the southwest quarter of T125R30. Earlier the township had been named Richmond and changed to Richardson and then to Munson. Today the township is comprised of T123R31. The other areas became Eden Lake, Farming, Collegeville, Albany and Avon townships either in part or in whole. Early settlers were Herman Brunnig, Joseph Young, William Buck, Henry Rolfus, Wandrew Benmel and John Snyder.
North Fork was erected in 1867 by taking T124R35 from Verdale. In 1868, the west half of T124R34 was added to North Fork. In 1877, this west half of T124R34 became a part of Lake George. In 1865 and 1866 the people settled in the area were Nels Olson Strandemoen, Nels Nelson Slenta, Ellen Baalson, Hans P. Heieie, Ole P Heieie, Kittil Nelson Stande, Andrew Erickson, John U. Anderson, Hans Kittelson, Hans Halvorson, Halvor Halvorson, Syvert C. Larson, Kittel Halvorson, and Hans S. Skaardahl, Austen Olson (Gubberud) and his parents and younger brother. (The Gubberud families settled in Crow Lake). The area was part of Verdale for the 1860 census.
Oak township was created in 1861, but was called Oak Grove and consisted of T125R32 and T125R33. In 1867, T125R33 was taken to form Grove township and the name of Oak was use for T125R32. In 1855, Mr Burns and Mr. Sutton built cabins. They were joined by Henry Over, Henry Hoppe, Christ. Borgerding, Mr. Matto, the Uhlenkotts, Mr. Moritz, Wm. Bohmer, and the Vogts, all during 1857 and 1858. The area was part of Sauk Centre township for the 1860 census.
Paynesville township was organized in 1867 taking T122R32 from Verdale. There were a few attempts at starting a townsite to be called Onawa in 1856 and 1857. Edwin E. Payne and his brother-in-law, George Lincoln, settled in the area in 1856. Others included James Boylan and John Baitinger, Hugh, John, and Robert Blakely, Daniel Chisholm, Stephen and Alfred Harris, Michael and August Schultz, Gottlieb and August Knebel, Christ and William Helmer, Anton Wartenburg, S. P. Roach, A. L. Elliott, Fred Schroeder, Fred Gedosch, and John Boylan. The area was a part of Verdale for the 1860 census.
Raymond township was organized in March 1867 taking T125R35 from Getty. Early settlers were Frank H. Kranz, William Lamont, John Dolson, L. H. Decker, Tomas Bolles, D. P. Marshall, C. S. Boss, the Lyman brothers, William Smith and sons, and Liberty B. Raymond. The area was part of Verdale at the time of the 1860 census.
Rockville township was formed in 1861 by taking T123R29 from Maine Prairie. Early settlers of the area were William Capple, William Decker, Christ Palinch, David Spicer, Hiram Taylor, Peter Kaiser, John R. Weaver, Nicholas Kirsh, Michael Hansen and his son Pierre, and Mathias Ahles. The area was part of Maine Prairie for the 1860 census.
St. Augusta township T123R28 was organized in 1859 originally named Neenah which was changed to Berlin that same year. In 1861 the north half of the fractional township T123R27 was added to Berlin and in 1863 the name was changed to St. Augusta. The area would likely be listed under Berlin, St. Augustine and St. Cloud townships for the 1860 census. Early settlers were John L. Wilson, John H. Fibbe, Anton Imholte, J. J. and George Laudenbach, Gowin Wilson, Charles W. Wilson, William A. Corbett, R. H. Richmond, John O. Haven (later went to Sherburne County), L. P. Johnson, three King brothers, Henry Beumer, John Mayer, Peter Lommel, Joseph Schoen, and John P. Hammerel.
St. Cloud township T124R28 was one of the original eleven townships formed 18 May 1858. It included the area T124R28, the north half of T123R27 and T123R28, and the south half of T125R28. The southeast quarter of T124R28, for a short period of time in 1859, was called St. Augustine. Early settlers were John Becker and his cousin Geo. L. Becker, a Mr. Douglas, J. Wilson, L. Gorton, R. S. Fillmore, Henry Swisshelm, L. Robbers, B. Overbank, C. T. Stearns, H. G. Kilbourne, a Mr. Hannon, J. F. Noel, C. Ketchem, H. J. Fowler, B. Rosenberger, John H. Taylor, J. H. Proctor, R. H. Richmond, Stephen Miller, C. Lowery, H. Scofield, J. S. White, and Paul Danforth.
St. Joseph T124R29 was one of the original township erected 19 May 1858 and included parts of Avon, Collegeville and St. Wendel. Early settlers were J. C. Staples and his sons (James S., Ivory S., Edward and William), Peter Loso, Michael Lenz, Nicholas Rassier, J. H. Linnemann, M. J. Orth, P. Kraemer, Adam Kepper, B. Fuchs and M. Fiedler. In 1855, Nicholas Roeder, Mike Roeder, Mike Lauermann, Jacob Thielen, John Dewenter, Math. Huff, Math. Schildler, Joseph Zimmermann, Casper Crever, John Loehr, Hubert Schiffmann, Joseph Notzh, John Pogatschmick, Conrad Marschall and George Aschenbremer. In 1856, Andrew Schroeder, Fred Schroeder, M. J. Pung, John Gross, Math. Braun, Peter Heinen and Godhard Heinen. Others about the same time were Nicholas Jacobs, Nicholas Jacobs, Jr., Theodore Jacobs, Edward Pick, John Schaefer, and George Schaefer.
St. Martin T124R32 was erected in 1859 with the name of either Marion or Kennebeck. The area was named either Marion or Kennebeck for the 1860 census. The name was changed in 1863 to St. Martin and included all or part of Spring Hill and Lake George for the 1870 census. Early settlers were Henry Ley, J. C. Noll, Peter Haehn, Peter Kuhl, Peter Frevel, William Bosworth, and Eben and W. A. Pillsbury.
St. Wendel was erected in 1868 with the name Hancock taking T125R29 from St. Joseph and Brockway. This is the only reference to the name Hancock and after that is called St. Wendel. Early settlers, before 1856, in the area were Mr. Merkling, K. Eich, and John Haar. The south half of the township was St. Joseph for the 1860 census, the north half was Brockway.
Sauk Centre T126R34 was one of the original townships erected in 1858 and included Ashley, Raymond and Getty. At the time of the 1860 census Sauk Centre included those three and Melrose, Millwood, Grove and Oak. For the 1870 census all eight were separate entities. Early settlers were Alexander Moore, W. R. James, S. M. Bruce, Jesse Draper, Charles Merry, Moses Adley, Ed. Gibson, W. T. Dingley, Edw. K. Jacques, Sidney A. Irish, N. G. Bradley, Chas. P. Pollard, H. A. Boobar, Joseph Capser, Fred Borgmann, Joseph Ebensteiner, Henry Kalkmann, George Gruber, Solomon Pendergast, and Robert Wheeler.
Spring Hill T124R31 was organized in 1871 and included the southeast quarter of T124R32 (later became part of Lake George). Early settlers in the area were Jesse B. Getchell, Peter Gau, John F. Unger, John A Schoenborn, Zeno Och, George Rauch, and Joseph Rauch. The area was part of Marion for the 1860 census and St. Martin for the 1870 census.
Wakefield T123R30 was so named in 1858, earlier it had been known as St. Domingo, changed to Springfield and then to Wakefield. [Mitchell elsewhere says the name change was in 1870. I have not checked the census to see how it is listed in 1860 and 1870.] Wakefield also included the area of Luxemburg until 1867. Early settlers were Ashley C. Riggs, William Buchanan, Nicholas Jacoby, J. Maselter, Nicholas Hansen, John Theis, John Fuchs, Nicholas Kirsch, Samuel Wakefield, G. W. Thompson, N. Schindler, Andrew Schuldeis, D. B. Sutton, John Schneider, Joseph Gibson, V. Chevrefils, S. Turner, Michael Nibler, Frank Kuhn, and M Brixius.
Zion T123R32 was formed in 1867 from parts of Verdale and St. Martin. The area was likely listed as part of Verdale in 1860 census. Early settlers of the area were Michale F. Plantikow, Frank Moede, Michael Nehring, David Moede, Gottlieb Weber, Gottfried Heitke and Christian Wendlandt.
Township names that no longer exist.
Berlin
See St. Augusta.
Clearwater
The name of one of the original townships established 19 May 1858 but was renamed and boundaries changed in August 1858 and was not used in the 1860 census. See Lynden.
Corning
See Lynden.
Frenchville
See Le Sauk.
Hancock
See St. Wendel.
Hanover
The name of one of the original townships established 19 May 1858 but was Kennebeck, formerly Marion. See St. Martin.
Marion
Erected on 8 February 1859 and renamed Kennebeck and St. Martin.
Marysville
The name of one of the original townships established 19 May 1858 but was renamed and boundaries changed in August 1858 and was not used in the 1860 census.
Neenah
See St. Augusta.
Richardson
Formerly Richmond. Neither name used in the 1860 census.
Richmond
The name of one of the original townships established 19 May 1858 but was renamed Richardson and boundaries changed in August 1858 and neither name was used for the 1860 census.
St. Augustine
The southeast quarter of T124R28 and the fractional parts, West of the Mississippi River, of the North half of T123R27 and [if any part of] T124R27. It is part of the 1860 census. See St. Cloud and St. Augusta.
St. Domingo
The name of one of the original townships established 19 May 1858 but was renamed and boundaries changed in August 1858 and was not used in the 1860 census. Name was changed to Springfield and may also have been known as Domingo.
Springfield
Formerly St. Domingo or Domingo.
Tecumseh
See Le Sauk.
Two Islands
The name of one of the original townships established 19 May 1858 but was renamed and boundaries changed in August 1858 and was not used in the 1860 census.
Verdale
Erected 3 August 1858 and consisted of T122R32, T123R32, T123R33, T123R34, T123R35, T124R32, T124R33, T124R34 and T124R35. It was parts of two original townships Lake Henry and Richmond. The meeting of 4 May 1859 adopted a resolution that redefined the boundaries as T122R32, T123R32, T123R33, T123R34, T123R35, T124R34 and T124R35. By 1868 Verdale no longer existed, its area at the time of 1870 census being Crow Lake, Lake Henry, Zion, Paynesville, North Fork and St. Martin.
Winnebago
The name of one of the original townships established 19 May 1858 but was renamed and boundaries changed in August 1858 and was not used in the 1860 census.
The two books that were used to write the following piece on Stearns County are:
Title: History of Stearns County
Publisher: Chicago : H.C. Cooper, Jr., & Co. 1915
Author: William Bell Mitchell
Title: History of the Upper Mississippi Valley
Publisher: Minneapolis : Minnesota Historical Company, 1881
Contents: The Geology of the Upper Mississippi and Saint Louis Valleys by N.H. Winchell
Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota by Edward D. Neill
Outlines of the History of Minnesota by J. Fletcher Williams
State Education by Charles A. Bryant
Reproduction in any form must have the permission of the author.
Phil Holm
11 November 2000
Thanks a bunch Phil. This is a terrific document that succintly describes the evolution of Stearns County townships.