HISTORY

POPULATION

LAND MAPS

NAMES

From Trygg Historical Maps, Trygg Land Office, Ely, MN www.trygglandoffice.com/maps.html b=bottom land, m=marsh, p=prairie, s=swamp

Basic Facts: Township 132N, Range 37W Government survey 1871 First Settled 18?? Organized Mar 16, 1880

History

[Copied by Lory Brasel, lbrasel@leagent.net, from the book "History of Otter Tail County" Volume I - 1916 by John W. Mason]

ELMO TOWNSHIP

The county commissioners received a petition on March 16, 1880, signed by a majority of the legal voters living in township 132, range 37, and on the same date granted the request of the petitioners for the organization of a township to be known as Elmo. The petition was dated March 13, 1880, and bore the following names: John Murray, Richard J. West, Benjamin Stewart, Henry Wolhart, L. L. Livemora, James Murray, Michael Murray, Philip H. West, Leddouk Miner, William Murray, Frank Henderson, Bengt Nilsjon, Davjd Orr, O. Olson, Julius Chafanear, Emerson Farr, John Shools, J. Harst, G. Stanley and Taque

In accordance with the desire of the citizens of the township was called Elmo, and started its official career with its first election on the fifth of the following month. The election was held at the house of L. S. Levorsen, who was a substantial citizen living in section 32.

This was one of the two townships organized by the commissioners at their March meeting of that year. It is located in the southeastern part of the county and is bounded by Inman on the north, Folden on the west, Parkers Prairie on the south, Woodside on the east. This township is almost out of the lake region, as there are only six small lakes within its limits. Wing River lake is the largest of these and forms the head waters of Wing river. The water shed of Wing and Leaf rivers runs northeast and south-west through this township. The southern half is drained by two small streams which are tributaries of Wing river and empty into it at the north-western corner of section twenty-four. The northern part of the township is drained into three small lakes in sections 9 and 4, which are the head waters of Leaf river. The farms in this section are under good cultivation and farmers are very prosperous. The Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie railroad runs northwest through the entire length of the township, entering in section 33 and leaving at section 6. There is only one station on this road; Almora, which is the only town platted within the limits of the township. Its plat, made by Martin Aalberg for Cyrus A. and Ada B. Campbell, was recorded October 3, 1903.

Population

Population totals in state and federal census summaries.

	Elmo
1870
1875
1880	177
1885	365
1890	403
1895	498
1900	568
1905	546
1910	504
1920	681
1930	637
1940	607
1950	520
1960	458
1970	381

Places of birth for Elmo Township in the 1905 state census.

Native (USA)	84	15%
Minnesota	322	59%
Foreign	140	26%
Germany	6	4%
Sweden	34	24%
Norway	90	64%
Canada	6	4%
Ireland	0	0%
Denmark	1	1%
England	1	1%
Poland	0	0%
Finland	1	1%
Russia	0	0%
Scotland	1	1%
Other	0	0%

Land Maps

Names

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