Our Story
Many are the changes since St. Johns Township was settled in second half of the 19th Century. Those early settlers could not have dreamed of the developments that lay ahead in the way they made a living, in the changes that would come in the general landscape, as towns and cities were founded, and as the land itself was submitted to improvements by drainage and tillage that changed the prairie to its present productive state. Neither could these pioneers have envisioned the changes that would take place in their society, especially in the area of churches, schools, and government. Various historians have taken it upon themselves to chronicle these changes. I simply would like to suggest that no rural Minnesota institution; social, religious, educational, or governmental, has been more constant in form, and in purpose, than the Township Board form of local government.
Our township records go back to the 1870’s. They reveal that, then as now, the board consisted of 3 supervisors, a clerk, and a treasurer. However instead of 3 year terms for supervisors, and two year terms for clerks and treasurers, records indicate that until about 1900 each officer was elected annually at the township’s annual meeting in March. The assessor was also elected by the voters. The chairman of supervisors was the first elected, then new nominations were made for the other supervisors, with the top two being elected. Then followed separate nominations for each of the other positions, with the top vote-getter being elected. In the very early years a constable and a justice of the peace was similarly elected. This system of one year terms often resulted in frequent changes in the personnel of the board. Sometimes incumbents were shifted to other positions as a result. In a few instances, the assessor chosen also had another position on the board.
I thought it would be interesting to compile a listing of the names of those who have served as St. Johns Township officers from the beginning to the present. I will not claim that it is 100% accurate as to names and time served. In a few cases there have been changes in the positions during the year that are hard to catch from the records. Until the past few years, when the calendar year became the fiscal year for the township, a yearly term of the township ran from March 1 of one year to March 1 of the following year. To simplify my listings, I have chosen to list the year of the beginning March 1, as the officer’s year of service.
Perhaps my biggest difficulty came in identifying those who, as many did, used initials instead of their first and middle names. Handwriting was a real art with these oldtimers, but in some cases the initials became such and elaborate scrawl that people with the same last name, served during a period of 10 years, or so, I may have inadvertently confused their identity.
According to my best count, 58 people have served as township supervisors, 19 have served as clerk, 12 as treasurer, and 21 as assessor. Because some persons served in different offices from time to time, or in a few instances held two offices simultaneously, those numbers, which add up to 110, are somewhat more than the number of individuals actually involved.
According to my best count, 58 people have served as township supervisors, 19 have served as clerk, 12 as treasurer, and 21 as assessor. Because some persons served in different offices from time to time, or in a few instances held two offices simultaneously, those numbers, which add up to 110, are somewhat more than the number of individuals actually involved.
In my roster of St. Johns Township officers, I decided a year by year listing of the 3 supervisors, the clerk, treasurer, and assessor was the most simple way to identify the board members who served together. I decided using ditto marks was the most convenient way to compile a year to year listing, and also the easiest for a reader to follow the continuances, or changes, in the office. In a few instances, where a change of officers occurred during the year, I have written in each name.
I also thought it would be interesting to make a listing of those who have served 10 years, or more. They are listed in order of total years served, together with the number of years in each position served, as well as their first and last year in office. Most of those with the longest tenure served continuously throughout their township careers. Others, especially in the early years, served intermittently, but still accumulated a significant length of service. It is gratifying, and perhaps most efficient, when board members serve continuously over a long period. On the other hand, the constant turnover that marked the early years probably meant that the residents of the township, at large, were more concerned for their community than is the case today when few of the general population bother to attend the annual meeting, and leave the administration of township business to a handful of officers whose tenure becomes almost a life-time job.
As the present treasurer of the township, I was especially interested to see in our oldest treasurer’s book of records, beginning Dec. 2, 1872, this handwritten inscription on the flyleaf of the book: Treasurer’s Ledger and Register of Orders; Nels Poulson, first treasurer, Town of St. John. No doubt this old pioneer felt a real pride and responsibility as he assumed his new office in a brand new organization that would still be going strong over a hundred and twenty years later.
Lester Band
1993
