History of the Town of Morse
History of the Town of Morse, County of St. Louis, State of Minnesota
HISTORICAL INFORMATION COMPILED APRIL, 1987
by Geraldine P. Floyd, Clerk
Compiled 1976 - 1987
Thanks to: Columbia Childers of Ely for making available to me original early issues of the "Ely Miner." The Iron Range Research Center of Chisholm for their helpful direction and use of the microfilm records of the "Ely Miner." William R. and Louise Trygg for their permission to quote from and reproduce maps in the J. W. Trygg Historical Collections. The Vermilion Interpretive Center for use of the microfilms of the "Ely Miner" furnished by the Ely-Winton Historical Society.
FORWARD:
In 1976 I interviewed Julia B. Purdy, my predecessor as Clerk of the Town of Morse, intending only to transcribe some of the events of the 33 years she had served as Clerk. Mrs. Purdy was then 86 years old and her account is part of this report. During the interview, however, the question came up as to the origins of the Township and further research was begun. In 1987, realizing this was the Township's centennial year, it seemed imperative that an effort should be made to put in writing the results to date.
The 1854 Cession
The present area administered by the Board of Supervisors of the Town of Morse consists of four congressional townships: Townships 62 and 63 North in Ranges 12 and 13 West of the 4th Principal Meridian, St. Louis County, Minnesota, exclusive of the area occupied by the City of Ely and the City of Winton.
In 1854 the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa Indians ceded lands in northeastern Minnesota to the United States Government. According to the 1889 Legislative Manual, the area was part of the Minnesota Territory established March 3, 1849, Minnesota attaining statehood on February 26, 1857. St. Louis County was created on March 1, 1856. The lands now in the Town of Morse were surveyed by the government deputy surveyors as follows:
T. 62, R. 12 - 1884
T- 63, R. 12 - 1880
T. 62, R. 13 - 1880
T. 63, R. 13 - 1881
Excerpts from the field notes made by the surveyors are as follows:
T. 62, R. 12
General Description: "This town, I consider about as worthless a tract as it is possible to find. "It has rocky and barren soil from which the timber was burned some few years since and now is covered with a dense second growth of Birch, Aspen, Jk. Pine, Spruce &c. "There is a deposit of Iron in Sec. 18 extending into
Sec. 16 with possible silver bearing rocks in Northern part of the town. "The rocks are Granite Jasper & Quartzite. It is totally unfit for agricultural purposes and there is no pine of value in the town except on the East side of White Iron Lake."
Subdivision surveyed Aug. 21, 1884 by Day F. Stacy W. & S. Bdys. surveyed 1880 by G. Stuntz. T. 63, R. 12
No general description.
Subdivisions surveyed No. 20, 1880 by G. Stuntz. W. & S. Bdys. surveyed 1880 by G. Stuntz.
Other Comments: Taken from Field Notes: "North bet. Sec's 13 and 18," at 27.63 chains "Int. Burnt Side Lake called in Chippewa Language Conne bonne obe Ketaogamogsokiagon"
T. 62, R. 13
General Description: "This Township is situated on the highth of land that separates the waters that flow West into Vermillion Lake from those that flow East into Basswood Lake. The timber over large areas in the central and southern portions of the Town has been destroyed by fire and these districts are covered with a dense growth of young timber and brush. "In the Northern and North Western part there is considerable good timber. During the glacial period this whole region received a terrible abrading. The crust of ridges are broken down and grooves and the fragments scattered to the South. These grooves are parallel and show that the current runs S. 11. West. "A belt of Magnetic slates extend across the Northern part of the town that greatly disturb the Magnetic Needle. Plenty of fish. Pike Pickerel & Bass are found in the Lakes"
Subdivisions surveyed Dec. 10, 1880 by G. Stuntz
W. & S. Bdys. surveyed 1880 by G. Stuntz T. 63, R. 13
General Description: "This Township is exceedingly rocky & hilly. All the Northern part and most of the Islands in Burntside Lake are of a granite formation. Some of the ledges assuming gneissoid characteristics. A belt of Talcose slate extends across the Southern part of the Town, down both sides of Burnt Side River. On the southern side of this belt Ferruginous shales are found that greatly disturb the Magnetic Needle. On the Islands and in the Northern part of the Town are dense forests of Pine timber. The whole Town is covered with a thick growth of underbrush. Burnt Side Lake with its hundred Islands of dome like granite nobs, thickly covered with dark green pine forests, and the crystal purity of its waters forms one of the most enchanting scenes of Mountain Lake and forest in America. "The Lake is well stocked with Fish. Pike, Bass, and a species of Salmon. These fish attain a large size."
Subdivisions surveyed Feb. 4, 1881 by G. Stuntz W. & S. Bdys. surveyed 1880 by G. Stuntz
Other Comments: There is an Indian trail in sec. 23, and a trail in sec. 32.
Organization of the Town
Walter Van Brunt in his history of Duluth & St. Louis County (Vol. II, p. 711) published in 1921 states the following regarding the organization of the Township:
The township was organized by the county commissioners at their session of July 9, 1887, such action being taken i.n response to a petition dated June 16, 1887, said petition having the signatures of H. R. Harvey, J. H. Hopperton and others, and seeking the organization as the "Town of Morse" of congressional townships 62 and 63 north, range 12 west, "and such portions of townships 63-11 and 62-11 as are in St. Louis County."
Presently none of Range 11 is in St. Louis County; however, the line between St. Louis County and Lake County was first established as a line running due north from the mouth of Knife river, all the land on the east being in Lake County, and that on the west in St. Louis. Unfortunately the mouth of _the" river changed from year to year leading to a dispute between the two counties. From the issue of March 3, 1911 of the-Ely Miner: St. Louis County took jurisdiction over the westerly section of range 11. This was a point st raight north from the mouth of the river, a section a mile wide and running the full length of the county.
The 1895 state legislature passed a law which claimed that the territorial legislature's intention was to make the division between the two counties on the meridian line. The dispute had not been settled by the date of issue of the newspaper, but the boundary between Lake and St. Louis County is now set on the meridian line between Ranges 11 and 12 West of the 4th P.M. Because no mention was made of townships 62 and 63 in Range 13 in the Van Brunt account, an inquiry was made of the State Auditor's Office, which - according to the Township Manual for the State of Minnesota -"shall record in a book kept for that purpose a full description of each such town." Due to the reorganization of the state office, the Department of Finance received the request for information and an excerpt from its reply states: "A search of the records in this office, formerly State Auditors Office, reveals no information as to articles of incorporation or signatures of such petitioners for incorporation . However, a search in State Archives shows that in the abstract of tax for year 1888 that levies and taxes for the next year were made. Also, 1889 Legislative Manual showed election returns for 1888."
The 1889 Legislative Manual lists the following returns for the Town of Morse:
For President: Harrison 269 Cleveland - 52
For Governor: Merriam - 246 Wilson 66 Harrison none
Complete election results in St. Louis County indicated returns from 12 precincts in the City of Duluth, from the Village of Park Point, and from nine Townships (Duluth, Oneota, Fond du Lac, Herman, Canosia, Rice Lake, Gnesen, Breitung with 3 precincts, and Morse). While corresponding with State offices, Herb Anderson, Grant and Aid Coordinator for the St. Louis County Board of Commissioners, learned of my project. Eliciting the aid of Alice McManus in the County Register of Deeds office, he provided photocopies of two documents in the county records relating to the Town of Morse. These documents were in a "bandless filing envelope on the outside of which was typed
"Town of Morse T. 62, 63 - R. 12, 13."
The first document,handwritten, reads as follows: "To the Board of Commissioners of the County of St. Louis State of Minnesota "The undersigned, a majority of the legal voters of congressional Township No. Sixty three (63) North of Range Twelve (12) W. which township contains more than twenty five (25) legal voters, do hereby petition your honorable Board to be organized as a town under the provisions of Chapter 10. of the General Statutes, relating to Township organization, and that such town be named Odanau" Dated this the 31st day of May AD 1887:
Signatures : W. E. Turner Thos. RossD. A. Ross, J. R. Cormachie, Gust Doaklau, Martin (illegible), John Jackshaw, Mose St. Mary
Joe Bargarou, Otto Eujohanissen, K. A. Olin
C. Gustaf Ekstrom, Johannes Mangnesen, Charles Sanser, Chas. Faust
Johan Yakscha, Helmer Andersjon, Martin Peceivar, Geo. Sherwood, Leo Gilbert, Ed Whoden, Norbert Dushing, J. R. Wilmot, H. A. Pemberton, P. L. McMillan, D. C. McMillan, W. E. Rose, W. W. Hervy, Jr., James McLennan, Chas. H. Stewart, Andrew Morn, Thos Kelley, James Dunbar, Fred Letter, Adolph Dusich, Jon Likovich, Met Likovich, (illegible), Gorse Torec, John Maurin, John Lamuth, J. W. Hoyan, R. J. Jordan
Note: The signatures are difficult to decipher and may not be exact.
On the reverse of the above document is entered the following:
"Application 44 of legal voters in Township 63 N Range 12 W of 4th pm where said township organized according to law into the town of Odanau
Referred to Comm Seller, Hersler & Weiland as committee June 21/87 July 9, 1887 Committee report this petition back to the board without recommendation.
On motion this petition was laid upon the table Duluth July 9, 1887
Petition laid on the table
Filed in my office this 9th day of June, 1887 James A. Smith County Auditor
Attached to that document was the following memorandum:
"To the Hon. Board of County Commissioners St. Louis Co. Minn. Your comittee to whom was referd (illegible word) certain petition for the organization of Tp 63 R 12 West into a town respectfully refer said petition back to the Board without recommendation.
C. A. Sellers
M. H. Heisler
? Weiland
(?)
Report accepted and com discharged
The second set of documents, typewritten reads (including crossed out portions) as follows:
"Petition for the organization of a new town to be known as the town of Morse in the County of St. Louis, State of Minnesota.
TO THE HONORABLE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
The undersigned legal voters of the County of St. Louis, State of Minnesota, respectfully petition your Honorable body to organize Township number 62 North of Range 12 West, Township number 63 North of Range 11 West, and such parts of sections 6, 7, 18, 19 30 and 31 Township 62 North of Range 11 are in the St. Louis in to one town under the provisions of Chapter 10 (10)
of the Statutes of the State of Minnesota, and acts amendatory thereof, said Town to be known by the name of MORSE and your petitioners ask you Honorable body to designate the town of ELY in Township 63
Range 12 as the place for holding the first town meeting of said
town, and that said meeting be held at such time as may be designated by your Honorable body.
Your petitioners further represents that the full number of legal voters in each of said towns is as follows:
In Township 62, Range 12·-- Ten legal voters .
In Township 63, Range 12 - Thirty five legal voters.
Making a total of forty-five legal voters residing in said town. Your petitioners further show that they are each of them residents of the town hereinafter set opposite their respective names, to wit:
63-12
H. R. Harvey - - -
J. H. Hopperton - -
Chas. Bowman - - -
John West - - -
Joe Bameill - - -
Chas. Isaacson - - -
Andrew W. Anderson -
James Ransille - - -
Robert Deputh -
A. W. Plants
Martin Pederson -
Chas. Gustason -
B. Killian - - -
H. Sideberg -
Thomas Whitter -
Thomas Reiss -
John Penguilly
H. Carlson
Martin Thurr -
August Larson - - -
John Larson - - -
Albert Lacourse -
Eugene Theriault - - -
Joseph Due - - -
Joseph Lapage -
Peter LaPoint -
Frank Harlaik -
Jakob Wetarcia -
Mike Brunskie -
Richard McMinn -
Richard Polkinghorn -
Richard Polkinghorn Jr. -
Richard Johns - - -
ALL IN TOWNSHIP 63 NORTH OF RANGE 12 WEST And your petitioners will ever pray ect.
Dated June 16th, 1887
The signatures of the above petitioners then followed. There are several attachments to the petition. Joseph H. Hopperton attests to the petition by stating he is a legal voter and a resident of T. 63, R. 12 and has full knowledge of the facts and the same is true. Further, that the petitioners are actual residents of and legal voters in the "towns set opposite their respective names in the said petition. Deponent further says that the statement in said petition relative to the number of legal voters in each of said towns is substantially true." In 1888 when the Village of Ely incorporated, Hopperton became is first constable. Another attachment is an affidavit sworn to by Harry R. Harvey, first signer of the above petition, stating that he had knowledge that notices of the first Town meeting were posted at the following places:
"ONE at the Post Office in Ely in said township of Morse.
ONE at TOWER in the county of St. Louis.
ONE midway between the town of Ely and the Town of Tower."
A copy of the notice of the first Town meeting is furnished, which states that the first town meeting shall be on Thursday, 28th day of July, 1887, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to elect three supervisors, one of whom shall be designated on the ballot as chairman, one town clerk, one treasurer, one assessor, two justices of the peace, and two constables. The meeting was held at the post office building in Ely. The notice was dated July 9th, 1887, and countersigned by the County Auditor (James A. Smith) and four County ommissioners, John McKinley, Wieland, Sellers, and Heisler. The Sheriff of St. Louis County certified that he had posted the "Notice of Election in the Town of Ely, County of St. Louis and State of Minnesota at the following places to wit:
One notice at the Post Office at Town of Ely;
Cor. Sheridan & 2nd Avenue;
4th and Camp Street,
Office, Ely Mine
Drying Room, Pioneer Mine "
Dated at Duluth this 12th day of July, 1887"
Service and mileage fees for the above postings totaled $27.50. Notice of the town meeting was also a part of this set of documents, the meeting having been held at the Post Office building in the "Town of MORSE, Ely, in said newly organized township" on July 28th, 1887. A map included delineates T. 63 N., R. 12 W. and shows Ely to occupy the approximate SE¼ of NE¼ of Sec. 33. Another document is labeled as "Report of Committee on the organization of the town of Morse in 63 - 12 July 9, '87 and reads: "To the Board of County Commissioners of St. Louis Co Minn
Gentlemen,
Your Committee to whom was referred the petition of Joseph H. Hopperton and other leaal voters of Township No. 63 North of Range 12 West 4th p.m. St .. Louis Co. Minn. asking that said Township a.rj.d %'ther ti¢irij!.city be organized as a Town under the provisions of Chapter ten (10) Compilation of 1878 Statutes of Minnesota and acts ammandatory thereof respectfully report that they have given said petition due consideration and find as follows -
1st That said Township No 63 North of Range 12 West 4th p.m. contains 25 legal voters and upwards to-wit: 35* and that said petition is signed by a majority thereof.
2nd That Every Consideration of public policy as well as the interests of petitioners the rapid development and growing importance of the Northern portions of this County require the organization of a Town as asked for by petitioners. .Ehi,t: lil e-teti;ni'.ni,n51 .t}r )?f¢li.rid;i.;tJ:ri,s 93..f ,s#,J{ J,ef 'jl(1w:vf. ywµt JZ?i,e J,ipl<in iJ{J:,i sz'<;m-Ste,rf¼Wn Ji5f:' r' d"f,efll U )'{9> iirzfV;i(sJ'.,e j:')cJ' ;icf(,e:Xµd"¢ ;rµ" Jefl:i N :;t¢yt11 ,a$ ;W ):"eq #%}.(ft1 )6,,1 pK;tz.e5jl ,ar-isY are of opinion that said New Town should aneX.ade onXy be organized to embrace Township No. 63 North of Range No 12 West of 4th pm In accordance with such opinion and the suggestion in said petition contained relative to the Name of said
New Town and the place to be designated for holding the first Town Meeting we respectfully submitt the following resolution and recommend its adoption Resolved: That Township No 63 North of Range No 12 West of 4th p.rn. County of St. Louis State of Minnesota be and the same is hereby organized as a Town under the provisions of Chapter ten (10) of the general statutes of Minnesota compilation of 1878 and acts amendatory thereof; that said Town be designated and named as the *Here is visible beneath the 35, the number 40. - 7