2026 is the Semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary, of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence
In 1776, the United States declared their independence from Great Britain, which officially started the Revolutionary War. Leading up to the signing of this historic document was the Stamp Act - 1765, Boston Massacre - 1770, Boston Tea Party - 1773, Paul Revere’s Ride - 1775, Battle of Bunker Hill - 1775.
All these events took place in the eastern part of the new United States, consisting of the 13 Colonies: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Where was Grant County and even Minnesota during this time?
Our county in the west central area of Minnesota was prairie, rivers, and lakes. As noted by one historian, it was inhabited by several Native American tribes, namely, the Sioux, Ojibways, Hurons, Ottawas, Crees, and Winnebagoes. Then came the fur traders who built trading posts but did not claim land for settling, just for trading.
The first official or recorded act which set boundaries concerning our area was in 1803, the Louisiana Purchase. The United States, under President Thomas Jefferson, purchased 828,000 square miles from France for $15 million dollars.
1812 - 1821 Minnesota was part of the Territory of Missouri.
1820 - 1830 Fur traders and the Ox Cart Trails which meandered through Grant County.
1821 - 1834 The area was an unorganized territory.
1834 - 1836 The area was joined with Wisconsin, Iowa, and half the Dakotas to form the Territory of Michigan.
1836 -1848 Minnesota and Iowa were part of the Territory of Wisconsin.
1838-1846 Minnesota west of the Mississippi river was part of the Territory of Iowa, while Minnesota east of the Mississippi was part of Wisconsin until 1848.
1848 Wisconsin became a state as of its present boundaries, which left Minnesota unorganized.
1849 The Minnesota Territory was organized with Alexander Ramsey as Territorial Governor.
May 11, 1858 Minnesota became a state with Henry H. Sibley as the first governor of the State of Minnesota. James Buchanan was President.
1859 A road was built from St. Cloud to Fort Aberccrombie, entering through Section 36 of Pelican Lake Township and continuing through other townships.
1860s The land was surveyed by George B. Wright, Alex Bradley, Theodore H. Barrett, and Orville Smith.
1861-1865 Civil War The 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment was the first state regiment offered to President Lincoln to serve in the Army of the Potomac.
1862 Sioux Indian Outbreak. That year, Company D, Eighth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, built a stockade in Section 18 of Pelican Lake Township. Now it is referred to as Fort Pomme de Terre. Company D remained until 1865. In 1871, N Q Puntches moved his merchandise stock to the village of Pomme de Terre, a short distance from the Fort.
1862 Homestead Act. To own 160 acres, anyone of at least 21 years could reside on the land, build a home and cultivate it for five years. Homestead land was given to Civil War veterans in lieu of monetary payments for military service. This was followed by the Timber Culture Act of 1868 which gave 160 acres if cultivated 40 acres with trees for 10 years.
1865 Assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
1866 Henry F. Sanford, first permanent settler who later filed a homestead in 1868 in Section 17 of Sanford Township. Ole Gudmonson followed in 1867 in Elk Lake Township.
March 6, 1868 The state legislature approved the act establishing Grant County.
1871 Grant County was detached from Stevens County by a legislative act, and named Grant in honor of Ulysses S. Grant. Governor Horace Austin appointed three county commissioners.
1871 First railroad line was the St. Paul and Pacific Railway Company across the southwestern corner of the county. The St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway Company came across the northeastern corner of the county in 1879. In 1887, the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie railroad or the “Soo” line was built, going NNW through the center of the county. .
1872 Two lawyers from Otter Tail County persuaded the county commissioners to appoint a full set of officers, but nothing was ever officially recorded and the two lawyers did not appear again.
1872 First schoolhouse built in Elk Lake Township.
1873 First church organized in 1872 as Aastad, in Stony Brook Township and constructing a building in1873.
February 28, 1873 A new law provided for the organization of Grant County and for the election of three county commissioners who were to choose a location for the county seat. These commissioners chose Section 8 of Sanford Township.
1873 -1877 Grasshopper Invasions. During these years, grasshoppers destroyed 500,000 acres of crops covering Minnesota and other states of the Great Plains.
1878 The first Court House was built in Elbow Lake.
1881 The contentious dispute about the location of the County Seat between the citizens of Elbow Lake and Herman was finally decided by the courts in 1882. The decision was that Elbow Lake would be the county seat.
1906 The present Court House in Elbow Lake completed.
1874 to 1882 The 16 townships in Grant County were organized. Delaware 1879; Elbow Lake 1877; Elk Lake 1876; Erdahl, 1877; Gorton, 1879; Land 1878; Lawrence 1880; Lien 1874; Logan 1874; Macsville 1878; North Ottawa 1882; Pelican Lake 1876; Pomme de Terre 1877; Roseville 1878; Sanford 1882; Stony Brook 1877
1875 to 1889 The seven current cities were platted and organized. Ashby 1879; Barrett 1887; Elbow Lake 1886; Herman 1875; Hoffman 1887; Norcross 1881; Wendell 1889
By 1906, Grant County was established and ready to take its place in Minnesota’s history.
Sources
Several of these books are in the Museum Library.
Blegen, Theodore C. Minnesota: A History of the State. University Press, Minneapolis. 1975.
Folwell, William Watts. A History of Minnesota, Volume III. Minnesota Historical Society, St Paul Revised edition 1969.
The People of Grant County: The Heritage of Grant County, Minnesota. The Grant County Historical Society. 1991.
Gilman, Rhoda R., Carolyn Gilman, and Deborah M. Stultz. The Red River Trails. The Minnesota State Historical Society. 1979.
Goetzinger, William M. “Bill”. Trails. Compilation of articles written for the Grant County Herald, 1934.
Grun, Bernard. The Timetables of History, New Third Revised Edition. Simon and Schuster, New York, New York. 1991.
Illustrated Album of Biography, Valley of the Red River of the North and the Park Regions. Volumes I & II.
Chicago, Alden, Cole & Company, Copyright 1889 by Occidental Publishers, Chicago, ILL.
Larson, Constant, Editor. History of Douglas and Grant Counties, Minnesota. Volumes I &
II. B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana. 1916.
Upham, Warren. Minnesota Place Names, Third Edition. Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2001.
Wikipedia, “Louisiana Purchase” and “Hudson’s Bay Company” Both accessed 3.25.2026.
By Linda Westrom, Don McCollar, and Patty Benson 4.2.2026