The first comers to this township were very largely homesteaders and pre-emption claim men and women, who selected at some one of the Minnesota land offices such lands as they wanted on which to locate and build homes. Among such land entries the following is a complete list, as shown in the records at the Cottonwood court house:

Nels Engebretson, homesteaded the east half of the northwest quarter of section ia, July 9, 1878, and the patent for the same was signed by President U. S. Grant,

Hernt Johnson homesteaded the north half of the southeast quarter of section 20, at the New Ulm land office, November 7, 1879, and his patent was signed by President R. B. Hayes.

Erick Anderson claimed a homestead in the southeast quarter of section 18, this township, the same being secured at the land office at Tracy, and the patent is signed by President James A. Garfield, June 20, 1881.

Ole Sorenson homesteaded land in the northeast quarter of section 24, and the patent is dated February 10, 1881, and signed by President R. B. Hayes.

Olof Johnson homesteaded land in the east half of the northeast quarter of section 12; also in the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 12. This was entered at the land office at Tracy, and bears date of June 20, 1881, and is signed by President James A. Garfield.

Ole Anderson homesteaded land in the west half of the southeast quarter of section 10, and it was secured at the land office at New Ulm and the patent is signed by President Hayes, February 10, 1881.

Syver Nielson homesteaded land in the west half of the northwest quarter of section 12, the patent being signed by President James A. Garfield, June 20, 1881; the entry was effected at the Tracy land office.

Jacob Hansen homesteaded land in the west half of the northwest quarter of section 10; it was entered at the land office at New UIm and was patented by President Hayes, January 20, 1881.

Forjus T. Einertson homesteaded the northwest quarter of section 2, at the Tracy land office, and the same was patented by President Grover Cleveland, August 5, 1884.

Bernt Johnson homesteaded the south half of the northeast quarter of section 20, at the land office located at Tracy; his patent was granted by President Chester A. Arthur, February 10, 1883.

Edward Erickson homesteaded the west half of the northwest quarter of section 8, at the land office at Tracy, the same being patented by President Chester A. Arthur, January 15, 1885.

Peter G. Lundman homesteaded the northwest quarter of section 18, at the land office at Tracy, the patent being granted by President Chester A. Arthur, May 15, 1884.

PRE-EMPTION CLAIMS

Albert Olson pre-empted, at the St. Peter land office, the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 1, this township, President U. S. Grant signing the papers, April I, 1872.

Jacob A. Andersen, at the land office at New Ulm, pre-empted the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 2, President U. S. Grant signing the papers, May 20, 1874.

Ole Andreas Pederson, at the land office at New Ulm, entered the east half of the southeast quarter of section 8, the papers being signed by President Hayes, May 24, 1879.

Olf Jonsson, at the land office at New Ulm, entered land in the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 12, President U. S. Grant signing the papers, May 20, 1874.

John Christenson entered the south half of the northeast quarter of section 2, the papers being signed by President Hayes, November 10, 1877.

Nels Engebretson entered land in the southwest quarter of section 12, at the New Ulm land office and his papers were certified by President Hayes, January 20, 1881.