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 N134, Range W31 Government survey 18?? First Settled 18?? Organized September 5, 1871

History

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

The township of Maine (township 134, range 41) was organized by the county commissioners on September 5, 1871. The first election was held at the home of R. F. Adley, father of county superintendent Adley, on September 23, 1871. The township was named Maine at the request of Mr. Adley, a native of that state, and one of the earliest settlers within the present limits of the township.

The petition for the organization of this township was dated September 4, 1871, and contained the following names: A. Scribner, Joseph Nagle, Hug. Hunter, Allen Young, William McCall, William Turville, David F. Spalding, B. L. Bull, John Braun, Peter Peterson, L. H. Barry, G. A. Clark, Ole Olson, H. W. Putnam and N. Huse.

Maine township is fairly well supplied with lakes, the chief ones being Dead, Lost, Twin, Pickerel, Round, Peterson, Mud, Leon and Duck. Red river flows through the southern part of the township from east to west and an enlargement of the river in the southwestern part of the township is known as Lost lake.

Maine township was settled early in the history of the county, but so far it has never had a village platted within its limits. Three places have served as post offices in the past, but all of them are now discontinued. The first post office was known as Maine and stood in the northwestern part of section 23. This little settlement came as near being a village as any place in the township and at one time boasted of a store, blacksmith shop and cemetery, all three of which did a flourishing business. Long ago this store and blacksmith shop died a natural death and the only thing which is still in business at the erstwhile hamlet is the cemetery. Forty years ago there was a rural department store on the shore of Lost lake in the southeastern corner of section 19, but this too has passed into oblivion. As long ago as 1880 there was a store and blacksmith shop at Monitor Falls, section 35, along the banks of the Red river, and for many years a post office was maintained at this place. There are three churches in the township, located in sections 15, 23 and 32, respectively.