Palmyra Township Time Line, Renville Co., MN ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormatted by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Pierce Submitted: June 1999 ========================================================================= 1871 - The first Scandinavian settlers came to the township. Among these settlers were Evan Olson, Ole Halvorson, John Vefald, Bernt Anderson, Lorenz and Johannes Ericson, Ole and Elias Erickson, Carl A. Mork, Leif Tinnes, Paul Ranberg, Anton Christianson, Alexander Johnson and Ole Nordskog. 1871 (June) - First marriage in the township was that of T. A. Risdall and Anna Johnson. 1871 (August) - Carl Olson was the first birth in the township, son of John Olson. 1872 - The first religious meeting was held by the Norwegian Lutherans. Rev. J. B. Borg conducted it. 1872 (November 7) - The congregation of Palmyra Evangelical Lutheran Church was formally organized. The meeting was held at the Paul Ranberg home with Rev. J. E. Bergh officiating. 1873 - Palmyra Post Office was established at T. A. Risdall's house. 1874 - Swedlanda Lutheran Church, The Lutheran Church in America, was organized by a group of immigrants from the Landa Parish in Halland, Sweden, and from other provinces there, the first came to Palmyra in 1871. 1874 (March 10) - The first recorded meeting was held at the home of T. Jacobson. 1875 (May 8) - At a township meeting, it was decided to build a house for school and town purposes. 1876 - The first school was taught at E. H. Olson's by Martha Ericson. 1877 - The town hall was built. 1878 - Eddsville Post Office was established and E. H. Olson was appointed postmaster. The office was located at his house on Section 28. 1878 - The Swedlanda Evangelical Lutheran Church was incorporated and became a member of the (Swedish) Augustana Lutheran Synod. 1880 - The Palmyra Post Office was discontinued. 1881 (July 5) - A cyclone passed through the township causing much damage. 1881 (September 10) - A township meeting was held to determine if the town hall should be replaced or repaired due to the damage from the cyclone that passed through the township. 1882 (May 5) - The Board of Supervisors met at the Town Hall for the purpose of receiving proposals and letting the contract for moving and repairing the Town Hall. 1885 - Circuit riding ministers started coming to the township and families from Palmyra and Martinsburg Townships attended. The meetings were held in homes, schoolhouses and at the town hall. 1885 (May 5) - The cornerstone for the new Palmyra Evangelical Lutheran Church was laid by Rev. J. E. Bergh. 1888 (November 28) - A group of Christian people met in the Palmyra town hall for the purpose of organizing a church resulting in the organization of the Palmyra Mission Covenant Church. 1890 (about) - The Ladies Aid Society was started by Mrs. Christina Blad. It is now incorporated into Covenant Woman. 1891 - The Palmyra Mission Covenant Church was built. 1891 - The Palmyra Covenant Church congregation united with the Northwest Conference and with the Evangelical Covenant Church of America in 1906. 1891 - 240 acres, Section 6, was put in School District 93 in Melville Township. 1892 - School District 112 was organized from corners of four other districts. 1892 - Eddsville was organized. Eddsville is located six miles south and one mile east of Bird Island. 1896 - Carl Danielson donated one acre of land and a cemetery was started (Palmyra Swedish Methodist Church). 1899 - The Palmyra Swedish Methodist Church was built. 1900 (February 27) - The Norfolk and Palmyra Farmer's Creamery Association was organized. 1900 (May 8) - The Norfolk and Palmyra Farmer's Creamery Association was erected and ready for business. 1904 - The Young Peoples work was begun by Rev. O. A. Strom and is now incorporated into Family League. 1906 - The Evangelical Covenant Church of America united with the Northwest Conference (The Palmyra Covenant Church). 1936 (October) - The "Friendship Circle" Palmyra and Martinsburg Townships was organized at the home of Mrs. Walden Peterson. Due to gas rationing, it was necessary to discontinue for a few years. 1938 - The McLeod Co-op Power Association began serving the township. 1940 (November 11) - A severe snowstorm hit the area and a lot of turkeys and cattle were lost. 1942 (May 13) - A tornado came from south to north for five miles and damaged a lot of buildings. 1948 (September) - The "Friendship Circle" Palmyra and Martinsburg Townships was reorganized at the home of Mrs. Henry Larson. 1963 - The Augustana Lutheran Synod became a part of The Lutheran Church in America. 1970 - The Perpetual Care Fund of the Palmyra Covenant Cemetery Association was organized. 1977 - Gloria Johnson was named "Minnesota Mother of the Year".