This town, consisting of township 33, and twelve sections of township 34, range 22, lies in the northeastern part of the county. It is well watered and traversed by a chain of lakes. The first settlement was by Joseph Sanson, a German, who located here in 1855. W. Dickens, an Englishman, came in 1857. Linwood was set off from Bethel and Columbus, and organized September, 1871. The first town officers were J. G. Green, F. McGregor and Michael Hurley. There is a post office in the village of Linwood. A Methodist church was built in 1873, and a saw and feed mill, by Shanton & Haskell, in 1875.
L. S. Arnold, a native of Montreal, Canada, born in 1820, came to Minnesota in 1847. He seems to have made his home at Linwood, which he left, but after living some years in Michigan and Missouri, he again returned in 1866.
Samuel Ridge came to Linwood in 1860.
J. G. Green, born in 1819, located here in 1863, and since 1867 has served as postmaster in Linwood village. He has served several years as county commissioner. The Green brothers are descendants of the Plymouth Pilgrims.
G. W. Haskell was an early settler. He originally came from Skowhegan, Maine. He died in 1885.
Michael M. Ryan was born in Ireland in 1845. He came to America in 1858 and settled in Linwood with his father's family. Two brothers enlisted as volunteers during the Civil War, and died in the service.
The Hurley Family come to Linwood some time in the '50s. The sons are prominent business men at North Branch, Pine City and Hinckley. The father moved to North Branch in 1887.
OAK GROVE
Includes township 33, range 24. It abounds in small lakes and the Rum river drains the western portion. The first settlers were David Rogers, Moses Seeley and James Nutter, in 1855. Dennis Mahoney, of Ireland, born in 1813, came to Oak Grove in 1856, held the office of supervisor fourteen years, and that of justice of the peace continuously to the present. The town was organized in 1857, with the following supervisors: A. W. Norris, Dennis E. Mahoney and Peter Brennan. Rose, daughter of William Smith, was the first child born.