HOW THE SCHOOL LANDS WERE SELECTED.
Philip Aldrich was appointed commissioner in 1848 to locate the state school lands in St. Croix county, at that time including Polk and Pierce counties. It is said that Dr. Aldrich would climb to the summits of the highest mounds, and, casting his eyes east, west, north or south, would proclaim such and such numbers or sections as school lands. Where all were so arable and fertile there was no use in discriminating. At the division of the county in 1853 the part designated as St. Croix county was subdivided into three towns, Buena Vista or Hudson, Willow River and Kinnikinic or Troy. As the population increased these towns were divided and subdivided until they numbered twenty-three. We append their names and dates of organization. Where more than one name is given the last is the present name:
| Buena Vista, Willow River, Hudson | 1849 |
| Malone, Troy | 1851 |
| Rush River | 1851 |
| Pleasant Valley | 1851 |
| Somerset | 1856 |
| Hammond | 1856 |
| Star Prairie | 1856 |
| Dayton, Malone, Kinnikinic | 1857 |
| Cold Spring, Richmond | 1857 |
| Erin Prairie | 1858 |
| Brookville, Eau Galle | 1858 |
| St. Joseph | 1858 |
| Cylon | 1859 |
| Warren | 1860 |
| Springfield | 1860 |
| Emerald | 1861 |
| Stanton | 1870 |
| Cady | 1870 |
| Baldwin | 1872 |
| Forest | 1881 |
| Glenwood | 1885 |
Some changes were also made in the boundaries of the towns. No progress was made in the erection of county buildings until 1856, when a contract was made by the commissioners with Ammah Andrews to build a court house for $14,300 on the ground originally purchased of Moses Perin. The final cost was $20,045.
ST. CROIX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
An important event to the county was the organization of the St. Croix Agricultural Society, in 1857. Beautiful grounds were chosen on the bluffs one-half mile south of the city of Hudson. The annual fairs of this association, formerly held in rotation at various points in the county, now limited to the grounds south of the city, have always been well patronized and successful.
POMONA GRANGE.
The Pomona Grange of St. Croix county holds quarterly meetings at various points, alternately. There are subordinate granges at Hudson, Richmond, Hammond, and Warren. There is a co-operative store in the city of Hudson which is well sustained. These granges are in a flourishing condition.
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.
At the taking of the last census there were 2,289 farms in St. Croix county, containing 202,588 acres of improved land, valued at $7,015,198. The farm implements were then placed at a valuation of $346,374; live stock, at $810,525; and all soil products at $1,815,266. The stock numbered 6,272 horses, 319 mules, 442 oxen, 5,624 cows, and 6,149 other cattle.