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.