Lou Michaels
Wyoming Township ReporterWyoming Township has come a long way! Just ask Norm and Bee Tolzmann, life-long residents of the township.
They know the history of Wyoming Township and how it was organized. According to the Tolzmanns, Wyoming Township was organized in October 1858 shortly after Minnesota became a state. The township originally included Lent Township, Wyoming Township and Chisago Lake Township but originally started as Lent, Wyoming, South and North Chisago Lakes. Through time, North Chisago Lakes and South Chisago Lakes separated and became Chisago Lake.
In 1882, Lent separated and became Lent Township. That left Wyoming Township on its own.
The Tolzmanns have researched the history and recite stories about settlers coming to Wyoming Township from the early 1850s through the late 1860s. As the St. Paul & Duluth Railroad line was being built, settlers were coming to Wyoming Township and buying land for $2 an acre. The opening of the railroad in December 1868 brought even more settlers.
As settlers came, a school was needed. The first school was built and opened in 1860 and stood where Norm and Bee Tolzmannís driveway is today.
One of the first settlers was Dr. John Comfort (which Comfort Lake was named for). Dr. Comfort farmed his land and continued a medical practice, treating patients as far as Taylors Falls and Anoka County.
Many who settled in Wyoming Township farmed their land like Dr. Comfort, harvesting corn, potatoes, barley, oats and watermelon. These settlers also relied on natureís bounty of pigeons, ducks, geese and other wild game to feed their families.
Other early settlers in Wyoming Township include the Sauers, Tepels, Bentens, Tomblers, Wrights, Bantas, Lendts, Sausens, Smiths, Heims, Glyers, Palmers, Stipes, Plunkets, Petersons, Shoholms, Lindbergs and Andersons.
Like many in Wyoming Township, the Tolzmanns do not want annexation.
ìWe live in Chisago County, Wyoming Township and our property is only a mile from Forest Lake,î Norm Tolzmann said.
He was born and continues to live on the land, which was once his grandfatherís and fatherís and has been in his family over 100 years.
The Tolzmanns said they want to keep their township as it is, but if they did have a choice on a change, they would choose to be part of Forest Lake, not Chisago City.
Eiffler speaks
The Tolzmanns are not alone with wanting to keep their Township.
Jeff Eiffler, another life long resident of Wyoming Township and a town board supervisor, says township residents are happy with their lives. Many residents moved to this township to live in a rural environment, he says.
Eiffler admits that Wyoming Township, like other surrounding communities, has experienced population growth.
Even though many Chisago City residents have voiced their opposition to this annexation, the Chisago City Council has adopted the belief that they know what is best for the residents of Wyoming Township, Eiffler said. Eiffler insists the residents of Wyoming Township know what is best for them and donít need another city council to decide for them.
Eiffler says he speaks for many residents who also feel this hostile annexation is not about increased taxes and the ìnot in my back yardî mentality. It is about something much bigger - a forced, fundamental change in government, he says.
Eiffler says, ìIf history has taught us anything, it is that annexations bring about hostilities and that regimes that believe the end justifies the means are a severe threat to our civil liberties and quality of life.î
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