History of Washington County & the Office of the County Surveyor

The area now known as Washington County, State of Minnesota, was originally surveyed in 1847 by the United States Public Land Survey. At that time the area made up a portion of St Croix County, Wisconsin Territory. Townships and sections were determined and wood stakes or a "mound and pit" were placed at section corners, quarter corners, and meander corners to mark their position.

Records indicate Harvey Wilson was District Surveyor of St. Croix County, Wisconsin Territory, in 1847. He located and used the original government markers, replacing some with more permanent ones such as stones or boulders. Mr. Wilson also surveyed and laid out the Original Town of Stillwater in 1848.

Washington County, Minnesota Territory, was established in 1849 when only that part of St. Croix County lying east of the St. Croix River was included in the boundary for the State of Wisconsin. R.V.D. Smith, the surveyor for the former St. Croix County lying west of the river continued to serve for the new county from February 28, 1849, until June 4, 1849. The first election of a surveyor to office for Washington County took place in 1851. Surveyors to hold the office of Washington County Surveyor are as follows:

    1852      Aquilla D. Greeley
1853-1856 Abraham Van Vorhes
1857-1858 Mahlon Black
    1859      Abraham Van Vorhes
1860-1861 Minor L. Thomas
1862-1873 Abraham Van Vorhes
1874-1875 Alexander Oldham
1876-1881 James Stewart
    1882      Unknown
1883-1888 Myron Shepard
1889-1890 Jesse H. Soule
1891-1892 Myron Shepard
1893-1906 Joseph M. Oldham

1907-1910 Lewis W. Clarke
1911-1917 Joseph M. Oldham
1918-1929 Lewis W. Clarke
1929-1934 L. Norton Clarke RLS 1134
1935-1939 James F. Simonet RLS 705
1940-1951 L. Norton Clarke RLS 1134
1952-1958 Edgar C. Swenson RLS 567
1959-1966 James F. Simonet RLS 705
1967-1968 Arthur M. Holm RLS 7447
1968-1973 Donn E. Pepper RLS 5333
1974-1980 Paul A. Johnson RLS 10938
1980-2003 Lawrence S. Nybeck PLS 12279
2003- Michael J. Welling PLS 26004

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