Laketown was organized 6 Apr. 1875. Set off from Sterling 10 Nov. 1874. The first town meeting was held in the Alabama schoolhouse, officers elected as follows: Lycurgus Bell, chairman; S. P. Heald and N. Formel, supervisors; Andrew Hennings, clerk; R. H. Enloe, treasurer; Peter Eckdahl, assessor; Wm. Addington, A. Nordholm, M. W. Ramsay and M. Chr. Jensen, justices of the peace; A. Guldberg and Martin Hansen, constables. “Named for the numerous lakes which dot nearly every section.”
The first settlers were from Alabama, after which they named their settlement. The first schoolhouse was built in 1870 with P. Tierney teacher. Jacob Livensparger started a store in 1877. Two blacksmith shops were operated by O. N. Gronlund and August Gross. Peter Olson built the first sawmill “at the foot of Long Lake in 1875”.
The first doctor was Mrs. Mary Sorenson M.D. of Chicago. The first marriage was Louis McKee to Mary Addington in 1871, “L. Bell officiated.” First post office was established at Alabama in 1870, L. McKee postmaster.” Mail was brought up the St. Croix River to Wolf Creek and carried from there by a boy to Alabama. The first threshing was done by John Swanson in 1874.
The streams flowing through this Twp. are Butternut Creek and Trade River. The lakes include: Alabama, SW; Bullhead, NC; Clauson, SW; Ellofson, SW; Forsythe, NE; Freedom (formerly Niggerheel Lake) NE; Herby, (formerly called Twin Lakes, along with Tarbert) SW; Lone Pine, NW; Long Trade, SW; McKeith, SW; Mud, NW; Pickerel, SW; Pine Island Lake, NW; Round, SW; Sand, SE; Spring, SE; Tarbert (formerly a twin with Herby, together called Twin Lakes) SW.
