At the town meeting of 1880 the voters went into the taxing business. Here is the exact reading of the minutes, which are not too clear: "The following items was voted for by motion: Town tax 5 mills, Road tax $50.00. The town was divided into two road districts 3 miles wide and six miles long, north and south. Simon Hanson and Pete Hoye were chosen road masters. "Every man shall herd his cattel from the 1st of June to the l5th day of October." Two changes made at the election were Herman Nelson, chairman and J. H. Jacobson, assessor.


LEEDS TOWNSHIP IN 1946

        This is one of the most progressive townships in Murray County. Every farmer in the township has access to a gravel road. There are thirty-five miles of township graveled roads and this season twenty miles were re-graveled. Every mile of graded road is graveled. 25 years ago the township was in debt $12,000.00, all of the debt being incurred about thirty years ago building bridges during the ditching era. Today, November 1946, the township owes nothing. To the members of the township board goes a lot of praise for their business-like administration. They have performed a real service. The present members of the board are Wm. Stofferan who has served 30 years, G. M. Skouge 9 years, G. Conradi 2 years, and Fred Gass who has served 20 years. Hadley is part of the township of Leeds. While the village votes as a village on municipal affairs, it votes at all township, county, state and national elections with the township.

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        Back in the '80's they took their politics more seriously than we do now. In campaigns they wore big campaign hats, colored gray. They were higher than a stiff hat. The Democrats had a wider band of black but both parties took a lot of pride in them. The torch light parade was the thing in those days. A hundred boys and young men (hired at times) formed the "huge torch parade"; They carried the torch and wore oilcloth capes. It was a "must" for the big political gathering.

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HISTORY OF THE HADLEY STUDY CLUB
        On November 28, 1922, twelve women gathered at the home of Margaret Fresk to organize what they named the Political Study Club. Those present were: Margaret Fresk, Anna Wornson, Florence Nippert, Ovidia Lowe, Viola Knutson, Anna Chapman, Edith Dahlquist, Rebecca Holmberg, Jessie Reed, Jennie Smith, Violet Engebretson, and Walborg Satter. Of these charter members, four remain in the club today, namely: Margaret Fresk, Anna Wornson, Viola Knutson, and Violet Engebretson.

        As its name implies, the purpose of the club was to study the political development of the nation. Some of the topics were: Muscle Shoals, St. Lawrence Waterway, National Farm Credits, and the Election of the President by the Direct Vote of the People. It is interesting to note that these topics are subjects of much discussion today.

        The first officers of the club were: President, Margaret Fresk, and Secretary, Edith Dahlquist. Twelve meetings were held at the homes of the members and a special meeting at which the husbands of the members were entertained.

        The second year the name was changed to Hadley Study Club and it became a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs. The subjects of study since then have been general in character and have included book reviews, biographies, histories, and customs of foreign peoples, child psychology, geography, current events, bits of humor, literature, art, and problems of modern living.

        The club members have given entertainments, sold recipe books, and acted as reporters of the Hadley news of the Murray County Herald. These activities, together with their annual dues, have enabled them to participate in many social, civic, and charitable projects. They have contributed to the upkeep of the local cemetery, to the Hadley band, to the Salvation Army, to the Red Cross, to the U.S.O., to the National Relief and Refugee Committee, to the Indian School at Pipestone, to the Federation Forest Fund, and have sponsored essay and flower contests in the Hadley schools. During the late war they sent layettes to Norwegian mothers, subscribed to the clothing


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