The Sanborn Co. was founded in 1867 by D.A. Sanborn, to draw maps of the downtown districts of cities across the U.S. These maps could then be consulted by insurance companies if a building burned to research different characteristics about the business and the physical structure. The company stopped making the fire insurance maps in 1961, due to other sources being used to obtain the needed information. Today, they serve as a wonderful resource for tracing the growth of cities and tracking where businesses were located decades ago. We have these maps on microfilm for the entire state of Wisconsin. We also have copies of the actual maps in paper format for cities in our four-county area. The dates range from approximately the 1880s to the 1920s for our area. The maps were not issued regularly, so do not expect any pattern as to when the maps came out for various cities.

Includes biographical information on Thompson family (circa 2002); Clippings and other ephemera (undated, 1936-1984); Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) and farming professional involvement (1957-1973); Farm conservation plans (1943, 1978); and Photographs of David Afdahl family (undated, circa 1927-1945) and Ruth Ellen Thompson (undated, circa 1934 and 1947).

David Orlin Afdahl (July 14, 1927-March 7, 2005) was born to Herman N. (1904-1984) and Gladys, nee Owens, Afdahl (1902-1964), the oldest of three children. David grew up on the family farm southwest of Hammond in St. Croix County, Wisconsin. David was graduated from Baldwin High School and attended UW-River Falls (then River Falls State Teacher's College), where he graduated with a degree in agricultural education. ǂb Ruth Ellen Thompson (1934-2017) was born to Margaret Norma Tubman (1910-2003) and Otto Emil Thompson (1906-2000), the second oldest of three girls. She attended Clear Lake High School, Wisconsin and Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

Ruth "Ruthie" and David were married on August 22, 1953 in Spring Valley. The couple had four children and worked as dairy farmers on the Afdahl family farm. David "Dave" Afdahl was professionally active and held various positions on the Wisconsin Dairy Herd Improvement Cooperative (affiliation of Dairy Herd Improvement Association) over the length of his farming career.

Rolls show ownership and description of taxable lands, assessed valuation of each parcel, taxes due, and record of payment of taxes. Total valuation, taxes due, and taxes paid are shown for personal property. For the years 1854-all tax rolls were retained; after rolls were retained for each year for the city of River Falls and generally for the decennial years for all other local units; for the years 1975-1995 only tax rolls for every fifth year have been retained. Assessment rolls are present for various units of local government for scattered years.