In 1895, a former St. Cloud resident, General Christopher C. Andrews, the first Chief Fire Warden of Minnesota and later its Forestry Commissioner, persistently supported the cause of preserving segments of Minnesota's forests for posterity.
1. In 1902, a 200,000-acre forest reserve was created near Lake Winnibigoshish, which later became the nucleus of the Chippewa National Forest.
2. A few years later, General Andrews was transferred to the Arrowhead Country, where he sought lands that would be permanently dedicated to public use. On June 30, 1902, the Commissioner of the General Land Office withdrew 500,000 acres of forest in Lake and Cook Counties from entry. A second withdrawal dated August 18, 1905, covered approximately 141,000 acres. The third withdrawal dated April 22, 1908, covered approximately 518,700 acres. Following the third withdrawal, steps were taken by the Secretary of Agriculture to have the area officially designated as the Superior National Forest.