Settlement in the area began when a road was built from Wake-em-up Village on Lake Vermilion to the stop where the train crossed the Little Fork River. In the early 1900’s, 2 daily steamboats traveled from Tower making many stops along its 30 mile voyage. Connection between this road and the railroad at the railroad water tower made a likely spot for a settlement. The first scheduled train arrived in Ashawa December 21, 1903. James A. Field was possibly the first settler in Ashawa. Mr Field published the Northland Farmer, first issue published December 10, 1903. James A Field is one of the entries on the 1905 Minnesota Census for Ashawa (renamed Cook in 1910). Mr. Field’s occupation in 1905 was postmaster. Mr Field did not live in Ashawa many years - he left September 1908 and the 1910 census found him in Spokane, Washington. The 1905 Ashawa census shows 31 residents in 9 families.

Settlers traveled along the Little Fork River by boat and canoe portaging the 5 rapids on the Little Fork as it crosses Field Township. Many of them also traveled up the Rice River from its confluence with the Little Fork. Others spread out to the south and east.

Field Township was incorporated in 1906. It included townships 62-19 (current Field Township), township 62-18 minus the top 6 sections which the county had allocated to Beatty Township (current Owens Township) and Ashawa. The petition was dated April 5, 1906, and was signed by 52 freeholders with the first 2 signers being August Buboltz and James A Field. County commissioners approved the petition the following day.

The first township election was held Saturday, April 21, 1906 in the schoolhouse located at the nothwest quarter of section 17 township 62-18. The location is now identified as being souttheast of the intersection of County Rd 115 and Larson Road, across from the current Cook Cemetery.

Minutes of early township meetings include purchasing lumber for Ashawa’s sidewalk, building the bridges across the Little Fork, and prohibiting settler’s from leaving manure in the city streets (they say if your horse deposits manure, you must immediately clean it up).

At incorporation of Field Township (including Ashawa), the township had an assessed valuation was $51,089. The tax levy was $1410.53.

In the fall of 1907 a new frame school building was constructed by the newly organized school board. School was held here until consolidated with Cook School. The building is now the Field Town Hall. It was located on property owned by H. G. Hollen. The 1910 plat map shows the original location as a darkened rectangle labeled Sch. In 1941 the new property owner asked the township to remove the town hall from his land. An agreement to purchase the property could not be negotiated so the township purchased a 1 acre site from the county school board for $1 and the town hall was relocated approximately 100 yards west to its current location. The deed is dated December 3, 1941, the week prior to the onset of America’s entry into WWII.

Township 62-18 was separated from Field Township August 6, 1912, creating Owens Township.

August 19, 1983, the Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution to annex the south half of Township 63-19 onto Field Township. Field Township presently consists of 54 sections less approximately 120 acres annexed by the City of Cook.