November 1, 2021 — Washburn, the oldest city in McLean County, was founded on this date in 1882. The man responsible was John Satterlund, who, by the time he died, was known across the state as “King John.”
Satterlund immigrated with his parents from Carlstadt, Sweden, when he was 18. He was smart, well educated, and a risk-taker. The family settled in Minnesota, but John headed west, …