During 1887 the Chicago, Milkaukee and St. Paul Railroad built the Madison and Bristol line. Mr. George Patterson platted the townsite, and the town was named from a postoffice which was established by R. E. Parks, and named after his sister, Lily. The railroad company refused a side track and the settlers appealed to the railroad commissioners, who at that time, under the conditions, were powerless to order the side track built. The commissioners suggested a flat grain house be built and a side track graded. With this done the railroad company could be made to lay the track. This was done, by 1896. It took another year to force them to build a depot. The post office was then moved into town. Mr. E. 0. Esget was appointed postmaster and served, with his wife as assistant. In 1912, Mr. Esget's eyesight failed him, and Mrs. Esget was appointed to fill the vacancy and has held the office ever since.
The first building on the townsite was a blacksmith shop, built by Hans Nelson. Franklin Barber started the first general store which was soon followed by a second general store established by H. B. Currence. In succession iew industries started. The first hotel by L. M. Hazelton, the first drug store by Dr. Dishart who was the town's practicing physician, the first harness and shoe repair shop by Ole Hanson, the first hardware by Parks and Berg, the first restaurant and pool hall by Tom Kalbo, the first bank in 1901 by T. E. Egge, the first lumber yard by Ole Fossum.
The town has continued to grow. There are three churches, the first erected by the Methodists, a second by the Catholics, tended by Father Hart, from Bristol, the third, a Lutheran, (Norwegian and English services). There are also three elevators, a Farmer's, one owned by Swan Nelson and one line elevator. The township has a town hall building, and the town likewise has a town hall. In 1903 a school building was erected. It is a Consolidated School district, taking in three-fourths of the township. It claims to have been the first consolidated school in the state, and that before there was any statute authorizing consolidation was enacted. In 1925 this five room frame structure (non accredited) had an enrollment of 150 pupils, with a teaching staff of six teachers. Pupils are conveyed to school by horse-drawn busses.
Fire apparatus consists of two chemical engines and one hook and ladder. Population about 200.
The water supply is from a deep well, pumped by electric motor generated from a high line current from Watertown to Bristol. There is one auto service station. The local telephone office handles the Dakota Central long distance calls, and three farm telephone lines.