Rock County, Wisconsin

From: Wisconsin Gazetteer by John Warren Hunt ©1853 Beriah Brown, Printer, Madison p. 62 Courtesy of Lori

CENTRE, Town, in county of Rock, being town 3 N., range 9 E.; centrally located 10 miles west of Janesville. The population in 1850 was 625. It has 7 school districts.

From: A New Complete Gazetteer of the United States by Thomas Baldwin and J. Thomas, M.D. ©1854 Lippincott, Grambo & Co. , Philadelphia p. 210 Courtesy of Kathy Lenerz

CENTRE, a post-township in Rock county, Wisconsin, about 10 miles N. W. from Janesville. Population, 625.

From: Combination Atlas Map of Rock County, Wisconsin ©1873 Everts, Baskin & Stewart, Chicago, Ill. p. 61 Courtesy of Lori

This is one of the best farming towns in the county, being mostly prairie land. The first settlement in the town was in October, 1843, by Mr. Andrew STEVENS, at the grove called Black Oak Grove; at that time he had no neighbors within ten miles west or five miles north. There are several fine streams and a beautiful creek in the township. Such desirable situations for farms are scarcely found in the county. In the north part of the town there are some oak openings and very fine marsh for cutting hay. The farms are mostly all under a high state of cultivation, while the building improvements are second to none in the county. Janesville is the nearest market, being about six miles from the centre of the township. The church and school interests of the town are zealously guarded by the citizens. There are several good church and school buildings.

From: The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wisconsin ©1889 p. 1011 Courtesy of Carol

Center, in the northwestern part of the county, was organized by a legislative enactment approved Feb. 17, 1842, and then included the present town of Center and portions of Plymouth, Spring Valley, Magnolia, and Janesville west of the river. Magnolia was set off Feb. 2, 1846, and other towns were formed, wholly or in part, from its territory at later dates. Its present limits are those of township 3 north, of range 11 east. Andrew STEVENS, the first settler, located at Black-Oak Grove in October, 1843. His nearest neighbor was five miles away, the next nearest ten. Other early settlers were David and Philander DAVIS, William WEBB, William WARREN and Elijah WOOD. The first election was held at the house of James V. KNOWLTON.