Afton, Wisconsin

Township 2, north of Range 12 east. This town is situated on both sides of Rock River, which divides it into two nearly equal portions. That part upon the East side of the river is nearly all prairie, but that upon the West side is mostly timber, some of it being Very good, though the greater part being " oak openings." The soil of the entire town is of excellent quality. It is well watered, especially that part West of the river. Springs and "running brooks," of New England memory, are abundant.. Bass, or Afton creek, enters the town towards its North-west comer and empties itself into Rock River at Afton, not far fi'om its South-easi; corner. Along its margin are extensive meadows of unrivalled luxuriance, affording abundance of that great " Western Staple," " Marsh Hay." For variety and richness of soil, good water, and a plentiful supply; timber properly disposed, and prairie just as it should be, and every other desirable accompaniment to an agricultural town, this town is inferior to none in Rock County, or in the State of Wisconsin. It was oi'ganized in 1842, and contained only its standard limits; six miles square, and was the only town in the County which at that time comprised only its legitimate territory, and ' consequently obtaiifed the " sobriquet" of the "little town of Rock." As to its " ancient history," little is known, but from the "remains" of its fortifications it is judged to have been once the theatre of war, and the " play gi-ound" of the hero ; and subsequently to have been no less the favorite dwelling place of the Horticulturist, the farmer and mechanic, as the "remains" of gardens and fields, tmd specimens of mechanical skill unmistakably indicate; and that this town sustained a vastly larger population in " olden times" than at present, no

Passage source: History of Rock County, and Transactions of the Rock County Agricultural Society and Mechanics' Institute, published 1856.

The Pottawatamies, Wiimebagos, ahd other tribes of Indians, long had made their home amid its gardens and shady groves, beside its purling brooks and bubbling springs^ beside its noble river, and no where did the hunter find his game more plenty ; for beast and bird, as well as man^ seek their home where nature in her kindest mood, showers most profiisely her be^ -quests to all.

Passage source: History of Rock County, and Transactions of the Rock County Agricultural Society and Mechanics' Institute, published 1856.

In the month of September, 1836, Mr. Hiram Brown and family arrived at the " cabin " ; others having moved out, made room for him. Dr. James Heath built a house 16 by 16, one and a half miles down the river, on Sec. 2, at East Wisconsin City in the spring, where he opened a store and tavern, which were the first in town. Here the " customer " was served, the " travelers and boarders " lodged, while the family and servants found ample room besides. Travelers were laid upon tiers of shelves up the sides of the house like dry goods, while " commoners " took the floor. Business increasing, and the Doctor thinking his house too small for the accommodation of his store and tavern, entered into partnership with Mr. Sexton, (now of SextonvUle,) and removed his goods into another house, which had been erected about eighty rods from the " tavern,'' which afforded more room for the replenished stock of the new fii-m. During this year, (1836,) John Inman & Co. started the first stage. It made its regular trips from Racine to " East Wiscofisin City" during the summer; Dr. Heath keeping the " Stage House." Any person curious in such matters can now be shown that identical " tavern " ; the augur holes into which the pins were put to sustain the " traveler's shelves," and also the " remains " of Heath & Sexton's store, by calling about one half mile west from the Institute of the Blind. True, the landlord will not be there to greet them, n6r will they see, probably, the stages from Racine unloading their passengers, nor the impatient customeiB inquiring for " dry goods and gi-oceries," but they will see the house, empty though it be, and the oak trees, which stood there as faithful sentinels, will now be seen keeping their vigils and sighing over the ruins and desolations of Wisconsin City. While speaking of the commercial interests of this town, we would not forget to mention a store opened by Thomas Holmes, and kept for some time in the house now owned by Judge Bailey, near the " ferry."

Passage source: History of Rock County, and Transactions of the Rock County Agricultural Society and Mechanics' Institute, published 1856.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Rock Town - it names this place 22 more 22 times.