ROCKTON
Among the earliest settlers of this town were Wm.Talcott and sons, Thomas. Sylvester, Wait and Henry, some of whom landed here July 4, 1835, taking a claim on Section 23. They were attracted by the magnificent water power of the Rock river at this point, the flow of water then being nearly double the present capacity. This water privilege the Talcotts began to improve, using it for a saw mill in 1838, and in the following year completed a grist mill, probably the pioneer of the county. It was soon busy, grists coming to it even from Fort Winnebago, over 100 miles.
In the year 1832 the Polish exiles were granted by Congress several townships of land for settlement, and Clopeski, one of their number, was sent out to locate them. The act specified that no lands upon which settlers had made a beginning could be taken, and, indeed, Clopeski, who came to Rockton, promised the people that he would not select their township. He was not faithful to this agreement, and the township was under the shadow of this claim until 1844, when the matter was adjusted. The town was platted by Talcott and Adams, in 1840, but it was not entered for record until May 30, 1844, because of the above claim. The first paper mill was erected in 1851, by Mr. T. L. Wright and Mr. Merritt.
In 1836, Sylvester Talcott was appointed Justice of the Peace, and in his official capacit y. married, it is said, the first couple in the county—Mr. Jerr y Roberts and. Miss Langdon, who now reside in Rockford.
On the tenth day of September, 1872. Rockton became an incorporated town. Town trustees: David Carpenter, president; Aaron Shores, George Ellis, J. W. Cowles, Jas. McDonald.
There are about 1,500 inhabitants in the village, and twenty to twenty-five stores.
The Rockton, Weekly Herald issued its first number January 1, 1875. E. I. Carr, editor and proprietor.
MECHANICAL INDUSTIES SCHOOLS CHURCHES
History of Winnebago County-1877
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