Surname: Rockwell

Biography of George D. Rockwell

History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

George D. Rockwell (b. 1828, West Milton, New York) was a pioneering figure in Rockwell, Iowa, which was named in his honor. Descended from colonial English Puritans, he moved west in 1853, first settling in Kane County, Illinois, before relocating to Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, in 1864. Rockwell played a key role in extending the Iowa Central Railroad and founding the town of Rockwell. He was active in farming, raising shorthorn cattle, and later investing in South Dakota, where he owned 1,400 acres in Moody County. A dedicated Prohibitionist and Congregational deacon, he married Elizabeth P. Jackson in 1853, and they raised three daughters: Mary, Julia, and Grace.

History of Newark Township

History of Marshall County Dakota title page

Newark Township lies west of White township, and for school purposes was included in the same until last spring, when it was set off. The surface is slightly rolling and the soil fertile and productive. It was not until April 10th, 1883, that the settlement of the township began. On that day, Homer Johnson and his sons, Fred and Stark, located on section 14 and put up the first claim shanty in the township. Mr. Johnson was born in Ovid, Seneca County, New York, and came here from Plymouth, Michigan. On April 15th, 1883, P. C. Howell, C. and J. … Read more