John Starr ROCKWELL and his brother, LeGrand ROCKWELL, along with Horace
COLEMAN, formed a partnership for the settlement of the county seat about
1836.
Other early settlers included: BRADLEY, OGDEN, HIGBY, LATHAM,
LEWIS, LATHAM, BUTLER, GILBERT, STURGES, WALLING.
A Methodist society was formed about 1841 and a Episcopal society was
there before the end of the year. The Congregationalist organized in 1843,
the Baptists in 1852, the Catholics in 1848, The Evangelican Lutherans in
1870, and the Universalists in 1871. Several other religious societies followed.
Early newspapers were the Western Star 1845, which was later changed
to the Walworth County Reporter. 1884 saw the Walworth County Democrat
and in 1853 the Elkhorn Independent was started and still is in business
today (1999).
The postoffice was established as early as 1838 with postmaster LeGrand ROCKWELL.
The early cemetery was set off in Wisconsin street, near North street, but was soon abandoned and a new
one laid out at the eastern end of Court st. This has also been vacated and a third was laid out near the western
end of Jefferson street and is named Hazel Ridge.
