Pg 326

         In the Spring of 1837, township lines were established by the Government surveyors. Soon thereafter John C. Higginson and John Sheller built a cabin on the southeast corner of the farm now belonging to the heirs of Gibson Agnew, in Sugar Creek Township, opened a store and named the place Centerville.

         This was the first store opened in the county and the first opportunity offered the settlers for obtaining family supplies nearer than the trading places on the Mississippi River at Rockingham or Mouth of Pine. This firm supplied the community with the ordinary necessaries of life until other trading places were commenced in more favored localities, and then Centerville’s glory departed.

         The old store building is owned by Mrs. Rice, and is occupied by her as a residence.

AN INDIAN RELIC.

         A short distance south of Centreville, and not far from where the Bethel M. E. Church now stands, the first settlers found a cedar pole about twenty-five feet in length, which it is said the Indians planted there to mark the spot where a party of their warriors had raised the white flag and surrendered to the Long Knives (by which name they called the U. S. Cavalry) in the Black Hawk war of 1832. The pioneers utilized that Indian relic by cutting it down and making it into pitchfork handles.