Pg 521

         When the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad was completed, a station was established at the farm of Joseph Ball. At that time, the district school was located near there, and a shanty was built in which to board the railroad workmen.

         Among the earliest settlers near Centredale were John Ball, 1850; James Ball, 1852; John S. Smith, 1854, and son, R. B. Smith. Isaac E. Schooley came to Iowa in 1853, and occupied his present farm, two miles southeast of Centredale, in 1855. Richard Fawcett and others came in 1853. On completion of the railroad, the school house was used as a depot, and a grain elevator was built by John Ball, who deals in grain, coal and lumber. A post office has been established, and a store, which has been operated by Benjamin Pearson for the past two and a half years, occupying the old school building, while a new depot has been erected. Centredale has also a blacksmith shop, and school house, which was last taught by Miss Mary Tipton. George J. Lamborn is the village plasterer.

         The society of Wilbur Friends have a church one mile north of Centredale.