Rock River

Long before the white man came to Rock River Township, Indians left their mark in the region.  Little or nothing is known of them except for a few articles that have been found.  Stone pipes were unearthed while Elmer Wanska (then 12 years old) and his brother George were plowing on their father's farm east of Chatham near the banks of the Slapneck, and Indian arrowheads have been found on the Nummela farm in Rumley, suggesting Indians once roamed here. 

In 1887, Onota township included all of the Range 21 and 22.  Apparently, political considerations influenced the organization of a new township ~ Rock River.  The east half of Onota, east half of Rock River, eastern part of Limestone, and the western part of Mathias townships as they are today, was roughly the area of Rock River township.  

The old town of Rock River, the first seat of government in Rock River Township, was also its population center.  It was here that Charles Johnson operated his sawmill as well as the Brownstone Quarry, a short distance east of the village. 

It was not until 1905 that the present boundaries of Rock River township were determined, once again for reasons of convenience. Rock River township received the southern half of Onota township and gave up its northern half to Onota.  Each township received one railroad and one highway.

The importance of the railroad to Rock River Township can not be over-emphasized. It was the railroads (LS & I and Soo Line) that made possible the logging operations and subsequent settlements.  During the time of the railroads in Rock River Township, great piles of logs stretched from the Eben depot all the way to the old Chatham Co-op. Passenger trails even made regular runs through Chatham via the depot.

Rock River Township today is a territory of 52,000 acres, measuring 12 miles east to west and 7 miles north to south.  The original boundaries in 1887 contained 84,500 acres and measured 6 miles east to west and 22 miles north to south.

When Rock River Township was organized, it had three schools, one each in Rock River, Limestone, and Winters. The children’s parents built the first school in Rock River. J.I. Winters, L.W. Trenary, and G.A. Lindquist. Mary McKinnon was its first teacher.