p. 563

[Newspaper Clipping-1843, From the Prairie Farmer. Janesville.]

Janesville, the county seat of Rock, is delightfully situated on Rock River, sixty five miles from Milwaukie and Racine, and is connected with the latter place by a United States' road. Several stage and mail routes intersect and terminate here, making it quite a thorough-fare. A good bridge is built accross the river. Between the bluff and river is an interval from 200 to 600 feet or more in width, on which the town is built, the court house being erected on the summit of the bluff, say 100 feet in height. There are two excellent hotels, several stores and mechanic shops of various kinds, and the numerous buildings in progress of erection, and the general appearance of thrift pervading the town, together with the rapid settlement of the adjacent country, indicate steady advancement in future. The population is about 400, chiefly from New York and New England. Rock River scenery is the boast of the West, and it is as beautiful here as any where I have seen it. Two years since I drove from here down to Rockford, and a more delightful drive could hardly be found.

The road sixteen miles east of this comes on to Rock Prairie, which extends to Rock River, and is from five to ten miles in width I should judge. It is rich, rolling prairie, lacking only springs and rivulets to mak it all the farmer could desire. Already farms are stretching out from timber on either side quite into the prairie, and the numerous stacks of grain, wheat in particular, and the huge piles of straw passed through the threshing machines, bear witness that the settlers have been busy the past season and successful in their labor. Nearly all the wheat is threshed with machines, some with travelling, others with stationary power; though on one farm they had four horses travelling in a circle, treading out grain. To attempt to thresh with the flail would be an everlasting job.

It is highly gratifying to find the Prairie Farmer meets with such general favor. All the readers whom I see bear witness to its adaptation to this section, and there will be a greatly increased circulation of vol. iv. At every post office where there have been subscribers I hear of individuals exerting themselves to induce their neighbors to take it; and many clubs of six and thirteen will be formed to get it at the lowest rates. I am under great obligations to farmers for their liberal exertions, and oftentimes meet a friend when least expected.