CENTERVILLE

            Centerville was one of the first settled towns in Anoka County and had an organization in Ramsey County

before Anoka was set off.  It is situated in the southwest corner of the county.  In 1852 when the first settlers

arrived, Centerville was covered with timber.  Settlers began removing the trees and clearing the land, except

the marshes of which there are quite a number capable of being converted into good hay land.  In a short time

corn, vegetables, potatoes, etc., were grown in abundance.  A few cattle raised supplied meat, milk and butter

for families.  The soil was good and productive in the eastern part.  The western part was more sandy but 

sustained the character of good farming land.  A chain of lakes extended across the town, the largest of which

was Clearwater, now known as Centerville Lake, and Rice Lake.  They were connected by Rice Creek which

crossed the township in a southwesterly direction.  Two creeks run into Peltier Lake; Hardwater from the

north and Clearwater from the southwest.  These lakes abound in game and fish and were a favorite resort

for sportsmen.  These lakes offered a strong inducement to the first settlers, who lived chiefly by hunting

and fishing for a number of years but have since turned their attention to farming.

In Centerville and in southeastern Columbus Township, there were many Indian mounds and sundry

evidences that this region had been a place of numerous contests by warring tribes and might be called 

an Indian Battle Ground.  About one mile northwest of Centerville Village on the farm of Michael Dupre,

there lies a short distance from the house, a high and conical shaped mound which was used by Mr.

Dupre as a cellar, one side being excavated for that purpose.  In making excavation, a number of human

bones, a copper gun barrel and other curiosities were found.  On the top and sides, large trees were

growing.  Several large mounds in the vicinity had the appearance of breastworks, as though erected

for defense.  Near the lakes, human bones were found and Indian arrowheads in considerable number

were found.

The permanent early settlers in Centerville were preceded by a number of fishermen and trappers,

who soon disappeared before the tide of a higher civilization.  In the eastern part of the town of

Centerville, the Canadian French principally took up their residence having made settlement

here as early as 1852.  The first settler was Francis LaMotte in the spring of 1853.  He was 

followed by F.S. LaVallee, Peter Cardinal and Charles Peltier, all settling in Section 21.

Joseph Houle resided here during the summer of that year, but did not make a claim.  From

this date the population increased quite rapidly.  Prominent among the next arrivals in Centerville

were: A. Gervais, Oliver Dupre, Joseph Forcier, Paul and Oliver Peltier, Stephen Ward, and L. Burkard.