The first settlements were made on the west side of the [Rock] river by Rufus and Ira Washburn and J. P. [Brittain]; W. Brittain settled in the town; Brestol made the first claim on D. W. Inman's farm; and Ira Washburn built the first house on the west side of the river.

The evidence

• “Mr. Clauson settled on the " Youngs' Farm " in 1837, The farm formerly known as the Delano farm and now as the Ratheram farm, was settled by Jeremiah Roberts in 1837, The farm upon which the village of Afton is situated was settled in 1837 by Hiram Brown.— In the year 1838 the first settlements were mado on the west side of the river, by Rufns and Ira Washburn, and J. P.”

  1856-history-of-rock-county/24-rock.md, PDF p. 163 / book p. 147

  Guernsey, Orrin, and Josiah F. Willard, editors. History of Rock County, and Transactions of the Rock County Agricultural Society and Mechanics' Institute. Janesville, Wis.: William M. Doty & Brother, 1856. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871593.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources