Jacob West and John T. Baker came to the Evansville area; the 1879 history says Jacob West removed with his family to Rock Co. in 1840 and settled in Union Township in the fall of 1840 — the sources differ on the season.

The evidence

• “This city was first settled about June, 1839, by Hiram Griffith, Boyd Phelps, Stephen Jones, Erastus Quivey and John Griffith, who came from LaPorte, Ind., and made their first camp near the large spring, on what is now known as the Coleman farm. In the spring of 1840 came Jacob West and John T. Baker, followed by Ira Jones, Edward Marsh, John Sale, and others rapidly followed.”

  1908-brown-rock-county/31-smaller-cities-villages-towns.md, Vol. 2, PDF p. 152 / book p. 660

  Brown, William Fiske, editor. Rock County, Wisconsin: A New History of Its Cities, Villages, Towns, Citizens and Varied Interests, from the Earliest Times, Up to Date. Chicago: C. F. Cooper & Co., 1908. 2 vols. archive.org/details/rockcountywiscon01brow, archive.org/details/rockcountywiscon02brow.

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

  

• “JAMES K. WEST, merchant and Postmaster, EvansviUe; born in Stephenson Co., 111., June 28, 1837 ; his father, Jacob West, who was a native of Champaign Co., Ohio, born March 6, 1812, settled in Illinois in 1836, and, in 1840, ho removed with his family to Rock Co., Wis., locating one-half mile from the center of the present village of EvansviUe, having the previous year secured a claim, on which he settled ; in the fall of 1841, he sold his claim and with his wife and two children went to Ohio, making the trip in a one-horse wagon ; the following year, he returned by the same route ; having purchased another horse, he made the return trip with a double team, arrived in Union Township, Rock Co., in June of 1842, where he located and engaged in improving land for farming purposes ; farmed until 1853; in 184G, began brick-making ; made the first brick in Union Township ; after a short irip to Southern Iowa, in 1853, he engaged in mercantile business in the town of Union, which he continued until 1856. From 1850 to 1869, was Justice of the Peace ; then retired from active duties ; in 1876, he again resumed the duties of the office; from 1856 or 1857 to 1^67 or 1868, he was Town Clerk; h”

  1879-history-of-rock-county/30-bios-union.md, PDF p. 864

  Butterfield, C. W., et al. The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871585.

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