Marker Erected by: Appanoosa County Historical Society
County of Marker: Appanoosa County
Location of Marker: Maple St. & Main St., county history museum (old post office), Centerville
Marker Text:
The first county sheriff was Jackson Perjue, who was also one of the men who helped select the site for the county seat in 1845. The original name was Chaldea, but was changed to Centreville in 1847. The spelling was changed in 1876. The earliest store was in a log cabin owned by Spencer Wadlington.
Jonathan Stratton, a surveyor, was appointed to plat the town. He designed the town square to be two blocks long on each side. The slogan "Largest City Square in the World" was adopted as a slogan in the 1950's.
The city library was built by Francis Drake, who was a Civil War General, banker, and businessman, and the Governor of Iowa from 1896 to 1898. The present courthouse was built in 1903. Centerville continued to develop a good business district, schools, a hospital and many churches.
This museum is owned by the Appanoose County Historical Society. It was built in 1903 and was originally a post office, used until 1977. The present museum has over fifty exhibits, a research library, and many historical photographs.