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         The earliest settlers in this vicinity were the family of Jackomyer Baldwin, from Montgomery County, Indiana, who settled in Mason’s Grove, Section 22, May 2, 1837. The family consisted of his wife, who now lives with her daughter, Martha M., now Mrs. Frank Perkins, three sons—Frank (deceased), David (deceased), and Thomas, now in Oregon. Mr. Baldwin built a mill on a little run, in the grove, where he manufactured a considerable quantity of corn meal, to the great convenience of the settlers.

         John Malic and George Parks, from Tippecanoe County, Indiana, came at the same time with Mr. Baldwin, and settled adjoining him. The latter lived in the vicinity for many years.

         In April, 1839, Elias P. Chord, from Greene County, Ohio, built a cabin in the timber, on the claim, the title of which was disputed between him and Jackomyer Baldwin, and out of which grew a protracted and bitter lawsuit. The Court decided against Mr. Chord, and a writ of ejectment was placed in the hands of the Sheriff, George McCoy, who, with a posse, proceeded to execute its commands. At the door of the cabin he was met by Mrs. Chord, pistol in hand, and he wisely concluded not to eject at that particular time. He waited until the family were all absent, when he razed the building and set fire to the pile. Mr. Chord afterward built out on the prairie, on the place afterward owned by John Stout. Mr. Chord was the first man to open a regular cooper shop in Cedar County.

         Josiah Swab came to the county in company with Mr. Chord.

         In April, 1837, William Mason, a prominent man among the early settlers, made a claim on Section 21. From Mr. Mason, the grove received its name, “Mason’s Grove.” His son John still lives in the vicinity.

         The earliest settler on the west side of the river, in Cass Township, was William Kester, who died there in 1840 or ’41. He came there as early as 1837, with his sons, James, William and John, and daughters, Cyntha and Elizabeth.

         Henry Nickolson, who came with the Baldwins, did the first plowing on the west side of the river, for a Mr. King, on the farm owned by Willard Hammond.

         Among the other early settlers, before 1840, were Alexander and Frank Moffett, with their father, who died there, and sisters, who became Mrs. Jacob Hardacre and Mrs. Wm. Neeley; also, John Stout, on Section 36; Reuben Long, on Section 31; William Walters (1839), on Section 36; Jacob and John Hardacre, on Section 36—all of whom are still living in the county.

         In the Fall of 1836, Joshua King made the first claim at Gower’s Ferry. He sold to Ross McLoud, he to Staten, he to Gove & Cone.

         As near as can be ascertained, Christian Gove afterward became a partner of _____ Conlough and _____Goodell, and was interested with them in a “whisky shop” which they kept on the west bank of the river, in 1838. They were also accused of being counterfeiters.

         William Frazeur states that he helped build the first ferry boat used there, for Abner Arrowsmith, in 1838. It was then called Washington Ferry.

         In 1839, James H. Gower and Willard Hammond bought the claims of many “squatters” in Cass Township, and Mr. Gower settled on Section 33, on the east side of the river; while in 1841, Mr. Hammond came from Hampton, Illinois, and settled on section 32. Mr. Gower build additions to the house formerly owned by Mr. Arrowsmith, on the site of Cedar Bluff, and opened a store. He also bought the ferry of Conlogue & Gove, and had a post office . . .

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. . . established at his store. Mr. Gower received his goods chiefly from St. Louis, via Muscatine.

         Steamers occasionally came up Cedar River. The “Maid of Iowa,” belonging to the Mormons of Nauvoo, Illinois came up, and a large quantity of corn was purchased from Mr. Gower, for which he never received compensation. Of this boat, Mr. Beeson, now of Johnson County, being well acquainted with the river, acted as pilot.

         Mr. Gower soon after began pork packing. He paid $1.00 per 100 pounds, in store goods, for dressed pork. After a few years, Mr. Gower discontinued his store and moved to his farm, on the west side of the river, where he lived in a house near the end of the bridge, known as the “Norton house.” Mr. Gower moved to Iowa City in 1844 or 1845, where he lived until 1877, when he removed to Lawrence, Kansas, where he is now in the banking business.

         In the Spring of 1841, Robert Gower, from Ohio, settled on Section 33, on the west side of the river, with his family, including his sons—James, Alexander, Sewall and Albert.

         Mr. Robert Gower was a surveyor, and laid out the village in July, 1851, for Charles W. Gower. The land on which it was located was entered by J. H. Gower, in the name of C. W. Gower, Allen and Willard Hammond. It was transferred to J. H. Gower, then to Robert Gower.

         Mr. Robert Gower purchased the ferry from his brother.

         A note written at the time of the survey says:

         Red Cedar River is navigable for steam and other boats at all seasons of the year when free from ice. It possesses at this point superior facilities for damming and bridging, and the settlement in this vicinity requires both.

         The village is located on the corner of Sections 27, 28, 33 and 34, Township 81, Range 4 west.

         The ferry was continued in succession by Mr. Gower and Daniel Moffatt, in 1865, who after one month sold to John Snyder; then, in 1873, it passed to John Jacobs, who sold to Henry Herbert, the present proprietor.

         Mr. Robert Gower, after whom Gower Township received its name, was a public spirited, highly esteemed man, prominent in many county and local actions, and a member of the Second Constitutional Convention. He died in April, 1874. His son, Sewall, now living on the old farm, is the only one remaining of the family.

         James H. Gower was a Representative to the State Legislature at an early day.

         As stated, the first house on the site of Cedar Bluff was built by Abner Arrowsmith. Mr. J. H. Gower made additions to this house, and when he left, in 1844 or 1845, the village was deserted until 1850, when Eli Shawver moved there from Tipton, and built a dwelling house and store room near the river. When any benefits from the navigation of Cedar River were despaired of, Mr. Shawver moved his store upon the hill, where he also built a residence.

         The next building was a house for a hotel, by Daniel Riegle. This was the first hotel in Cedar Bluff, although Robert Gower had kept travelers on the west side of the river. Mr. Riegle was succeeded in turn by L. D. Cleghorn, George Moore, David Lisk and James M. Long. The hotel burned down in 1875, while under the management of Mr. Long. It was rebuilt by William Herbst, who now conducts it.

         About 1861 or 1862, Mr. Ziba Howard, purchased the store of Mr. Shawver, and after two years sold out to Joseph Graham, who closed out his business in 1870. After one year, James M. Long opened a store, and Washington . . .

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. . . Ackerly established a grocery. This he sold to Frank A. Baldwin, who continues the trade.

         As stated, Mr. Long’s store and hotel were burned in 1875.

         Mr. S. W. Andre has kept a general store during the last year.

         In 1866, there were but ten houses in the village. At present there are the following business interests, besides those already named: Carpenters, William Fankhauser, since 1866, and Daniel Fredericks; saloon, Emanuel Achenbach; blacksmith, Samuel Coffman.

         The first physician was Dr. Davis, about 1846; he was followed by Dr. W. C. Dodd, who still resides there. E. M. C. Neiman was also in practice there at one time.

         The first drug store was kept by J. M. Long. G. Lewis Stempel carries on that business at present.

POST OFFICE.

         The first post office was established here June 24, 1841, with James G. Gower, Postmaster. The office was called Cedar River, being the third office in the county, and was supplied from Tipton. A regular station being established on the Iowa City & Galena Mail Route, with Alonzo Shaw, mail carrier. It is now a station between Iowa City and Mechanicsville; Ed. Seitsinger, mail carrier. July 3, 1849, the name of the office was changed to “Gower’s Ferry”. The office was kept successively by Robert Gower and Sewall Gower, on the west side of the river. It was changed to the east side in 1859, with David Baldwin as Postmaster, and the name changed to “Cedar Bluff.” J. M. Long succeeded him, and was followed by L. F. Blatsler. This office was again consolidated with the Cedar Bluff office when the bridge was built at that point.

SCHOOLS.

         The nearest school to which the settlers might send their children, in 1842, was located on the Philip Metz farm. Pupils attended here and boarded with John Blaylock. The school was first opened in that year by George Smith, afterward County Judge. After two or three years, J. H. and Robert Gower hired Mr. Lambert to teach in a log cabin on the west side of Cedar River, on the Kester place. School was continued there every Winter until the school house was built, near the site of the present school house, on the Gunsolus place. The new school house was built in 1876, and is a good frame building. At present the teacher is Miss Clara Dodd.

         There is no school house in Cedar Bluff, although a good district school has been established one mile east, since about 1856, and is now taught by Miss Safley.

RELIGIOUS.

         There is no church building at Cedar Bluff. Services have been conducted there from a very early day, irregularly, in private houses, and latterly in the school house. Among the early preachers there were, Martin Baker, Lorenzo D. Cleghorn, S. A. Bagley, William Bagley and William B. Foote, all of the Christian denomination. There were also Rev. Mr. Hinkle, of the Mormon; Rev. Mr. Bowman, of the Methodist Church, and many others. The Methodist Class was organized by Rev. William Lee, of Tipton. In 1877, Rev. Mr. Miller preached regularly. Rev. Mr. Snyder has preached since in the school house.

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         Four miles east, the Lutheran denomination have a church, which was built in the spring of 1867, and in which Rev. Wm. Lee preaches occasionally. It was first supplied by Rev. Altman, and has been usually supplied by the Lutheran Pastor, from Tipton.

         In 1877, a large iron bridge was erected over the Cedar River at this point, and, being the only one in this county, it has increased the business at Cedar Bluff, and conduced greatly to its prosperity. There are now about one hundred inhabitants in the village. It has an excellent location, and is in the center of an unsurpassed farming district.