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         Rochester, the city of sand, is of considerable historic interest in connection with Cedar County, being the first village established by the pioneers who came to inhabit the land of Lo!

         In June, 1856, Stephen Toney and George McCoy, brothers-in-law, came West, and about the 1st of July, the latter settled on the site of Rochester and built the first cabin near the river bank, where he operated the first ferry. He soon after induced Stephen Toney to locate near him, and the latter built a double log cabin, on a sand hill just north of the present village.

         The trading point at this time was “the Mouth of Pine,” a creek which empties into the Mississippi ten miles about Muscatine, and twenty-five miles from Rochester. Here Ben Nye operated a store and grist-mill on the lower side . . .

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. . . of the creek, while William Gordon, or “Wicked Bill,” as he was called, lived on the upper side. The latter was a surveyor, and, at the request of Toney and McCoy, came over and laid off Rochester as a village in August, 1836, taking a share of the lots in payment for his services. On account of the mill power, the town was named after Rochester, New York.

         Rev. Martin Baker and his son, William, came to the country in the Summer of 1836. He made a claim near the mouth of Crooked Creek, and, leaving his son William in charge, returned to LaPorte County, Indiana, to bring the rest of his family, which consisted of his wife, his sons, Nathaniel, John and Martin, the daughter, Elizabeth, and two grandchildren, Josias and Catherine Reeves. Nathaniel has been dead a number of years; Martin is a resident of California; William resides near the old homestead and John about one and a half miles away. The family settled on the claim in October or November, 1836, and where the father continued to live until his death, in 1846. Mr. Baker was a prominent character among the early settlers, and held the first religious meeting (prayer meeting in his cabin soon after his arrival) in Cedar County. Of him, Asa Gregg, an early settler of West Liberty, Muscatine County, says, in his “personal Reminiscences:”

         The first* sermon was preached by Elder Martin Baker, a well and favorably known minister of the Christian order or denomination, who lived and died below Rochester. Mr. Baker was a good and true man, and very much respected by the early settlers; he lacked the polish of the more highly educated ministers; his dress was plain; to some he seemed rough, yet he was as tender hearted as a child, and many a kind act of his has gladdened the lonely cabin of the poor and needy settler, when sickness was upon him and stared him in the face, and his greatest hour of need had come.

         July 6, 1836, Henry Hardman settled on the farm he still occupies, three miles east of Rochester. His son, Cordis Hardman, operated the ferry at Rochester for many years. He died and was buried with high Masonic honors, in 1876.

         April 24, 1837, Mr. H. D. Brown came to Rochester, and built a house for Stephen Toney, on the block where the Hardman House now stands. This was the first shingled house erected in Cedar County. After a few years, Mr. Brown moved to Tipton, where he still resides, engaged as cabinet maker and undertaker.

         June 6, 1837, Duncan McLaren came to Cedar County and made a claim north of the mouth of Rock Creek. He was in the tornado of 1844, and afterward moved to Rochester, where he is now the oldest resident.

         The first mill in Cedar County was the “Little Savior,” established in 1836, by Aaron Porter. He first had a hand grist-mill, made of two “nigger-head” stones, as they were called, but soon built a small mill on Crooked Creek, two miles east of Rochester. This was not erected as a source of profit, as no charge was made to the settlers for its use. Jacob Louderman and family settled on Mr. Porter’s claim October 15, 1839.

         In 1837, Walter Freeman began his grist-mill on Sugar Creek, seven miles east of Rochester, but as he cut a race through solid stone, it was not in operation until 1838. Near him at that time lived Elisha Edwards, now of Moscow, who settled there in 1836.

         In May, 1837, Stephen Toney sold his mill site to William Green, who then built the first saw-mill in Cedar County, on the creek near the road to Tipton, a half mile north of Rochester. This was used for many years, and stood until it was torn down, a few years since, by Mr. Glasscock.

Wm. Green came from Licking County, Ohio, settled at Rochester May 19, 1837, with his wife, son Noah (deceased), daughters, Louisa, who became Mrs. …
         *This is disputed, being claimed for Rev. Daniel Cartwright (1837).

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. . . William McNaughton; Mary, who became Mrs. John Welch, and Martha, who became Mrs. James W. Bagley.

         Mr. Green was one of those energetic, public-spirited men who did much in aiding the settlers in sustaining the privations of frontier life. His meat-barrel and flour-chest always held in store the needed substantials, and were never closed against the destitute. He died in November 26, 1855, aged 57 years.

         In 1837, Christian Holderman, who came in May, 1837, built a saw-mill on Rock Creek, three miles north of Rochester, and soon added to it a grist-mill. It has since been replaced by the Beltz Mill.

         In the Winter of 1836-7, about 500 Sac and Fox Indians of the tribe called Musquakees, with Poweshiek as Chief, camped along the mouth of Rock Creek in the fork between that and Cedar River. Being at war with the Sioux, they fortified their camp by clearing off the heavy timber and building a stockade from the creek to the river. Toney had a barrel of whisky and sold them “fire-water” for which he received $30 in cash, nineteen new Mackinaw blankets, five rifles (almost new), and a saddle and bridle worth from fifteen to twenty dollars. He so diluted the whisky with Cedar River water that after all these sales he had from ten to fifteen gallons of good whisky left. The Chief, Powesheik, learning how Toney had taken advantage of the Indians, giving some of them one bottle of whisky for a blanket, to others two bottles, and to some others more, he came over from the camp to “interview” the “trader,” to whom he said: “To some of the Indians you give one bottle, to some you give two bottles, to others you give more bottles “fire-water” for a blanket. Now me take all,” and turning to his Indian aids-de-camp, he ordered them to cut down the door behind which the remainder of the whiskey was secreted, but seeing that the door was hung on wooden hinges, they lifted it down, rolled out the barrel, loaded it on a hand sled and hauled it away, when they “all got drunk again,” squaws and all, except three, who were left on guard. They promised to pay Toney for the whisky they carried away, by giving him a horse, saddle and bridle in full settlement, but white men had taught them to break promises, and they didn’t do it.

         In the Spring of 1837, after the Indians had left, H. D. Brown went to the old camping ground to get out timber for Green’s mill, and a number of dogs’ carcasses hung up in the trees. The custom was for each family to kill two dogs on leaving the camp; to eat one and tie the other to a tree. This was a sacrifice to the Great Spirit.

         In 1838, Mr. Brown built for Stephen Toney a hotel, the old house afterward owned by Cordis Hardman. In 1837, Charles Swetland came, and in 1839, Nelson Hastings. The former built a house, was Constable, and afterward figured prominently in the business interest of Tipton. The latter opened a general store in a one-story frame building opposite the hotel building. George McCoy had opened a small store in his house in 1837. He was soon after appointed Justice of the Peace, and was afterward County Sheriff. In 1851, McCoy went to California, leaving his wife and children in Tipton with but little provision for their sustenance, and her father, Ben. Nye, took them home to his house. Two years later, Mr. McCoy returned and in a quarrel with Mr. Nye about the children, McCoy killed him in Muscatine County, with a butcher knife, and subsequently returned to California.

         The first death was that of Mrs. Jonathan Morgan, who was buried about fifty rods southeast of Mr. Agnew’s house, under a burr oak tree, then in “Centreville.” The next was a daughter of George Train. As the town had not . . .

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. . . had a legal survey, it was again laid out November 12, 1840, by John J. Tomlinson, Surveyor, under the proprietorship of Stephen Toney, Walter Freeman and John Fulwider, on the southeast quarter of Section 2, Township 79, Range 3 West, 5th Principal Meridian, being on the east side of the river. Tipton had in the meantime been laid out, but Rochester was at that time the largest village in the county. The controversy regarding the location of the county seat is referred to at length in the general history.

         Among other early settlers in the vicinity of Rochester were S. A. Bissell, afterward of Tipton; James W. and Jesse P. Potts, who settled adjoining Martin Baker, and lived there until 1854, when they removed to Dallas County; E. E. Edwards settled near Rochester in the Fall of 1836, and he now resides at Moscow, Muscatine County; John Holiday and family came in 1836, and settled on the farm where the Whittlesey Mills—now Sugar Creek Mills—were built; Samuel Hullick settled on the Robert Sterrett farm in June, 1836; William and Emanuel Young settled in May, 1837, three miles southeast of Rochester; in the same month, William Phelps settled in Iowa Township (afterward Rochester Township), four miles southeast of Rochester; Robert Davis settled three miles east of Rochester in the Fall of 1837; October, 1838, Andrew, Seth, John and Robert Arnett settled near Hector Sterrett; Aretus Crane, his wife and two children, settled one mile east of Rochester, in the spring of 1839; Wm. N. McNaughten settled in Rochester in March, 1839; April 28, 1839, John Ridgeway and family consisting of wife and one child, settled in the county with Daniel Hare until August 1, when he moved to Rochester and continued the tailoring business, which he had started in June. This was the first tailor shop in the county. His first job was a coat for Charley Swetland.

         In the Summer of 1838, Barngrover & Moore brought a stock of goods to Rochester and opened a store.

         Lewis D. Phillips also sold goods as an established business in 1838.

         Joseph Crane established the first regular blacksmith shop in Rochester in the Fall of 1838. His first job was for Geo. McCoy.

         S. B. Grubbs settled in Rochester in the Summer of 1839, and was the first resident physician in the town. Elisha Henry, a pretender to the science of medicine, also settled in Rochester in 1839, and previous to Mr. Grubbs, but was a better carpenter than physician. He moved to Pedee in 1840. Daniel Barber came with Mr. Henry.

         Notes made by Nelson Swank in 1859 read:

         Noble Barren settled in the county in 1840; he was a pretended physician, and as such dealt out to the sick freely during the day and followed his legitimate trade (shoemaking) during the night.

         Mr. Barren is not remembered by the oldest inhabitant, but it is probable that he lived at Rochester, the only village in the county at that time.

         October 15, 1839, Abraham and Jonathan Cline settled two miles east of Rochester, while Christian Cline settled two miles north. Schuyler and Philander Cotton came to the county in the Fall of 1839, and the following Spring, together with William Green, burnt the first kiln of brick in Cedar County. Simeon C. Bodfish, millwright, came to the county in the Spring of 1839. Andrew Wilson settled on Porter’s claim in October, 1839. Charles Foreman and family, consisting of a wife and one child, from Greene County, Ohio, and Joel Foreman settled one and a half miles northeast of Rochester, on Stephen Toney’s claim. Joel Foreman is dead, but Charles still resides on the old farm.

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         George P. Coffey, with his family, and John Chasteen settled in Rochester June 9, 1840. Nathan Howe with his family settled on his present farm in 1842.

         When John Finefield came, November 16, 1844, Adam Graham kept a general store in a house facing east on the block where the Hardman House now stands.

         Timothy J. Newton had a general store in the old building, now unoccupied, on the corner north of the old hotel building. George Coffey kept hotel near Graham’s store for many years. He had a family, and lived in Rochester until his death. Nelson C. Swank was coopering, but on the death of Mr. Graham, he continued the store until his death.

         S. A. Bissell was then Probate Judge and Justice of the Peace.

         Dr. Meredith, who died at Cedar Falls, and Dr. Rickey, now of Keokuk, were the resident physicians at Rochester.

         Dr. Henry, who died in California, had the ferry in charge, and was superseded by John Dillon.

         William Green was then operating the mill on the creek, north of town.

         Nicholas Stutzman began blacksmithing in 1844, and Noah Walters in the following year. Mr. Finefield opened a blacksmith and wagon shop in 1844.

         The newspaper at Rochester will be noticed in a chapter devoted to the press.

         The second hotel building was erected by John Foy, on Water street. This was purchased by Charles Swetland, who moved it to the southwest corner of Main and Third streets, where it now stands. It was last occupied as a hotel by Nathan Carey, and is now the residence of Lysander Raffenburg. At present, there is no hotel in this historic village.

         The first religious meeting, conducted by Martin Baker, has already been mentioned. Religious services were continued in private houses and the school house for many years. They now have a church building, of the Christian denomination. Meetings are held, also, every alternate Sabbath by Rev. James Scull, in the school house; Rev. Bowers, of the United Brethren denomination, preaches on the intervening Sabbath.

         The school is now taught by Miss Ella G. G. Coney, of Atalissa.

         The two-story brick store on the opposite corner from the old hotel building was built by William Baker. The brick building west of the hotel was built by Dr. Noah Green and Wm. McNaughten, and the store east of the hotel was built by T.J. Newton. All were built before the steam mill, although the precise dates have not been obtained.

         About 1853, a large three-story brick steam flouring-mill was built on the river bank in Rochester, by Dr. Noah Green (a son of William) and William McNaughten, who afterward carried on a flouring-mill in Wilton, where he died, and Mahlon Bailey, now in Kansas. Mr. Bailey sold his interest to Charles Swetland, and after several years James Cessford purchased the mill at Sheriff’s sale. He operated it for some time; then rented it to Mr. McNeal, and finally tore it down and removed the machinery to Clarence.

         In 1871, some excitement was occasioned in the vicinity of Rochester by the supposed discovery of silver ore in paying quantities. Expert miners visited the locality; assays were made and a report given that a good per cent of silver existed in the ore analyzed. Companies were organized and leads opened; shafts were sunk in Iowa Township and machinery procured, but the material raised proved valueless. It contained but a very small per cent of silver ore—so small that it could scarcely be detected—and the enterprise was . . .

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. . . abandoned. Several companies were formed, however, while the excitement was up, and a great deal of money was lost in the speculation. In fact, where one dollar’s worth of silver ore was raised, a thousand dollars were sunk.

         Among the companies organized was the Rochester Silver Mining Company, which consisted of Henry Hardman, President; ____ Raffenburg, Vice President; Adam Bair, Secretary; Cordis Hardman, treasurer; Oliver Jack, William Baker, John Baker, J. S. Smith and Jacob Hilton. They operated chiefly on the west side of the river and existed as a company about two years.

         A few years since, J. H. Peabody and Brown & Bagg were merchants of Rochester. At present, Horace Wright has a grocery; Samuel Wolcott, groceries, boarding house and feed stable; Daniel Bagg, saloon; Emanuel Weaver, saloon; Adam Bair, Postmaster and druggist. Mr. Bair came to Iowa in 1839; to Cedar County in 1840, and has been in business at Rochester since 1853. Dr. Wright, physician; John Finefield, blacksmith and wagon maker; James Wilson Stuckenbrook, blacksmith; Noah Walters, blacksmith.

         Golden Rule Lodge No. 24, A., F. &A. M., was instituted September 7, 1850. The first officers and members were as follows: Henry Hardman, W.M.; M. Phelps, S.W.; E. E. Edwards, J.W.; J. H. Leach, Treasurer; M. B. Taylor, Secretary; A. C. Barrack, S.D.; Jacob Wymer, J.D.; J. H. Creese, Tiler. As charter members, there were also Wm. Hoch, Amos Witter, S. Searls and Silas S. Swan.

         The first petition for membership bears the name of A. H. Armstrong. The first work done in the lodge was conferring the third degree on Mr. A. L. Healy.

         The charter bears the date of June 3, A.D. 1857; signed W. D. McCord, Grand Master; T. S. Parvin, Secretary.

         Golden Rule Lodge has conferred Masonic degrees on upward of 120 persons, now scattered over the Western States and Territories.

         Of the charter members, three still remain affiliated with the Lodge, viz.: Henry Hardman, E. E. Edwards and J. H. Creese—full of years and Masonic works, waiting for the sound of the Supreme Grand Master’s gavel to call them from labor.

         The officers for the present year are J. G. Wyant, W.M.; L. P. Atkins, S.W.; G. Lincoln, J.W.; J. S. Smith, Treasurer; O. Howe, Secretary; A. R. Pedan, S.D.; A. Burnett, J.D.; D. Bagg, Tiler. The present officers are all young masons except one, J. S. Smith, an old war-horse of the Lodge, and to whom is due more than to any other one the perpetuity of the Lodge. The present number of members is twenty-three.

         Adam Bair has been one of their members from almost the time of organization.

         Henry Hardman was made a mason in Golden Rule Lodge of Fairfield, Greene Co., Ohio, in 1827.

         At one time, Rochester was the largest village in Cedar County, with fair prospects of continued prosperity. The river was then considered navigable and steamboats occasionally made their way up to Cedar Rapids. As water was the only means of transporting produce, except by laborious teaming, this was a valuable consideration, but when steamboats were unable longer to come up the river and when railroads began to be projected, many of the people left for Tipton and other places, dealing Rochester a blow from which it never recovered.