SECTION III.
TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS
submitted by Linda Stoddard, February 2, 2011, pages 101-154

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Since the founding of most of the towns in the county came before 1860, the changes are now difficult to follow. Only a few are living who carry in mind the events of interest during the fifty years. Records are only a matter of cold figures in the majority of cases and the life of what has occurred is really wanting on account of no vital record having been kept of current events. What seems now of great importance to one trying to collect data of this kind is lost for all time. This is clearly illustrated when one wishes to verify some fact or secure a complete account of an historical point in the county that has surrounding it something of great value if it could be had. Justice cannot be done in every particular because personal recollections vary and records are not at hand.

The first location and survey of any town or village must be credited to those who settled Rochester in 1836. The old records in the office of the county auditor in the county seat are largely the record of a few individuals. Among these names occur the ones first concerned in the founding of the village which takes its name of the great city in the state of New York—Rochester. Stephen Toney and George McCoy, brothers-in-law, came to Cedar County late in the summer of 1836, settled on the site of the present village of Rochester and near this site McCoy built the first cabin and located a ferry. Toney afterwards located not far from him, building a double log cabin. This was destined to be the first county seat, the first ferry, the first in many respects for it had hopes of becoming a city not less important than that of its name elsewhere. The other surrounding territory evidently expected this for settlers came in this direction and we first find the group formed in that region.

At this time the point for commerce was at the "Mouth of Pine," frequently referred to in connection with all the county matters of that early day. "Mouth of Pine" was a creek which finally finds its way into the Mississippi ten miles above Muscatine and this is about twenty-five miles from Rochester—not far in those days. Here at the mouth of Pine creek lived Ben Nye who ran a store and mill on one side and another, who was called "Wicked Bill," or plain William Gordon, lived on the upper side of the creek. The latter being a surveyor was invited by Toney and McCoy to "lay out" a town on the Cedar River. This was done in August after their arrival and the surveyor took his pay in lots. Visions came and went then even as now and the lots probably gave the owner little trouble.

In the summer of 1836, Rev. Martin Baker, who has left his personality in various ways in the history of the county, settled with his son William at the mouth of Crooked Creek and leaving his son in charge of the claim returned to Indiana for his family, three sons and one daughter with two grandchildren. The family settled on this claim in the fall of 1836, and the father continued to reside here until 1846, the year of his death. It is said that the first religious services held in the county were at the home of Rev. Baker soon after his arrival from his journey for his family. 90 

Col. Henry Hardman came to the township in July, 1836, and settled on the farm now owned by John Jeffers. 91  His son, Cordis Hardman, operated the ferry at Rochester for many years. In 1837 H. D. Brown came to the village. He built a house for the original proprietor of the site, Stephen Toney, on the block where afterwards the Hardman house stood, and this is said to have been the first shingled house in Cedar County. This man Brown afterwards became a cabinetmaker in Tipton when it was made the county seat and the future of the river town was not so evidently prosperous. Duncan McLaren came to the township in 1837 and made his claim north of the mouth of Rock Creek. He afterwards removed to Rochester, where at this date his widow still resides. 92 

At this point in the history of this town we find the mention of the first mill in the county and its plan of operation. It had a significant name, "The Little Savior," and was not erected for profit since no charge was made for its use. It was located two miles east of Rochester in 1836 by Aaron Porter.

Mills began to be in demand from the very beginning since the pioneer must depend on what he could raise and have ground into flour for his living. The Freeman Mill was begun on Sugar Creek in 1837, but was not in operation until 1838. Like the "old stone mill" of so much interest to older generations and not much less to the younger ones, the race of the Freeman mill was cut through the solid rock.

Stephen Toney sold his mill site to a William Green, who built a saw-mill on the creek road, a half mile north of Rochester. This is called the first saw-mill in the county. This, after having been in use for many years, was removed and like many other "first things," it has but a memory to mark the spot. Another public-spirited citizen from the state of Ohio, which furnished so many settlers to Cedar County, Willliam Green, came to the county in 1837 and settled at Rochester. He is commended for his liberal ideas and this one may say, as mentioned in the first chapter, was a chief characteristic of the early comer to the open country of this state. The present location of the "Beltz Mill" was originally the site of a saw mill and grist-mill built by Christian Holderman.

Judging from accounts given of him this Stephen Toney, founder, was a thrifty character, losing no opportunity to improve his financial prospects and drive a bargain giving the big end to himself not far different from later and more numerous settlers in this same county. Indians love "fire-water," and while now the courts are laboring by all possible means to convict the man who sells "fire-water" to an Indian, it was not then a matter of vital interest to the United States officers whether one redskin or even two got more than he needed of this same "fire-water." So, as the story goes, when Toney found a great camp of "Sac and Foxes" near Rochester, said to be as many as five hundred, he prepared for an immediate speculation in disposing of his full barrel and the full return in trade amounted to Indian property enough to restore his stock of liquid many fold. Chief Poweshiek came to the rescue of his braves and some think he "got even" with Toney in the conclusion of the parley. The oldest settler tells of these Indians to this day, but it is doubtful whether anyone can vouch for the event that happened so long ago. One can only surmise the conditions that must have existed and that did exist long after this time when the white man bought, or traded with the unsuspecting red man, who was often ruined by the gift or purchase of fire-water even sooner than his white brother. Too late, the government has discovered the damage to its wards.

In 1838 a hotel was built in Rochester, which since was known as the Hardman House. These hostelries were all through the country as soon as parties began making journeys by regular trails, and each point had something akin to what one now calls a hotel.

Charles Swetland, a well-known character, and who left his mark on Tipton afterwards, came to the village of Rochester in 1837. Nelson Hastings opened a store in 1839. Geo. McCoy, Justice of the Peace, and once County Sheriff, had conducted a store in 1837. These store supplies must be brought from the base of distribution at "Mouth of Pine," where Ben Nye, McCoy's father-in-law, kept a store. After a decade we hear of McCoy returning from California and finding his wife at her father's house, where she had been taken because of neglect, he became enraged it seems and in a quarrel which followed he killed Mr. Nye. Then he returned to the coast. His name appears frequently in the county records and one of the very first cases before the courts as a territory he is the plaintiff.

A legal survey of Rochester was made in 1840 by John J. Tomlinson, Surveyor. The proprietors then were Toney, Freeman and Fulwider. It lay on the east side of the Cedar in section two of that congressional township. This was the year that Tipton was surveyed as the county seat, but the greater population was in Rochester.

S. A. Bissell, afterward County Judge, settled here at an early date, with others who later moved from the vicinity. In 1836 came the Halliday family and settled the farm where the "Whittlesey Mills," afterward "Sugar Creek Mills," were built. In the same month Wm. Phelps settled in Iowa Township, four miles from the village, and the families of William and Emanuel Young came to the neighborhood.

In '37 and '38 the Davis and Arnett families settled near Hector Sterrett, who came here in 1836. Crane and McNaughton settled in Rochester in the spring of '39, and John Ridgway came soon after. The latter lived for a time with Daniel Hare, whose grave as now remembered is covered over with grass in the old cemetery. Ridgway has the credit for possessing the first tailor shop in the county.

Joseph Crane, whose fame rests in connection with the county seat fight, opened the first regular blacksmith shop in Rochester in 1838. His first work was for Geo. McCoy. So far as records go Dr. S. B. Grubbs was the first resident physician. One Henry preceded him, but was not held in the highest respect by those who needed a doctor. It appears that he moved to the Pedee settlement in 1840 and may be referred to elsewhere.

Before 1840, in addition to the foregoing, the three Clines, two Coltons and Wm. Green had settled here. The latter burned the first kiln of brick in this county. Bodfish, the millwright, came in '39, and Andrew Wilson settled on the claim of Aaron Porter in '39. The two Foremans settled one and a half miles east on Toney's claim. All these are lost to any atlas published and since names are now far different, the only way to locate these points of residence is through access to records of the county.

In 1840 Coffey and Chasteen came to Rochester and in 1842 Nathan Howe settled near by. The business of the village then ran about as follows: Adam Graham kept a grocery on the block facing where the Hardman House stood. Timothy Newton had a general store on the corner north of the old hotel building. Coffey kept a hotel for many years. Nelson C. Swank was running a cooper shop, but after the death of Graham he continued the store for a time until his own death. S. A. Bissell was then probate judge and justice.

Dr. Meredith, who afterward died at Cedar Falls, and Dr. Rickey, afterward of Keokuk, were the resident doctors at this time. Wm. Finefield came here and opened a blacksmith shop, 1844. Blacksmithing became an extensive business at this time, for we find Nicholas Stutzman engaging in the same year with Finefield and another one the year following. John Foy built the second hotel on Water street—this sounds more metropolitan—which was afterwards purchased by the conspicuous citizen, Chas. Swetland, and moved to the corner of Main and Third streets, where it ceased to be a hotel, and now no one looks for such a place in the village, although a former dwelling house offers hospitality. This brick house was built by Wm. Green for a residence long ago. It stands at the end of the long bridge.

Before the steam mill in 1857 a number of brick buildings were erected for business purposes. One of two stories by William Baker still standing, and another by Dr. Noah Green, a third by T. J. Newton. The three-story brick steam flouring mill did good service for a time, but like all the other mills in this vicinity was finally dismantled and moved to Clarence by James Cessford, who purchased it at sheriff's sale. 93 

This was not the only mill property that fell under the hammer in those days. An incident in the history of Rochester is the reported discovery of silver in paying quantities and the formation of companies to exploit that discovery. Experts came to examine the ore and assays of ore made which reported silver in paying per cents. Shafts were sunk, machinery procured and then the usual result happened—another vain search for silver where the dollar dug only paid a small per cent of the dollars spent in digging. One company lasted about two years and was composed of the best and most influential citizens of Rochester and that vicinity. 94 

"Our neighboring town of Rochester has for some time been on the standstill as to its growth and prosperity, but this season (1857) it will take a long step forward and make it possible for it to compete with any town in the state." 95 

The particular improvement contemplated is the building of a steam mill, the foundations of which are already in. It is to be 38 by 68 feet, three stories, and built of brick. It will be built by Dr. N. Green and M. Bailey. Dr. Green is an enterprising man and will push forward the mill to an early completion. The stone work for the foundation is done and the frame work for the three run of stone with which the mill is supplied. The lumber is mostly on the ground and the brick in the kiln is ready for burning. The cost of the mill is considerable and it will be equal to any mill in this part of the state. This will give an impetus to the trade and business of Rochester and will not only be an ornament to that town, but a credit to the entire county. This mill was doing a fine business in October, 1857, grinding, with two run of stone, at the rate of four hundred bushels per day. One run of stone was for corn and buckwheat and two for wheat. Building material was cheaper at Rochester than in very many places. Stone plentiful in the vicinity and the brick for the mill were burned within two rods of the location. 96 

But the hand of time is not charitable and now all that promised so much, all that meant so much to the former builders is no more, for where brick and mortar once held firm walls the short space of a little more than a half century has left but ruins or at most what will soon be ruins. He who saw the city in those early days, who heard in his imagination the rumble of wheels as in the original city of Rochester fame was never to be so much as near his ideal, and like all other visions it was only temporary. New life may sometime appear, for the country is still very new. There is plenty of time for a new city to grow where the old was planned. Just now Rochester is the enterprising center of interest for summer campers, and only awaits the coming interurban, discussed elsewhere, to be restored to its former activity.

Some old landmarks remain—the old hotel, opposite the Mercantile Company's store; the old "Ferry House" on the river bank, which at one time was kept by Cordis Hardman. There was once a distillery just south of this. Some say the site of the steam mill is washed away by the erosion of the river current against the bank. Some old dwelling houses remain, and Water Street is still there. The sand is still very deep and the automobile is not popular. Across the Cedar the camping grounds are becoming an annual resort for many from a distance, and the contrast of the long ago and what the future promises is to be imagined. Living in this village are some who came to the township in 1837. The widow of Duncan McLaren, mentioned early in the history of Rochester, still resides here. The children of Adam Bair, one of the pioneers, remain to connect the past and present. In one old building the Masonic fraternity still have a lodge full of interesting history, which is further discussed by those who know its past.

We are told by the veteran stage driver that Mississippi boats did load flour at the mill on the bank of the river for he saw them doing so when a boy. We have no reason to dispute the matter, but it is hard to realize that this was true when we see the present worn condition of the surroundings.

The county seat of Cedar County and its location is a matter of history during the years from 1839 to the final settlement in 1852. At the latter date the decision was final and judging from present conditions no fears need be entertained of the question hereafter. From 1840 to the present time events have transpired changing the current of history, but leaving the landmarks as guides to trace the path the pioneers attempted to follow. Here and there along the way one finds serious breaks in the record, but there are those yet living who can recall events covering this allotted life of man since the town of Tipton was first thought of, even before a stake had been driven to mark its site.

Twelve miles from the north, the east, the south, the west, the first mark was made, about which the future town was to grow. Some of these facts had to be touched upon when discussing county organization and government, but the immediate data of town history must follow here. A former citizen, one who was a boy in this vicinity, has made a running commentary on the early times in the pioneer accounts in his own good and personal way, 97  but a little repetition in a new form will not detract from previous references. Town history may grow monotonous because of the want of personal account, and this cannot be wholly supplied at this time. It is fortunate that some record has been made from which one can draw, otherwise the task would be almost endless.

The original plot of Tipton was certified to by the county commissioners, William Miller, Daniel Comstock, and John G. Foy, and was sworn to before W. A. Rigby, who built the first house in Red Oak. The town plot was surveyed by J. Tomlinson, who surveyed most of the roads in the preliminary county government, and this plot was filed for record June, the first day, 1840, at four o'clock in the afternoon, the precise time at which the county began its present legal existence. 98 

The original plot contained forty-nine blocks of twelve lots each, with streets eighty feet wide and alleys sixteen feet, the blocks being three hundred feet square and numbered in tiers from east to west.

Jennings's Addition was made to Tipton June 17th, 1840, by Charles Jennings. Starr's Addition in 1855. This was from eighty acres lying directly west of the original plot. Moore and Culbertson's Addition was made in 1857, Long's Addition in 1858.

The survey of Tipton was made officially in 1840 by the authorized surveyor, J. J. Tomlinson, who made the survey of Rochester referred to on a previous page. This was May 20, 1840. The streets were the usual eighty feet in the original plot, although one might find some less, and lots fifty by one hundred and forty-two in dimensions. The order came from the county commissioners on April 18, 1840, and the surveyor's plans were approved. A public square was provided for near the center of the quarter section which had been pre-empted for a town site.

Henry W. Higgins named the town for his friend, General Tipton of Indiana. One is led to think that Tipton, Indiana, and possibly Tipton, Missouri, may have been named for the same military man. The only building then on the site was a log cabin built by Wm. M. Knott, whose life some one should write. This cabin was first used as a county clerk's office by Wm. K. Whittlesey, who moved there from Rochester after the re-location of the county seat. Here also the county commissioners met in 1840. One speaks of the removal of the county seat with considerable respect for the undertaking, but as a matter of fact all the county possessed was contained, it is said, in a "candle box." Few of us know much about even a candle box.

Charles M. Jennings built a cabin in that portion now known as Jennings' Addition in 1840, this being the first public house in the place. It was afterward used for church purposes. John Culbertson kept hotel for many years in a house located on the present site of the town hall. He was a member of one of the earliest firms in the mercantile line, being the junior partner in the firm of Friend and Culbertson. Among the arrivals in 1840 were John P. Cook, who was closely identified with the interests of the town for many years; Walker and Davis, carpenters, and John R. McCurdy—all these were men without families. Cook built the first store room in Tipton in the year he came, on the corner where W. H. Tuthill later had a drug store, and the corner now occupied by the National Bank." 99 

This store contained the first stock of goods sold in the town. John R. McCurdy was the first tailor here and built a shop near the site of Whan and Adams's store on the west side of the square, near where Rumble's grocery is now. Preston J. Friend built a log cabin not far from the same site, and William R. Rankin, Tipton's first lawyer, soon moved to a house just north of the Palmer House, which stood where the Cobb block is now. Rankin is referred to in connection with the county seat fight and territorial politics when he sought office for himself. William Cummins soon separated from his partnership with Culbertson and built a house of frame material on the north side of the square, third door east from the corner, once occupied by Perrien Dean as a store site. There Cummins opened a saloon.

It was in March, 1841, that Judge W. H. Tuthill came to the village, and soon after purchased the store of John P. Cook, which business he continued for some two years longer. Friend and Culbertson organized and conducted the next general business. The first physician to locate in Tipton was Dr. Harvey G. Whitlock, who tried many trades or professions.

A discussion has arisen as to the first child born in Tipton, but the credit is given to two names, and since no one now seems able to determine the only means of making record is to give the two, Jacob Tipton Haight and John Tipton Culbertson, allowing the reader to take his choice. There seems to be no difference of opinion regarding the girl, since only one, Sallie Friend, claims that honor. It is perhaps fortunate that there is no second claimant, since the quarrel might never end.

The surveyor, Tomlinson, built a house on the corner northeast of the square in 1841, and the house now occupied by Basil Wiggins is near the site. This was the home of Williard Hammond, who ran a general store here after 1849, coming from Cedar Bluffs for that purpose. In 1840 Geo. McCoy, whom we have fully met in Rochester's history, built a house and planted a cottonwood tree in the yard which grew to great size in later years. It was located on the corner of Sixth and Cedar Streets, where Hotel Tipton now stands.

In 1841 a house was built for W. H. Tuthill near the house now known as his residence, and in its day recognized it as one of the best, which stands under the stately pine trees at the corner of Seventh and Cedar Streets. Addison Gillett, mentioned in pioneer accounts as being unfitted for the scenes of the new country, opened a general store on the west side of the square in '43. His death occurred a few years later. The first harness maker here was J. A. Sangston, who after a short time was succeeded by Austin Parsons. The latter's business has not stopped to this day, since his son, M. A. Parsons, continues it at the old stand. It is one of the two businesses that have continued through a half century. Edward Godden, plasterer and stone mason of the time, is living now in the north part of town.

E. M. MacGraw is known as the first wagon maker and J. S. Tuthill followed him in the same trade. Small buildings had large names in those days, one bearing the significant title of "Tontine," was used as post office and clerk's office when Culbertson was appointed district clerk. Richard Hall was a physician and druggist in '44 to '49, when the California fever struck the town, taking a number away in search of gold. The Friend and Culbertson store was opened in 1847. In the same year Alonzo Shaw, one of the most active of Tipton's oldest citizens until his removal to California two years ago, and Col. Smith bought the hotel of Culbertson and conducted it until 1850, when Samuel Tomlinson bought it. William Morton also opened a store about 1847 in a two-story building which stood formerly where Whan and Adams's brick building was erected, as before mentioned. The latter building was erected in 1876. The Hammond store was north of the square in the building now used by Otis Wilson as a plumbing shop. His family became prominent in Tipton affairs, but death and removal have left few of them.

One landmark here must not be forgotten—the first brick store building in the place. This is the long building on the corner used by the Savings Bank at the present time and other business below, while the offices of Hon. John T. Moffit are above. On the corner diagonally across from this building recently used by the Elwood store is the building erected by Charley Swetland, who came here in 1853 from the California gold fields. He is one referred to frequently in Rochester history, coming there in 1837. He also built the frame block on the corner south of the public square used recently by Ross as a place of amusement. Kizer, Crew, and Turner began business here with a general stock of goods. This same Swetland began to publish "The Advertiser" in November, 1853, and to complete his story he failed in business and died in Utah, far from the scenes of his intense activity. It is worth while in passing to say that the "Advertiser" files are complete from his time to the present issue. Sometime during the editorial labors of D. C. Mott, 1893, to June, 1897, the missing files were returned, making a valuable record which is preserved, parts of it in bank vaults.

In August, 1854, W. H. Hammond, known as the "tinner," opened a hardware store. A drug and grocery combined (a queer combination one would think) was then located in the old frame building of Friend and Culbertson, which, if information is trustworthy, was almost opposite the "Palmer House" on Cedar Street or near the present site of the Geiger building. It is said that the town increased one-fourth in size this year. Misfortune came in the form of fire in 1870 and destroyed the brick building erected in 1857 by Shaw and Bogly on the corner now occupied by the National Bank building. Samuel Tomlinson built the brick the second door from Cedar Street east, north of the square, where Brotherlin and Gordon's store is now, in 1855 and the building three doors east about the same time.

The following are the recollections of Tipton in 1845 by Alonzo Shaw, who came here in July of that year:

"In the court house block was a two-story frame building about 40x50 feet; the court room was on the ground floor, with hall and stairway on the south. It fronted to the south and the clerk's office was in the southwest corner, a room about 12x16 feet. The upper story was divided into four rooms for office rooms. The Masonic lodge had one room rented. The treasurer and recorder had one room; it was all one office then. The judge of the court was Mr. Williams, of Muscatine, a Pennsylvanian, who held the office by appointment of the president, a comical old democrat who could play the violin and clarinet and tell as good a story as anyone present. He came up here to hold court on a regular term, and the Williams boys from the Wapsie (or Lowden now) and the Walton boys from Sugar Creek had running horses. They weren't very long in getting up a bet of $50 on a side. The race was to come off at 2 o'clock p. m. on the old Muscatine road, between the place now owned by Chas. Swartzlender and the Cottrell blacksmith shop. It appeared as if every man in the county was here. The judge came into the court house at two o'clock p. m. and called the court, and behold there was the sheriff and two attorneys; even the grand jury had gone to the race. The judge ordered court adjourned until the next morning at nine a. m., and went over to the Culbertson hotel and spent the balance of the day playing on the violin. In the evening the judge and the attorneys gathered in the hotel for a social. There was John P. Cook, Scott Richman, Stephen Whicher and others, singing songs, telling stories, and having a jolly good time until midnight, when J. C. Culbertson, J. P. Cook and some others were so exhausted that they could not navigate.


"In block twenty-five, south of the court house, there was but one house. It was the one recently torn down by Roy McKee. A man from Virginia by the name of Epperson lived there. He had quite a family of girls. He was a drinking man and when in those moods told some very large stories. To illustrate: He said in Virginia where he lived it was near the hot springs, and in the fall of the year when the hogs got fat, all they had to do was to drive the hogs through a spring and then out through a crabapple thicket and they were ready to knife and hang up.


"In block 17, east of the court house there were but two buildings; one was a two-story hewed log jail about 16x32, the lower story having two rooms. It was built double like a fort, with one window in each cell made of iron rods crossed, and Asa Young, when he was put in there for stabbing Sheriff Pat Fleming with a pen knife, said he 'Didn't like to look out o' them ten o' diamonds.' The upper story was intended for the jailor. It was built by J. KL Snyder and stood on the west end of Mrs. Stafford's lot, being lot 1, block 17. The other building in said block 17 was Addison Gillett's, now occupied by Basil Wiggins, it being a part of the old back part of said residence, and was sold to Willard Hammond in 1849.


"Block 19, west of the court house, had but two buildings upon it and they belonged to Dr. Richard Hall. One was a small frame building occupied as his residence, standing back from the street, and in front of which was a small frame building occupied by said doctor as a drug store. I think they stood on lot 4 of block 19.


"Block 11, north of the court square, had but two buildings and a small stable. A. Gillett had a small general stock of goods in a small frame building about 16x24 leet, standing on lot 5 in said block 11, near where Brotherlin's drug store now stands, and that was the only store in Tipton, except Dr. Hall's drug store. The Fleming hotel stood right where the cottage stands today. It was a small story and a half building at that time. There was a small stable back on the alley, and those were all the buildings then on block 11.


"In block 10, northwest diagonal from the court square, there were but two buildings and a stable. A large two-story log house about 20x36 feet stood on lot I in said block 10, and a man by the name of Lee and his family lived there. There was a shed addition on the west side about 12 feet wide, and John Stubblefield's father was running a saddle and harness shop in it. This was where the First National Bank now stands.


"The old J. C. Culbertson hotel, the most prominent place in Tipton at that time, was located where the City Hall now stands. It was a two-story frame building about 16x32 feet, with a porch the length of the front and a story and a half log building in the rear as an ell, used as a dining room and kitchen, 16x20 feet, and a small stable on the alley. These were all the buildings on block 10.


"The first store in Tipton was started in the log house on the corner where the National Bank now is. J. P. Cook brought an old stock of goods from the mouth of Pine Creek on the Mississippi, below Davenport, and started a store in this building. After a time Judge W. H. Tuthill came to Tipton. He had previously located at Moscow, buying a saloon there and running it about six months. But selling whisky wasn't congenial to the Judge and he sold out and came to Tipton and bought J. P. Cook's store, and was consequently the second merchant of Tipton. The Judge having been raised in the city of New York and having his full share of egotism, the people sought to reduce his pride and make a western man of him. In the spring he went to St. Louis for goods to replenish his store. Our elections were then held in the spring of the year. While the Judge was absent they elected him for constable, having no idea that he would accept it under any circumstances, but the Judge disappointed them. He accepted the office, qualified and made one of the best constables they ever had.


"As an illustration of western character, Col. Preston, late of Marion, Iowa, father of Judge Preston, had located in Iowa City in the early forties, a graduate of the law, and stuck out his shingle. When the next election came he was nominated for constable. There was a noted Newfoundland dog in the town and the men wrote tickets putting on the name of the dog, which was elected constable. It made the colonel quite out of patience to be treated in that way and he pulled down his shingle, left town and located in Marion, where he became one of the most popular and noted prosecutors in the law in the state of Iowa.


"In block 5, due north of 10, there were but two buildings. One was a story and a half frame house occupied by Jacob A. Haight and his family. His wife died here and in 1849 he went over the plains to Oregon. His son Charles lives near The Dalles in Oregon. The other building was a blacksmith shop built by Robert Adams, and afterwards was burned, it being the first building burned in Tipton.


"In block 4, east of block 10, there were two buildings. On lot 8 there was a. log house 16x24 feet, occupied by Dr. Whitlock, with a family of five children. The doctor was a character. While a very good physician he was always in trouble with some one, and his associations were bad; he was said to have belonged to the Mormon church. Tipton rejoiced when he and his family left for California in 1849. On lot 10 in said block 4 was the residence of Wm. H. Tuthill, a small story and a half frame house.


"In Jennings's addition to Tipton, on lot 8 in block 3, was a log house where Mr. Huff and his wife lived; it was where Peter Monk now lives. Mr. Huff was a brother-in law of Solomon Aldrich; he went to California in 1849.


On lots 5 and 6 in block 4, Jennings's addition to Tipton, was a house and barn. They were built by John P. Cook and he lived in the house. It was the old part of the house where E. C. Gillam now lives. I bought the J. P. Cook house and lots and he moved across the street into a house then vacant on lot 1 in block 5. Capt. Wm. Dean afterwards purchased the property. He tore down the old house and built the present one thereon.


"Then on lots 5 and 6 in block 10, Uncle Abraham Lett lived in a frame house with an Iowa stable north of the house, and an 80-acre farm, it being a part of the Hartwell place.


"On the first Monday morning of January, 1846, I saddled my horse and rode to Dubuque to the land office and entered a quarter section of land, it being the 80 acres now the Sherwood farm, and the 80 acres now a part of the J. W. Reeder farm, lying on the road and joining on the south the county farm.


"There was a small story and a half house standing on lots 5 and 6 in block 9, as near as I can now locate it, empty. It belonged to the Cummins estate, he having died in that house, the widow having moved away. She afterwards became the wife of the Rev. John W. Kynett. The only other house then standing in Tipton, including the Jennings addition, was the old Petrikin house, quite a large two-story frame building, standing on block 7 in said Jennings addition. It was somewhat dilapidated at that time, having been previously used for public meetings of all kinds and for a school house. This includes all the buildings standing in Tipton in 1845, and there wasn't a tree growing of any kind except a crabapple and plum grove thicket with a few scrub oak on block 14. Some of those scrub oaks are now large trees. It seems strange to me that growth of trees in fifty years will make such a change in the surface of a prairie country, and the denuding of a country of its timber makes fully as much change.


"In the early '40s I bought lot 1 in block 19, for $25. Within a year the Congregationalists wanted it to build a church on, and gave me $75 for it, and the church stood there until the land became valuable for business purposes.


"I built the first brick house in Tipton in 1850. The house has since been built over and is now owned and occupied by Ab Keller.


"The only person living in Tipton that was living here in 1845 is Mrs. Ellen McClure, she being the daughter of Abraham Lett. All others have either died or moved away."

Manby and Ingman began business as clothiers in the new Tomlinson building in 1856.

Casad and Gilmore opened their "Great Western Clothing Emporium" in September, 1856. They bought out the firm of Manby and Ingman in '57 and continued their business at the same stand for many years. This business is continued by Gilmore and Rhoelk at this time at the same stand, one of two in Tipton of such long standing. At that time there were four hotels in the place and much business activity, but no railroad yet, and this prevented rapid growth. Under the chapter on transportation will be found the struggle for an outlet by rail. What occurred during war times must be told elsewhere.

The town of Tipton was incorporated in 1852, when the first attempt at organization was made. No regularly organized council attempted to do business, according to "Advertiser" files, until 1855. The paper for July 22, 1854, states that:
"We are now on the second year of our town's incorporation, and as yet nothing has been done by the councilmen toward so much as an organization to do business. We suffered the incumbency of one set of town officers for fourteen long months without any activity. At our last town election we changed hands on our Board of Town Supervisors and hope we have profited by the bargain, but as yet we have no assurance that they will do any better than the old ones." From a further statement the first active council must have met the following year, for it reads as follows:

"At the first meeting of the Town Council, Monday, August 6, 1855, J. W. Cattell was elected president and Geo. Bagley clerk. At a meeting held on Saturday, August 11, S. S. Daniels and Wells Spicer were appointed a committee to draft a new charter." 100 


In November, 1855, the people voted against a city charter, but two years later approved it, so that it was incorporated in 1857 subject to an act of the assembly. An election was held in February on the question and it is supposed to have carried since officers under the charter were elected the following April. In 1865 the old charter was abandoned and the town came under the general law of the state relating to corporations. From the council records the following is taken: "On motion a committee of two was appointed to circulate a petition for signature of those who were in favor of abandoning the old charter and organizing under the present law. Parsons and Smith, committee. A petition with fifty-six names in favor of abandonment was presented. The election on the subject was called and duly carried with only one dissenting vote. Presumption is in favor of the conclusion that reorganization took place at once, although records are wanting on the subject." 101 

The population of Tipton in 1858 was given by the census then taken as 1,285—three colored and three in jail. It was about this time that property took on a large increase in value, for it is mentioned in a very enthusiastic way that in a single transaction the entire amount of $2,000 was paid in cash, an unheard-of thing up to this date. This was due to the new railroad in the northern part of the county, the C. I. & N. (C. & N. W.)

In 1881 the first project for lighting the town is referred to when a Mr. Brown, representing the Brush Electric Light Company, met with the council and a number of business men, and laid before them the proposition which was substantially as follows: The parties proposing the plant stood ready to make an investment of seven or eight thousand dollars and to erect upon an iron tube forty feet above the court house cupola four lights of 2,000 candle power each, warranted to furnish good and satisfactory light for at least half a mile in all directions, and to furnish and maintain the same for an annual rental of five hundred dollars per annum. This upon condition that the town furnish the necessary care of the engine and that twelve business houses agree to light with electricity at an annual rental of seventy-five dollars each. Only twelve could be supplied with the generator in contemplation and ten at this time had agreed to do so.

The same company at this time had a plant at Dubuque ready for trial when the moon did not shine, and it was to go from there to Des Moines for trial. The agent offered to bring it here for trial on the way to Des Moines if the cost was borne locally and it was adopted if satisfactory. 102 

In accordance with the plan it came about in May, 1882, that a practical test of the Brush light was made in Tipton. A temporary structure was erected above the court house cupola and three globes suspended from the top. The description of the arc lamp is made very minute in the statement "that it consisted of a glass globe surrounding two carbon points or sticks made of ground coke pressed into shape and thinly coated with copper, with only sufficient apparatus to hold them in position and permit the upper one to slide up and down, etc." The complete analysis of the process, now familiar to every school boy, was at that time a marvel.

On the night trial three lamps of three thousand candle power each produced the impression that was expected. The general verdict from the observers, which included the entire population of the town and considerable of the surrounding country was enthusiastically in favor of the light. The council at once passed a resolution agreeing to pay the five hundred dollars annually for five years and the subscribers for the twelve individual lights were soon secured. A stock company was organized with a capital of five thousand dollars to finance the company, the shares being placed at fifty dollars each to encourage a large number of stockholders. The company when organization was completed adopted the name, "The Tipton Electric Light and Power Company," and the first stockholders numbered twenty, holding shares from one to twenty.

In July, 1882, the tower, one hundred and fifty-six feet high, was completed and temporary connections made for illumination. This plant was used for several years, when it was burned and later an ordinance, number fifty-five, was submitted for approval of the voters of the corporation which granted the privilege of operating a plant for ten years to a company.

An enterprise of considerable importance at the time was the construction of the old steam mill in 1850 by a joint stock company. It had a capacity of one hundred and fifty bushels per day, but its operation was not continuous. In December, 1886, this old mill went up in smoke. Its original cost was about twelve thousand dollars, in the hands of the original stockholders, J. P. Cook, Judge Tuthill, Samuel Long, Jr., and others, which amount would be equivalent to double that now. 103 

The Shearers owned it for some years and ran it successfully until the days of making flour from wheat grown at home had passed. It then became a mill for feed and meal only in the hands of D. Meyers, who had possession when it burned.

The city water works were first mentioned in a practical way in August, 1887. At that time Judge Treichler reported $1,300 raised by subscription to commence the drilling of a deep well. From September, 1887, to April, 1888, the well was put down 2,000 feet. The attempt was made to secure a flowing well and a depth of 2,699 feet finally reached by the contractor before drilling ceased. The last two hundred feet cost the sum of $1440, the total cost amounting to $8,815.

After the construction of the deep well in '87 and '88 the proposition to vote bonds for water works was submitted to the people. The vote took place in August of the latter year and stood 271 in favor of the proposition to 32 against it. The amount voted, seven thousand dollars, provided mains for four blocks only, the remaining portion of the town being left for some future extension of mains. The cost of the well, 2,6991/2 feet deep, was given as $8,815 for the drilling alone, and the bond issue was to provide for its immediate use.

The lowest bid on the standpipe when bids were opened in the fall of 1888 was $11,300 for brick 118 feet high. This alone being beyond the amount voted for the purpose, the council was compelled to wait for further expression of the public opinion on the subject. This meant the postponement of any action for this year. In 1889, January 15, bids were opened for the construction of the city water works. The lowest bidder, George C. Morgan of Chicago, was awarded the contract for the entire work. The bid as made was $9,997, but some additions where increased cost was necessary due to change in plans were made to this price. Some discussion occurred at that time relative to the location of the water tower, whether on the highest point in the corporation or at the well. At a later meeting of the city council it was put on the property already owned by the town for economy's sake.

There are many items of interest in connection with the town life that have no real sequence as to the results that may come from them. A suggestion here and there that at the time bears no fruit, yet a long time after it can be traced in the actions taken by individuals or authorities. This is illustrated by the time it took to secure fire protection in any of the smaller towns. Not until severe catastrophe had come upon the town did any movement to secure apparatus succeed. In 1870 negotiations were opened to secure a fire engine, but none was purchased until 1875. The first investment amounted to $2,000.

This is not necessarily connected with the great improvement in residence property in 1892, yet it may have some bearing on the investment of capital in such form. In addition to the taking on of city improvements in 1896 Tipton became a city of the second class when it was divided into three wards as now.

During the year 1898 the improvements were especially noted, an amount given as sixty thousand dollars being invested in buildings, both residence and business property. The papers made special note of the growth during that year. The hotel built by a stock company had been completed in 1894. 104 

About 1901 the paving proposition came before the council, which resulted in the work commencing in the business section in October of that year. This was laid then on two sides of the square and business section only. The brick paving in the business street south of the square and the residence portion of Fourth Street, or that which is called the Boulevard, was completed in the fall of 1903. Since that time it has been in litigation either on the part of the town or property holders for a number of years after the contractor pronounced his part of the work finished. The courts have decided in the end that the work was not done according to specifications and for that reason the contractor has never been able to collect his money. The supreme court has said that the contract must be completed exactly as specified.

The present city officials are: Mayor, Dr. W. A. Grove; Clerk, Chas. Foy; Councilmen, L. F. Kuhn, W. T. Gilmore, L. J. Rowell, Paul Downing, Ed. S. Stofflet.

Among the first settlers in Springdale Township was E. K. Morse, then a young man, who entered a tract of land on the Muscatine County line not far from the west line of Cedar. This was near the present site of Downey. Here he built a cabin and afterward, about 1840, sold this claim to Andrew and Wm. Brisbane.

These two, with A. G. Smith, Enos Nyce, George Barnes and Chester Coleman formed the first settlement in the township. Their nearest mill was Rock Island or Moline. The Indians were numerous in this neighborhood then and they were not willing, exactly, to surrender these happy hunting grounds to the white man. They did not hesitate to remove fences nor to run their ponies through growing crops. In this connection it may be mentioned that they were charged with the murder of a pioneer preacher by the name of Atwood. None of them could be found whose guilt was certain enough to make the execution of a penalty possible. In 1847 John Larue, Simeon Barnes, and in 1849 A. B. Cornwall, Reuben Elliott, Hanson Gregg and John Wright had settled in the township.

One authority is of the opinion that the settlement of this township proper did not begin in earnest until about 1850. Since this territory west of the river was all in one township at first it may be difficult to tell just the point of time in the settlement of individuals. Not until 1853 was this township made a separate jurisdiction. It then included part of the present township of Gower, and remained so for two years. The first justices were Thomas James and Joseph Chase; Constable, Levi Coppock; Trustees, Moses Varney and Samuel Macy. The first election was held in 1852 at the Springdale post office.

J. H. Painter began improvements in the northeast corner of the township in 1849. During the two or three years following a number of families settled in this vicinity. The Society of Friends built their meeting house near Springdale in 1851, and it is said to have been the first house for such purposes in the county. It was built of gravel and had a cement roof and was used for a number of years. 105 

The mail service through this section was furnished by a stage line from Davenport to Iowa City cared for by George Albin and his son, Joseph Albin, who is now a very interesting pioneer of West Branch, and his account given recently is found elsewhere. Told by himself the story is full of life, and one may understand how the early settlers in this township waited for their mail service from day to day on the ten-hour trips. Much trouble was experienced by those driving heavy loads when they came to the sloughs of uncertain depth of mud and water, and the doubling of teams or unloading was often the only method of finally and surely landing on the other side. Temporary bridges were often carried away and must be returned by human effort since teams could not be brought to the point of lodgment. The neighborly nature of men was best shown in the distress of stranded loads in these swamps, which after years of settlement and cultivation of the soil have practically disappeared.

The early settlers of Springdale Township must be also the early inhabitants of Iowa Township, since at this time all the territory lying west of the river was in one division, being one of the five first organized by the county commissioners. John H. Painter, Ann Coppock, the mother of the boys Edwin and Barclay, who are fully spoken of in the John Brown chapter, are among the first settlers. Levi Leland and Levi Fawcett, whose name still remains among the present land owners of the township, Moses Varney, whose descendants still reside in the vicinity, and Dr. Gill, all came in 1850.

After 1850 the settlement was more rapid and the first store was opened in 1851 by Louis Schofield and Thomas Winn. The latter is mentioned in another connection when he went to Harper's Ferry on the mission of mercy to Edwin Coppock. Winn was the postmaster when the Albins carried the mail from Davenport to Iowa City. Jesse Bowersock settled in Iowa Township in 1844, afterwards in Springdale, where he kept a store as he had on his land in the former home. Macy and Fawcett later had a store on the same site. Thomas Fawcett still lives in the township, having been there all these years. Jonathan Maxson, now of West Liberty, also had a mercantile business. He has since been postmaster of West Liberty for some seventeen years. Thomas James, who was prominent in county affairs and the father of Jesse James, county clerk, was once in business here. His widow still survives at the age of more than ninety years. Her picture accompanies the reference. Elwood Macy, referred to above, will be mentioned in the discussion of the Cedar County members of the State Assembly.

There is an old blacksmith shop in Springdale that gives evidence of long use. This was established in an early day. The first one referred to in the place was built by Eli Heald about 1853. Ed. Manfull and Sol. Heald succeeded each other in the wagon repairing and smith work. In an early day the making of carriages was a prosperous industry conducted by D. Schooley. Then was the time that the home product was consumed on the spot and the shop that could repair and produce the entire product had the advantage. The agricultural societies offered inducements to the maker of the useful, and at this time the man who could improve upon the tools then in use was sure to have plenty to encourage him. 106 

The old business of cheesemaking and like products under the co-operative plan was once in order in the township, and one called the Cold Stream Cheese Factory was operated by a stock company. It was located on the southeast corner of section two and now appears on the map as a creamery. The old West Branch factory is also run as a creamery.

Springdale has not changed much with the passing years. It still has no railway service and must depend on rural delivery and the telephone for communication with the neighboring towns. Just now there is a movement to secure the proposed interurban from Iowa City to Davenport, which would give connection with the main lines of road and with the county seat. The business interests of Springdale are in the hands of a few people as compared to the time when the railroad was further removed.

This part of Cedar is one of the richest and most desirable of the farming communities that are the pride of the county. Of high moral tone, distinctly religious, and sensible in all things that make for good citizenship, one can understand its prosperity and influence in public affairs.

A Springdale correspondent gives in a sympathetic way the sketch of a man who belongs in history under many titles. Educational interests knew him well; church interests knew him better; government service was acquainted with his best efforts; many articles on public questions came from his pen; but all human- advancement knew him best. This man was Lawrie Tatum, who came to Springdale in 1844. In July, 1871, he was appointed by President Grant United States Indian Commissioner with headquarters at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The call came to him without preliminary notice and he responded, and with the assistance of his wife served seven thousand Indians for a period of four years.

For many reasons this man is known through written productions. "Our Red Brothers and the Peace Policy of President Grant" is said to be largely his work. His magazine articles are numerous and the pen was always a favorite method of his to give utterance to high ideals of citizenship. His last production was a letter to a Des Moines daily giving expression to his opposition to the Boer War. He died in January, 1900.

The landmark of Centredale is the old stone house built by Joseph Ball in 1862. Its history is about as follows: Centredale was established on the farm of Mr. Ball when the B. C. R & N., now part of the Rock Island system, was built through there. In the year 1850 John Ball came to the vicinity of Centredale, two years later James Ball, and in 1854 John S. Smith and son. There was a district school house here and the railroad used it as a depot until one could be built. The school building was afterward used as a store. In 1862 the house mentioned above was erected as a farm dwelling and is for the time quite modern. The great effort it required and the time it took to get the material together is the matter of interest. The stone came from near the quarry now known as Beater's, nine miles from the site of the house, and they were hauled with ox teams, which required the greater part of three years to complete the work of gathering the stone, sand, and lime for the structure. The land where this house stands was entered by Joseph Ball in 1840, or about that date, but the family were not destined to occupy the land nor house for any length of time, all but one being called by death. B. F. Ball, the survivor, left the county for California in 1873. Later he built a beautiful home of stone and pressed brick resembling, so it is described, the old house at Centredale, at an expense of sixty thousand dollars. Just as the story is told almost, the family is broken by death and the estate of the former owner of the old house was given as three hundred thousand dollars. Centredale is but a small station, but the story of the old house may give it a setting of interest.

Most of the history of Downey is told in connection with Springdale township, but its name is not mentioned only by reference to settlers in that vicinity. It is in the extreme southwest part of the county and must be reached from the other parts by means of the Rock Island through West Liberty. The name comes from Hugh D. Downey, the man who laid out the town. The land on which it is situated was entered by James B. Berryhill in 1852, and afterwards transferred to Mr. Downey, who afterwards sold the site of the town to A. B. Cornwall, when it was resurveyed. Downey has at the present time a school building of sufficient pretensions to meet the needs of a town much larger in population and has attempted to raise the standard of the schools far beyond most districts of the valuation. An elevator and bank are among the recent improvements.

The town of Durant was laid out and platted by Benjamin Brayton in 1854, a civil engineer then in the employ of the Rock Island railway. The name Brayton remained with the town for some time, but it finally took its present title from T. C. Durant, of Union Pacific railroad fame, who pledged himself to give eight hundred dollars for the erection of a public school building. The town is regularly laid out and the streets are eight feet in width, running, almost according to the points of the compass.

Durant is about twenty miles west of Davenport and is situated in one of the richest farming communities in the state. In another part of this book is found a statement of its banks which shows something to prove the assertion. According to the records the town was incorporated in April, 1867, after it had been platted for thirteen years. H. C. Loomis and A. D. Perkins filed the petition. The first mayor was Allen Nesbitt, a justice of the peace at the time. In the survey of 1854 two large squares were left for public purposes—one in the east and one in the west part of the village. In the accompanying picture the present condition of the west square is shown—filled with the shade trees put there in the early days of the town.

The earliest settlers in this vicinity were David and Geo. Walton, who opened their claims three miles west in connection with their father, David W., in May, 1836. When this was written they were said to have been the oldest settlers in the county, and this is not now disputed. The names of Walton do not now appear in the township as holders of the land which they opened to settlement so long ago, but in Sugar Creek. The change has come in the natural exchange of real property and for other reasons which cannot now be discussed.

Harrison Gray came to this neighborhood, but settled in Muscatine County and does not therefore now concern the writer, since the matter must belong to another county so far as his history of a later time goes.

In March, 1854, Joseph Weaver, a graduate of Princeton College, who had mastered the law under Judge McCandles of the United States courts in western Pennsylvania, and who had spent some time in the law, came to the vicinity and entered his farm, commencing active work upon it at once. He was not accustomed to the trials of the new farmer, and gives the expression to his feelings in the following: "This was my first day's work on a farm and well do I remember it. Trudging along on the plowed ground, dust flying in thick clouds all about us, when night came we looked more like the South African than office bleached lawyers. I thought as I returned from the field at evening, sore and dusty, and so weary that if this was farming in Iowa I guess I'll quit." But he did not quit and afterward was glad of it.

The first settlers in this vicinity came from New Haven, Conn., and they were soon followed by those from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and the New England states. The first building erected in Durant was one by James Young, a carpenter, for C. M. Loomis. It was a one-story structure and was used by, the owner for a residence only a short time when he returned east, having been overcome with that dread disease—homesickness. No buildings of that original" time are now standing. After they served their various purposes they were replaced and so remodeled as to be beyond recognition.

The second building is interesting for the reason that it was for the office of the first physician, Dr. Bills, and while planned for his use it was rented at once for a home by a Mr. Cunningham, and he soon found himself running the only hotel in town with a dozen or more patrons and a house twelve by sixteen feet in dimensions. When Mr. Fisher wrote the "History of Durant," from which these facts are drawn, Dr. Bills had put this building to a more humble use, and it was the oldest building standing on its original foundation.

The third building in the town was the depot. One does not always find such a building used for so many purposes, perhaps seldom one better say, for it furnished the church for many years and here the school meetings were held when the matter of educational equipment was discussed. This is said to have been the first building erected for the express purpose of depot service in the state of Iowa. The hotel was built by the proprietors of the town, Cook and Sargent, of Davenport. It was leased by Mr. Downs, the first station agent in the town and the proprietor of the first store. In the fall of 1855 the Western Stage Company opened a line from this place to Tipton, continuing it for three months, for which they received from the proprietors of the town five hundred dollars. The same fall the railroad track was laid through here and now people came thick and fast to settle the new town. The manufacture of brick was undertaken here in the summer of '56, but owing to some difficulty with the railroad it was given up.

The post office, which had been at Centre Grove on the Hanson Farm, was moved to town in '56 and John E. Whittlesey became the first postmaster.

It is interesting to note that the first shipment of produce was six barrels of game. This was sent out on the passenger train then running from this place on January 10, 1856. The first wheat shipment was one hundred and ninety-eight bags to Hull, Purvis and Co., Davenport. The first car of wheat was loaded in February, '56, and was also consigned to Davenport. It must be remembered here that these are the very first rail shipments from this county. The first car of wheat to Chicago went out in the fall of 1857. The first car of onions was shipped to Davenport by B. P. Putnam in 1857. The first freight received was two cars of lumber for H. S. Downs in 1856. A lumber yard was established in 1857 by Allen and Williams.

The first birth in the town was a daughter of Isaac Gilbert, December 12, 1857, and she was named Mary Durant and received from the founders of the town the promised warranty deed to lot five in block ten. From inference it is concluded that the first passenger train came through or to Durant in the winter of '55. The first Sunday school was organized in 1855 and continued many years as a union school. Rev. Thomas Dutton came to Iowa as a missionary in '43, locating north of the village in 1866.10T His name is still familiar to those interested in the Sunday schools of the vicinity.

Item.—"A New Store in a New Place." We call the attention of our readers to the new advertisement of the "Farmers' Store of W. O. Ludlow of Durant. This town, it will be remembered, is the only town on the line of the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad in this county and is destined to be a place of no small note. We (Wells Spicer) passed through there on the cars. We did not have time to stop, but did have time to witness many valuable improvements; conspicuous among these is a new church, the steeple of which can be seen for many miles across the prairies. Also the store of Mr. Ludlow, who now bespeaks a share of Cedar County patronage." 108 

Officials of Durant at present date: E. F. Jockheek, Mayor; W. H. Crecilius, Treasurer; Paul Samberg, Clerk; Councilmen, Herm. Brauch, Gus. Thiel, Geo. Hamann, A. F. Schiele, Hugo Boldt.

When the Clinton branch of the B. C. R. & N., now known as the Rock Island, became an assured proposition (1884), it was also certain that a new town would be platted in Inland township. Inland had been a post office and had some business, but the railroad had left it to the north, and a station in the eastern part of the county was necessary.

Nels Stanton and Dick Hill were the prime movers in the matter, and these men, in conjunction with Piatt and Carr, and Mr. Bennett, the right-of-way man for the B. C. R. & N., and for whom the town is named, constituted the committee to select a site for the new town.

After some deliberation the new site was located on forty acres of the Long farm, belonging to two of the committee, Hill and Stanton. Stock shipments were begun as soon as cars could be obtained. T. S. Chapman put in the first stock of lumber and Mr. Hopkinson built the first blacksmith shop. M. G. Blockman began to buy grain in the fall. John Templeton opened the first business house, moving from Inland. Drs. Colton and Boman came from Inland and established a drug store. W. G. Bevier opened a branch lumber yard in charge of Walter Swartzlender. Two hotels were established early in the town and all lines of business developed rapidly.

The former town of Inland has been swallowed up by the later development of a railroad town to the south, to which place the business went when Bennett was laid out in 1884. The Postens at the grove, which took their name, were the first settlers in this vicinity in 1836. The oldest living pioneer of this vicinity is "Uncle John Ackerman," now in his ninety-second year and willing and able to tell of his life with the Indians when the prairie was still without habitation and no white man near. His adventures are thrilling and his experiences full of that which makes the common events of life seem tame. Mr. Ackerman is now living a short distance east of Bennett and enjoys the telling of the stories of his early days. In 1839 a tavern was established in order to accommodate the travelers on the Davenport-Marion road not far from the present town of Bennett. This was conducted by J. C. Hallock at the suggestion of John P. Cook, a resident of Tipton. Thomas Curtis was the first settler at Inland village. Here he kept a public house and established a wagon repair shop.

Inland had the promise of any town then, but after it had attained the growth expected of such a place in the lines of business generally followed in the villages it all disappeared when the moving began. The early mail service was as in other places overland from the nearest point of general delivery, and the marketing must be done at Davenport, the point of distribution of manufactured goods. Bennett is now the junction of the Davenport branch and the Clinton division of the Rock Island, and has considerable business of railroad nature. The trains are run to make connections here, and this is a point of division of the traffic. Bennett provided for water works in 1902 and has a system with good supply, using a pressure system for distribution instead of a tower, as is the custom in most of the county towns.

The present officers of Bennett are: Mayor, H. W. Dammann; Clerk, J. B. Vaughn; Treasurer, E. P. Wingert; Councilmen, James Flater, Henry Ruser, J. H. Abraham, H. R. Chapman and H. Heineman.

Another town was platted west of Stanwood on the line between Fremont and Pioneer townships. This tract belonged to David Dorwart, and under the same arrangement with the railway company as other towns he secured the location of a town site about the year 1857. Previous to this in 1854 or '55 John Onstott and D. H. Comstock laid out the original town of Mechanicsville. The original plat comprised about sixty acres and lay in the western part of what is now the main portion of the town. The land between the "Iroquois" tract, as the eastern, portion lying over the line in Fremont was formerly called, and the original plat of Mechanicsville was laid out in lots in order to unite the two, and thus a tract of one hundred and twenty acres was included in the town plat. The depot was then located on the western portion instead of as at first anticipated. The town being thus in two townships at one time caused some difficulty about elections, as one officer's election was contested on the grounds of votes from another township being cast for him.

The town gets its name from the character of the first settlers in the western part of the town, and was given the place by Mr. Onstott. They were mechanics and the owner himself was such, so the name was well taken, although it is frequently abbreviated by those using it much in correspondence.

Mechanicsville suffered from a severe fire in 1883, which destroyed the south side of the business street. No means of fighting the fire were at hand beyond the ordinary "bucket brigade," and many narrow escapes were experienced. The water system has since been established and protection is ample. The electric lighting plant was first put into service in 1899 by Helmer and Dawson, and was commended as of first-class construction. The history of the organizations of the town are given in other connections. The cuts accompanying the chapter give some idea of the prosperity of the corporation.

The original town was in the south half of section thirteen of Pioneer township, and the Iroquios addition lies to the east, extending over the line into Fremont, the Batdorf addition lying wholly in that township according to record, 109  and it would seem proper in this case to do as Lowden has done—arrange to get the entire town into one township if there is no constitutional objection. Fewer additions have been made to the original plat perhaps because the enlargement was made in the beginning when the depot was placed on the western portion after the eastern part had been platted.

The town officers reported now include: Leonard Hines, Jr., Mayor; J. H. Onstatt, Recorder; H. E. Gibeaut, Treasurer; Councilmen, Lines Bennett, O. J. Davison, Geo. Nagle, F. W. Leech, and L. H. Andre.

Onion Grove Station was the name first given to the stopping place of the trains on the Chicago and Northwestern railway, then known by the name as often written in the chapter on transportation, the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska. The name is suggestive of the neighborhood of the grove two miles north of the present site of the town, where the familiar wild onion grew in abundance at that time, perhaps not now to be had at all. A similar plant may be found in the timber, but the quality is far different from the prairie kind one may come upon in the open land in the northern part of the state. The post office at Onion Grove was first supplied from the route running from Iowa City to Dubuque and once to Galena, Ill., when Alonzo Shaw said he rode two hundred miles each week on horseback to carry out his contract. One may read his own words in the chapter on the subject of transportation. Dayton township was named at a late, comparatively late, date, since it is on record as being made from Polk, once the fractional part of "Waubespinicon" township. The banks of Mill Creek supplied the traveler with the necessary onion portion of his meal if he desired such addition.

The Northwestern passing two miles from this post office caused its removal, and the lack of euphony in the name led in to the change in 1862. Strictly speaking the name Clarence comes from the Latin, clarus, meaning famous, but that was not supposed to be the reason for its adoption now as some town of the same name in the parent state suggested it here to the one who selected it. A vacant freight car served for the first station some distance east of the present station near the McNeil farm then.

The town of Clarence as now platted lies in sections 22, 23, 26, and 26 and was originally laid out by the land company organized for the purpose of controlling the town sites along the line of road then building. Joseph Ball was the owner of the forty acres on which the original plat was made, but he sold to the town company. It is not stated whether this Joseph Ball is the same one who settled early in the history of the county near Centredale, but one may suppose the two to be identical. The other part of the original plat belonged to James Laughrey, which the company also purchased.

The remaining part of the section on which the forty acres platted from section 27 lay was purchased in 1865 by Fred Hecht, M. K. H. Reed, and A. Piatt, with the exception of the northwest quarter, and that portion known as Hecht's addition was made to the town of Clarence. The school building and water works are located upon this addition. The town was incorporated in 1866, according to the records, and secured public improvements since then in the form of water works in 1890, and a municipal gas plant was voted upon in 1895, when the ladies had the rare privilege of voting. The system is pronounced a success and was the first plant of the kind in the county. Clarence enjoys the reputation also of having the only public watering fountain for man and beast in the county so far as discovered.

The oldest business building in Clarence is the one occupied by C. Peterson as a boot and shoe store on the north side of Lombard Street. This was the store once occupied by Friend and Culbertson, who established a branch store from their Tipton business house with Mr. Fred Hecht as clerk. In 1860 the firm of Friend and Culbertson built across the street and later were succeeded by Hecht and Polley. The line of business of the towns as conducted in the early history of their organization has changed in many particulars. What then was in demand made the production of many things at home possible, and the manufacture on the large scale had not then been felt as to-day. The idle shops, the empty hotels and store rooms indicate to the observer the rapid changes in the service of all the towns that once flourished in the new country before markets became so frequent or movement so swift. Firms are constantly changing until it is impossible to enumerate all that may have been engaged in any one line of business in a single decade. In the largest town in Cedar County almost every business house in the town has changed hands in the past ten years.

The manufacture of goods of domestic use in an agricultural region was extensive until the great factories with millions of capital took the market from the small producer. In all the towns of this county the industry concerned w1th making of farm implements and iron work was carried on in the vicinity until these things were made wholesale ready to use without the intervention of the mechanic, until now the occupations of the first days have gone to find in many cases nothing to take the place of the former trade. The man who manufactured barrels and casks, who made baskets or harrows, is now out of that particular occupation since he can no longer compete with the machine and massed capital.

All this line of work was carried on in Clarence in an early day, but now the manufacture of such things as found forty years ago is not thought of in any serious way. To-day the repair shop comes the nearest to the needs of the farmer and ready made goods meet the demand.

The old mill that used to stand at Rochester after having fulfilled its mission there was removed, as mentioned in another connection, to the neighborhood of Clarence when James Cessford bought it at sheriff's sale. That mill had made flour for shipment down the Cedar river by boat loads, and at the present time the only mill in the county that makes flour is the Nelson mill at Durant.

Clarence was incorporated in 1866 under the general laws of the state and the first mayor was James De Wolf.

The present mayor is S. S. Crittenden; Councilmen, S. L. McLeod, John Greig, Hosea Ballou, Fred Goldsmith, A. S. Rossman; Town Clerk, F. W. Crow; Treasurer, H. A. Jons.

The original town nearest to the location of Stanwood was called Flournoy, about one-half mile east of the station. The owners of the town site were S. H. and Wm. C. Maley and William Preston. Some time in September, 1868, they began negotiations with the C. & N. W. railroad authorities to erect a station house for passengers and freight and lay the necessary sidetracks to accommodate the traffic and give this place every facility furnished other towns along the line. In consideration for such service the proprietors of the town as mentioned agreed to give the company every alternate lot throughout the plat and four acres for railway yards.

Up to the middle of January, 1869, no signs of any town appeared where Stanwood now stands beyond the survey and a small sidetrack. On January 20th of that year Mr. W. W. Allen began the first house. By the time spring opened there was a substantial growth of some thirty buildings. John Dorcas of Red Oak began the second house in Stanwood. The delay in erecting a depot was due to the press of business of the company and the town proprietors were early assured of the building in the spring of 1869. At this time Mr. H. P. Stanwood was assistant superintendent of the C. & N. W., and for him the town was named. This was the nearest station to Tipton and from there the county seat was supplied until its road was completed in November, 1872.

The Northwestern railway maintains extensive equipments for the supply of water and fuel at Stanwood and the improvements of the company make the future of the junction one of security. Trains must stop here for coal and water and passengers must be allowed to land for the Tipton connection. Additional sidetracks are being laid to accommodate the traffic at this point.

There has been some rumor of a northern connection which would be of great additional benefit to Stanwood. The first town of Flournoy is forgotten except by the oldest settlers, and there are only a few left who remember the time when this was open land before the road was built. The history of schools, churches, and other public organizations belongs in its proper chapter.

The Mayor of Stanwood is James George; Chris. Stoecker, Clerk; Councilmen, Ed. Gruber, M. H. Rice, W. C. Jackson, H. F. Haesemeyer, E. J. Bernstorf, Their regular meetings are on Monday night, the first in the month.

In 1858 the railroad reached Lowden, the first stopping place of the Chicago & Northwestern in Cedar County. The first settlers of this vicinity came in '39, among them being some names very familiar to the early settlers of the county— John C. Parr and his four sons; William Parr and his five sons, and John Parr, the brother of the other two. It was James VanHorn who entered the site of the present village of Lowden in 1839. This was an early day for this region, since settlement did not increase very rapidly until after 1850, when the entire county felt the rapid growth of population. Not only here but into other sections people began to find their way more readily.

July 5, 1858, the railway was completed to this station and pushed westward a little later. Not far from this point the junction with a line to Tipton was proposed, which proposal was never accepted or the connection now would be east and west instead of north and south.

The Iowa Land Company had a hand in the settlement of this place, as in many of the other towns along the line. Seven acres were donated to the company by James VanHorn, and Thomas Shearer gave up five more, making twelve in the original town site, which lies in section two of Springfield township. This was surveyed for the company on behalf of its agents, Horace Williams and Milo Smith, known now as Judge Milo P. Smith of Cedar Rapids, and it was called "Louden" after the Ohio home of Thomas Shearer, Loudenville, Ohio, The name now is now spelled with a "w," Lowden, when referring to the post office. Several additions have been made to the original site. Shearer has made two on the east, J. D. Shearer one on the north, Walker and Meyer have added to the east side. Peterson two additions on the north, Denson, Hahn and Banks each small additions in the same part of the town since Reed's addition came up to the section line.

The town was originally in two townships, or was after the additions had been made over the section line into Massillon township, and a petition was presented to the board of supervisors to detach a part of the northern township and add it to Springfield, which was done. The town was incorporated in 1869 with Wm. McGarvy as the first mayor. J. D. Shearer was the first justice of the peace and held this office from 1857 to 1865, when he became sheriff of the county for ten years.

One of the oldest business firms in the county is found here, having a continuous business life of fifty years—the Peterson Brothers formerly, now Freund & Co. They do a general merchandise business, carrying everything that the vicinity could demand and doing a private banking business in connection.

Among the oldest residents of the place are M. L. Banks, Henry Moore, Henry Heiner, David Kimball, who are able to give the history of the town.

Before the railway had reached the town site a store had been put into operation by Wm. Dugan, who built the first house on the prairie here where the road was in prospect. Huff and Henry formed a partnership soon after this in the mercantile business.

Lowden has been a stopping place for all trains except those carrying a full service for the needs of passengers and an eating house furnished the hungry man with his necessary meal. This has been an important part of the railway yards here and the double track line has made it a busy place in the past. For miles it seems the straight track tends to the westward without a curve so far as the eye can reach from the station, and the surrounding country is rich enough for the most exacting.

For a town of its size Lowden has the best city hall in the county. Its public school building is one of latest design both in construction and equipment, and the location is ideal. The town maintains a municipal gas plant on the same plan as Clarence.

G. F. Reinking is the present Mayor; E. R. Struck, Clerk; Councilmen, J. H. Andersen, C. Boettger, H. Cassier, D. W. Conrad, H. R. Griesback.

Soon after Carlisle had been planned five miles south of the present town of Lowden, another village was laid out four miles north. The second had more to make it a success since it lies near a stream and happened to be in the line of a railway afterward. Its survey was completed in 1854 before the signs of any railway in the vicinity, and now the little town of Massillon has about one hundred and fifty inhabitants. It is near by the Wapsepinicon and on a branch of the Milwaukee. This place was originally known as "Denson's Ferry," named for Joseph Denson, who first settled here and established it. In this place now is a bridge of some eleven hundred feet. This was one of the partnership bridges originally erected by the farmers paying one-half and the county the other half. A new one has taken its place, which is the one referred to above.

The town was resurveyed and platted in 1875 by F. A. Gates, then county surveyor, at the request of three citizens and assented to by a fourth one of the original proprietors of the town, Mr. William Williams. The first settlements were made in this region in 1840. John Shriver came here in July of that year. His son Hiram resides in Lowden at this writing. Williams, mentioned above, came in '40 and Abraham Williams in 1841. Like many others in 1850 he crossed the plains to California and was more successful than many. In 1843 the Thorns came to this township, also the Morton family. M. D. Keith, Ira Brink, and Levi VanSickle came in 1850. H. A. Emerson was identified with this region for over half a century. Geo. Jeffrey came in 1851, and Hon. J. M. Kent in '52. He represented the district as senator in the eighth and ninth general assemblies. F. A. Gates settled here in 1853 and afterward served the county as surveyor for a period of five years.

Settlers came from this time very rapidly and the railroad through the northern part of the county made this community one of the first to be served. Today Massillon is a village, small in trades and business, but delightfully situated on the stream with the poetical Indian name. Surrounded by a rich country it gives one the impression of comfort without anxiety, security without needed defence. An eye for the interesting points and a pen to describe must belong to the one who wrote this: "The Wapsipinicon majestically winds its way along the fine timber lands on the north and east of the village. To the east are the rocky bluffs, which have been washed by 'Wapsie waters' for many ages so far as we know. Here are the famous natural wells. Here is where the people for miles around spend many happy hours in the summer seasons. From the farm of Henry Ruprecht, a half mile southeast, one gets the best view of this vicinity. The little hamlet, the river, the ponds and meadows, the bluffs, the railroad and wooded lands all combine to make the place worthy of a painter's brush, and it must be seen to be appreciated." 110 

Cedar Bluffs has figured in the county history very prominently since the agitation of the bridge construction across the Cedar at some point to accommodate the people. Mason's Grove was the nearest point of settlement in the beginning Here it is recorded that Jackemiah Baldwin (the spelling of the Christian name has this form on the county records and there seems to be no authority for spelling it as found in the Old History) settled in the year 1837, bringing his three sons and being accompanied by two friends, John Malic and Geo. Parks, who settled near. Mason's Grove received its name from the man who settled there in the same year, but a little later in the season. The name of Mason and Baldwin still appear among the land owners of this neighborhood. Our friend Tom Baldwin of Tipton is a grandson of the first Baldwin mentioned and also a grandson of John Finch, who came to the county in 1837 and purchased his claim of Samuel Gilliland, who had begun improvements in that part of Center township.

William Kester was the first settler on the west side of the river in that part belonging to Cass township. He died very early in the history of the place. Among the other early settlers before the year 1840 were Alexander and Frank Moffit with their father, who died in this vicinity. The old Moffit homestead log house is among the landmarks of the township. Mrs. Jacob Hardacre and Mrs. Wm. Neeley were of this family.

Of these pioneers the only ones remaining are Alexander Moffit and Jacob Hardacre, the latter living in Missouri.

Washington and Gower's Ferry and Cedar Bluffs are names for the same location on the map, having been applied at different times in the history of the place. The names of Gower and Hammond are associated with the locality as early as 1839, when James Gower and Willard Hammond bought the claims of a number of settlers in Cass township. Gower operated the store and ferry at this point about 1840 and later in his life of the family, but early in the state's history, removed to Iowa City. He is mentioned elsewhere in connection with the county in the law-making branch of the state government.

Robert Gower, who worked so faithfully to secure a bridge at this point and died before he saw it accomplished, came to this settlement in 1841 with his four sons. For Robert Gower the township was named and his son Sewall continued the work of his father until the building of the bridge was accomplished in 1877.

This part of the county is destined at some time to be the center of an industry as yet undreamed of, since the natural advantages have been seen at this time in the preliminary efforts to which the following refers:

Attention has been called to the natural advantages which this site offers for the construction of a dam to furnish water power for turning the energy of the stream into the form of electricity, this to be distributed to various points so far as feasible to be redistributed among the consumers of low voltage or to be used in the driving of lines of cars between the towns lying in the district. Surveys have been made to determine the necessary territory to be considered in dam area, and it is well known that the site is one of the very best in the country for such improvement. So long ago as 1876, when the bridge was built here, the advantage of the solid rock was noted and described by a scientific journal, the Engineering News: "There is a narrow gorge in the river just below where the channel is hemmed in by a perpendicular wall of magnesian limestone, forty feet high. The channel here is about 480 feet wide and has a rock bottom and the water at its lowest stage is about two and one-half feet deep. The stone for the piers and abutments will be taken from the magnesian beds in the vicinity. The stone has very regular beds so that the work of cutting will be small." Companies have been organized to exploit this power and the time will not be long until the wasted power will be available.

When the Albins carried the mail and the passengers from Davenport to Iowa City across the prairie in 1849 there was no sign of an inhabitant in that part of the county where West Branch is now located. Only the station on their stage line a short distance east of the site. To this place David Tatum and a few others came in 1850 and they were followed shortly by William Townsend. Then the lines of travel were faintly marked and no one could depend on the chance of finding his way without previous preparation. The well known settlers, Eli Hoover, James Townsend, Thomas Barrington, Joseph Steer, and Michael King, came in '53. The rival towns of West Branch and Cameron were each surveyed in the year 1869, the second a few months later than the first, taking its name from the chief engineer of the B. C. R. & N. railway. These towns retained the names but a short time when the present title covered the whole corporation.

Joseph Steer laid out the town of West Branch in May of 1869, acting for John M. Wetherell, whose name is retained for one of the streets of the town. This part of West Branch was much smaller in area than the part called Cameron and contains now most of the business section. Many additions have been made to the original site. On the west and north Steer's, Oliphant's and Witter's additions, and on the east Townsend's and Michener's additions, making a large territory, which gives roomy lots and a comfortable appearance to the residence portion. West Branch has a good system of electric lighting and an efficient water works plant, a recent well furnishing a supply that seems inexhaustible.

The trade in lumber has been especially marked here, the town supporting two extensive yards. Its business section has some excellent buildings. The recent bank building which was purchased by the Odd Fellows being an illustration. This was erected in 1908.

The town was incorporated in 1875 under the direction of J. Steer, James Townsend, E. Grinnell, L. J. Miles, and W. D. Hammell, as commissioners of the election. It then contained about three hundred inhabitants.

Historically the most interesting building is the old home of James Townsend where the travelers of the days of the stage were entertained and the name "Traveler's Rest" was applied to it. It stands to the left on the road toward Springdale and from the picture in this volume one may recognize it very readily. It is not now on its original site.

West Branch has a post office building that is especially commendable and it is distinguished by having a library building and post office beyond the usual town of its size. The government approved the plans of the present postmaster when he submitted them and the lease runs here for ten years at a time. The special feature that one is first called upon to notice is the entrance built to accommodate the public in all kinds of weather. Another that speaks well for the comfort of the postal clerk and those who must work in the interior is the skylight which furnishes the illumination for the entire room. It suggests a way of avoiding dark rooms. Mr. Wickersham arranged the plans and submitted them to the proper officials. The library is discussed in another chapter.

The city officers of West Branch at this date are below:
Mayor, L. J. Leech; Clerk, A. R. Cavin; Councilmen, D. L. Ball, J. T. Butler, G. C. Hoover, M. W. Munger, and P. V. N. Myers.

The town of Cedar Valley is best discussed in connection with the Bealer quarry, since the quarry is the making of the town, and when that industry stops it must of necessity cease to be of importance. At the end of the bridge across the Cedar into Gower Township the village contains a few houses for business and the shops of the quarry.

Plato and Buchanan may be included in one paragraph. The name of the first is suggestive of Greek philosophy and the second, as some may suppose, of the former president of the United States, but here is where he would make his mistake. The fine farm home of Alex. Buchanan lies to the north and it is well that the station should be known by that of a citizen so well known. These stations are for the accommodation of shippers in this portion of the county and cannot have much to make them grow into towns of any future greatness. They came into being in 1884 when the road reached that part of the county. Sunbury is another of the smaller towns that furnishes a nearby outlet to the products of the farmer and brings the supplies he needs to his door; it is one of the last to be platted since this is the last branch of railroad to be built in the county limits. Its principal streets are Main, then Henry, Hugo, Herman, and Albert.

There was once a post office on the mail route from east to west across the southern part of the county in Iowa Township proper, since one must always consider that all lying west of the river at first was of the same common title, that promised to be a village of some hundreds of houses more or less. This was Pedee and took its name from a river in the homeland of a settler. Long before the town of Springdale became the center of reference for that side of the river the post office was known in other parts. Here John Brown came and in 1866 a writer never referred to any place as the headquarters of the band except at Pedee. The first inhabitant here, according to the opinion of the old settlers, was the man who figures in the earliest records of the county courts as found in that office today —Clement Squires and his family. He left the county in 1840, perhaps because of the reputation he had won here.

Robert G. Roberts, whom the versatile artist has drawn in cartoons and whom the wit has made to say queer things in his official capacity as a member of the territorial legislature, was one of the first settlers in this township. When he came is disputed, but it was about 1837, and it matters little now as to the exact minute or day for the purpose of the data necessary to fix him as part of the county's possession in history. George Frain is the authority for the statement that Mr. Roberts bought his claim of Squires for twenty dollars and if so he did a good deed in getting rid of Squires. The experiences of these settlers were not different than the others who came at that time. The usual difficulties confronted them and they made the humblest things answer for the time being until they could do better. Under the heading of outlawry the names of Stoutenburg and Warren appear as settlers of this township in the northern part. Ebenezer A. Gray, a member of the board of supervisors and a most valued citizen, with his family and father, Thomas Gray, came to the township in '39, settling near what is called Gray's Ford, a point much discussed at the time of the bridge controversy. William Maxson, a brother-in-law of Mr. Gray, and his sons Jonathan and Thaddeus and Kurtz, came at the same time. The first of these brothers now lives in West Liberty where he has been postmaster and editor of the paper of that place. Thaddeus Maxson lives in Springdale at this date, spending his winters in California. The Grays still own land in Iowa Township.

At the first election after Iowa Township was organized in 1840, Robert G. Roberts, E. A. Gray and Thomas Lingle were appointed as judges. Twenty votes were polled then. E. A. Gray and A. G. Smith were elected as justices of the peace, and Robert G. Roberts was elected as county commissioner for this township (?).

A well known character in the vicinity whose name is attached to a deed given by Wm. Maxson as notary was William Hoch. His name indicates that he was of French descent and he is said to have been conversant with many languages and been held in high regard by his neighbors. To have the history of this man alone would be worth many hours of research, but where shall one go now for his story in the brief time of his residence. The name has been familiar to the writer of this from the days of student life when one who came from this county and must have been a descendant of the same family was a member of the classes.

It seems that the ever-present Stephen Toney was once postmaster at Pedee. The first post office was located near the timber where Elisha Henry was the government's representative.

In the spring of 1837 the surveying of township lines was begun. This of course refers to congressional townships only, since there was no provision yet for the naming of civil townships as they are known today, even if the lines happened to correspond. If some one had the time one of the most interesting series of maps obtainable could be made from the history of the civil townships of Cedar County. It is commended to the future county auditor as an interesting pastime and yet of illuminating importance to the office over which he presides.

When the survey took place as mentioned above the laying out of new towns that might furnish the incentive to great growth in the future and made men dream of fortunes over night, became a common subject of thought. Among these ventures one is of importance, since here the first store in the county opened for business. Centreville was on the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section four, now in Sugar Creek Township. John C. Higginson, Sheller and others were interested in the venture as the future county seat when the time came for its settlement. Sargent, Sheller and Company opened the first store here. How long it continued is not now a matter to be verified, but at last accounts all that remained of the store building was an old cellar and fireplace not far from the Muscatine road, and the home of W. M. Port.