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EARLY SETTLEMENTS OF CEDAR
COUNTY, IOWA Source: ANNALS OF IOWA, A Historical Quarterly, Third Series,
Vol. XVII, No. 6, October, 1930,
APOLLO. Listed in the U.S. Official Register of 1859 as a post
office in Cedar County, but not found on maps of that period.
ANTWERP. In the southeast quarter of section 9, township 80, range
3, about three miles southwest of the present city of Tipton.
Laid out in 1838 by Peter Dilts and Charles Warfield, it was an
aspirant for the county seat. The town was named for Herman Van
Antwerp, upon whose property the town was platted. The county's
first resident doctor, Harvey Whitlock, was a notable resident.
He settled there in 1839 and later moved to Tipton. In 1878 the
town became known as Tallman for resident James W. Tallman who
was the county sheriff in 1838 and later became a probate judge
and county assessor.
AYRESVILLE. A hamlet in the
northwest corner of section 6, Farmington township.
BENNETT. Nine miles southeast of Tipton on the BCR&N Railroad.
BRICK HOUSE. Listed in the U.S. Official Register of 1867 as a post
office in Cedar County, but not found on maps of that period.
BUCHANAN. On the Red Cedar River along the BCR & N Railroad, six
miles from Tipton.
CAMERON. A village platted in 1869, but now constituting a part of
the eastern portion of the town of West Branch.
CARLISLE. In section 20, Springfield Township north of Bennett. A
village laid out about 1853 by John Walker. Walker built a
hotel, Judith Appler bought the first lots, James Bridger opened
a small store and John Barinski operated a blacksmith shop. Its
post office was named Rosette in 1855; see below. A nearby
cemetery named Fairview shows a large number of deaths in 1862.
The only remaining home is that of Jacob Stockslager, built in
1865.
CEDAR BLUFF. On the Cedar River, 10 miles west of Tipton and eight
miles east of Morse, the nearest railroad station. Population in
1889 was 145.
CEDAR. In the northwestern part of Massilon Township. Post Office,
1855-63
CEDAR RIVER. In the northeastern part of section 33, Cass Township,
on the west side of the Cedar River. Post office from 1841-1849
when the name was changed to Gower's Ferry, see below.
CEDAR VALLEY. In the northwest corner of section 19, Gower
Township, near the west bank of the Cedar River. A village
formerly the location of extensive stone quarries. Post office,
1893 and still running.
CENTERDALE. On the BCR & N Railway, 18 miles southwest of Tipton and
four miles southeast of West Branch. In 1889, the Parmelee
Library Association held 60 volumes.
CENTERVILLE. This community was the first to have a store. Its
founders, John C. Higgenbottom and John S. Sheller, built a
cabin and opened the store in the spring of 1837.
CESSFORD. In section 22, Fairfield Township, Post office, 1867-69.
CLARENCE. Settled about 1858, two miles south of Onion Grove, when
the railroad went through. The population in 1889 was 700. The
opera house could seat 400. (See Onion Grove and Union Grove.)
DENSON'S FERRY. Name first given to what is now the town of
Massilon.
DURANT. Population in 1889 was 537. Located six miles east of
Wilton Junction.
ELIZABETHTOWN. At a point on the Cedar River a little below where
the Cedar Valley stone quarries were later developed. Laid out
in 1837 by Jehu Kenworthy and a Mr. Miller. It was an aspirant
for the county seat. The 1878 county history says the town
lasted only a few months, but it appears on an 1845 map.
Another map from 1838 identifies the town as Washington.
GOWER'S FERRY. A post office formerly called Cedar River (see
above). It had the name of Gower's Ferry from 1849 to 1859 when
it was removed to the east side of the river and the name
changed to Cedar Bluff.
HARWELL. In section 4, Springfield Township. Post office, 1854-63.
HONEY GROVE. Listed in the U.S. Official Register as a post office
in Cedar County 1855-59, but not found on maps of that period,
but thought to have been in Gower Township.
INLAND. In the northeastern part of Inland Township. A trading
village of some importance. Post office, 1853-85.
LACTIN. In eastern part of Sugar Creek Township. Post office,
1853-57.
LIME CITY. In eastern part of section 16, Sugar Creek Township. A
town created in the 1880s because of the lime industry. Post
office, 1897-1903. In 1883, it was known as Lime Kiln. John Zuck,
the county surveyor, made a survey and plat for Lime City.
Liverton T. Munn owned the first grocery and general store. O.
Howe owned the meat market. Munn secured a post office and was
appointed postmaster Dec.24, 1883. The post office was renamed
Munn and in 1894 became Lime City. Gilpin Wilkinson was the
postmaster until the post office was closed in 1905. Nothing
remains except a small cemetery near the Interstate highway.
LIME KILN. First name for Lime City. (See above.)
LITHGOW. In section 22, Springfield Township. Post office, 1861.
LIZARD. In the northwestern part of section 26, Springfield
Township, as shown on maps of 1857.
LOWDEN. Located on Yankee Run Creek in Springfield Township
population in 1889 was 500.
MASSILLON. Located on the Wapsipinicon River four miles north of
Lowden.
MECHANICSVILLE. In 1889 there were two weekly newspapers, the Press
and the Cedar County Republican.
MUNN. The early name applied to Lime City (see above). Post office,
1885-93. It had a population of 200 in 1889.
ONION GROVE. In the northern part of section 14, Dayton Township,
two miles north of today's Clarence. It had a Post office,
1854-61. Postal authorities incorrectly listed the office as
Union Grove, see below. When the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska
Railroad was built in the 1860s, the town of Clarence was born
and the Onion Grove Post Office was closed.
PEDEE. In section 4, Iowa Township. A hamlet about midway between
Springdale and Rochester, it was one of the first towns located
west of the Cedar River. One report says Jeremiah Allen was
postmaster in 1845, the Post Office closed Nov. 30, 1859 and
reopened a week later with John S. Lewis as postmaster.The1878
county history says Elisha Henry established the Post office “near the timber” and when he left the community, the post
office was moved to Pedee and Stephen Toney became post master.
Another source gives the dates 1861-1889 for the post office.
PIONEER GROVE. In section 11, Pioneer Township. Post office,
1847-59.
PLATO. On the BCR & N Rail line, it had a general store, grain and
livestock dealer, post office and a population of 30 in 1889.
PLEASANT HILL. In section 16, Sugar Creek Township. Post office,
1861-81.
RED OAK. In the northeastern part of Red Oak Township, six miles
north of Tipton. A Post office was established in1854 with John
W. Brown as postmaster. It was moved a half mile south in 187
and John Goodrich was appointed postmaster and renamed Shiloh.
It was closed in 1890. Another source says the Post Office was
open 1857-67. Families were the Rigbys, the Yules, the Safelys,
the Dallases, the Fergusons, the Chappells, the Dorcases, the
Cousins and the Moffitts.
RED CEDAR CITY. 1838 GLO field notes T79N, R3W, from the early
surveyors. In their notes they indicate "The town of Red Cedar
is located on the corners of Sections 11, 12, 13, & 14. Wm. A.
Burt and Clemson Squire proprietors. Geo. Squire has a house in
the SW qr. of Sec. 12. Geo. McCoy has a field on the line
between Sections 11 & 12. Clemson Squire has a house on the NE
qr. of Section 14, and a field on the SE qr. of Section 14, also
a field on Section 13." It was located about one mile south of
Rochester, on the west side of the Cedar River, and about
one-half mile north of the current Interstate 80/Atalissa exit.
ROCHESTER. On the Red Cedar River, it was the first county seat.
The town of 200 was on a daily stage route in1889 from Tipton to
West Liberty.
ROCK CREEK. The pioneer name of the post office at the town of
Rochester from 1837 to 1854, when it took the name of the town.
ROCK POINT. The original name of the post office at the present
town of Massillon. Listed as such in 1854.
ROSETTE. The name of the post office at the town of Carlisle
(1855-69), see above.
SHILOH. In the northeastern part of Red Oak Township. Post office,
1871-89. Population 15 in 1889. (See Red Oak.)
SIDE HILL. Listed in the U.S. Official Register as a post office in
Cedar County in 1861-63, but not found on maps of that period.
SPRINGDALE. The town of 200 was on a daily stage route in1889 from
Tipton to West Liberty.
STANWOOD. On the C & NW Railroad, it had a population of 400 in 1889.
SUGAR CREEK. Post office, 1885. Formerly called Sugar Creek Mills,
see below.
SUGAR CREEK MILLS. In the southern part of Sugar Creek Township.
Post office, 1875-81.
TALLMAN. The community of Antwerp became known as Tallman in 1878.
(See Antwerp.)
TIPTON. Settled in 1840, it is the county seat
UNION GROVE. Post office, 1854. Name changed to Onion Grove, see
above.
WALDEN. In eastern part of Red Oak Township. Post office. 1897.
WARSAW. In the southwestern part of section 34, township 81, range
3, about three miles west of the present city of Tipton. Laid
out in 1837 and an aspirant for the county seat.
WASHINGTON. An 1838 map refers to Elizabethtown as
Washington. (See Elizabethtown.)
WOODBRIDGE. In the southeastern part of section 32, Center
Township. Post office, 1847-69.
YANKEE GROVE. In section 29, Pioneer Township. Post office, 1853.
YORK PRAIRIE. In section 6. Inland Township. Post office, 1863-71.
ZOAR. In section 19, Gower Township. Post office, 1865-71. |