Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-11-10
From the Dubuque Herald.
CEDAR FALLS.
Its Early History and Rapid Gr0Wth-Its
Railroad Interests.

pcrity has been large and steady. Tho
war which proved in many respects adj
vantageous to the manufacturing east
bore heavily upon the agricultural west
both in calling large numbers of the la.
borers from peaceful avocations to pur.
suits of war and i'm checking many o1
those enterprises essential to the devcl,
opment Of an agricultural country. But
notwithstanding the evil Influences oi
the war upon western interests, Iowa
has steadily advanced, Increasing in
population and multiplying the cvi
dences substantial prosperity.
No where is the truth of this state.
ment more fully demonstrated than IN
those towns which form the trade cen
tres for surrounding agricultural sec
tiOns. Their growth is sure indica
ton of the growth of the country sup
porting them. Cedar Falls, in Black
Hawk county, is one of these towns. A
brief history OF Cedar Falls. i'm Showing
its rapid growth will also give some in
dication of the improvement of tht
country which surrounds it, and whicl
has been appropriately named the Gar
den Valley" of Iowa.
The first permanent settlement il
Black Hawk county was made on tn,
west bank of the Cedar River, one hun
dred miles west of Dubuque, where tn,
town of Cedar Falls now stands, b,
William Sturgis and T.. ID. Adams, il
March. of 1916. In 1851 small nunbe
of lots were laid out and the villag
thus established. In 1853 new plat o
the town was made and recorded in Blu
chanan county, and from this periot
probably dates the beginning OF tn
history of Cedar Falls as a village for i
that year we find that the first lot wa
sold. In 1858 the population of tn
town was, by actual count, forty PEI
sons Of ali sexes and ages, and the vi
lage contained nine houses. 0ne (
these houses was q store. the first i'm til
county, kept by Andrew Mullarky
and first opened by him i'm 1851. III
first building erected for store purpos,
was put up by j. r.. Cameron in 1856.
In the following year the town bega
to increase rapidly, having added to
among other improvements Hotel
of no mean dimensions for the times -
On the llth of July of the same wear
1854, the first number of the Banner,
u weekly newspaper, and the first news
Iancr published in the counties west {
| Dubuque, WAS issued by Packard IL Nc
Clure, if we mistake not. The pepul;
ton of the town had increased to 450.-
Such were the small beginnings frol
which the present thriving city of G.
dar Falls sprung. From populasio
Of $50 III 1854 it Increased to 1900 /
1851, 1900 in 1864, and has at present q
estimated population OF about 3,700.-
! There are $40 dwelling houses, man
OF them bull i'm style that would u
no discredt to the older towns of tn
/ aast 100 wa n. !, COG ND Oh snu al a;
fine church cdiliccs and ten church OF
ganizations.
The business done in Cedar Falls b.
merchants, manufacturers, produc
buyers, &c, in the year of 1864, foote
up afi aggregate of %3,sS3, 115. Durin
that year the amount of pork bough
and shipped was 2,30S, ,527 lbs, besides
large amount which WAS packed /
comparison of the figures for differcn
years will show that the business of &c
dar Falls has constantly been on TIN
increase. In 1860 the amount paid fO
| produce was S4S, ,D75, i'm 1861 it was Si5C
900, in 1863 it was s POS ,5S4, and in 1856
| it was increased to S2, lG3, ,2JS. 1t is sal
by those who have facilities for krow
ing, that the amount for the preseii
year will show still further increase
This for town with but enc outlet fo
the produce collected from the. larg
farming country which surrounds it
not bad showing. Indeed it is sal
that fer several years the number G
bushels of grain shipped frcm Ceda
Falls has been considerably in excess @
! that from any other town on the lin
of the ID. d S. G. Railroad, and thi
road does as large n business, If it is no
larger, i'm the transportation of proiuc
as that of any other road i'm the State
in proportion to it's length. During
recent visit to Cedar Falls we were In
formed by reliable gentlemen that il
all departments of business the increas
for the present year would not be les
than twenty-five per cent. over that {
last year. If this Is so, and from wha
we witnessed OF the activity of the diff
erent branches of industry we see II
| reason why it should not be true, al
/ fears OF collapse upon the removal {
/ the terminus OF the railroad from Ceda
! Falls hundred miles west, and to Wa
verify on the north, must vanish. On
/ dry goods house has already sold to tn
/ amount of 10000 for the present yeal
and a grocery establishments book
show a business up to the present tim
of Sl55, 900.
During the past year the people hav
given evidences of their appreciation {
the prosperity which has auende
them by adding several very creditabl
+ improvements to the town in the shap
of public buildings. The school hous
/ built during the past year is withou
doubt the best edifice Of the kind yves
of Dubuque. 1t is brick structure
three stories high, each feurteen fee
47x6O, with a projecting front 139x4;
and to complete which SO, 1000 were n
quired. The building is arranged ft
schools upon the graded system, s
thoroughly and satisfactorily tested /
! Dubuque. The Baptist society has dul
I ing the year completed the erection {
commodious church edificc, on Mai
street, a frame building 40x75, with
tasty spire. The Methodist societ
has nearly completed large brio
iehurch, the largest in town, Asks
basement, audience room and spire.-
These with other chuxch building
II To- - adA Oh I