used to rid the country of the rascals who, in cowardly ways, preyed upon the poor and industrious pioneers; but at this distant remove of time from the events themselves, no good can come of personalties, and history is amply preserved by the bare recital of facts.

From the lips of several of the impromptu jurymen, the writer obtains the following account of the tarring of one of the first settlers on the site of Cedar Rapids. The victim, after leaving this county, finally settled in an adjoining State, and there reared a family, who are esteemed by those who know them. For their sake this sketch will speak of the man as Fogg-solely because that is not his name.

In the year 1841, Fogg came to Cedar Rapids and boarded with Mrs. Snooks, whose husband was not with her, because of pressing demands in a State institution. The woman was of more than ordinarily pleasing appearance, and succeeded in awakening a passion in the mind of Fogg. The sentiment was returned on the woman's part, and, it is alleged, produced relations more agreeable to the parties themselves than to the neighboring settlers. In those early days the people of the county were somewhat given to the discussion of domestic questions relating to acquaintances, and were unrestrained by the more delicate sense of privacy which now controls society at large. As a natural result of this freedom of discussion, Fogg's association with the well-favored woman became exceedingly annoying to the people, who believed in the observance of the Ten Commandments. Fogg was a large man, but was an easy sort of fellow in his ideas of industry. He had sown a bit of prairie with oats, and had taken other measures to drive the wolf from the door. His nominal calling was that of tavern-keeper, and his hostelry was the log hut made notorious by the residence of Shepard therein.

In this primitive house, Fogg and his female companion lived and dispensed such crude comforts as the country afforded to those weary travelers who chanced to pass in his section of the wilderness.

A suspicion attached to Fogg, probably because of the ill-repute of Shepard, and he was regarded as a harborer of horse-thieves. That dark shadow aggravated the good people of Cedar Rapids and made the social habits of the pair seem still more reprehensible in the eyes of men.

Finally, a half-dozen citizens decided to teach Fogg a lesson in morality, and the sequel shows that their methods were forcible, if not altogether as delicate as might be desired. In those days tar was used freely about wagon axles, and was a common commodity in the new store at Marion. It was planned that one of the men should go over to Marion and obtain tar. A horse had been sold Fogg, some time before, and it was planned to be delivered that night. When the man rode the horse around that night, he was taken violently sick and asked Fogg to put out the animal. This request the "landlord" complied with, and when he stepped from his stable, in the darkness, he was grappled with by a stalwart fellow, who attempted to throw him down. Another_and another successively aided the first brave young man, and the obnoxious Fogg was felled to the earth and bound. He was then taken to a point near the site of the present Episcopal church, and there commanded to confess his sins. He admitted that horse-thieves had stopped with him, but denied-probably truthfully-any fellowship with the lawless gang. He made such other admissions. as the men demanded and considered good for his soul. Fogg was then covered with tar and treated to a liberal dose of sand, to keep the tar in place. His feet were tied close, so that he could but barely walk, and his hands fastened behind him. He was then told that he might remain in the country long enough to

dispose of his worldly effects, but must move out as speedily as possible. The band of disguised men then left Fogg to find his way home as best he might, and ran off in various directions.

The following morning, Fogg appeared in the little town, as clean as thorough scrubbings by his devoted admirer could make him, and vowed vengeance on his persecutors. He visited a lawyer in Marion, intent on taking legal redress, but was sent by the facetious attorney to a lawyer in Iowa City, with a pretended letter of introduction, but really a letter explaining and justifying the course of the people. From there, Fogg went to Muscatine, and while in that place became aware that he was a double victim. Although he made some violent demonstrations, he really did no harm to any of the suspected persons, and, shortly after the tarring adventure, left the country in company with his companion.

In the Winter of 1841, Robert Ellis built three flat-boats for the transportation of wheat to the Mississippi. He bought on commission, and secured some 4,000 bushels. In the Spring, he drifted down to the river, but was unable to get ready money for his wheat. He loaded his boats with flour and started for New Orleans, which city he reached in July. After a wearying effort, he managed to sell on a low market and returned home.

Flat-boats of produce may have gone down the Cedar before '41, but this was probably the first load of wheat that was taken to the river.

The title to the lands upon which the city stands passed, in 1841, from Osgood Shepard to N. B. Brown, George Greene, A. L. Roach, Mr. Carson, H. W. Gray and Addison Daniels, S. H. Tryon, J. E. Sanford and Osgood Shepard. The latter retained a one-fourth interest.

In the year 1841, the first dam was begun. The day of national independence was chosen as an appropriate time for the observance of this ceremony. N. B. Brown was the first to move in this important matter, and under his supervision the development of the water-power was initiated.

The village was laid out during the year 1841. There were then three log cabins on the site, and the census was easily taken. One man might have mustered the entire population without overtaxing his strength. Including the "oldest inhabitant," there were not more than six or eight persons within the limits of the surveyed plat.

W. J. Carson and Dr. J. K. Rickey purchased Young's claim, adjoining Shepard's, in 1841. Mr. Brown bought out these men in 1842.

The original company soon dissolved, and the property of Cedar Rapids

passed into the possession of N. B. Brown and George Greene.

The first saw-mill on the magnificent water power was erected in 1842–3, and the first grist-mill in 1843-4. Subsequently, Mr. Brown enlarged the mill, completing the repairs in 1855.

Shepard removed from the county in 1842.

John Vardee erected the first frame dwelling, in 1842-3. This structure

is still standing, on the north corner of Adams and Brown streets. Harrison Campbell built the first blacksmith shop, in 1843.

that Stephen Pollock was the first blacksmith, however.

It is claimed

Isaac Cook was the pioneer lawyer; John Shearer the first Justice of the Peace, and James Lewis the original Constable.

In regard to the first physician, there are no reliable records. The name has passed from the memory of the pioneers. Of his peculiarities, there remain several stories. From a series of papers on the early settlement of this city,

prepared by James L. Enos, and published in the Cedar Valley Times, several years ago, the following is taken:

66 * * *

The first physician, whose name is forgotten, was disposed to blow his own trumpet. Once, when he had returned from Muscatine, he claimed to have lost forty pounds of quinine in one of the streams below the Cedar. * * * Constable Lewis once called on him with an execution to secure a judgment. The Doctor threw off his coat and prepared for a fight. The Constable, seeing his opportunity, seized the coat and made away with it, and found therein sufficient money to satisfy the debt."

Dr. S. M. Price was the second physician at. the Rapids, but he soon removed to Center Point.

The first doctor to locate permanently was Dr. E. L. Mansfield. He came in 1847, and built up a lucrative practice.

The first merchandise ever sold in Cedar Rapids was offered by Samuel Hook, in 1842. The stock consisted of one wagon-load of miscellaneous goods, and was owned by Mr. Cleveland, a non-resident.

The pioneer stores were opened by George and Joseph Green and Charles Mulford, the latter of New York, in the same year. The first "store" was in one part of a log building located on the north corner of Commercial and Sugar streets. The rest of the building was used as a dwelling, where boarders were accommodated.

There were religious services held under the direction of Rev. Mr. Hodges, the father of Methodism in this county, as early as 1840. The other denominations followed with work after their kinds in rapid succession. The Adventists held service in 1842.

The first school was taught by Miss Emily Coffman, but the first school house was not built in the town until 1846-7, when a company, consisting of N. B. Brown, George Greene, Alexander Ely and others, erected a building, which they subsequently sold to the district.

Porter W. Earl erected the first brick building, in 1844, on the northwest corner of Iowa avenue and Washington street. Mr. Earl still lives to behold

the wonders of modern developement.

The first tailor was D. Fidler. The first carpenter was Abel Eddy. Mr. Rock, brother of R. C. Rock, was the first tinner. George Westlake made the pioneer harnesses. Porter W. Earl wielded the first paint brush. jeweler was a Mr. Walker.

The first

Alexander Ely erected the second saw-mill, in 1844; and in 1844–5, put up a grist-mill. Mr. Ely died of consumption shortly after this work was

done..

66

The first hotel-if one is permitted to speak disrespectfully of the Shepard mansion, which was used as a tavern -was built in 1847, by Wm. Dwyer. James Gunning was the first landlord. This building was burned in 1865. It was called the Union House, and was located on the west corner of Market and Adams streets.

The post office at Cedar Rapids was established in 1847, and Joseph Greene appointed Postmaster. L. Daniels succeeded him, and Homer Bishop, in turn, was commissioned. Mr. Bishop held office under Lincoln's administration, when J. G. Davenport became the officer in charge. Davenport became a defaulter, to the amount of $1,500, and left the country. G. M. Howlett succeeded him in office. Mr. Weare is the present Postmaster.

The first express office was established in 1856, between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, with semi-weekly trips. J. L. Enos was Agent at the Rapids.

FIRST MARKETS-NAVIGATING CEDAR RIVER.

The early settlers of Linn County expected that Cedar River would prove navigable for steam-boats of sufficient capacity to carry to market the surplus productions of the country. Railroads were not then thought of as likely to penetrate this part of the world for a lifetime or two. There was not a mile of road in operation in all that vast region lying west of New York and Pennsylvania. The primeval solitudes of the great empire embraced in the limits of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa, had not then been disturbed by the whistle of the locomotive or the clatter of the rushing train. The Ohio and Mississippi Rivers constituted the great artery of communication between the East and the West. The only artificial means of communication expected to become of general use was the slow-moving canal boats, supplemented by turnpikes and plank roads, where they were practicable. The first settlers of Linn were poor, and for a while but little more produce was raised than sufficed to support themselves and supply the few emigrants that arrived. When these fields became larger and more numerous, and the rich soil of our prairies began to yield its generous and prolific crops, the farmers began to realize that they were indeed a long distance from a market. But few boats had ever ascended the Cedar River. Wheat and pork were the only articles of production that would command any price in the nearest markets, which were Dubuque and Muscatine (then called Bloomington), and to these points everything had to be transported by teams. Ox teams were then more common than horse teams, and a trip of sixty miles to Muscatine, or of seventy miles to Dubuque, with oxen, consumed about as much time. and was much more laborious than a trip now to New York City and back by railroad. No money could be had for produce in those days by the farmer. When he reached the Mississippi River, a small per cent. of groceries could be had in exchange, but dry goods at good round prices had to be taken for the most of the load. As a special favor, a jug of whisky could sometimes be procured, or money enough to buy it, for whisky was a cash article in those days. Every well-regulated household was expected to have a supply on hand, it being considered a very handy thing to have about the house in case of snake bites or fever and ague.

As an illustration of how far a certain class of farmers always are from market, a little incident may here be mentioned. In the year 1848, an emigrant with his family arrived in Marion. Entering a store, he got into conversation with a farmer who happened to be there. He made many inquiries about the country, the climate, and its desirability as a place to locate, etc. The farmer gave a good report of the country generally, but said it was "too far from market," claiming that it cost as much to market the produce after it was raised as it would bring. Before parting, the emigrant asked the farmer if he had corn to sell. He answered in the negative. Any oats? No. Any hay? No. Any meat of any kind? No. The emigrant started off in disgust, remarking to the farmer that he was farther from market than any man he ever got acquainted with.” The incident was talked of a great deal at the time, and many a man found his credit poor because he was "too far from market," or in other words, because he had nothing to sell.

any

As before remarked, but few boats came up the Cedar River, and those that did come were not loud in its praises as a navigable stream. One or two would come up during the first high water in the Spring, and there would be no more during that year. Artificial improvement, in shape of dams at proper intervals,

was often talked of to enable boats to traverse it at all seasons, but the county was too poor to undertake it. The date of the arrival of the first steamboat at Cedar Rapids is probably 1842, although opinions conflict in regard to it. The majority, however, seem to agree that this was the date of the first arrival. The boat was called the "Maid of Iowa." It arrived on Saturday evening, and on Sunday the officers invited the people hereabouts and at Marion to take an excursion down the river fifteen miles and back. Nearly all the young people went, and although the boat was small, it was not overloaded.

In the Spring of the year 1841, Robert Ellis built three flat-boats at this point, and loading them with wheat, set sail for "St. Louis and a market." This was the first venture on a large scale toward navigating the Cedar with flatboats, although it is probable that some small boats had run out of the river previous to that date. Mr. Ellis sold his wheat at St. Louis, and there took on flour with which he went on to New Orleans, thus floating with the current a total distance of about 1,600 miles. Henry Thompson also ran flatboats to St. Louis at an early day. In 1844, Robert Holmes built a flatboat and took wheat to St. Louis. In 1846, he took out two boats, and in 1851 two more. Other parties built boats and took out produce, whose names it is not possible to ascertain at this time. In the vicinity of Custer Point a number of boats were built, and floated to St. Louis; but all this boating had to be done within a few weeks' time in each year, in high water, and consequently the most of the produce had to be wagoned to the Mississippi River. In 1848, Greene & Brothers built a keel-boat which made a good many trips to the Mississippi River and St. Louis.

In 1858, a stock company was formed in Cedar Rapids to build a steamboat suited to the river, and which could pass over its shifting sand bars and thread the tortuous channel at an ordinary stage of water. The contract for building it was given to a Pittsburgh firm. Judge Greene and daughter (now Mrs. Belt) came all the way from Pittsburgh to Cedar Rapids on the first trip of the boat. It was called the "Cedar Rapids," and was a well built, stanch craft, of large tonnage, and did a successful business on the river for about two years. The boat cost $20,000. The stockholders were Judge Greene, William Greene, John F. Ely, H. G. Angle, L. Daniels & Co. and W. W. Smith. The boat made money for its owners for about two years, when it unfortunately came into collision with another boat, the Lucy Tracy, near Burlington, and sank it. The Cedar Rapids was tied up by the United States Marshal, and the owners sued for damage in sinking the other boat. They succeeded in beating the other party in the courts, but the delay and expenses ate up the profits they had made.

In 1858, W. D. Watrous, J. J. Snoffner, W. W. Smith and Mr. Stanley built the steamer "Black Hawk," at this place, for the purpose of navigating the Upper Cedar River. The work was done by Freeman Smith, at that time a well-known mechanic of the city. During the years 1859-60, the boat made regular trips between Cedar Rapids and Waterloo. The railroad from Clinton was finished to Cedar Rapids the first-named year, and all the merchandise for Vinton, Waterloo and the towns beyond was carried by this boat and much. produce brought down in return. The boat made money for its owners during these two years. In 1861, it was sold to the Government and taken South, and was used as a Government supply boat during the war, on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers.

The advent of railroads has practically destroyed the usefulness of Cedar River for the purposes of navigation. Four or five railroad bridges span it and