CENTRAL CITY.

(Buffalo Township.)

Central City, named from being located in the center of a farming area of fifteen to twenty-two miles to railroads in various directions, lies on the Wapsipinicon River, in the northwest corner of Buffalo Township.

Among the early settlers of this vicinity were Ormus Clark, with family, including sons Joseph and Warren, who still reside there, settled about 1840, one-half mile southwest, across the river in Maine Township; Joseph Heaton settled one mile southwest in 1842; of his family, Mrs. Clark (now Mrs. Barber), is the earliest resident now living in Central City; James Sawyer, with family, settled two miles east; Harvey Powell, with family, two miles west; his eldest son, Chester, was the first white child born in Jackson Township; Richard Barber, with family, settled one-half mile north in 1848; James J, Crookshank, with family, settled two and a half miles northeast in 1851; J. R. Finson settled one mile south about the same time; Isaac Ford settled two miles north in 1850; John Cutler, three miles north, before 1850; W. P. Crowley one and a half miles south; Daniel Pond and George Hugunin were later settlers, but were interested in the formation of the village. W. P. Crowley still resides on the old homestead.

June 23, 1856, Victory Haight, Surveyor, laid out the village on the land of Richard Barber, the north side of Section 3, Township 85, Range 6 west, and named it Clarksford. No further active measures were taken, however, until in 1857, when, September 9th, the village was re-located on the lands of Richard Barber and W. P. Crowley, Charles Palmer, Surveyor.

George Rice erected the first house, a frame structure, now in the yard of Isaac Ford as a barn. The lot on which the house was built was given to Mr. Rice for the consideration that he should build upon it. The lumber for it

was sawed at a steam saw-mill, built three miles northwest, by Enos Ford, Asa Swan, Mailon Mills and Squire Johnson, which was operated there for about six years.

Hiram Reed erected the second house, near the site of the Methodist Church. W. P. Crowley built the third house, on Main street.

The next house was put up by George Hugunin.

Joseph Smith built the fourth house soon after the town was laid out. This house stands directly north of the City Hotel and is owned by James Smith. The first store was established by Cornelius Parsons, near the center of town, and transferred to William St. John, and successively to Miles Crookshank, the present proprietor, who is also Postmaster, in 1861.

The dam across the river at that point was built by John Peet in 1856, who also erected the saw-mill on the south side of the river in 1857. The following year, William St. John erected the large grist-mill on the north side at a cost of $7,000, and the two persons formed a copartnership and afterward sold to the present proprietor, Richard E. Burns.

The second store was established by C. H. & James L. Clark, about 1865, east of the City Hotel. Next followed that of H. S. Welch, about 1870. Dr. Mitchell followed with a drug store, which was discontinued at his death in 1872.

Abel French established the first saloon, which, after many changes, is now the drug store of James Outing. Next Xavier Sawyer built the stone structure on Main street where he opened a general store.

The first blacksmith shop was established about 1858, by Ephraim Sawyer; was sold to Hiram Davis and discontinued. Two other shops were opened by E. Crane (discontinued) and Willard Butters. Vinal Baker established the first and only wagon shop, which has been in operation about twenty years. J. R. Finson has since established a general store, and W. B. Kerr a harness shop.

Though W. P. Crowley kept a public house at one time, the first regular hotel was built by Samuel Heaton in 1868, and is now operated by Samuel Church, as the Empire House. Soon after, the City Hotel was built by Richard Barber, and is now owned and carried on by Isaac Ford.

The present iron bridge over the river at Central City, was erected in 1876, at a cost of $5,960. It is a substantial structure of two piers, built by the Iron Bridge Company, of Canton, Ohio.

A creamery has been established recently by Xavier B. Sawyer, near Main street, where 13,000 of milk are already received daily, and that amount will soon be doubled.

In the proper season, Mr. Perry L. Holden operates a sorghum molasses manufactory.

The village does not support a saloon.

There are several good stone buildings in town, made from excellent stone quarried in the immediate vicinity.

SCHOOLS.

The first school of which trace can be obtained was held by Joseph Smith in his house during 1859. A school house was built in the grove on the west side of the river in 1871, to which an addition was made during the last year. The present teachers are Miss Carrie McLeod, Principal, and Miss Lillian Baker.

RELIGIOUS.

Congregational.-The first religious services were held by Rev. A. Manson, at the house of W. P. Crowley, in 1858, at which time a Congregational society was organized with ten members. A year after Joseph Smith's house was built, it was rented to Messrs. Crowley and Hugunin for religious use. The following ministers have officiated: Revs. A. Manson, O. E. Littlefield, E. C. Downs, Wm. Spell, E. P. Kimball, E. E. Webber and the present minister, Rev. James Alderson. The following have filled the office of Deacon: Joseph Blodgett, George Hugunin, William Henderson, Simeon Blodget and C. H. Caryl. Services are held at the Methodist church every alternate Sabbath. The society have erected a good parsonage.

Methodist. The first services of this denomination were held at the house of Seymour Clark, on the southwest side of the river, in 1854, by Rev. Ingham, of Marion. A class was organized and services continued regularly Among the pastors who have officiated are: Revs. Worthington, Taylor, Burch, Randall, King, Black, Fawcett, Wade, Hurl, Genison, Burley, Allbrook, Rufus Ricker and J. H. Hoskins, the present minister.

During the pastorate of Rev. Allbrook, a parsonage was begun on the west end of Commercial street, but was completed as a church in 1860. A parsonage has since been erected (1871).

The present Trustees are: D. D. Jaynes (Clerk), N. C. Gillilan, C. H. Clark, George H. Andrews and others.

A Union Sabbath school has been established for many years, and has now an attendance of about 100. Daniel Pond and C. E. Rollins were among the first Superintendents. The latter now fills that office.

The Baptist Church-a commodious, frame structure, with bell cupola—was erected in 1873. O. E. Aldrich, John Decker and C. Bachelor (the present Pastor) have filled the pulpit there recently. A promised sketch of this church has not been received.

A., F. & A. M.

Level Lodge, No. 284, was founded March 23, 1870, with the following officers and charter members: W. P. Crowley, W. M.; M. M. Crookshank, S. W.; J. L. Crawford, J. W.; H. G. Ristine, Sec.; M. C. Jordan, Treas.; S. T. Berry, S. D.; D. P. Long, J. D.; L. H. Powell, Tiler. Mr. Crowley has held the office of Worthy Master to the present time. Meetings were held for two years in the Smith House, and since over Mr. Crookshank's store. They have a good lodge-room and full regalia.

The officers at present are: W. P. Crowley, W. M.; M. M. Crookshank, S. W.; J. M. Walker, J. W.; J. H. Davis, Sec.; M. C. Jordan, Treas.; Buel Evans, S. D.; D. P. Long, J. D.; C. R. Read, Tiler.

WAUBECK.

(Maine Township.)

George W. Wiggin first went to the site of Waubeck, in May, 1855. There was then but one building, the log house of Ezra Nuckolls, which had been erected two or three years. Mr. Nuckolls afterward returned to Indiana, and the house is now used as a barn by Mr. Henry Hedges.

The mill site had been entered, and together with the land in the vicinity was then owned by George Paddington.

PADDINGTON.

September 20, 1855, J. S. Wynans, Surveyor, laid out this village under the proprietorship of Ezra Nuckolls and George Paddington.

În that year, 1855, the dam and saw-mill were constructed by Haywood East and John Ellison, Mr. Wiggin doing the carpenter work.

In 1856, Mr. Wiggin built his own house, which still forms a portion of his present residence. Though a wagon maker, he was then forced to do carpenter work, in the absence of a workman of that trade. He built the two first school houses in the township, but has followed his proper avocation since that time.

In 1855, John Q. Denny lived one mile west; his father, one and a half miles southwest, and Morgan Leonard, three-fourths of a mile west.

It was necessary to go to Marion for mail, and the scattered settlers took turns in getting it once a week.

The almost inexhaustible stone quarry which rises perpendicularly in front of the west end of the bridge was then already opened and operated.

The next building erected was by George Paddington in 1857, now George Wright's drug store this was rented to Waters & Rowley, who established the first store-a grocery-in the village. This was controlled successively by George Busby, Busby & Hedges, and Lawrence Bros.

This firm

The next building was the hotel by Marsh, Buckton & Peaslee. had purchased the mill property, and in 1859 built the present flouring-mill, a large, four-story stone structure built on a solid base of rock, and costing at least $15,000.

A remarkable accident occurred during the erection of this mill. A man named Hutchins fell from the northeast corner of the building-a distance of at least seventy-five feet-alighting among a pile of stones accumulated during the construction, and, although one leg was broken five and the other three times, the fall did not prove fatal nor even render him insensible. Mr. Hutchins recovered and now resides in the vicinity of Waubeck.

The mill passed into the hands of various proprietors, among them A. G. Angle, who, about 1865, built on the north side a stone addition, in which he established a woolen-factory. This was operated until, in 1876, work was temporarily suspended, but will probably be resumed within a few months.

In the Fall of 1867, Frederick Braun purchased the mill property and sold a half interest the following Spring to Ignatius Beek. In 1868, this firm made great improvements in the village, building up a property which would well grace a city. They erected a large, elegant stone building on a solid stone foundation, with store rooms on the ground floor and living rooms in the two upper stories, at a cost of $10,500. Contemplating the establishment of a stock farm, they erected a fine stone stable seventy-five feet in length, and a similar frame building one hundred and five feet in length. The speculation proved a failure, and the property was sold at a great loss in August, 1872, to Isham & Weed, thence to Pope & Bates, thence Bates & Parr, the latter of whom now operates the mill. Though the woolen-factory and saw-mill are not now in operation, the flouring mills are actively engaged in production of firstclass flour.

The village of Waubeck was laid out north and northwest of Paddington October 28, 1859, by E. A. Warner, Surveyor, under the proprietorship of Benneville Wertman, H. W. Pettil. Samuel T. Buckston, George Busby, Thomas Warner, Ezra Nuckolls and Camfina J. Marsh. Though adjoining Paddington, this was for some cause not made an addition, but as a distinct village, and they were for many years separately recognized, but are now both known as Waubeck.

Additions have since been made by Braun & Co. and James Hedges.

The next store in the village was by Huston & Lichtenberg. Charles A. Huston still operates this store.

The first blacksmith shop was that of Martin Rinchternecht, and is now continued by Charles Busby; while two other shops have been established by A. Dixon and Mr. Little.

The first shoe shop was by James Walker, now by David N. Clark.

The first meat market was by Mr. Pettycord, now by George Jordan. The first saloon was by Mr. Glover, now by James Van Horn and James Agison.

Charles A. Huston has established and is now operating a creamery. The first hotel was that of Carlos Bowen, in the north part of the town. The only hotel at present is that of James Van Horn.

Waubeck is an Indian name, given to the village by Samuel Buckston. Dr. Henry Sigworth, now of Anamosa, was the first physician to locate at Waubeck. There are now Dr. George Crawford and Dr. Grimm.

The first means of crossing the river at this point was by a ferry-boat, built by general subscription, and which was used by all who desired to cross, free of

charge. Two wooden bridges were afterward built, but as they rapidly rotted, a substantial iron structure was erected by the Canton (Ohio) Bridge Company in 1873. It is 153 feet in length, with a strong, double-corded, curved iron beam, and wooden approaches to this, making the entire length of the bridge 480 feet.

The first school was a small stone building, built by the district in 1859, and first taught by Jacob Shankling. The building is now standing, vacant, near the south end of the old town. About 1868, a new two-story brick school house was built at a cost of $2,600, and since that time Waubeck has been formed into an independent school district. The two school rooms are taught by Miss Mary Cutler, Principal, and Miss Kennedy, Assistant.

In 1872, the neat frame church was erected, and has been occupied alternately by three denominations-the Methodist Episcopal, Free-Will Baptist and Regular Baptist societies, with the following respective Pastors: Rev. J. H. Hoskins, Rev. Mr. Blackman and Elder Samuel H. Thompson. The Baptist society was organized in 1856. A Union Sabbath school has long been in operation, with Dr. George Crawford as Superintendent for the past twelve years.

PARIS.

(Jackson Township.)

This village lies in Jackson Township, in a bend of the Wapsipinicon River, and has a good situation in a fine farming vicinity.

Its first settler, Samuel W. Justin, still resides in the village. He settled adjoining the village site on the southwest in September, 1845, and built the first house in the vicinity. At that time, there were in the neighborhood but two families-those of James K. Lytle, who settled in 1841-2, three miles east, and David Sutton, who settled one mile north west, in the Winter of 1842-3. Mrs. Miner Justin, now living in Paris, is a daughter of Mr. Sutton. The next settler was William Potter, an Englishman, who came about 1848. Afterward came Amos Bond and Daniel McCrellis, who purchased land, including the village site, and had it laid out on Sections 19, 20 and 30, Township 86 north, Range 6, April 14, 1855, by Thomas J. Stone, County Surveyor.

Previously, Samuel Chamberlin had opened a little store at this point, called, sometimes, "Dover," in a log house built by Miner and Samuel Justin as a dwelling and moved to that place as a grain house.

When Paris was laid out, Henry Landers received a lot for the consideration that he should build upon it, and opened the first blacksmith shop. He was followed by John Jacobs, Henry Winsor and others, who were succeeded by Alex. McDonald and Andrew Johnson, who now have shops there.

Soon after Mr. Chamberlin, Robert C. Powell moved to town from his farm, southwest, and built a two-story frame building-the first frame house in townnow standing on the east side of the road, nearly opposite Mrs. Justin's residence. Here Mr. Powell opened a store and obtained a post office named "Paris."

Robert C. and Robert H. Powell had South Paris laid off June 12, 1857, by Jus. C. Thrawls, where they made an unsuccessful attempt to found a village. John Turner Evans bought Mr. Powell's store, and in turn sold to Lindsey Kee.

In 1870, Mr. Key built a good two-story store room on the east side of the road, where he continued business until 1876, when he sold to Andrew Gillilan,