Was laid out by Robert
Cameron, Feb. 22, 1854, and was for some time known as
Cameronville. His plat included the south west part of
the town lying south of the railroad. Charles
Waste laid out a portion directly eat of this, and
north and west of this, across the railroad in Coldbrook
township. Quinby's addition was soon after
made.
A. B. Hawkins was the first merchant in town.
His store stood directly east of Isaac Wilson's ship
in a no vacant lot.
Owen C. Waste and Smith & Skinner of
Galesburg opened stores soon after, and for some time a fine
trade was engaged. Mr. Hawkins had previously
kept a store in Coldbook, but as soon as the C. B. & Q. R.
R. was completed and Cameron platted he removed his store
and goods to that place. Nearly all the business of
Cold Brook was brought to Cameron at this and latter dates.
The town has always been small, but a good trade is
steadily maintained. A good number of stores and shops
are now in successful operation, and enjoying a good
patronage.SCHOOLS.
The first district
school house was built south of the railroad, and was the
first house erected on the village plat. There being
two districts, (the railroad being the dividing line between
the township of Cold Brook and Floyd,) in 1871, these were
consolidated into one, and the present two story building
erected.
It will accommodate 100 pupils, the attendance being
now eighty-five.
[Pg. 175]
This is the oldest congregation of this denomination.
It was organized in 1831. Their earliest meetings were
held in private houses and in the school house. At
this time they were at Cold Brook.
Some of their Elders were John G. Haley, Elijah
Davidson and Wm. Whitman. Levi Hatchett, John
E. Murphy and L. S. Wallace were some of the
earliest ministers.
A house of worship was built in Cold Brook in 1839.
The congregation continued to meet here until 1854 or '5
when they removed to Cameron and there erected their present
church, costing about $3,000. A portion of the
congregation went near the present town of Alexis, where
they have now a strong church. About 1851 or '2
Elder R. R. Haley and Deacon John E. Murphey,
with some thirty members went to Monmouth, Oregon, where
they formed the nucleus of a large and flourishing
congregation. Josiah Whiteman, S. T. Sheton and
Henry E. Haley were chosen to fill the offices made
vacant by those removing to Oregon.
The Cameron congregation have now aboat 125
members and sustain a Sunday school of 70 scholars.
Rev. D. D. Miller is the present pastor.
THE M. E. CHURCH.
In the fall of
1856, ministers of this denomination commenced services in
the school house, and soon thereafter organized the church.
Some twelve or fifteen persons united. Among them
were Mr. and Mrs. Watt, Mr. and Mrs. Porterfield, Frank
Morey, Benj. Tinkham, Mrs. Fox, Mrs. Gay and Mary
Gay. Rev. Fisher presided at the organization.
In 1857, they erected their present church edifice,
which is now inadequate to the wants of the congregation and
will soon be replaced by a a commodious house.
The growth of the congregation has been slow, and at no
time has the membership been large. The number now is
about forty.
The First Baptist Church at this place was organized
June 30th, 1866, and its first meetings were held in the
district school house with an original membership of nine
persons, which has increased to sixty-five, and a Sunday
school of sixty.
The present church was built in 1869 at a cost of
$3,200. The pastors have have been the Revs. Wm.
Whitehead, Jno. Bolton, W. R. Welch, E. L. Corfield and
J. R. Pennington. Their present pastor is Rev.
G. D. Kent.
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