This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Unwitting founder of C R Cedar Rapids frontier figure
Osgood Shepherd, a six foot frontiersman from Illinois, first white settler along the Cedar River in 1837, built a double cabin and ran a river fording hotel. His squatter rights sparked clashes with rivals, Indians were friendly, and by 1841 he sold his claim and moved on to Wisconsin before dying years later.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Valley of the Cedar
Osgood Shepherd
Shepherd
Illinois
West
Mississippi River
New York State
Great Lakes
Cedar River
First Avenue
First Street
William Stone
Stone
Philip Hull
Otho Bowling
Hull
Robert Ellis
Ellis Park
A Avenue
Fifth Street
Ellis
New York
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Cedar Rapids
Shepherd’s Cabin
George Greene
Hosea Gray
A.L. Roach
J.E. Sanford
Addision Daniels
Wisconsin