BIOGRAPHY: Cameron, John R.
From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875

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JOHN R. CAMERON one of the pioneer settlers of Black Hawk County, and now a 
resident of Cedar Falls, Iowa, was born in Clark County, Ohio, on the 25th day of 
February, 1829 where his life was spent until he was seventeen years of age.  His 
education was received on the farm, and at the common district school, which he 
regularly attended during a few months each winter, until the Spring of 18476, when, 
receiving his father's consent, he left the paternal roof, bade farewell to the scenes and 
associations of his childhood, and started out to seek his fortune alone and unaided in the 
world.  In June of that year he entered the drug store of his uncle, R. H. McCall, at 
Canton, Ohio, as a clerk, where he remained actively engaged for nearly a year, when his 
uncle fitted him out with a large four-horse wholesale drug and yankee notion wagon, 
with which he made regular trips over that portion of the state, building up a large trade.  
When twenty years of age he left his uncle's employ and entered that of Joseph Cracraft, 
of Poland, Ohio, running a yankee notion wagon for him through the western portion of 
Pennsylvania.  This he followed for about one year, when becoming dissatisfied he 
determined to seek a home in the then far distant West.  Taking what money he had been 
able to accumulate, about eight hundred dollars in gold, he started for Iowa, and landed at 
Vinton, Benton County, on the 4th day of December, 1851.  Here he remained during the 
most of the Winter, purchased some lots, and made several exploring expeditions with 
the view of finding an eligible place to locate.  Having been attracted by the beauty of the 
country, the richness and fertility of the soil, and the magnificent waterpower, he came to 
Cedar Falls in the following May, purchased a full block on Main Street, which is now 
covered with fine buildings, and entered a half section of land in the immediate 
neighborhood.  He was the first purchaser of town lots sold for cash in Cedar Falls, or in 
fact in the county.  In the Spring of 1853 he built the first frame store ever erected in the 
county, assisted to plant corn on the present site of the residence portion of  the now 
beautiful city of Cedar Falls.  The same Spring he bought a breaking outfit, commenced 
improving his land, and did some breaking for others.  Since then scarcely a season has 
passed in which he has not been more or less engaged in improving wild lands.  In 1854, 
he secured a license and constructed the first ferry across the river at Cedar Falls, which 
he operated until a short time before the building of the bridge in 1858.  In the Spring of 
1863, he opened a real estate office and successfully carried on a large business, selling 
an immense amount of land in Black Hawk and the adjoining counties  He closed up this 
business in 1869 or 1870, and has since devoted himself entirely to agricultural pursuits, 
constantly opening new farms, and carrying on old ones.  He is now operating five 
improved farms, and fencing and breaking a large tract of wild land in Cerro Gordo 
County.

Mr. Cameron was elected in 1853, the first assessor for this portion of the county, and in 
1857, was a Member of the first City Council for the City of Cedar Falls.  He is a large-
hearted, generous, truly public spirited man, and has often done more than he was able in 
encouraging improvements and advancing the general interests of his adopted town.  He 
was one of the original projectors of, and a director in the C.F. & M.R.R., and contributed 
liberally in time and money to advance its interests.  He also aided the Iowa Central 
project, and assisted in securing the completion of the B.C.R. & M. R.R.  Schools, 
churches, and all other public enterprises that give reasonable promise of success, never 
fail of receiving such encouragement and support from him as their merits deserve.

In politics, Mr. C. has always been a Democrat, from principle, though he is no politician, 
and has never taken part in the personal strife and vituperations so common during 
political campaigns.  He was married at Cedar Falls, on the 15th day of April 1856, to 
Miss Mary E. Knapp, daughter of Rev. Solomon Knapp, of Illinois, by whom he has had 
seven children, all now living.