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					      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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