🗺️ Linn County in 1869: Our Old Map

Long before GPS, neighbors hung a big map on the wall. This one, the Map of Linn County, Iowa, was published in 1869. It marks who owned each farm, and around its border are little engraved pictures of homes, mills, schools and shops. A framed copy hangs at the Jean Oxley Linn County Public Service Center.

The 1869 map of Linn County, Iowa, with small drawings of old homes, mills and businesses around the border — The 1869 Map of Linn County, Iowa. Tap to enlarge. Source: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division.

An antique framed wall map of Linn County, Iowa, hanging on a wall — The map on display at the Jean Oxley Linn County Public Service Center. Tap to enlarge. Photo: Kathy Potts

About the map

The Library of Congress lists the map as published in 1869 by Thompson & Everts of Geneva, Illinois, under the name of D.W. Ensign & Co. It was printed in Philadelphia, hand colored, and shows landowners. It also includes city maps of Cedar Rapids, Kingston and West Cedar Rapids, and of Marion, plus the vote of Linn County on November 3, 1868. The Library of Congress record has the full details and a zoomable image.

The Library of Congress says its digitized maps are free to use. The copy shown here is theirs, and it is torn along the top. The framed copy in my photo looks like the same map, but I haven’t confirmed that it is the original edition.

A few of the little pictures

An engraving of a two-story brick school with a bell tower, horses and carriages in front — Marion Public School, Marion

An engraving of a hotel with a long porch, a stagecoach and horses in front — American Hotel, Marion

An engraving of a three-story brick store building with a dry goods sign and horse-drawn wagons — Higley’s Block, Cedar Rapids

An engraving of a row of brick business buildings in Marion with a buggy in front — Smyth’s Block and Twogood, Elliott & Co. Bank, Marion

An engraving of a large house on a hill above rows of nursery trees — Mound Nursery, near Cedar Rapids

An engraving of a factory with a smokestack, wagons and horses in the yard — Upton, Chambers & Co. wagon works, Cedar Rapids

Who and what is pictured

Each picture has a small caption engraved beneath it. Here are the ones that are clear enough to read, gathered by town, spelled as they appear on the map. A few are torn or too faint, so I left those out rather than guess. I haven’t checked which of these buildings still stand.

Cedar Rapids

Residence of Hon. W.B. Leach
Wm. B. Leach & Co.’s Grist Mill The building carries signs for “Cash for Wheat” and the office.
L.L. Dawson’s Elevator Dealer in salt, grain, pork and more.
Snouffer & Watrous Steam Grist Mills The building is signed “Aetna Mills.”
Residence of J.J. Snouffer
Residence of J.L. Bever, with Bever & Son, Bankers, and the Residence of S.C. Bever
Higley’s Block A dry goods store sign for J.C. Graves can be seen on the building.
Mound Nursery, Residence of Judge Green Near Cedar Rapids.
Upton, Chambers & Co., Manufacturers of Lumber and Farm Wagons The Star Wagon Manufactory.
Residence of F.J. Upton
Residence of W.D. Watrous

Marion

Marion Public School
American Hotel, G.W. Stinson, Proprietor
Smyth’s Block and Twogood, Elliott & Co. Bank A land office sign is also on the building.
Residence of Hon. I.M. Preston
Residence of S.P. Yeomans, M.D.
Residence of R.D. Stephens
M.H. Crosby Wagon & Carriage Manufactory On the corner of Main and Prairie streets.

Mount Vernon

Cornell College
Residence and Vineyard of Dr. J. Doran

Center Point

Residence of J.G. Spooner
Residence of Dr. J.F. Wilson Maker of family medicines and perfumery.
Washington House, S.S. Smiley, Proprietor

Other towns and villages

Store & Flouring Mill of Haggard Green, Manhattan Manhattan is the caption’s spelling of the village name.
Waubeek Mills, F. Braun, Proprietor, Waubeek
Village Farm, Residence of J.S. Butler, Springville
Vanderbilt Farm, Residence of H.F. Vanderbilt, Fairfax Station
Residence of Emile Lefebure, Fairfax Station

Farms and country homes

Hillside Farm, Residence of Jonathan Pinson
Maple Garden, Residence of O.N. Gray Section 25, Marion Township.
Eden Farm, Residence of James Smyth Franklin Township.
Prairie Home, Residence of J.J. McFarland Franklin Township, Section 25.
Brook Farm, Residence of John F. Gritman Brown Township.
Otter Creek Farm, Residence of Isaac Mounce Otter Creek Township.
Nugent’s Grove Farm, Residence of J.J. Nugent Dated 1868.
Residence of B. Bowdish & Sons Maine Township.
Country Residence of J.S. Love, M.D.
Residence of H.C. Weaver Dealer in fruit and ornamental trees.

Do you recognize a name or a building? Tell us at [email protected] and we’ll add the story. For more of Linn County’s past, visit the History Center in Cedar Rapids.