Crescent, Crescent Township

Crescent recieved it's name from the crescent shaped formation of bluffs near the town. The town has a population of 260. It is located in Crescent Township on the C.N. & W. Railroad, six miles north of Council Bluffs on U.S. 30 and 75.

Crescent was founded in the spring of 1856 when the territory was still a part of Rockford Township. Crescent Township was organized April 1857.

The first settlers were Mormons who came with the settlers on the site of the present city of Council Bluffs. Some of these renounced their allegiance to Brigham Young and remained to become the first permanent settlers in this community. Among these were David Wilding, William Strong, Robert Kirkwood, H.A. Terry, S.M. Hough and Joseph McCord.

Terry became widely known by demonstrating that this section of the country was well adapted for fruit growing, and that it could be raised profitably by the settlers. In 1856, he organized the first agricultural society and some years later established the first nursery and seed house in this section of the country. He did an extensive business.

The first schools were kept by the Mormon's. Classes were held in the various homes of the settlers. The first school house was of log construction. It was built near where the town of Crescent now stands. This school was built in 1855 and taught by L.J. Goddard and the following year, by Miss Sophronia E. Whitcomb. She later became the wife of Reverend Henry DeLong of Council Bluffs. The school was the only one within a radius of seven miles. It was soon overcrowded and it was necessary to build others to serve the needs of pioneer settlers.

The first post office was built two miles south of what is now Crescent in 1856. L.J. Goddard was the first postmaster. Later during the same year, the office was moved to the new town of Crescent.

The first business house was built by Joseph E. Johnson in 1856. It was a general store. Samuel Eggleston and a Mr. Piper soon built other stores at Crescent and by 1857, few towns away from a railroad showed greater activity than the little village.

A newspaper, THE ROCK BOTTOM, was launched but was short lived. It was followed in the same year by the CRESCENT CITY ORACLE, edited by J.E. Johnson. This publication was a thriving little journal for some years.

It was during this period that Crescent had great hopes of having a bridge across the Missouri River near the town and becoming a great city. These hopes were dashed by the panic of 1857 in which only a few of the strongest of the young cities survived. Many dwelling and business houses of Crescent were sold. Some were sold to farmers, others were moved to Council Bluffs. Among the latter was the home of G.F. Smith, father of the Honorable Walter I. Smith. It was later sold to Colonel W. Sapp. This home was moved to 632 Oakland Avenue, in Council Bluffs.

After the crash and even with the coming of the Northwestern Railroad, the town never regained prominence. It has remained a hamlet surrounded by a rich agricultural area. Today the business directory of the town includes two nurseries, one operated by A.H. McMullen and the other by O.W. Brewer. A general store and two garages make up the rest of the businesses. There are two churches, the Methodist and Latter-Day Saints in the town.

Early Historical Description