On the 10th of January, 1859, George Raymer executed a contract with T. S. Wilcoxon and William Peterson for the transfer of the southwest corner of the northeast quarter of Section 29, containing 50 acres for town purposes, which was the first move made toward founding Rock City. During the same year, the town was surveyed and platted, 180 lots being laid out, fronting on Jackson, Washington, Main, Congress, Clay, Center and Market streets and Jefferson avenue, which commanded prices ranging from $10 to $50 each, when the town began to build up, immediately upon the completion of the railroad. In the fall of 1859, Samuel Hutchison and S. E. M. Carnefix, donated an addition to the south part of the town, which, however, was vacated in 1860, and remained unimproved. David Wilcoxon, John Graham and Perry Duncan were the storekeepers, and the station was located and built during the same year. The educational facilities, limited to a school on Carnefix farm at an early day, were increased and improved after the town was laid out, and are today inferior to none in the county.

Two churches afford spiritual pabulum to the citizens, and in this respect Rock City is equally fortunate as other township villages already mentioned. To these advantages is added that of accessibility for shipping purposes to farmers and speculators, being in the center of the township, with good roads from all portions of the surrounding country leading to the depot, and the town is rapidly assuming a prominence and value in this respect, that will result in attracting to its population, enterprise and wealth in the near future. Its roster of material interest is made up of two stores, two churches, and a schoolhouse, and these, together with the fact that the town is but a short distance removed from Freeport, induce the conclusion that at some day, not far distant, it may be made the resident portion of that thriving city.

Schools. — As already stated, a school was maintained previous to the laying out of the city on the Carnefix farm ; subsequent to that event a stone school- house was put up west of the village and taught by a master of the art named Searles. This edifice answered public expectation and demands until the present quarters were erected in 1878, when they were substituted, and promise to supply the needs for which they were built until Rock City shall become a city in fact as also in name. Two teachers are employed ; the average daily attendance is seventy-five pupils, and the annual expenses about $800.

Evangelical Church of Mock City — Was organized in 1868, with a limited membership, which has been measurably increased during the past ten years. In 1869, the present church edifice was commenced, completed and dedicated under the pastorship of the Rev. II. Rohland. It cost $2,200, is in a good state of repair and an ornament to the town. Rock City being in the Davis Circuit, the same pastors who officiate at that point do likewise for communicants residing at the former place.

Methodist Church. — The organization of this church is due to the efforts of a small body of Christians who connected themselves with the Davis Circuit in the fall of 1878. Services were held in the Evangelical Chapel and the school- house until the summer of 1879, when the church building was completed and taken possession of. Its cost, including the bell and furniture, was $1,500; it has at present about twenty- five members, with the Rev. F. W. Nazarene as Pastor.