New Saratoga - This settlement was platted as Saratoga on July 24, 1855 by Israel Woodard. It was located in Sec. 12-87-26 of Webster Township. It never became more than a paper town, but some had hoped that it would rival Webster City as a county seat since it was more centrally located in the county than Webster City. This settlement was located near the Red Cedar Post Office. Some people called this New Saratoga, as it was named for Saratoga, New York.
By 1860, Thomas Adams gave three acres of land on a corner of his property for a cemetery, which was about a mile south of Saratoga. A church was built at the northeast corner of the cemetery; a school was constructed across the road east in Sec. 18, Hamilton Township. It was Mr. Woodard who suggested that the community be named New Saratoga at the opening of the new school.
In 1865, Samuel G. Layne came from Kentucky and opened a blackmith shop in Sec. 7, Hamilton Township. In September of 1865, Layne ran a small store and established the post office which was named Red Cedar. Eventually the settlement sprung up, as there was quite a bit of traffic in the area.
The stage coach had a stop at Red Cedar for a time before crossing the Boone River at a ford and continuing to Tunnel Mill. The Red Cedar Post Office was moved to the mill in 1881 and was renamed Tunnel. In 1911 the United Brethren Society sold the church. It was used as a community center for a time. Sunday school was held at the church until 1933.
The Duckett Cemetery, up in the woods, was the first burial place for the community. It was called the Duckett Cemetery because of a widow lady named Duckett whose family was buried there. Today all that remains in that cemetery is the grave of Elizabeth and Malcolm Woodard, children of Israel Woodard. They are buried in one grave and share a stone marker.
A legend has it that a wrestling match was held between J.N. Olmstead of Saratoga and S. B. Rosencrans of Webster City to determine the county seat. This is similar to the other legendary wrestling match at Homer. Obviously, Rosencrans won the bout. Buster Fassett, of Webster City, has disputed the legend, stating that the age differences between the two men would have been too great. An interesting legend, however.