Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

°“P
Jones County office building, built in I857, housed
the Clerk, Treasurer and Recorder. It is now an
abandoned building at the west end of Hickory Street
in Anamosa. (Photo by Eldon J. Meeks)
1864. they hired Alonzo Spaulding to move the
stucture. Alonzo hired his men and hitched two string
of oxen of about 15 yokes and. using the heaviest log
chains available at the time, hooked them to the front
corners of the front end, the building resting on log
rollers, and started its journey up the then sandy hill
eastward on Main Street. That part of the matter taken
care of, the new owners undertook to look for a lot to
put it on, for they had not the slightest idea where it
was going to land.
They endeavored to negotiate for a lot where
Needham & Burrits livery stable was located, but the
negotiations failed. Next. they concluded a bargain for
the corner lot west of the intersection of North
Gamavillo and Ford streets, but somebody backed out.
Meanwhile. the ponderous oak structure, drawn by
the patient oxen, chains snapping at frequent intervals,
continued its creaking and groaning move onward
toward the rising sun.
A third effort was made to secure a lot where the
Town Tap is now. on the south side of Main Street
between Ford street and the alley, but it was no go.
At last, when it was passed the intersection of Ford
and Main street after all the vexations and trials. and
more than a week in its struggle going up town, a lot
was bought from Soper 8: Boardman. There was a slight
mix-up. however. as it was soon learned that the land
belonged to William T. Shaw (who later became the
Civil War hero to many). Alderman & Williams. after
spending the initial $250 and added more expense in
the moving and repairs. sold the whole concern in
disgust, to Mr. Shaw for $1,000.
The courthouse was turned into a wagon-maker and
blacksmith shop and was later remodeled into a
tinshop, occupied by A. Heitchen and the western half
used by J .A. Palmer as a furniture store.
This building is where the great fire of February 14.
1875. started and was reduced to a pile of ashes.
Riverside
The first burial in what is now the Riverside
Cemetery was a child of Mr. and Mrs. John Leonard in
1845. In 1854 or 1855, on this land which was owned
by Gideon Ford, lots were laid out.
In 1858, G.H. Ford caused a notice to be published in
the local paper as follows: ‘Notice is hereby given to all
persons that have selected lots in the cemetery of G.H.
Ford, that they are expected to pay for the same by July
15th. and receive a deed. A neglect to do so will be
considered as a forfeiture of the lots and they will be
sold accordingly." The notice was signed by C.L. D.
Crockwell, as Agent for G.H. Ford.
In 1863, the Anamosa Cemetery Association was
organized and the Articles of incorporation were filed
May 12, 1863. However, no purchase was made under
the corporation until one year later, when the grounds
known simply as ‘the old cemetery‘ were brought from
Gideon H. Ford, together with adjoining grounds of
about 15 acres.
The Eureka, June 10, 1869, told the community
about the condition of the cemetery in this forthright
manner, “J.H. Fisher has raised a subscription of $350
for the job of fencing the burying grounds, a want
which has long been felt, but not acted upon by our
citizens. Let the job be finished up, and trees and
underbrush cleaned out. We have a young forest
growing up, that with care, may be made an ornament
and fringe benefit — instead of what is.now a general
stamping grounds for horses, cattle and debris."
In 1869, under the personal supervision of J.H.
Fisher, the whole ground was enclosed with a strong
pine board fence, and a roadway 30 feet wide was cut
around, inside the fence. On the east side, a strip of
Cemetery
by Bertha Finn
ground skirting the pond on the right of the entrance.
30 X 200 feet. was reserved as an entrance way. A large
double gate, hinged to pillars 18 feet high and 12 feet
apart, protected the property at night. The expense of
grading the fence gate was $517. The cemetery
association paid $43.50: the community subscribed
$373.50; and the town council appropriated S 100.
The cemetery directors were Messrs. Needham, Foxall,
Schoonover, Heitchen, Shaw, Harvy, Peet and
Newman. W.T. Shaw was president; A. Heitchen,
secretary: and L. Schoonover, treasurer.
“ 0 0 ‘ . ‘ .
A "restful" scene at the Riverside Cemetery in early
days.