Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

Dunham, F. Holabird. J.S. Crawford. J.A. Secrest. W.
B. Blodgett, Stephen Williams. and Darius Fisher. The
latter took premium on saddle nag. While he was
riding about, another horse kicked him in the side. but
the injury was minimal.
The committee on jacks. jennets and mules was
Blodgett, Dunham and Spear. The winners were B.
Chaplin. Fisher & son, O. Lockwood. Joseph Mann and
E.B. Alderman. The committee on cattle was John
Merritt, J.H. Fisher, C.L.D. Crockwell and some of the
winners were Blodgett, Spear, Lovell, Boon, Dimmitt.
William Whittemore, James Peet and Carter 81
Benedict.
Judge Mann captured most of the premiums on
sheep, having several hundred here at the time, and
George Lovell took the rest. In grain, E.B. Aldennan
and James Boon took one and three premiums
respectively, and the latter another on sorghum syrup.
In mechanical products, F.F. Beardsley took premium
on best harness; O. Lockwood on best brick and mason
work; Holabird & Sherwood on best horse shoe. The
committee on domestic products were Mrs. Hamilton
Carey, Mrs. S.T. Buxton, and Mrs. A.V. Bundy. Among
the prize-takers were Mrs. J. H. Show. Mrs. DT-
Chapman. Mrs. B. Chaplin. Miss Emily Spear, Mrs. E.
H. Warner, Mrs. James Boon, Miss Mary Fisher, Mrs. N.
S. Noble and Mrs. E. B. Alderman.
After the first fair held in Anamosa. Dr. J .S. Dimmitt
set to work in earnest and secured grounds [where the
Anamosa Fairgrounds were later located). An executive
committee was authorized to take subscriptions for
membership and for fixing a permanent Fair Grounds.
This was done under the jurisdiction of the Jones
County Agriculture Society. The member who obtained
the largest number of new members was awarded a
premium of S 10 and the member who raised the largest
axnount for the Fair Grounds, at either Anamosa,
Monticello, Isabelle or Madison, was awarded a
premium of $10. Dr. J.S. Dimmitt was appointed to
receive proposals and subscriptions for the Fair
Grounds. E.S. Blodgett was the president of the
executive committee.
In 1857, Spaulding & Rogers brought their three
circuses to Anamosa. (This is not to be confused with
the Fair, but this writer thought its inclusion to be of
interest). Otto Kyle's Bugle Band, it was reported, was
drawn by 40 horses in triumphal procession through
the principal streets every morning.
The 40 horses were hitched on the band wagon a few
rods from John Althen's [which was located then
downtown) and they were driven by one man. ‘who's
majestic bearing. as he gripped twenty lines in each
hand, was the envy and admiration of a drove of awestricken
kids and older people who followed the
establishment.‘
He drove from Althen's through old South Main
Street as far as the ‘Bee Hive‘ where they turned in on
the then show grounds flat, back of the two-story block
at the corner of Main and Elm street (which was
recently torn down to make a safer turn of the
intersection).
William T. Shaw, later known as ‘Colonel’ Shaw.
owned the grounds where the fairgrounds were
established in 1859. He donated the grounds to the
Jones County Fair Society for 10 years, rent free.
The total amount of premiums that year was
$373.50. However. $478 was spent in ‘shaping up’ the
fairgrounds. Anamosa citizens subscribed $428 and
$50 came in from Fairview area citizens. The balance,
after all was said and done, was 60 cents.
The added feature this Year was the pulling of a
locked lumber wagon, loaded with men and boys,
pulled by draft horses. David Graham, with his iron
grey team which worked in his saw mill yard, won first
premium in that event.
The one oversight of this fair was the absence of any
benchs or anything on which to sit. This lack found the
several hundred ladies present standing through the
entire day.
The attendence for the two-day event was estimated
at close to 2,000.
Entered for competition were: 4 farms; 6 gardens:
126 horses; 11 mules; 50 cattle; 6 sheep; 12 swine; 1
field crop (H.G. Seeiey won with 98 bushels of corn per
acre} 62 grains and seeds: 150 fruits and vegetables; 10
poultry; 49 domestic produce; 4 flour and meal; 25
manufactuarys: 58 needle-work: 6 farm implements: 3
copper. iron and tinware; 8 leather fabrics; 11
paintings; 4 stone and brick work; 8 equestrians; and
92 miscellaneous.
The two largest Durham bulls — one red, belonging
to Mr. A. Kimball of Wyoming, Iowa. weighed 1,900
pounds. and a roan bull which belonged to
J.N.Atkinson weighed 2.000 pounds. The latter lost the
premium, but Mr. Kimball thought the roan should
have won and proved it by an even exchange of their
animals for breeding after the contest.
In regard to the horse racing, the two most celebrated
in the state: ‘Iowa Chief‘, owned by Mr. Lampson of
Maquoketa. and ‘Tom Hyer'. owned by Mr. Wolfe of
Cedar Rapids. were on hand. ‘Tom Hyer' won in 2:44.
‘Nancy’, owned by N.S. Noble, made the first 1/2 mile
in 1 :37, but then flew the track and upset. and broke the
sulk .
Thye equestrian performance interested everyone.
There were supposed to be nine entries but only eight
appeared. At the first round, which was a trot. Miss
Emma Crane and Miss Philena Scroggs. came in at a
terrible break-neck speed. Rushing along, they raced
right past. not even stopping at the judges’ stand. The
succeeding rounds were conducted more moderately.
Miss Smith proved quite a daring. as well as a skillful
rider. She rode without a saddle and took the first
premium.
The editor of the Eureka considered the Fair a
decided success. with total of 338 entries and 100
horses on exhibit. He did hope, though, that they would
provide benches for the ladies for the next year.
Persons who paid $1 membership dues to the Jones
County Agricultural Society were furnished with
certificates of membership. This certificate admitted
the ladies of their families and their children under the
age of 12. This $1 enabled them to exhibit any article or
animal they wished. Day tickets were 10 cents; persons
entering the enclosures were charged extra for the day,
at 25 cents for a double carriage and 10 cents for a
single carriage and 10 cents horseback.
A farmer, A.H. Marvin, wrote a letter to the editor
airing his complaint regarding the distribution of the
premiums. He nicely stated that piecing a quilt should
not be equated with growing a bushel of grain. He then
explained. “Now l do not complain that the Lady who
can sew and knit receives too great an award, but as a
farmer of Jones County, I do complain that the great
farming interests of the county are almost entirely left
without encouragement. "
During the Civil War, the fair barely limped along,
but afterward it picked up again. Horse racing was
added to the Anamosa Fair — for wagers. This brought
the ire of a farmer, William Brazelton, who aired his
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