Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

DAR Marked Military Road
The seventh marker was placed along the Old
Military Road between Dubuque and the Missouri
border at Anamosa in 1937. It was a bronze table.
erected on a boulder which stands on the southeast
corner of the Jones County Courthouse lawn. It was
unveiled by Elenor Strawman and Lucille Remley with
a bugle call by Bob Reed and dedicated by Mrs. John
Hull, State Historian of the D.A.R.. of Boone. Iowa.
The marker recalls that in January 1839 a territorial
act established the trail. Iowa City was the state capital
at that time and a road through this part of Iowa was
needed for travel. and to afford some protection from
possible Indian attack.
The United States government saw a need for a road
to transport troops in case of possible Indian uprising.
therefore. authorized the construction and
appropriated $2.000 in 1839; $1.000 in I844; and
$8,000 in 1845.
Mrs. Edgar D. Beach of Anamosa presided over the
dedication program.Her mother. Mrs. Strawman. also
spoke at the dedication. Besides being known as The
Old Military Trail. it has also been known as the
Territorial Road, the State Road; the International
Road; the Dillon Road and the Dubuque Road.
The boulder came from the Reformatory state farm.
and was given to the D.A.R. by Warden W.H. Frazier.
Some of the guests at the ceremony were Mrs.
Imogene Emery. Iowa D.A.R. regent of Cedar Rapids:
Mrs. R.M. Peet: Mrs. J.D. Paul of Anamosa: W.D.
Johnston and Philip W. Shive. of the Iowa Highway
Commission and Mrs. B.E. Rhinehart, Anamosa D.A.R.
chaplain.
compiled by Mildred Brown
I 0
Evangeline Rebekah Lodge
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submitted by Wilma Walton
nbfiarrs AT nmacmurrw
Among the persons who played prominent parts in
the dedication of the Old Military Road trail marker.
which was dedicated here are, left to right: Mrs.
Emogene Emery of Cedar Rapids. state regent of the
D.A.R.: Mrs. John Hull of Boone. D.A.R. state
historian: Mrs. Edgar Beach. regent of Francis Shaw
Chapter; Mrs. R. M. Peet. Mrs. J.D. Paul of Anamosa;
W.D. Johnson. highway engineer; Phillip W. Shive of
Cedar Rapids. state highway engineer; and Mrs. B.E.
Rhinehart (Eureka photo)
After the program. the group toured the new
courthouse and refreshments were served at a social
hour in the community room. with Mrs. J .A. Hartman
and Mrs. George Bye of Anamosa serving as hostesses.
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Rebekah Sisters receiving I0. 20, 25.
35. and 50-year pins. March 23. 1981. Front
row: Eunice Conley. Berniece First, Wilma Walton.
Gladyus Baker. Ruth Heasty. Second row: Ethel
Barker. Bertha Stimpson, Eleanor Smith. Katherine
Seeiey. Third row: Josephine Russell, Laura Taylor.
Dora Bradley, Margaret Hoag. Marie Zimmer, Isabelle
Rogers. (Photo by Anamosa Newspapers, Inc. and
submitted by Wilma Walton)
The Rebekah Degree was the first fraternal
organization for women ever organized and. for 25
years. was the only organization of its kind in the
nation. It has been said that Schyler Colfax was
responsible for founding the Rebekah Degree. He was
the author of the ritual. initiation ceremony. the
charges of the officers and the signs and passwords
On March 6. 1889. at the Hall of Stella Lodge 223
IOOF. a meeting was called by P.G.. Thomas R.
Ercanbrack to consider the propriety of organizing a
Rebekah Degree Lodge in Anamosa. The name selected
for the lodge was the Evangeline.
On April 5. 1889. a meeting was called to order by
District Deputy Grand Master. W.M. Harvey. The
charter officers were: Grand Noble. Mrs. T.R.
Ercanbrack; Vice-Noble. Mrs. M.P. Sigworth; Secretary.
Mrs. E.M. Harvey: Treasurer. Mrs. William H. Symons.
The Anamosa IOOF 40 allowed the use of half of their
lodge room for six months. and during the rest of the
year, the hall ofStella Lodge IOOF was used.
An organ was purchased for $60. on the installment
plan, payable to Shaw and Schoonover.
The charter was granted in I889. and the following
year the meetings were held at the Hall of IOOF Lodge
40. Due to the difficulty for members climbing the
stairs. the meetings are now held in members’ homes.
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