Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

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Another time Don said. “A farmer put a live mouse in
my car. I wouldn't move until he removed the mouse.
We both took all the mail out before he found it. I had
visions of it running up my leg."
Don told another one. “One time while a road was
being graded it rained and my car went into the ditch. I
left my car with the keys in it and took my mail to the
nearest corner and hid it in the bushes. I hitchhiked into
town. got another car. finished the route and retumed
home. I found the car I left stuck in the ditch. sitting
on my driveway. I never found out who did it: no one
would ever tell me."
Robertson also confessed that there was one time
when the mail was nearly lost. “Once when I was a city
carrier. we didn't have relay boxes up. in those days.
and the mail was put in boxes on people's porches
ahead of us. I came to the porch and there was no mail
there." Luckily. Don remembered seeing a Salvation
Army truck in Anamosa prior to the incident. He
immediately began a search for the vehicle. ultimately
retrieving his precious cargo. Don quipped. “That
saved me from going tojail."
One of the things Don planned to do after his
retirement — besides golfing with his vivacious wife.
Joyce — was to spend a lot of time watching his
mailbox and calling the post office to inquire if there
was going to be a delivery. if it was 15 minutes late.
He could also spend some time resting on his laurels.
as he had driven more than a half million miles without
an accident.
Lawrence Schoonover
Noted Writer
Lawrence Schoonover was born in Anamosa in I906.
the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Schoonover. Lawrence.
a prolific writer. authored several notable books. Some
of these were: ‘The Burnished Blade‘. ‘The Spider
King‘. ‘The Quick Brown Fox‘. ‘The Golden Exile‘. and
‘The Gentile Infidel‘.
Jimmy Seeley
Small Man. Big Talent
by Mildred Brown
1
-ab
For nearly 60 years the late Jim Seeiey was a familiar
figure on the streets of Anamosa. His friendly smile and
a wave were part of his personality. He answered to.
Jim. or Jimmy. and was a small man with a big heart.
who lived quite a normal life. considering. and in spite
of. severe physical handicaps.
He was born April 3. 1922. with a birth defect which
left his right arm ending where an elbow should be. His
left hand consisted of only two fingers and a thumb. He
had no thigh bones. But like so many others with
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Jimmy Seeiey (Photo submitted by Berniece Shover)
Seeley's largest harmonica. a bass chording
harmonica used for accompanying a band. has 384
reeds. (Journal-Eureka)
304