Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

In 1893 James Brown discovered a lead deposit in a
bluff along the north bank of the Wapsipinicon River.
The Brown Mine. two miles southeast of Anamosa. was
located on his farm about one-fourth mile east of the"
Shaw" bridge. The excavation was about 50 feet long
and 30 feet in height and width. and about 25 feet
above land level. The deposit netted him 6.000 pounds
of lead concentrate. Lead at that time was worth about
$200 per ton.
The deposit seemed to hold all the lead prospects in
Jones County. until the spring of 1895. when W.D.
Sheean discoverd a pocket of ore. containing about
5.000 pounds. located a short distance east of the
Brown Mine. and the miners from the Dubuque area
investigated. and local farmers and businessmen
continued to search every limestone outcropping ledge
and bluffin the county. but turned up nothing.
The Iowa Geological Survey in 1895 read. in part.
"More or less energy and capital have been expended in
..-
Lead Mine Road
Jones county in prospecting for lead ore. but there is no
evidence to justify the hope that lead ore. in paying
quantities. will ever be found in this formation . . .
While interesting from a scientific point of view.
possess no unusual size for this formation. and
probably would not be duplicated by the most
persistent search in many years to come."
No specific reason could be forthcoming for the
finding of the lead on Brown's farm. One explanation in
the late 1800s was that it was probably by a simple
method of heat treatment. as the melting point of lead
is relatively low. "Thus copper. zinc and antimony.
often appearing as impurities of lead ore and with a
higher melting point are cast off in the refining
process." thus. the flury of excitement surrounding
the lead deposit soon diminished. Since that day in
1893. the road east of the old bridge east of the
Highway 151 by-pass. has been called the Lead Mine
Road.
Devoted Life to Improving Cemetery
Florence Noyes, 1862-1929
v.35‘ ,b
I“
Florence Noyes Curtis. who was responsible for
much of the beautification ofRiverside Cemetery.
Florence Noyes was born in Cass Township. Jones
County. September 4. 1862. Her parents were George
Noyes and Genora Parsons Noyes. She attended the
country schools and Anamosa High School. After
graduation she furthered her education at Iowa State
College. she then taught for a short time at the
Anamosa High School.
After her marriage to George Curtis. she lived in
Texas and Louisiana. They became the parents of a
daughter. Irene. who died at the age of 26. in 1916. and
was buried at Anamosa at the Riverside Cemetery.
As she rode in a train. a number of years later.
Florence Curtis observed a deserted cemetery with the
tombstones broken and partially standing in disarray
in a weed-filled plot. partially surrounded by broken
fence. Her thoughts were suddenly brought back to the
cemetery where her daughter was buried. on a bluff
between the forks of the Wasipinicon and Buffalo
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rivers. Knowing the site was by nature attractive. she
worried about the future of the plot. fearful that it. too.
may become as the one she passed.
She later reported her thoughts on seeing the
abandoned burial ground to the newspapers.
explaining why she was putting so much time and
money into the local cemetery: “Native ilowers bloom
from early spring to late autumn in Riverside. and birds
make the spot a haven for nature lovers to go with
binoculars to study the birds. Perpetual care. no doubt.
will do something toward keeping the grounds neat.
but unless our cemeteries are converted to beauty spots
with a park-like effect. they will be carelessly looked
after when there is no more space for burials.Then who
shall say. as the centuries pass. that they shall remain
intact."
With these thoughts and the love for her daughter.
Mrs. Curtis devoted much time and money in her
endeavor. She learned to drive a car so that she could
personally be on the job. In 1919. a landscape architect
was hired to make an overall plan and a campaign was
begun to raise money to make the permanent
improvements. Pledges were made amounting to
$20,000 from other persons who were caught up in her
project.
A considerable amount of money was spent in
grading. Then a much needed watering system was
installed. Roads were graveled and a new outer road.
nearly one mile long. was built. Shrubs were planted on
the hillsides and beds of cultivated flowers were put in
to add color to the landscape during the summer
months.
She was on the job many days at 7 a.m. to direct the
workmen. She labored without personal financial gain.
Although she felt that all life held dear to her ended
with the passing of her daughter. she was given a new
hope that she could beautify. improve and finally
endow the spot which had become so precious to her.
Florence Noyes Curtis died peacefully in her sleep
July 1929. at the age of 66. She was buried near her
beloved daughter. A small, simple headstone marks her