Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

McCarn Abstract Company, the oldest business in
continuous operation in Jones County, was founded
by Judge Davis McCarn in 1857. Judge McCarn was a
native of Virginia who came to Iowa in the early
1850s. Like many lawyers of the day, he wore many
hats -— iudge, attorney and abstracter. The oldest
tract indexes, with entries made by Judge McCarn
himself, are still in the possession of the business.
Judge McCarn ran the abstract business until his
death in the 1890s. He was succeeded by his sons,
Robert McCarn and David McCarn. After their retirement
in 1910, the business was run by Bert McCarn,
Judge McCarn's grandson. About Bert McCarn, there
are many stories, of which some are appropriate for a
family publication. Bert's passion for young women
was well-known, as was his fondness for games of
chance. It is said that Bert McCarn once determined to
read the Bible from cover to cover, marking his place
with playing cards.
in 1936 Eugene “Babe” Rees came to work for Bert
McCarn, on “temporary” loan from the Federal Land
Bonk. Thinking the business in capable hands, Bert
McCarn quickly withdrew, leaving Babe Rees to do the
work. In time, Babe Rees bought the business, finally
acquiring outright ownership from Bert McCarn's
widow in 1956. Although he lacked Bert McCarn's
more pungent vices, Babe Rees was himself a colorful
local character. His wit and knowledge of facts about
Jones County were especially notable. During Babe
Rees's ownership of the business, McCarn Abstract
Company acquired the rights to the Jones County
Report (sometimes known as the "Scandal Sheet"), a
compendium of county records that is still being
published. Babe Rees continued to operate the
business until his death in 1986.
After Babe Ree's death, the ownership of McCarn
Abstract Company passed to Babe's widow,
Josephine, and to his son, Douglas.
McCarn Abstract Co.
"Just West of the Courthouse"
200 North Jackson - Anamosa
319-462-2604
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