Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

way. Mr. Shaw, already the town's first mayor. took up
another of his many interests, the building of railroads.
He built the Dubuque 8: Southwestern railroad from
Farley to Anamosa and was bringing it toward Marlon.
when the Civil War started.
He had served in the Mexican War. enlisting in 1846.
October 24. 1861, he was commissioned Colonel of the
14th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Shaw served with
distinction, and attained the rank of General. He was
held prisoner at the infamous Andersonville in 1862 for
six months. and while imprisoned, one of his two
children by his first wife, Helen (Crane), died. The child.
Nancy. was three years old at the time of her death.
Col. Shaw was released from Andersonville in an
exchange of prisoners and returned to the battlefield.
Two years later, the out-spoken Shaw publically
accused a superior of drunkeness and inablity to
command. Shaw was relieved of his own command and
received a dishonorble discharge shortly before the end
of the Civil War. The matter was later straightened out.
He was vindicated and he received his honorable
discharge in January 1866.
Returning to Anamosa after the war. Shaw again
resumed his self-chosen role as a leader in community
affairs. He was president of the Midland Railroad.
which later became a branch of the Chicago &
Northwestern. and through his efforts it was completed
to Anamosa in 1871.
His wife. Helen. died May 2. 1867, and. on Christmas
Day that year, he married Retta Harmon, a school
teacher. She, with their infant son, died ll months
later. His third wife. Elizabeth Crane Higby, was a
widow with two children. George E. Higby and Fanny
Higby.
completed. This was afterward referred to as the Shaw
Mansion. Many elegant parties and balls were held in
honor of his daughter Helen "Lou" Shaw and stepdaughter,
Fannie Higby. Fannie later married Henry S.
Dutton, a nephew of Col. Shaw. George Dutton, who
was injured when he fell from a horse while riding along
the driveway from the Shaw house was severely injured
and remained incapacitated for the rest of his life.
On his estate Shaw, in 1880. erected a large creamery
that, at one time. produced up to 800 pounds of butter
per day (which was sold at 25 cents a pound.)
In 1879. to aid in keeping track of his vast amount
of real estate, he had the county surveyor. O.
Burlingarne. draw a map of his territory. Shaw's land
ran as far south as the river and east to what was
known as the Metcalf farm. He located his various sites
by colors. His town lots, for example. were colored
green. The local paper reported, “When the Colonel is
in doubt as to the location of any of his numerous
tracts, or does not feel quite sure that he has quitclaimed
some particular slice of right-of-way to more
than two different railroad companies, he casts his eye
upon the colored map and that decides the question
instanter. "
For over 35 years, Shaw was the senior member of
the Shaw 8: Schoonover Bank.
It was said that he had more to do with the material
growth and development of the town than any other
citizen during his residence of 56 years. He justly
deserved the title, ‘First Citizen‘, conferred upon him
by his contemporaries.
The old Colonel lived until 1909 and died at the age of
87, In his final years, he was cared for by his daughter,
In 1872, his spacious, handsome home on the 'L0l1'-
sightly eminence a half-mile southeast of the city was His wife, Elizabeth, preceded him in death.
Maria McGreevy
Pioneer Catholic
Maria McGreevy was one of Anamosa‘s oldest and
most respected pioneers, who. for 72 years, endeared
herself to the citizens of Anamosa and vicinity. Her life
covered the entire early history ofthe city.
She was born in London, England, in 1845, the
daughter of John and Winnifred Henley. This family
emigrated from England to America in 1849. The
Henleys moved from the East coast to Cascade in 1853.
and two years later to Anamosa.
In 1865 Maria was married to Hugh McGreevy shortly
after he settled in Anamosa. For many years she
assisted him in running the Anamosa House. a hotel
which was located on the corner of Main and Cleveland
streets. After the death of her husband in 1890. she
continued to operate the hotel.
Maria was known for helping the sick and others in
need. She aided the first missionary efforts for Catholic
worship in this community. before any public house of
worship was provided.
When she died in 1927, she was survived by her
daughter, Mary. wife of John E. Rhody, and three sons.
Will. Thomas. and Vincent.
Although not considered as one of the five founders of
the town of Anamosa by early town historians. Horace
C. Metcalf was one of the sturdy pioneers who came to
the town early and stayed on, and he was in the
forefront with a group of men who assisted in many
ways in the city's growth and development.
H.C. Metcalf came to Anamosa from Marion in 1847.
He operated a blacksmith shop and store where the
water works now stands. He was the first Republican
H. C. Metcalf
Lights Up Anamosa
submitted by Joyce Merritt
42
Sheriff in Jones county.
Mr. Metcalf and David Graham built the large threestory
grist mill where the electric light plant is now.
Mr. Metcalf organized the First National Bank, now
the site of the Town Crier, on the north side of Main
Street. T.W. Shapley was the cashier. The oldest
residents would have remembered the day a ‘run’ was
being made on the Schoonover Bank. When H.C.
Metcalf heard the news, he gathered up the money in