Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-07-19
The Amana Soeiety.


The Davenport Goze,,e contains an
interesting description Of the "Aman, "
Society,"" from which VIC gather the
following items:
The Colony is located in tho valley
of the Iowa river, in Iowa county. Its
Inaded territory embraces nearly the
whole Of Amana township, (thirty-six
square miles) and part Of Iowa town
ship, next adjoining on the South
The total Of this area comprises be
tween 80. .OOO and $4,000 acres, and ad
ditions are being steady made to this
by the purchase of adjacent lands.
The cultivated land is mostly on the
higher ard rolling prairie ,op the bluffs
which bound the valley Of the Iowa.
The soil is Of the excellent black loan
variety that characterizcs the greater
part Of central Iowa. The crops raised
arc Of wheat, barley, oats, corn, Sc.
No grain is raised for expectation in
the berry. except barley. which is snc-
cessfnslr ''pcarled by an ingenious
process, ana ,hus marketed for the
benefit Of lovers of the best quality Of
"pearl barley Flour is also largely
exported from the mills. Nor are any
cattle raised for foreign markets.
Wool is extensively raised, but is
manufactured before expectation. The
flannels and yarns of the Amana Soci-
ETY. are held in high esteem by the
trade generally. Hence orders are
continually filed here for Cincinnati,
Buffalo, New York, Philadelphia and
Boston, besides those from Davenport
and from all "the region round about"
The brand Of the Society on any arti-
Gle is known to be sure guaranty OF
texture, mako. weight, &C., being Just
as represented.
Buckets, churns, tubs. &C.. arc
made in large quantities and sold to
the farmers Of the surroundin. coan.
try.
The farm management Of the colony
might. in many particlars, be cited as
an example to all agriculturalists Who
would be successful. The soil is thor
oughly cultivated. Weeds are kept
remarkably secure. The women work
in the fields AMI make vigorous use OF
the hoe and rake. The best of agri.
cultural machinery is used whenever
practical-reapers, threshcrs, shelters.
&C.. are here to be found, of the best
make. Large and substantial barns
carefully shelter all the products ofthe
field. Nothing is allowed to run to
waste, or rot, or TO be lost or injured.
\ noteworthy and really gigantic
work Of internal improvement is now
in process, in the construction of
canal from the Iowa river, at a point
about mile west Of West Amana.
From thence this canal is to run east
along the entire length Of the villages
on the north Of the railroad, dis
tance Of seven miles. emptying into
Bruce Creek" and thence CARRYING
its waters into the Iowa again. When
completed this canal will secure fall
Of fourteen feet, and an abundant flow
Of water all through the year. thus
creating one of the best water powers
in the State. The cost of this under
taking will be at least $4,000. A
stream dredgc. costing SIC ZOO, is nov
steadily digging away, eastward from
the Iowa.
This colony is composed of reli.-
lous sect who style themselves Direct
Inspirationists.a This sect is an off
shoot Of the Lutheran Church. They
believe in the scriptures in their most
literal Interpretation. They hold TO
the necessity Of repentance and faith,
and accept Christ as Saviour Media
ter. The ordinance of Baptism is not
administered at all, the baptism Of the
Holy Ghost alone being deemed eff
cacious. The Lords supper is admin.
istered very seldom. perhaps years at
time will elapse before the commu-
nifty feel in proper state Of mind or
rather heart to partake. The most
solemn heart searching and prepara-
ton being deemed necessary. Upon
these occasions they also wash each
others feet. In their religious opin-
ions they are very tolerant. Having
suffered in Germany great deal Of
persecution. for which cause mainly
they fed to this country. They seem
quite willing to live without any at
tempt to regulate the opinions Of 9TH
ers or to make proselytcs to their own
views.
In addition to the observance Of the
Sabbath. Ascension Day, Pentecost,
Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christ.
mas, and other holy days, they have
meetings twice each Sabbath. also
every evening during the week. and
on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10
o'clock in the morning. The elders.
OF whom there are several in each
village, pray, read the scriptures, and
speak. Singing forms . prominent
part OF the services the hymns used
being selections from most all evan
gelical authors, especially Luthcrans.
The colony now numbers about
1900 persons. all Germans. The AZ
fairs Of the community are managed
by thirteen elders chosen annua ally, on
the afternoon Of the general election.
These -choose = President and Sccre-
tary Of their own number, and to this
body Of men: thus constituted. repre-
senting all the colonies, are entrusted
all the business affairs Of the Society.