Year: 1872

| The Amania Society is the name Of a very


nourishlng community in Iowa, consisting


OF fifteen hundred members. They own


everything III common, and present an ad-


mirable example Of the success of the Co


operative plan when intelhgently admins


tered. These people were formerly known


as Ebenezers, and lived near Buffalo, N. ",


were they possessed six thousand acres Of


land. @They sold out some fifteen years


ago for the sum Of five million dollars, and


moved to Iowa They are located near


Homestead station ON the Rock Island and


Pacific Railroad, where they own thirty
thousand acres Of the choicest lands. They
have seven distinct settlements, and their
affairs are managed by fifteen trustees or
fathers. The society is incorporated under
State laws. AT convenient distances in the
settlements they have restaurants, to
which the various families resort for food.


The Amanians cling TO their good old
German ways in dress and general habits,
and are not in bondage to the outside
world All have an equal interest in the
property ; individuals are not allowed any
thing for their services, or furnished with
money for their private use. Each settle
ment has a store, and all are allowed to
draw certain amount yearly from it for
their private wants MAJ with a family
is allowed from $50 to so, with e2O for
his wife and 80 for each child This In
expected to keep them in clothing and
household furniture and supply all their
little personal needs When persons find
that the amount appropriated is not sufi-
clent for their actual expenses, the matter
can be LAID before the Board Of Trustees,
who will exercise their judgment about
making an additional appropriation.


They are temperate, industrious, rehg-
lous people, but it is difficult to define
their theological views.


A leading principle Of the society Is that
all will get along well together if every one
will do right and in this spirit, every
thing is managed harmoniously There is
no better theology than this, after all


1t is their custom to meet every day in
small companies, about the settlement and
in rooms provided fOrthe purpose. todevote
half an hour to religious exercises on
Wednesday they meet in the middle Of the
day Sundays they all come together in
their meeting house for religious services.
They do not appear a. specially favor mar
rlage, and many of them are living single
When young people wish to marry, they
generally receive the consent Of the society
If they have reputation for good behavior
If the parties have not succeed in com
mending themselves, they are not allowed
TO marry.


The society owns the whole settlement,
and carries on all the business, including
that Of the lumber yard, store. hotel. etc
They hire considerably on their farm and
IN their factories, and claim that even in
Iowa, with their 10000 acres Of choice
land, farming operations do not pay. About
three miles from Homestead, on the Des
Moines river, they have a fine water
power, Touring and wooden mills, and
an extra quality Of yarns and
fine tannels in colors. The latter goods
stand high in market, and are mostly
bought up by few frst-class retailers in
the large cities. The Amsnians have a
high reputation for uprightness in all their
dealings with the outside world, and are
much respected.