This is a picture taken at the Givin coal mines in East Des Moines Township, Iowa, in the late 1800's. Many communities, like Givin, have little or no presence in Mahaska County today. Once the coal industry diminished, the people in communities…
This is a picture of George H. Ramsey, Superintendent of the Carbonado coal mining operation back in 1896. Ramsey also was a developer in the field of coal mining during the time. Coal mining was a lucrative business to be involved with if an ample…
Religion has always played a very important role in Mahaska County, Iowa. One of the credits to the county has been its people's tolerance for others to worship freely without fear. This photograph depicts the First Presbyterian Church in…
This image depicts one of the earliest banks formed in Mahaska County; the First National Bank. The bank was situated in downtown Oskaloosa on Market Street.
During pioneer days in the Midwest, women held very important responsibilities to see to it that her spouse and children were cared for. The phrase, a woman's work is never done, certainly holds true, especially during this time period. In this…
Pictured here is the town square of Oskaloosa, Iowa as it appeared in the late 1800's. Note the number of wagons that have parked around the perimeter of the town square, as was common and highly encouraged, especially if the wagons had goods to…
This is a photograph taken of an original mining share certificate, dating back to December 4, 1868. The owner of the share certificate is Daniel Nelson. Nelson and his wife Margaret were lucrative farmers on the north side of Oskaloosa in the mid…
Daniel Nelson is one of the most remarkable people of Oskaloosa, Iowa, in Mahaska County. Born on April 13, 1812, in Butler County, Ohio, Nelson moved west to Iowa during the late 1840's to begin a new life in farming with his wife, Margaret, and…
Much of the livelihood of Mahaska County, and for that matter, Iowa, has depended on farming, and the success each year brings. Many came to Iowa to make a fresh start and begin farming on soil that hadn't been used over and over again. This held…
Much of the livelihood of Mahaska County, and for that matter, Iowa, has depended on farming, and the success each year brings. Many came to Iowa to make a fresh start and begin farming on soil that hadn't been used over and over again. This held…
