Confidence, Iowa

Confidence is a small unincorporated community in Wayne County, Iowa, United States. Located in south central Iowa, the community lies along County Highway J18 in the northeastern corner of its county, just west of Rathbun Lake.

It was originally platted in 1858, and its population and economic activity peaked in the 1920s, the peak of coal mining activity in the area. The first coal mines in the area date from the around the 1860's, although in the 19th century, they were small, serving only the local market. By the end of the 19th century, L. Frye was the principal mine owner in the area.^[1] Frye's mines were in the Mystic coal seam, which was not much over 2 feet (0.61 m) thick in this area. In 1905, he opened a new mine with a 110-foot (34 m) shaft and a steam hoist. This mine was just 1/4 mile south of an older Frye mine that had mined out just 15 acres (61,000 m²) of coal. Other mines in the area included the J. Hayhurst Bank and the Jared Bank.^[2]

The town changed drastically as a result of the Great Depression. In its prime, the town boasted a millinery, a tavern, a shoe shop, and a bank. The bank paid off all its deposits upon closing in 1935.

By the end of the 20th century, it was a virtual ghost town, with only a handful of occupied houses, a derelict church, a cemetery, a park, and the New Providence Baptist Church [1], housed in its current building since 1981. Its postal address designations are split between Melrose, ZIP code 52569, and Plano, ZIP code 52581. Its area is part of the Wayne Community School District, [2] based in Corydon.

Other nearby towns include Russell, in Lucas County; Albia, seat of Monroe County; Centerville and Moravia, in Appanoose County.

References

1. ^ James H. Lees, History of Coal Mining in Iowa, Chapter III of Iowa Geological Survey Annual Report, 1908, English, Des Moines, 1909, page 540.
2. ^ Henry Hinds, The Coal Deposits of Iowa, Chapter I of Iowa Geological Survey Annual Report, 1908, English, Des Moines, 1909, page 258.

External links

• Mapquest map
• Wayne County website
• Prairie Trails Museum of Wayne County
• Tintype of Confidence, Iowa, 1879

Coordinates: 40°51′46″N 93°07′32″W / 40.86278°N 93.12556°W / 40.86278; -93.12556