Villages of Wayne County
Cambria
Cambria has been a focal point in Washington township since 1849, even though it has never become incorportated. Being the first postoffice in the county and as the postmasters changed so did Cambria. In 1879 the railroad passed through Washington township from Corydon to Humeston and beyond. Cambria was then replatted and moved a mile to the railroad. It became a thriving little town with its grocery store, hotel, lumberyard, livestock yards as well as many other businesses of that era. The Cambria Savings Bank was incorporated on July 1, 1901 and served the surrounding area. It was on July 26, 1926 that it closed its doors to business after paying off its depositors. Cambria today has about 50 residents which at one time the population was over 300. Kirby Park is one of the focal points in this small town.
Confidence
The town of Confidence was platted in September of 1858. At its height, Confidence had a millinery, hotel, a dress making shop, shoe shop, livery barn, a tavern, garage, and a creamery. There were also three churches, a mutual phone exchange, and a bank. The bank operated from 1920 to 1935, until it paid off 100 % of its deposits and closed the doors. It was believed to be the only bank in Iowa to have a rural route address. In 1910, Confidence's population swelled to 250, due to the coal mining in the area. The mines closed two decades later during the depression. Today, Confidence has one remaining church and about 6 houses, as well as a small park. Another distinction is the western gateway to Lake Rathbun.
Genoa
The town of Genoa was laid out in 1855, adjacent to the trail of the Mormons, who had trekked through the area some 8 years before. It was located upon the Red Rock line that seperated the whites and the Indians, and near the Capitol Trail that connected Jefferson City, Missouri and Des Moines, Iowa. At one time, the hotel in Genoa was a way station on a trail to Kansas City. In 1870, the first of two railroads was built through Seymour, five miles to the north. Thus began the decline of Genoa. As a result many of the businesses and homes were relocated to Seymour. Genoa lost its last distinction, in recent years, when the old "Genoa-Seymour Mutual Telephone Company" was discontinued in favor of a more modern system.
Harvard
Founded on the Rock Island Railroad line in 1879, Harvard is located is located 6 miles west of Allerton or 8 miles west of Seymour. The train station was named Harvard, and the village directly to the south of the station was called Grainville. In 1882, the name of the town was offically changed from Grainville to Harvard. Around 1881, Grainville (Harvard) had a lumber yard, a general store, hardware store, furniture store, a blacksmith's shop and the Grainville House. The post office closed in 1953, but the town survived as quite the trading center and shipping point for many years. Today, Harvard has several houses and a bridge over the old railroad line.
Sewal
Sewal is one of the towns that has never been incorporated, it was laid out in 1887 with the coming of the railroad. There were six passenger trains that once passed through this town daily. At one time Sewal had three churches and fifteen businesses. The country schools met together to form the Sewal Consolidated School from 1919-1957. Now the United Methodist Church is the town's only church of the bygone era. It fellowship hall which is located across the street is used as an activity center in the area. Shelda’s General Store, where you can buy anything from a hammer to milk and bread to handmade crafts and supplies to a prepared dinner, has helped attract visitors back to this small hamlet. Corydon is its post office, Seymour is where the children go to school, and its telephone service is an extension of Allerton's. But Sewal is proud of its four active businesses and the community sprit that is still strong.
