On the evening of 12 February 1875 above Iowa a brilliant fireball was observed.

About 100 meteorite fragments fell over a 18-square-mile (47 km2) snowy countryside area from Amana to Boltonville in Iowa County.

The first found fragment, a stone weighing about 3.5 kilograms (7.7 lb), was discovered by Sarah Sherlock 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south of Homestead.

[2] The area was wooded and covered by snow, impeding recovery efforts.

On 10 February a 40 centimetres (16 in) snowfall blanketed the ground, preventing the great majority of the fragments from being discovered until Spring.