Iowa Civil War Monuments
Appanoose County
Centerville - Soldier and Cannons at Veterans Memorial Park - GPS Coordinates: 40.734833 by -92.864500
This is a nice little park in Oakland Cemetery with monuments to veterans of all wars. The Civil War monument was dedicated in 1914. The soldier is of marble and 6 feet in height. There are identical inscriptions on the front and back that read "In God We Trust - WRC - In Memory of all who followed our Flag in Defense of our Country - 1914." The matching cannons are 1.5 inch Maxim Nordenfeldts - used on ship as anti-torpedo boat guns from about 1890-1915. Thanks to Tom Batha for information and identification of these cannons. The cemetery is on the east side of Centerville - just north of Highway 2. The park is on the west side of the cemetery. Photos taken 8/1/08 and 3/4/09.
Centerville - Monument and Cannon at Courthouse - GPS Coordinates: 40.734316 by -92.874416
This monument was constructed in 1869 and is one of the oldest in the state. The bronze tablets were attached in 1927. About 300 CW veterans in the area are listed on the tablets with many from the 6th and 36th Iowa Infantry Regiments and the 3rd Iowa Cavalry. The cannon is a 12 pounder bronze Napoleon, M1857, cast at Henry N. Hooper and Co. Since my previous visit in 2014, the cannon was moved to a concrete slab by the monument and a new carriage was built. This was a major improvement. Photos taken 9/25/18. The last photo is a copy of an old undated postcard provided by Danny Krock.
In 1915, a Civil War muzzle-loader cannon and two boxes of cast iron cannon balls arrived from the Rock Island Arsenal. The piece weighed 1,239 pounds and threw a 10-pound shell. It had been purchased by the Grand Army of the Republic for $150. It was mounted near the west door of the Courthouse.
Centerville - Governor Francis Marion Drake Monument - GPS Coordinates: 40.735650 by -92.863383
Francis Marion Drake (1830-1903) served as a Colonel and commanded the 36th Iowa Infantry Regiment. He was severely wounded and captured during the war. Later, he was brevetted a Brigadier General. He served as Iowa Governor from 1896-98. He was an attorney in Centerville and a builder of railroads. He may be best known as the founder of Drake University in Des Moines. He is buried in Oakland Cemetery - it is just north of Highway 2 on the east side of town. The large monument is easy to find on the north side of the cemetery. Photos taken 6/5/09.
Centerville - GAR Stained Glass Window - GPS Coordinates: 40.735690 by -92.874459
This attractive stained glass window of a GAR medal is in the First Methodist Church in Centerville. This is a historic church, founded in 1846. The existing building was constructed in 1906. The church is located north of the Town Square at 410 N. Main Street. Photos taken 7/24/14.
