Iowa Civil War Monuments
Bremer County
Janesville - Civil War Monument - GPS Coordinates: 42.655850 by -92.456700
This memorial is in Oakland Cemetery in Janesville. It was erected in 1908 by the Oakland Cemetery Association. It is constructed of "white bronze" or zinc - unfortunately, a chuck is broken out on the west side of the monument. Soldiers who lost their lives from the area are inscribed on the sides of the monument. One panel shows soldiers from Co. B of the 38th Iowa Infantry Regiment which was devastated by loss from disease. Another panel is dedicated to the Unknown Dead. Thank you to Dr. Terrence Lindell of Wartburg College for the photos and notification of this monument. To get to the cemetery, go east of Janesville about a mile, then left on Garden about a half mile, then left on 270th for a mile, then left on Fairview to the Cemetery.
Waverly - Civil War Plaque at Courthouse - GPS Coordinates: 42.726200 by -92.465116
There is a Statue of Liberty in front of the Bremer County Courthouse. On the base is a plaque with 97 Civil War soldiers from the county. There are also plaques with fallen service members from other wars. Also shown is a plaque regarding the dedication by the Boy Scouts in 1950. The courthouse is on Highway 3 east of the business district. Photos taken 9/3/10 and 8/13/19.
Waverly - John Karker Memorial - GPS Coordinates: 42.715966 by -92.470883
This is a plaque honoring John Karker of Company G of the 9th Iowa Infantry Regiment, the first soldier from Bremer County to be killed in the Civil War. At age 18, he was killed in the battle of Pea Ridge, on March 7, 1862 and is buried in the National Cemetery at Fayetteville, Arkansas. This plaque was dedicated in August of 2003 as part of Bremer County's sesquicentennial commemoration of the county's creation in 1853. Harlington Cemetery is on the south side of Waverly - take 8th Ave. SE off Business Highway 218 to the cemetery. The plaque is in the SE corner of Block 10. Photo taken 5/4/08.
Waverly - Robbins Memorial - GPS Coordinates: 42.715600 by -92.471317
This memorial is in Harlington Cemetery in Waverly. Beulah Robbins lost both her husband and son in the War. The inscription on the west side of the monument is dedicated to Beulah and reads, in part, "A soldier's widow, A soldier's mother, A soldier's friend." It was erected by Robbins Post, No. 267 of the Iowa GAR. The south side shows Barney W. Robbins of Co C, 14th Iowa Infantry who died Nov. 1, 1863, aged 19 years. It indicates his burial place is unknown but the Iowa "Roster and Record" reports he died of pneumonia and is buried in the Mound City, Illinois National Cemetery. The north side is dedicated to husband Cyrus Robbins of Co. B, 38th Iowa Infantry and says he is buried at sea. The "Roster and Record" reports he died of disease Dec. 27, 1863 on the steamer "Crescent."
Thank you to Dr. Terrence Lindell of Wartburg College for the photos and information about this very interesting memorial. Harlington Cemetery is on the south side of Waverly - take 8th Ave. SE off Business Highway 218 to the cemetery. This memorial can be difficult to find - look in the middle of the area between Block 11 and Block 13.
