Springdale - Maxson House where John Brown Stayed - GPS Coordinates: 41.687483 by -91.220217

There is a plaque on a boulder marking the location of the William Maxson (spelled Maxon on the plaque) House which was a stop on the Underground Railroad and the place John Brown and his men stayed in 1857 while planning their raid at Harpers Ferry. The house has been torn down. This is near Springdale, which was home to Quakers and a center of abolitionism. The plaque was erected by the DAR in 1924. Take County Road X40 north of Springdale - turn right (east) onto 280th Street. Turn left (north) on Hayes and go about one tenth of a mile to the plaque which is on the left side of road at the entrance to several farm buildings. Thank you to Dan Tvedt for notification of this monument. The first photo was taken 8/3/20 - the second one 5/28/11.

Tipton - Marble Shaft Memorial - GPS Coordinates: 41.767350 by -91.128100

This 30 foot marble shaft includes names of Civil War soldiers from the region. Since the names are wearing off, there are two red granite monuments in back that have soldiers from all wars including about 290 CW soldiers. Also, there is a small separate monument for a Revolutionary War Veteran Charles Harry. This is a very nice setting in front of the Library. It is south of the business district. Photos taken 6/24/16 and 8/3/20. Also shown are two old undated photos - the colored one sent by Danny Krock and the last one sent by David Shedlock.

Tipton - Memorial Plaque and Freedom Rock - Pitt B. Herington - GPS Coordinates: 41.837400 by -91.157500

Pitt B. Herington, 11th Iowa Infantry, was awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery in going between battle lines to rescue a wounded comrade at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia on June 15, 1864. He was from the region near the Red Oak Grove Presbyterian Church and Cemetery in Cedar County. This memorial plaque was placed by the Cedar County Historical Society and dedicated on July 5, 2015. The memorial is on a boulder at the foot of the steps of the wonderfully restored Church which is on the National Register of Historical Places. The photos were taken 6/24/16. Go 3.5 miles north of Tipton on Highway 38 - then west on 175th Street to the Church. After the War, Herington farmed in Illinois and is buried in Clinton, Illinois - refer to the Clinton site showing his tombstone and Medal of Honor plaque.

In August, 2020, it was noticed there was a Freedom Rock in front of the Cedar County Courthouse in Tipton that highlighted Pitt Herington. The Freedom Rocks are located throughout Iowa and are painted by artist Ray "Bubba" Sorensen. There is a near-by display board that provides excellent information. The GPS refers to the plaque at the Church. The Rock is located off Highway 38 at the Courthouse just north of the Business District.