Colesburg - Civil War Soldier - GPS Coordinates: 42.653040 by -91.201000

This is a 22 foot Civil War Soldier in Brown Cemetery. The only inscription is "In Honor of the Nation's Defenders." The monument is in very good condition. It is located about a mile north of Colesburg on Colesburg Road. Photo taken 6/4/21.



Elkader - Courthouse Monument - GPS Coordinates: 42.855500 by -91.403233

This is a very impressive monument at the Clayton County Courthouse. It includes a bronze soldier and sailor, two bas relief panels of battle scenes, Gettysburg Address and an eagle. The courthouse is NE of the river and business district. Extensive repair work was needed on the sailor with some work on the soldier and eagle. Former SUVCW members Ricky Stewart, David Lamb and Court Stahr should be commended for an enormous amount of effort on this project. Ricky Stewart is a talented artist who fabricated the hand and telescope on the sailor and did other repair work. Photos taken 6/3/21.

Guttenberg - Veterans Memorial and Cannon - GPS Coordinates: 42.786316 by -91.097233

This Veterans Memorial has a monument with the Gettysburg Address and an eagle on top of a polished granite column. In a nearby location is a 24 pounder flank howitzer, M1844, cast at Cyrus Alger & Co. in 1863. These are in a wonderful location in Riverfront Park overlooking a lock on the Mississippi River. The park is just north of the business district. Photos taken 3/24/08, 9/11/10 and 6/3/21.

McGregor - Civil War Soldier - GPS Coordinates: 43.025600 by -91.194966

The base is of granite and the soldier and 4 plaques are white bronze. The monument is 25 feet high. The plaques mention "Hervey Dix WRC No 69" and "Hervey Dix GAR Post 37." They were named after Corporal Dix, a McGregor resident, who was killed August 20, 1861 while leading a scouting party near Kirksville, Missouri. This is an attractive monument in good condition. It is in Pleasant Grove Cemetery west of town at the top of the hill. From downtown, take 4th Street west, then turn left on Kinney, then bear left on a winding road (Cemetery Road/138th Street) to the top of the hill. The main road in the Cemetery will lead to the monument. Photos taken 6/3/21.

Monona - Civil War Soldier - GPS Coordinates: 43.052683 by -91.380316

This monument is 22 feet high and in good condition. The inscription on the front of the monument reads "In Memory of the Soldiers and Sailors who fought in the Wars of our Country." The Cemetery is on the east edge of town. Photo taken 6/3/21. The final image is a copy of an old postcard showing a cannon in the City Park in Monona. The cannon is gone - perhaps scrapped in World War II. Thanks to Danny Krock for providing the old photo.

Strawberry Point - Civil War Soldier - GPS Coordinates: 42.681033 by -91.522966

This is a nice granite monument 22 feet high. The inscription on the south side is "Erected by Citizens of Clayton County." On the west side "In Memory of the Nations Defenders." On the north side "Fraternity Charity Loyalty." Strawberry Point Cemetery is on the east side of town on Mission Street. Photo taken 6/3/21.

Guttenberg - Samuel Merrill Freedom Rock - GPS Coordinates: 42.791190 by -91.104930

The Clayton County Freedom Rock honors Samuel Merrill (1822-1899) who was a Civil War soldier and Governor of Iowa. The first photo on the west side of the rock refers to Merrill - the second photo on the east side shows the Iowa flag and a modern era soldier. Merrill was born in Maine but moved to McGregor in Clayton County in 1856 where he became a successful merchant and banker. He was the Colonel of the 21st Iowa Infantry Regiment but was severely wounded in the Battle of Big Black River Bridge on May 17, 1863. While he attempted to return to the Army, effects of the wounds resulted in being mustered out in 1864. He was elected as Iowa's Governor, serving from 1868-1872. He is buried in Woodland Cemetery in Des Moines. The Freedom Rock is painted by Ray "Bubba" Sorensen. It is in a very nice location off Hwy 52 on the NW side of Guttenberg near the swimming pool. Photos taken 6/4/21.