Bentonsport in Van Buren County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Iowa’s Confederate General

Birthplace of Iowa’s Only Confederate General Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Dann Hayes, September 22, 2007

1. Birthplace of Iowa’s Only Confederate General Marker

This monument was dedicated on September 22, 2007.

Inscription.
General Lawrence Sullivan ‘Sul’ Ross, CSA, was born in Bentonsport, Iowa, Van Buren County on September 27, 1838. His family moved to Texas in 1839, where he grew to manhood. In 1859, Sul Ross was commissioned a Captain in the Texas Rangers, fought Comanches, rescued Cynthia Ann Parker (Mother of Quanah Parker), and in 1861, enlisted as a Private in the 6th Texas Cavalry CSA. He rose rapidly through the ranks to become Brigadier General of the 6th Texas Cavalry and later Brigade Commander, Jackson’s Division, Forrest’s Cavalry Corps. Gen. Sul Ross took part in 135 battles, including Elkhorn Tavern, Corinth, the Atlanta and Franklin-Nashville Campaigns. He returned to Texas after the Civil War and served as Sheriff of McLennan County, Texas, Governor of Texas from 1887-1891, and President of Texas A&M University from 1891 until his death in 1898.

Frontiersman, Soldier, Statesman, Educator; A Native Son of Iowa, Adopted Son of Texas.

Erected 2007 by Iowa Sons of Confederate Veterans; Texas Sons of Confederate Veterans; Marmaduke Chapter of Military Order of Stars & Bars; Douds Stone, Iowa’s Confederate General.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Sons of Confederate Veterans/United Confederate Veterans series list. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1844.

Location. 40° 43.534′ N, 91° 51.298′ W. Marker is in Bentonsport, Iowa, in Van Buren County. It is on Main Street (County Road J 40), on the right. The location of the marker is in the County Conservation Board Park – South side of Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Keosauqua IA 52565, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Iowa. It is also in the American Midwest

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and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mormon Trail Crossing at Des Moines River (approx. 3.3 miles away); The Hotel Manning (approx. 5.6 miles away); Van Buren County Courthouse (approx. 5.7 miles away); Dragoon Trail Historical Site (approx. 6.4 miles away); Stockport Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial (approx. 9.2 miles away); Athens Mills (approx. 12.7 miles away in Missouri); Aftermath of the Battle (approx. 12.7 miles away in Missouri); First Northeast Missouri Home Guard Defends the Union (approx. 12.7 miles away in Missouri).

Monument for Sullivan "Sul" Ross, Iowa's only Confederate general image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Dann Hayes, September 22, 2007

2. Monument for Sullivan "Sul" Ross, Iowa's only Confederate general

Credits. This page was last revised on October 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 18, 2007, by Michael Dann Hayes of Malcom, Iowa. This page has been viewed 5,689 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 22, 2007, by Michael Dann Hayes of Malcom, Iowa. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.