Ira & Asenath Sturdevant House

Ira and Asenath Sturdevant House. . , Ira and Asenath Sturdevant House: A Living History Project, Built of brick in 1855-6, the Ira and Asenath Sturdevant house is the oldest surviving dwelling in Waverly, Iowa. The Sturdevants, accompanied and followed by their many adult children, settled in Bremer County in the early 1850s. Born in Tinmouth, Vermont, in 1793, Ira Hainer Sturdevant was the son of a Revolutionary War veteran and himself a veteran of the War of 18 12. Asenath (Lilley), born 1794, was the daughter of a Revolutionary War veteran. After serving in the Battle of Sacket's Harbor in May 1813, Ira married Asenath in December., Like many Yankee New Englanders, the Sturdevants trekked across Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois before coming to Iowa. Son William Sturdevant was one of the first to arrive here. After Waverly's incorporation, his acreage became the William Sturdevant Addition to Waverly, starting across the street, north of the Ira Sturdevant House. Ira's acreage was part of his Bounty Land Claim, reward for service in 1813-1814. It later became the Ira Sturdevant Addition to Waverly. Ira and William deeded rights of way to the community for streets and alleys. These sections remain known as the Ira and William Sturdevant Additions, as deeds and abstracts still show., Two Sturdevant sons, William and Lafayette, first saw this part of the Cedar River Valley. They worked with oxen to plow land near Quasqueton for a man named Hoover. When a group of Indians came by, the brothers inquired if there was any fertile land northward, and the Indians directed them up the Red Cedar River. William and Lafayette eventually came upon a beautiful vista as they stood on a bluff overlooking what is today Cedar Lane north of Waverly. They encouraged their loved ones to come here. William built the Ida House, a hotel across from the present Fire Department just north of here. Lafayette went back for his parents and family in Illinois. They arrived in 1854. , Ira, perhaps assisted by one of his sons-in-law, brick-mason Samuel Cave, erected this two-story brick house on the northeast corner of his 40 acres. In 1857, he added a barn. When passing Indians needed a place to stay the night, Ira and Asenath invited them to sleep near the fireplace, which still exists. The Sturdevants welcomed all travelers with meals and beds. As one of the several War of 18 12 veterans in Waverly, Ira received tributes at July Fourth ceremonies. Sturdevants were founding members of the Methodist Episcopal (now Trinity United Methodist Church., The family grew but suffered greatly in the Civil War era. Ira died from "lung fever" (probably pneumonia) in this home on April 12, 1862. His widow Asenath followed on May 7, 1867. Both lie in the original Sturdevant family plot to nearby Harlington Cemetery, where five generations of their descendants, many of whom lived in various homes in the Ira and William Sturdevant Additions, also rest. William Sturdevant died in the Civil war. Lafayette survived. Generations of Sturdevants, Lovejoys, and Caves served in world wars and decorated veterans' graves on Memorial Day for over a century., Sold outside the Sturdevant family after Asenath died, the house adapted to many folks for over 150 years before Waverly's June 2008 flood led to abandonment. Descendants repurchased it (with the help of a SHSI grant) at a sheriff's sale on April 14, 2009, ultimately creating a non-profit organization, the Ira Sturdevant House, Inc., to own and restore it. When finished, the Ira and Asenath Sturdevant House will open to the public as a community, educational, living-history site. , The Ira Sturdevant House gratefully acknowledges recognition and support of various kinds from the City of Waverly; Waverly Historic Preservation Commission; State Historical Society of Iowa; Boy Scouts of America Troop 90, Zachary Brunkhorst, Eagle Scout Project; Hartman Services (landscaping and maintenance); and our many generous donors, Ira descendants, friends and neighbors.