Stockport Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial

Honoring Van Buren County Veterans

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Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II

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Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2025

1. Stockport Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial
(south side)

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Excerpt:  Voltaire Paine Twombly (February 21, 1842 – February 24, 1918) was a Union veteran of the American Civil War and received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Fort Donelson on February 15, 1862, when he picked up and carried his regiment's national colors after three other members of his regiment were killed

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2025

2. Stockport Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial
(east side)

or incapacitated by Confederate fire while attempting to secure the flag. Twombly also participated in a number of other engagements in the Civil War, including the Siege of Corinth and Sherman's March to the Sea.
After being mustered out of service in 1865, Twombly attended business school and entered into a number of business ventures. In 1880, he entered politics upon being selected to be the treasurer of Van Buren County, Iowa. He served as the mayor of Keosauqua, Iowa from 1884 to early 1885, and as the treasurer of Iowa from 1885 to 1891.

Excerpt:
Rank: Corporal (Highest Rank: Captain)
Conflict/Era: U.S. Civil War
Unit/Command: Company F, 2d Iowa Infantry
Medal of Honor Action Date: February 15, 1862
Medal of Honor Action Place: Fort Donelson, Tennessee, USA
Citation: Took the colors after three of the color guard had fallen, and although most instantly knocked down by a spent ball, immediately arose and bore the colors to the end of the engagement.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2025

3. Stockport Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial
(west side)

Excerpt:  The Van Buren County Courthouse located in Keosauqua, Iowa, United States, was built in 1843. It is the only building the county has used as its courthouse, and it is the oldest courthouse in Iowa. In 1845 the courthouse served as the location for a trial resulting in the first death penalty in Iowa history.

Excerpt:  An American author, journalist and Hollywood scenarist. He is best known for the 1932 novel State Fair, which was adapted as a film in 1933, 1945, 1962 and 1976, and as a Broadway musical in 1996.
Stong was born in Pittsburg, Iowa, near Keosauqua. His father operated the general store, which is now an antique store. The 1844 brick house where Stong was born is located adjacent to the store and is now a private residence. He attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Stong scored his first success in 1932 with the publication of his famous novel, State Fair, which was later adapted for the screen as the hit Rodgers and Hammerstein musical of the same name. In addition to

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2025

4. Stockport Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial
(north side)

his novels, his short stories were published in most of the leading national magazines of the time, and he wrote several screenplays.

Excerpt:  Another Freedom Rock in the books! The 71st, in Stockport, Iowa (Van Buren County). It sits right next to the American Legion building and their old depot building. Stockport is a quaint little town and although there isn't much else to see in Stockport yet, Van Buren County and southeast Iowa is full of Civil War era history.
Voltaire Paine Twombly born near Farmington, Iowa Territory. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Fort Donelson on February 15, 1862.
Phil Stong was born in Pittsburg, Iowa and was an American author, journalist and Hollywood scenarist who is best known for his novel “State Fair.” My favorite song, that I thought was fitting, was "All I Owe Ioway"
I love the old mid 1800's buildings in southeast Iowa and the Van Buren County Courthouse in Keosauqua, Iowa, was built in 1843. It is the only building the county

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2025

5. Stockport Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial Artist

Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II

has used as its courthouse, and it is the oldest courthouse in Iowa.
Of course over the top of the rock is Old Glory, honoring all those who serve our country.

Thanking our Veterans, one painting at a time.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2025

6. Stockport Freedom Rock Donors

The rock was donated by Evelyn Nelson Pacha & Patricia Nelson Lewis in honor of their father Dale W. Nelson 1915-1964 Stockport native, “Soldier of the Land”.

”The Iowa farmer was the soldier of the soil, fighting the farm front, producing ‘food for freedom’”.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2025

7. Stockport Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial