Drakesville in Davis County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Davis County Freedom Rock

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 22, 2025

1. Davis County Freedom Rock Marker

Inscription.
The Davis County Freedom Rock was completed in the spring of 2016 and painted by artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II. The Freedom Rock Tour created by Sorensen aims to spread the message of thanking our veterans while providing a unique Freedom Rock for all 99 counties in the great State of Iowa. Our rock — donated by the Charles “Toad” Swaim Family Farms of Drakesville, moved to this location by Delzell Dozing, and sponsored by the Drakesville Betterment Committee — features Ted Sprouse, a Korean War POW who was from Drakesville. Ted was an outstanding baseball player. Before his unit was sent to Korea, he was selected to play on the Indianhead Artillery Team, DIVARITY. Sprouse was in the 2nd Infantry Division (Indianhead) 38th Field Artillery. He ran the 105mm howitzer. Ted was taken prisoner after a brutal battle with the Chinese Communist Forces and spent years in a North Korean prison camp. His story is detailed in the book “Limbo on the Yalu… and beyond!” by Robert J. Berens.

James B. Weaver, who resided in Bloomfield, Iowa, was a Union Army Officer in the Civil War and a U.S. Representative. He took part in the Battle

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of Shiloh, Second Battle of Corinth, and Battle of Resaca. After the war ended, he was promoted to brevet brigadier general. As a politician, he was a member of the Greenback Party. Weaver had an American Liberty Ship named for him. The Liberty Ships were there in the days following the Allied invasion of Normandy unloading cargo. You can still visit Weaver’s house in Bloomfield, built in 1867.

The Rock also includes an American Eagle and the American Flag to help tie it all together. Our Freedom Park is to honor all veterans from all military branches; unfortunately, the artist was not able to put all of this on one rock. The Drakesville Betterment Committee would like to thank all veterans for their service and their sacrifices. Because of them, we truly live in the land of the free.

Thank you to the following donors and the many friends & volunteers
[donor list not transcribed].

[Davis County Freedom Rock east side]
Ted Sprouse
POW☆MIA

[Davis County Freedom Rock west side]
James B. Weaver
Civil War General
U.S. Representative
James B. Weaver Liberty Ship – World War II

[Davis County Freedom Rock south side]
American Bald Eagle

[Davis County Freedom Rock north side]
A

Davis County Freedom Rock (<i>east side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 22, 2025

2. Davis County Freedom Rock (east side)

Featuring Ted Sprouse.

United States Flag drapes the Freedom Rock

Erected 2016.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, Korean • War, US Civil • War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Freedom Rock Memorials series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 2016.

Location. 40° 47.916′ N, 92° 28.963′ W. Marker is in Drakesville, Iowa, in Davis County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and Washington Street, in the median on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 108 West Main Street, Drakesville IA 52552, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

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 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A New Route (within shouting distance

Davis County Freedom Rock (<i>west side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 22, 2025

3. Davis County Freedom Rock (west side)

Featuring James B. Weaver.

of this marker); The Weaver House (approx. 4.7 miles away); In Memory of General and Mrs. James B. Weaver (approx. 4.7 miles away); Replica of the Statue of Liberty (approx. 4.8 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 4.9 miles away); Davis County Courthouse (approx. 4.9 miles away); Bloomfield Square (approx. 4.9 miles away); The Confederate Invasion of Iowa Monument (approx. 5.2 miles away).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. Davis County Freedom Rock (Facebook).

Excerpt: Ted Sprouse was a Korean War POW from Drakesville, Iowa. Ted was an outstanding baseball player and before his unit was sent to Korea was selected to play on the Indianhead artillery team DIVARITY. He was so good that he was invited to recruit-training camp in San Francisco by the then still New York Giants and received a bunch of tips from major leaguers. While serving Ted befriended a Native-American named Don Cloud. A fellow sergeant, Cloud and Sprouse were in the 2nd Infantry Division (Indianhead) 38th Field Artillery.
James B. Weaver who resided in Bloomfield, Iowa was
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 22, 2025

4. Davis County Freedom Rock (south side)
Featuring an American Bald Eagle.
a Union Army officer in the Civil War and a US Representative. He took part in the Battle of Shiloh, Second Battle of Corinth and Battle of Resaca. After the war ended he was promoted to Brevet Brigadier General. As a politician he was a member of many parties: Republican, Democrat, Greenback and Populist. He even made a run for president with the Greenback Party. Weaver had an American Liberty ship named for him. The Liberty ships were there in the days following the Allied invasion of Normandy unloading cargo.

(Submitted on January 15, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. James Baird Weaver (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: American politician in Iowa who was a member of the United States House of Representatives and two-time candidate for President of the United States. He joined the Republicans, opposed slavery, and served as an officer in the Union army during the Civil War, but after 1876 he switched to the Greenbacks, then the Populists, and finally the Democrats. He trained as a lawyer. Late in his career he served as mayor of Colfax, Iowa.

(Submitted on January 15, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. The Freedom Rock (facebook).

Davis County Freedom Rock Artist image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 22, 2025

5. Davis County Freedom Rock Artist

The Drakesville Freedom Rock®
Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II

Thanking our Veterans, one painting at a time.

(Submitted on January 15, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Davis County Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial (<i>east side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 22, 2025

6. Davis County Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial (east side)

Looking west across the Main Street median. The Davis County Freedom Rock historical marker is in the right background. West Main Street continues in the distant background.

Davis County Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial<br>(<i>west side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 22, 2025

7. Davis County Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial
(west side)

Davis County Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial<br>(<i>northeast view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 22, 2025

8. Davis County Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial
(northeast view)

The historical marker is on the right.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 11, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 68 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on January 15, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.