Montezuma in Poweshiek County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Poweshiek County Freedom Rock
Honoring Poweshiek County Veterans
| | Ray Bubba Sorensen II | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 19, 2025
1. Poweshiek County Freedom Rock Marker
Corporal Harold Keller
Brooklyn, IA native, was a part of history as he fought tenaciously on Mt. Suribachi in the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Captain Merlin Stoker
Served in the US Army and was heavily decorated receiving many citations for service, including a Silver Star, three Bronze Stars, three Purple Hearts, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Combat Infantry Riflemen's Badge and the French Croix de Guerre, for exceptional bravery under fire.
Rear Admiral Thomas J. Cowie
Awarded the Navy Cross for his valuable services honored by having the destroyer USS Cowie named for him.
Chief Poweshiek
Born between 1787 and 1790 and the namesake for this county. Honors the rich Native American history in the area.
Erected 2016.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • War, World I • War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross/Air Force Cross Recipients, the Freedom Rock Memorials, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart series lists.
Location. 41° 35.076′ N,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern 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 15 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Bill of Rights (within shouting distance of this marker); WTC Steel (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Notable Grinnellians (approx. 15 miles away); a different marker also named Notable Grinnellians (approx. 15 miles away);
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 19, 2025
2. Poweshiek County Freedom Rock & Marker
Looking northwest from South 4th Street. The Poweshiek County Courthouse is in the background and the historical marker is on the right.
Also see . . .
1. Poweshiek County Freedom Rock (facebook).
(Ray Bubba Sorensen II) Excerpt: Cpl Harold Keller, a Brooklyn, Iowa native, was a part of history as he fought tenaciously on Mt. Suribachi. Keller witnessed both flag raisings and possibly took part in the first. I chose to paint part of the Gung Ho pic taken after the second flag raising, which features Cpl Keller. Keller served with the United States Marine Corps from January 6, 1942 to September 19, 1945.(Submitted on January 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Rear Admiral Thomas Cowie was born in Montezuma, Iowa. Cowie was awarded the Navy Cross for his valuable services in connection with the Liberty Loans of World War I. After retirement he was ordered to special duty in charge of the Navy Liberty Loan section of the Navy Allotment Office in March 1921, and in June 1923 was ordered to additional duty as secretary-treasurerof the Navy Mutual Aid Association, a position which he held until his death on July 16, 1936. Cowie was honored by having the destroyer USS Cowie named for him.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 19, 20253. Poweshiek County Freedom Rock (east side)Corporal Harold Keller & the United States flag at Iwo JimaUncommon Valor was a common virtue
Admiral Nimitz
Captain Merlin Stoker was born in Lincoln township in Poweshiek County, Iowa. He served in the US Army and was heavily decorated receiving many citations for service, including a silver star, three bronze stars, three purple hearts, the Presidential Unit citation, the combat infantry riflemen's badge and the French Croix de guerre, for exceptional bravery under fire. I wanted to honor this heavily decorated man who unfortunately passed away in 1969 in a boating accident in Canada.
Chief Poweshiek was born between 1787 and 1790 in a Meskwaki village on the Rock River in Illinois. A leader in said tribe, Poweshiek rose to prominence as a dominating voice, even as influential as his sometimes ally/sometimes enemy, Keokuk. He was known to be blunt and outspoken as well as possessing a passion for justice. He was known as the peaceful Indian working to keep Meskwaki out of conflict. He became the namesake for this county and I wanted to honor that and the rich Native Americanhistory in the area.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 19, 20254. Poweshiek County Freedom Rock (south side)Captain Merlin Stoker & awardsThe banner lists county American Legion Posts #53, 169, 294, 296 and 733.
I put an eagle on the top and in its clutches is a ribbon representing POW/MIA and the American Legions from around the county.
2. Corporal Harold Keller (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: A United States Marine corporal who was wounded in action during the Bougainville campaign in World War II. During the Battle of Iwo Jima, he was a member of the patrol that captured the top of Mount Suribachi and raised the first U.S. flag on Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945. He is one of the six Marines who raised the larger replacement flag on the mountaintop the same day as shown in the iconic photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima.(Submitted on January 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Merlin Carl Stoker (Find A Grave).
Saint Johns Lutheran Cemetery, Victor, Iowa County, Iowa, USA(Submitted on January 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
4. Thomas Jefferson Cowie (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: Cowie was born at Montezuma, Iowa, in 1857. He served as engineer's yeoman in USS Alliance(Submitted on January 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)from January 8, 1877, to October 19, 1878, then enlisted in the Navy October 21, 1878, at Constantinople.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 19, 20255. Poweshiek County Freedom Rock (north side)Rear Admiral Thomas J. Cowie & the USS Cowie (DD-632), a Gleaves-class destroyer.
He was commissioned as assistant paymaster from June 16, 1880, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral and the position of Paymaster General and Chief of the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts July 1, 1910.
Rear Admiral Cowie was awarded the Navy Cross for his valuable services in connection with the Liberty Loans of World War I. Retired from the Navy on February 15, 1921, he was ordered to special duty in charge of the Navy Liberty Loan section of the Navy Allotment Office in March 1921, and in June 1923 was ordered to additional duty as secretary-treasurer of the Navy Mutual Aid Association, a position which he held until his death on July 16, 1936, in Washington, D.C.
5. Rear Admiral Thomas Jefferson Cowie (Find A Grave).
(Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA) Excerpt: Navy Cross Citation:(Submitted on January 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Rear Admiral Thomas J. Cowie,United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility in connection with naval subscriptions to the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Liberty loans. Through his able, vigorous and indefatigable efforts the naval subscriptions to these loans reached a total far beyond what could have been anticipated and placed the Navy easily in the lead of all other groups with which it could properly be compared.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 19, 20256. Poweshiek County Freedom Rock (west side)Chief Poweshiek
6. Chief Poweshiek (Grinnell Library pdf).
(By Thomas Burnell Colbert) Excerpt: On the Iowa frontier in the 1830s and 1840s, there were Indian leaders of regional and even national recognition. One of the most important, but sometimes overlooked, was Meskwaki Chief Poweshiek, who became the namesake for an Iowa county. In certain respects, he was second only to Keokuk, though Poweshiek would rise eventually to dominate the Meskwaki tribe. And like his sometimes ally and rival, Keokuk, he faced a collection of problems that determined the unhappy fate of his people. As tribal chief, Poweshiek earned respect for his opposition(Submitted on January 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)to the Sioux as a spokesman for the Meskwakis and as a warrior leader in fighting them. But Poweshiek's greatest liability as a tribal leader came with all the treaties he signed surrendering land to the whites. For these, especially the treaty of 1842, many Meskwakis never forgave him.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 19, 20257. Poweshiek County Freedom Rock ArtistRay Bubba Sorensen II
7. The Freedom Rock (facebook).
Thanking our Veterans, one painting at a time.(Submitted on January 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 19, 2025
8. Poweshiek County Freedom Rock & Marker
Looking north from East Liberty Street. The Poweshiek County Courthouse is on the left and the historical marker is beside the sidewalk on the right.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 56 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on January 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
