General Ulysses S. Grant, commander of the Union
Army said of Wittenmyer, No soldier on the firing line
gave more heroic service than she did.
Sarah Ann Turner (Annie) was born in Sandy Springs, Ohio to a family that greatly valued . . . — — Map (db m229472) HM
Daniel Burnham and John Root started their partnership in
July 1873 in Chicago Illinois. They met while working at
the architectural firm of Carter, Drake & Wright. Root had
the artistic genius and Burnham had the business sense and
charisma. . . . — — Map (db m229994) HM
Former slave and celebrated abolitionist, Charlotta Pyles
was an outspoken critic of slavery. She was born a slave in
Kentucky in 1804. Her father was a mixture of German and
African American while her mother was a full-blooded
Seminole Indian. . . . — — Map (db m229420) HM
Chief Keokuk was born in 1780 near the
present location of Rock Island, Illinois. His
tribe, the Sauk Indians, joined with the
remnants of the Mesquakie tribe (or Fox
Indians) to form a community they called
Saukenuk not far from where the . . . — — Map (db m229928) HM
Conrad Nagel was born in Keokuk, Iowa on
March 16, 1897. The son of Frank, a
musician, and Frances, a talented singer, it
is no surprise Nagel grew up to be a famous
silent and sound movie star.
The Nagel family was well known in
Keokuk as . . . — — Map (db m229473) HM
Site of Army Hospital Apt. 17, 1862-Oct. 1, 1865. Erected in memory of the soldiers who died in the Old General Hospital at Keokuk and buried in the National Cemetery. — — Map (db m178523) HM WM
Elsa Maxwell was born May 24, 1883 in
Keokuk, Iowa it is said she was born in a
theater during the opera Mignon. She was
raised in San Francisco, California where
her father sold insurance and did freelance
writing for the New York Dramatic . . . — — Map (db m229501) HM
Jews have been part of the social, economic and cultural life of Iowa since the early 19th century. It was not until 1855 that the Jewish population in Keokuk grew large enough to establish a religious community, Congregation Bnai Israel (Children . . . — — Map (db m27084) HM
George M. Verity Has been designated a National Historic Landmark This site possesses National significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America. — — Map (db m178292) HM
James B. Howell was born near
Morristown, NJ, July 4, 1816. When he
was three years old, his family moved to a
farm near Newark, OH, where his father,
Elias Howell, entered into politics.
Howell attended Miami University in
Oxford, OH, . . . — — Map (db m229528) HM
The Illinois, Iowa, Missouri area centered in Keokuk owes much to Hugh Lincoln Cooper engineer, backed by area businessmen, he built, in three years, 1910-1913, the dam and powerhouse now operated by Union Electric Co.
Cooper's . . . — — Map (db m178946) HM
Hugh Cooper (1865-1935) was born in
Sheldon, Minnesota. He built his first bridge
when he was 16. The 40 foot long bridge
went across a creek and stayed in service 50
years.
After he graduated from high school,
Cooper became an apprentice at . . . — — Map (db m229929) HM
Industrialist and philanthropist, John Carl Hubinger was born in New Orleans in 1851, the first of eight children. The family moved north when J.C. was four, living in Kentucky and Indiana before moving to Keokuk. Here, Hubinger's father opened a . . . — — Map (db m229424) HM
Born in Winterset, Iowa on May 26, 1907, John Waynes
parents originally named him Marion Robert Morrison,
which was changed to Marion Mitchell Morison several
years later when they wanted to name a younger brother
Robert. The Morison family . . . — — Map (db m229527) HM
William Logan was born September 11,
1848 in Pennsylvania. In 1852, his family
traveled by steamboat from Pittsburgh, PA
to Quincy, IL then settled on a farm east of
Nauvoo, IL.
At the age of 21, he moved to northeastern
Missouri where he . . . — — Map (db m229417) HM
The city of Keokuk has long been associated with thriving commerce and transportation even before it was incorporated in 1847. The location of the Des Moines Rapids in the Mississippi River made it necessary for steamboats to unload passengers and . . . — — Map (db m178276) HM
In memory of the 21 persons
who perished in an explosion
of The National Guard Armory
on this site
on Thanksgiving eve Nov. 24, 1965,
while attending a square dance of The
Swing-Ezy Square Dance Club. — — Map (db m229301) HM
This Monument is erected by popular Subscription
In the Memory of The SAC Chief Keokuk
for whom this city was named. In 1883, his remains together
with the marble slab on the reverse side of this die were
brought from Franklin County, . . . — — Map (db m186354) HM
Civil War Keokuk Keokuk, Iowa, was a staging and training ground for seven Union regiments. The first soldiers mustered in at Camp Ellsworth in May 1861. Later, camps Rankin, Halleck, and Lincoln prepared Iowa troops for deployment south. Its . . . — — Map (db m179354) HM
Keokuk Union Depot
1891
Burnham and Root Architects, Chicago has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of Interior — — Map (db m191186) HM
I have heard with sorrow that you have determined to leave our village and cross the Mississippi merely because you have been told that the Americans were coming in this direction. Would you leave our village, desert our homes and fly before an . . . — — Map (db m185389) HM
Keokuk, Iowa, is named in honor of Chief Keokuk, a Sac and Fox chief who is buried there. The city is located on the west side of the Mississippi River, about 12 miles southwest of Nauvoo. On August 12, 1841, Chief Keokuk, and about one hundred . . . — — Map (db m179356) HM
Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain) walked the streets of
Keokuk in the years 1855 and 1856. He worked for his
brother, Orion, who owned a printing business "The Ben
Franklin Book and Job Office located on the third story
of the Ogden City Book . . . — — Map (db m178943) HM
Mary Huiskamp was born August 3rd, 1926
in Keokuk, Iowa. Discovering the delights
of the library, by the age of 7 she knew she
wanted to be a writer.
Huiskamp grew up in a big brick house,
built by her great grandfather, on a hill
above the . . . — — Map (db m229422) HM
MENC: The National Association for Music Education was founded on this corner in the Westminster Presbyterian Church on April 12, 1907, during a meeting of music supervisors from fourteen states. The meeting was organized by Philip Cady Hayden, . . . — — Map (db m55413) HM
Prior to 1850, several burial grounds existed in and around Keokuk. In 1851 the city designated 40 acres of land to establish Oakland Cemetery. Many interments from other cemeteries in the city were moved to Oakland.
A designated section was . . . — — Map (db m243921) HM
Samuel Clemens was born November 30, 1835 in Florida, Missouri. When he was four, his family moved to Hannibal where he spent his childhood.
Clemens moved to Keokuk in the mid-1850s to work in his brother Orions print shop at 2nd and Main . . . — — Map (db m264912) HM
Samuel Miller moved to Keokuk in 1850 and practiced law here until he was appointed Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court in 1862. He served until his death, 28 years later, and was the first high court appointee from Iowa and from . . . — — Map (db m224589) HM
Samuel Ryan Curtis Born 1803
West Point 1826-1830 Colonel Mexican War Mayor of Keokuk Member of Congress Col. 2nd IA Inf & Brig. Genl. 1861 Maj. Genl. 1862-1866 Died 1866 Erected by the City of Keokuk to her soldiers 1861-1865
Co. A. 1st . . . — — Map (db m232906) WM
Felix and Jean Hughes moved with their three super achieving children to Keokuk in 1879. Felix served as Mayor, President of the Keokuk and Western Railroad and was a Supreme Court Justice. The three children were born in Lancaster, Missouri: . . . — — Map (db m230552) HM
One of six immigrant brothers born in Poland, Lipman Younker began exploring career possibilities in Keokuk in 1854
while brothers Samuel and Marcus were attempting to establish themselves
in New York City.
In 1856 the three Younkers opened a . . . — — Map (db m229436) HM
To the memory of the pioneers who entered Iowa by Keokuk the Gate City and either settling in our state or passing farther west travelled over the well-worn road known as the Mormon Trail. With this tablet the Daughters of the American Revolution . . . — — Map (db m185392) HM
In Memoriam - U.S.S. Maine - Destroyed in Havana Harbor - February 15th, 1898 This tablet is cast from metal recovered from the USS Maine — — Map (db m229415) WM
In Memoriam - U.S.S. Maine - Destroyed in Havana Harbor - February 15th, 1898 This tablet is cast from metal recovered from the USS Maine — — Map (db m229416) WM
A public water supply system was first discussed in the 1850's when Keokuk's population was increasing dramatically, but with the financial panic of 1857 no action was taken. Most home owners had a cistern, and huge cisterns in the business . . . — — Map (db m178277) HM
Starting as early as the 1840's, proposals were advanced for building a wing dam near Keokuk that would focus the power of the Mississippi's current. However, no viable plan was formed until the development of alternating current electricity made . . . — — Map (db m179112) HM
Once a place where Native American Indians hunted and fished, this peninsular part of Iowa is located where the Des Moines River flows into the Mississippi River.
Under French and Spanish rule for almost 150 nears, Southeast Iowa was included in . . . — — Map (db m179974) HM
William Logan was born December 30,
1934, in Keokuk, the son of William Archie
Logan and Carla Huiskamp Logan, and the
great grandson of Judge William
Logan. He attended Keokuk public schools
and graduated from Keokuk Senior High in
1952. In . . . — — Map (db m229419) HM
Early settlers of Lee County believe that the explorers Marquette and Joliet landed at this spot in 1673. From here they made their only overland exploration on the west bank of the Mississippi, finding villages of the Illini tribe. Other French . . . — — Map (db m179445) HM
During the period of 1839-1846, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as Mormons) settled here in Lee County, Iowa and in Nauvoo, Illinois, on the opposite (eastern) side of the Mississippi River. Nauvoo was the . . . — — Map (db m179453) HM
This barracks well marks the first Fort Desmoines and was used by a detachment of Dragoons stationed here Sept 25-1834 to June 18-1837 — — Map (db m139802) HM
In honor of our Nations Bicentennial the West Point Bicentennial Commission dedicates to the City of West Point, Iowa this flag pole and bell display. The bell originally hung in the school house in this city park. Dedicated July 4, . . . — — Map (db m291294) HM
On January 13, 1843, the Lee County seat was relocated to West Point from Ft. Madison (Iowa Territory). The building stood in this square until 1900. In 1845, a notable murder trial was held here. — — Map (db m291298) HM
With the faith and courage of their forefathers who made possible the freedom of these United States, The Boy Scouts of America dedicate this copy of the Statue of Liberty as a pledge of everlasting fidelity and loyalty 40th Anniversary . . . — — Map (db m291295) HM
[northeast side] Keokuk National Cemetery [southwest side] And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: just another soldier reporting, Sir, Ive served my time in Hell. . . . — — Map (db m291400) HM WM
Determined and authenticated by the Historical Department of Iowa, 1911. This monument was erected in 1917 by the Iowa Daughters of the American Revolution in memory of the pioneers who followed this trail and its tributaries. We cross the prairie . . . — — Map (db m176631) HM
Lewis, the foremost National Labor leader of his time, was born near Lucas, Iowa, son of a Welsh immigrant miner. At age 16, he began work in the coal mines, and by 1906 was elected the United Mine Workers delegate from Lucas. Lewis rose quickly . . . — — Map (db m224576) HM
The Winterset Savings Bank was established in 1902 and moved into this building in 1914. Sam C. Smith's law office was also in this building, and he served as the bank president for a period dating from 1926.
This building served as City Hall . . . — — Map (db m72518) HM
In the early 1850's this was the site of Winterset's first hotel. Berger's Hotel was a story-and-a-half log cabin that soon became a stagecoach stop.
Later known as the Bare Block, this building has had many businesses: several grocery stores, . . . — — Map (db m72680) HM
Before the current building was erected, boots and shoes were sold in a wood frame building on this site. Later, it became a harness shop. This brick building, built by C.D. Bevington, was originally known as the Bevington Block. It initially . . . — — Map (db m72773) HM
This is the sole pre-Civil War commercial building that remains on the square. This building illustrates the art of the stone cutter as practiced in the 1850's and 1860's using native limestone.
Originally, this building was a tannery. Hides . . . — — Map (db m72771) HM
This is one of the few one-story buildings around the square. Uses of this building include a grocery store, a confectionary, restaurants, including the Club Cafe, a health food and gift shop. For many years there was a bus stop on this end of . . . — — Map (db m72676) HM
Businesses in this building have included dry goods, boots and shoes, millinery, appliances, and health foods.
At one time the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service had offices upstairs.
A Sears Catalog Store operated . . . — — Map (db m72674) HM
Prior to the construction of this brick building Kerr and Boyd operated a grocery store here. They advertised "Staple and Fancy Groceries" as early as 1874. When Mr. Boyd retired, and Kerr's son joined him, the letter "d" in Boyd was painted over . . . — — Map (db m72519) HM
In 1886, groceries and boots and shoes were sold in this building. In the 1890's, the first floor was a dry goods store with a printing shop on the second floor. The Graham's Store expanded into this building in 1918. After Graham's closed, the . . . — — Map (db m72774) HM
In the early 1870s the City Bakery operated here in a wooden structure. This brick building was used by farm implement dealers in the late 1800s. In 1907 it was a grocery/meat market, and motion pictures were shown here in 1916.
By the 1930s . . . — — Map (db m72671) HM
From the 1870's through 1890's, groceries were sold on the main floor. In 1874, S.B. Wheelock advertised among other things, oranges, lemons, cigars, parlor brooms, boneless cod fish and candy. That year, Wheelock received a new delivery wagon . . . — — Map (db m72775) HM
1n 1886 there was a restaurant in the north side of the original building and a harness shop in the south side. A dry goods store in the north side and a jewelry store in the south side occupied the double store building in 1899. The Evening Star . . . — — Map (db m72533) HM
The original use of this building was a bank on the main floor and law offices on the second level. It also housed dry goods and groceries, several bakeries, a women's clothing store, a decorating business, a print shop, a consulting firm, and a . . . — — Map (db m72776) HM
T.S. Mardis constructed this building and most of the brick structures facing the square. Dry goods and boots and shoes were sold here in the 1880's. By the 1890's the first floor was a hardware store with a tin shop in the back. For the next 60 . . . — — Map (db m72803) HM
Uses of this building include a bakery*, a harness shop, a grocery, a pool hall, a Coast to Coast store, and a law office.
The double store front was replaced after this building suffered fire damage in 1968.
*As with many bakeries of the . . . — — Map (db m72532) HM
Over the years, this building has housed several businesses including "furnishing goods," a tailor shop, a piano store, a jewelry store, a bank, and an abstract office.
In 1864, the post office was in a wooden structure on this lot.
For . . . — — Map (db m72804) HM
This building's uses have included a boot and shoe shop, a meat market, a second hand furniture store, a dry cleaner, a Coast to Coast store, restaurants, a fitness center, and a quilt supply mail-order business.
In 1886 a shoemaker had a shop . . . — — Map (db m72531) HM
Clothing stores were operated from this building for over 100 years. Most of the merchants sold only men's clothing except Oliver's which sold women's clothing. Names of the business owners were Hadley, McMillan, Garrett, Rowe, Wright, and Oliver. . . . — — Map (db m72806) HM
Under various owners, this building was used for furniture & undertaking, which was a popular business combination in the late 1800's and early 1900's. In 1963 this became the Iowa State University Extension Service office.
On this site circa . . . — — Map (db m72530) HM
Before the present brick building was built, Atkison & Hutchings Real Estate Agents, the Amazon Refreshment Stand, a market, and a U.S. Express office were tenants in a small wood frame building that stood on this lot. The current building housed a . . . — — Map (db m72807) HM
Businesses in this building have included: a barber shop, a confectionary, a general store, a meat market, a hardware store, an appliance store, a carpet store, and a bakery.
Rows of nails were hammered into the wood floor and used to measure . . . — — Map (db m72529) HM
South building -
A pharmacy has been in this brick building since it was built. Lloyd Montross purchased the pharmacy and the building in 1921. His son, George, bought into the business in 1940 and was responsible for the additions to the . . . — — Map (db m72808) HM
This building was originally one story. It served as a meat market and then the Ideal Restaurant for a few years. Upon completion of the second story, the building became a theater and live vaudeville performances were held on stage.
In 1916, . . . — — Map (db m72528) HM
In 1869, a wood frame building stood on this lot, serving as a book store and the post office. The current brick building has housed a general store, a men's clothing store, and a chiropractic office in the front section of the main floor. From . . . — — Map (db m72811) HM
In the Civil War days, the county jail stood here. It was a two story log cabin and was entered on the second floor, by an exterior stairway. Two banks occupied the first floor of the current building; Citizens National Bank, and later First . . . — — Map (db m72467) HM
This building is made of native limestone. Some of the businesses that have been in the building include a hardware and a tin shop, a bank, a travel agency, and an advertising circular.
During World War II, the Selective Service office was in . . . — — Map (db m72770) HM
Grocery stores operated here in the late 1800's. By 1907, a bakery with an oven in the basement had been added, as well as a jewelry store. It later became a hardware store with a tin shop in the rear. A pool hall, a farm and auto parts store, . . . — — Map (db m72470) HM
Entrepreneur Edward Jones ran a general store on this property for several years in the mid-1800s. By 1871, he took on a partner, M. R. Tidrick, and then moved on to other ventures.
The Tidrick-Terrill Company owned and operated several . . . — — Map (db m72758) HM
This lot, including the land west to the corner, was purchased for $22 dollars in 1849. From the mid-1880's until the early 1900's, O.D. Ames, then Joeckel Bros. Clothing stores were located in this building. Later, the John Catterlin Harness & . . . — — Map (db m72471) HM
This building and the structure to the west were owned and operated by the Tidrick-Terrill Company in the late 1800s. Their furniture store occupied this building for many years. An elevator in the back of the building was shared by the company's . . . — — Map (db m72757) HM
In its early days, this building housed businesses selling jewelry, stationery and then drugs. A Gambels Store conducted business here from the 1930's until 1971 when Alexander Fabrics acquired the building and operated until 1996. It has also . . . — — Map (db m72472) HM
In 1857 a single story wood frame structure was built on this property. The building was divided into two 12' wide stores, each with its own front door. For 30 years a jewelry business, which also sold organs, clocks, silverware and spectacles, . . . — — Map (db m72756) HM
Drugs and Jewelry were sold from the wood frame building that originally stood here. The current building housed a succession of shoe stores for more than 100 years. Proprietors were Aikens, Allen, Stevens, and Hendricks.
In the early 1900's, . . . — — Map (db m72473) HM
Although this building appears to be one storefront, there are actually two separate buildings, and their histories intertwine. C. W. Eastman's Big Store first occupied this double storefront where dry goods were sold.
The Knights of Pythias . . . — — Map (db m72755) HM
Eli Cox, builder of several local covered bridges, had the contract to build this structure. During the construction, gas pipes were incorporated in anticipation of soon having a source for lighting. The Opera House was originally on the second . . . — — Map (db m72475) HM
Local covered bridge builder Eli Cox was the contractor for this building. Businesses have included dry goods, a harness shop, a bootery, a millinery, and an electric shop. The North Side Barber Shop has served Winterset's men since the 1930's. . . . — — Map (db m72509) HM
This building housed a general store in 1886, a clothing shop in 1893, and boots and shoes were sold here in 1907. By 1916 it was a grocery store.
The Western Auto Store was located here from the 1920s until the early 1960s when, in need of . . . — — Map (db m72741) HM
In the 1800's, agricultural implements were sold here. The Marsh Harvester advertised that "it saves the house-wife the unpleasant drudgery of providing for extra help, during the hottest season of the year" implying that extra farm hands would . . . — — Map (db m72510) HM
John Wayne's father, Clyde Morrison, worked for Smith Drug Store in this building around 1905-1910. Earlier records indicate the building housed a harness shop, a hardware store and a tin shop as well.
In 1916, a jewelry store occupied this . . . — — Map (db m72740) HM
In 1874, in a wood frame building on this lot, Ho Cheung, a Chinese immigrant, ran A.R. Shong & Co., importers and dealers of tea and coffee. They also manufactured cigars and sold tobacco. The City Bakery was here in 1875. From 1885 through the . . . — — Map (db m72511) HM
This building was a hardware store in 1886. In the early 1900s H. N. Shaw moved his dry goods store from the west side of the square to this site.
From 1931 to 1997 the J. C. Penney department store was in business here. An advertisement that . . . — — Map (db m72738) HM
This building is constructed of locally made soft bricks and originally housed three separate businesses. The east section was home to a variety of grocery stores, a jewelry store, a Skelgas appliance store, and a plumbing and heating business. . . . — — Map (db m72730) HM
This middle section of the building has been occupied by a bakery, drug stores, a pool hall, a dry cleaner, an engineering firm, and restaurants, including the Black and White Restaurant and the China Cafe.
In earlier years, the second floor . . . — — Map (db m72516) HM
In 1864 this was the site of Irish immigrant Andrew Crawford's wood-frame grocery store.
This building was erected with one main facade for three stores. Notice the matching second-story windows.
Some of the businesses housed in the east . . . — — Map (db m72517) HM
