SOLDIERS' MONUMENT On May 25, 1865, the Lincoln Monument Association of Scott County, Iowa, was duly incorporated under the laws of the state.  The association had for its object the erection of a monument to the martyred president, Abraham Lincoln, and Scott county soldiers who died in the service of their country.  Subscription papers were at once distributed but donations were not very generous.  On the 18th of May, 1871, six years after the movement had been started, the secretary of the association reported donations to the amount of $529.25, with accumulated interest of $148.50, which totaled $707.40.  At this May meeting Secretary Edward Russell informed the members present that Nicholas Fejervary was ready to give to the association the sum of $1,300 upon the condition that the name and object of the association would be so changed that its sole aim would be the building of a county soldiers' monument.  After a full discussion on the merits this patriotic citizen's proposition the name of the association was changed to the Scott County Soldiers' Monument Association.  After this donations began to increase and with the accumulation of interest it becme apparent that provisions would soon have to be made for the actual building of a soldiers' monument.  Pursuant to this idea a call was issued for a meeting of the association to be held on January 5, 1880, for the purpose of electing a board of directors.  At this meeting the following gentlemen were selected as members of that board:  Nicholas Fejervary, Edward Russell, J. G. G. Cavendish, W. C. Warriner, George P. McClelland, J. G. Crane, James Gildenburg, Henry Egbert and Joseph Andrews.  Plans for the new monument as it now appears to the public were adopted by the board on the 5th of June, 1880, and the contract was entered into with R. F. Carter, of South Rydate, Vermont, the designer for its construction.  The price agreed upon, exclusibe of the foundation, was $8,000.  Much trouble was experienced as to a proper site for the shaft, but the place where it now stands was finally selected.  It is located on the brow of the bluff in the center of Main street, between the high school and Trinity cathedral. The monument is of English granite, rising from the base to a height of fifty feet.  The work of the monument is most admirable in every part.  It is of solid granite, no piecing in any of its parts.  The foundation sinks at least seven feet in the earth and is of the best Nauvoo stone, resting on a cement floor.  The base is seventeen feet, sixteen inches square, with buttress extensions at the corners.  The lower  base has a depth of one foot, three inches and two sub bases of two feet, six inches.  The third section is one foot, six inches deep with bas relief-wreaths-on one side.  On the south panel of the shaft is the following inscription: Erected by Grateful Citizens of Scott County In Memory of the Fellow Citizens who Died in Defense of the Union 1861-5 West panel: Proved themselves the Bravest of the Brave-General H. W. Halleck, North panel: They died "That Government of the People by the People and for the People Might not Perish from the Earth.-A. Lincoln. East panel: "An Honor to their Friends at Home, to their State and their Country * * * a Terror to their Foes."-Inspector General W. E. Strong. On a lower section of the shaft in bas relief panels in the following emblems appear:  south panel, the coat of arms of the United States; east panel, anchor and shot, representing the navy; north side, crossed cannon representing the artillery; west panel, heavy crossed, sabers, belt, cartridges and revolvers, representing the cavalry.  On the first plinth, immediately above the lower section of the column, are emblematic wreaths on the respective sides, thus: over the coat of arms, the laurel-joy; over the navy, the olive-peace; over the artillery, the oak-strength; over the cavalry, the ivy-lasting remembrance.  The remaining plinths above the second and third sections of the columns respectively bear the record of those battles participated in by Scott county soldiers, as principal ones among many others:  Wilson's Creek, Donelson, Shiloh, Iuka, Prairie Grove, Corinth, Vicksburg, Fort Blakeley. This very graceful column is mounted by a capstone bearing on each side a shield and carving,  Upon this rests the pedestal which is the support for the piece de resistance of the whole design-the figure of a soldier representing the infantry.  This figure of the soldier of 1861 measures exactly eight feet in height from the sole of the boot to the crown of the cap.  The base of the monument is protected by a neat iron fence that encircles it. Janyary 15, 1909, the Scott County Monument association gave the shaft and grounds to the city of Davenport, and by so doing practically terminated the life of this organization. At this monument patriotic exercises are held on each recurring Memorial day under auspices of the Grand Army post.  With them unite the Loyal Legion, the Sons of Veterans, the Woman's Relief Corps and other patriotic organizations. Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L