Revolutionary War Vets Buried in Iowa

The U.S. Revolutionary War ended in 1783 and Iowa didn't become a state until 1846, yet surprisingly 43 Revolutionary War veterans are buried in Iowa soil. (See today's Ramblin' column in The Gazette.)

At first glance, that doesn't seem possible, especially when you realize the average life expactancy at the time was about 50. Then you look closer and realize that these soldiers were very young when they fought, 14 or maybe 16 years old. They lived to ripe old ages of 80 or beyond. And, as the country expanded, these guys had the wandering spirit. They kept moving on to the new frontier.

Two such soldiers buried in Linn County, Iowa, are John Osborn in the Center Point Cemetery and Nathan Brown in the Springville Cemetery.

Osborn was born in born April 16, 1763, in Shenandoah County, Virginia, making him 18 when he joined the war. He fought at least four months and lived in North Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois before settling in Iowa in 1852. The theory is that he followed his children, two of whom are also buried in Center Point. Osborn He died in Center Point in 1854. He was 90 or 91 years old.

Brown was born July 22, 1761, in White Plains, NY, and began practicing for the war at age 14. He enlisted at age 16 and was one of seven boys in his family who served with an uncle. He was wounded in battle but not seriously. And, following the war, he lived in Pennsylvania and Illinois before arriving in Iowa in 1839. He died Nov. 25, 1842, at age 81. His grave is marked by the tallest monument in the Springville Cemetery.

The U.S. has fought in a lot of wars since 1783 but none on our own soil. It's a testament to the strength of our nation throughout history and the wisdom of our forefathers when declaring independence and writing the Constitution. And today -- Veterans Day -- we can remember these soldiers, the original ones who fought FOR freedom.