Revolutionary veterans rest eternally in Iowa

Today, as we honor veterans who fought to keep us free, I find it fascinating that 43 Revolutionary War veterans who fought for freedom in the first place are buried in Iowa.

Yes, 43.

And they fought in a war that ended in 1783, came to a land that wasn't part of the United States for another 20 years and died in a state that didn't join the union until 1846.

Wow, they had to be young in battle; old in death.

Yes, says Marilyn Lodge, regent of the Mayflower Chapter of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution, one of three chapters in Cedar Rapids.

The Mayflower Chapter decorated one of those soldiers' graves last June, that of John Osborn in the Center Point Cemetery. He was born April 16, 1763, in Shenandoah County, Virginia. He died in 1854 at age 90 or 91.

“I think he came here with his son,” says Marilyn, who researched Osborn and the other Revolutionary War veteran buried in Linn County - Nathan Brown, whose grave is marked by the tallest monument in the Springville Cemetery.

Brown was born July 22, 1761, in White Plains, NY. He died Nov. 25, 1842, at age 81.

Both were kids when they entered the war - Osborn just 18 when he served at least four months in his uncle's battalion and Brown just 14 when he began drills and 16 when he enlisted.

Such are the forces when freedom is the goal.

“It's important to remember the veterans because their sacrifices have given us our freedom today,” Marilyn says, “They have given us our country, our democracy, which is unique in the world.”

Indeed, winning the war allowed our country to expand. It gave men new places to explore.

“You get the wandering spirit,” Marilyn says. “Some of these pioneers, I just don't get it.”

A 1958 Gazette article about Osborn and Brown says only six Revolutionary War veterans were known to be buried in Iowa. A 43rd was recently discovered in Lee County.

Brown came to Iowa first, in 1839 by way of Pennsylvania and Illinois. He was wounded in battle, but not seriously, and was one of seven brothers who served. He's buried with his wife, a son and other descendants.

Osborn came to Iowa in 1852 by way of North Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois. His wife, Sarah, who died in 1815, was a niece of Daniel Boone. They had 11 children, two of whom are buried in Center Point.

Brown lived in Iowa about three years; Osborn not even two. But they are ties that bind us to the pioneers of freedom.