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Cass County Soldiers' Monument
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The idea of Cass County soldiers' monument originated with Cyrus B. Osborne of Atlantic, Civil War veteran and pioneer of the county. It was he who in the early part of 1915 suggested that steps be taken to secure the necessary funds for such a memorial.
During the summer the Board of Supervisors took the necessary legal steps to appropriate the unused and accumulating portion of the soldiers' relief tax to the cost of a monument. This could be done under the provision made by the Iowa general assembly. The necessary resolution was adopted by the board on October 9, 1915.
Under the provisions of the resolution the board was to name three of its members to act with three members of the Soldiers' Relief Commission. These six men were to constitute the monument committee having in charge the selection of the site, the employment of an architect and the supervision of the erection of the monument. This committee as originally constituted was composed of A. Biggs, G. A. Goeken, and A. C. Highley of the Board of Supervisors and A. E. Proctor, F. H. Sears, and J. S. Pressnall of the Soldiers' Relief Commission. County Auditor C. E. Kringle was made secretary of the Commission. On the retirement of Messrs. Biggs and Goeken as members of the Board of Supervisors their successors, W. D. Bell and D. J. Bode, became members of the committee. J. S. Pressnall resigned and was succeeded by P. M. Nutter.
The foundation of the monument was laid in the city park in September, 1916. It has been determined that a sum not to exceed $25,000 should be expended for the monument. Edward A. Pryor of Postville, Iowa, was selected as the architect. He supervised the construction of the monument from the laying of the first stone to the placing of the figure on the apex thereof. The contract for the erection of the memorial was given to J. 0. Wilken of Atlantic. The foundation was laid by the Kimbalton Construction Co. of Atlantic. The monument was completed in May, 1919, and dedicated July 10, 1919.
As it stands today it is the most beautiful and elaborate county soldiers' monument between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. It is a memorial to the soldiers and sailors of all wars preceding the world war. The list includes all veterans who entered the service from Cass County, those who are buried in the county, and those living in the county at the time of the erection of the monument. It is a monument to the living as well as the dead. Having been conceived prior to the entrance of America in the world war it is not intended to be the county's memorial to the men who served in the last conflict.
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Transcribed from the Cass County in the World War 1917-1918-1919, compiled and published by J. C. Beard, Atlantic, Iowa, 1919, pp. 129-136.
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Additional Photos
NOTE: Further information about the monument may be found online at the Smithsonian Art Collections Center. Click the following link to view detailed information for the Cass County Soldier's Monument (sculpture).
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Cass County Soldier's Monument, (sculpture)
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