The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Deb Olson, The Quill
Who were the Littleton brothers and why did Iowa Governor Terry Branstad come to Toolesboro, Iowa on Tuesday, June 14 to dedicate a new memorial in their honor?
They were six brothers, the sons of James and Martha Littleton who migrated from Maryland, through Ohio and on to Louisa County, Iowa. The brothers enlisted in the Civil War and gave, as Lincoln said in the Gettysburg Address, "the last full measure of devotion".
Noah, Kendall and John Littleton each enlisted in the 19th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. During the Battle of Prairie Grove, 2 brothers, Kendall and John died of wounds received in the battle. Brother Noah survived the battle only to drown in the White River in Arkansas a few months later.
George Littleton enlisted in the 65th Illinois Infantry. He was captured at Harper's Ferry and later paroled. He was discharged from his unit for disability and died shortly thereafter.
Thomas Littleton of the 5th Iowa Infantry was wounded at Iuka, MS, then later taken prisoner at Chattanooga, TN. He died in the notorious Andersonville Prison camp.
William Littleton enlisted in the 8th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, was wounded at Shiloh in April 1862 and died in December of 1863 at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis MO.
Before a crowd of approximately 250 people, on Tuesday, June 14th, the monument to these brothers was dedicated at Toolesboro in Louisa County, Iowa where the Littleton family had settled in the late 1840s. The Littleton family's sacrifice, loss of 6 family members in war, is believed to be the greatest loss of life by a single family in any U.S. war.
The dedication ceremony began with the presentation of the colors by the 49th Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry. This group is the Honor Guard to the Iowa Military Heritage Society.
The crowd which had risen as the colors had been brought forward, remained standing for The Star Spangled Banner, as performed by the Wapello High School Band directed by Mr. Micah Peck.
Master of Ceremonies John Busbee statedâ "We are here to honor them as Iowans, brothers, soldiers and patriots".
After Pastor Dan Doolin of the Solid Rock Baptist Church gave the invocation, Tom Woodruff, the project chairman welcomes guests to the dedication giving a short background on how the project began.
Woodruff said, "It's amazing all this came from me seeing a story in a scrapbook". In previous interviews, Woodruff has described how the wife of a now deceased childhood friend had given him a 57 page scrapbook that had belonged to her grandmother Olive Mary (Kemp) Carey. Mrs. Carey had faithfully pasted news clippings about Louisa County and Southeast Iowa into the book. In the scrapbook Woodruff found a 1907 clipping from a Columbus Junction paper mentioning the death of 6 brothers in service during the Civil War. Curious, he investigated further with the help of other members of the Louisa County Historical Society and uncovered a long hidden story that is now formally memorialized.
Next, Littleton descendants Jake Shoppa and Julie Wagner spoke to those gathered about the way in which this discovery has inspired much genealogical research and the happy knowledge connecting families in search of family ties. Last year there was a reunion of Littleton descendants in Wapello, who had previously not known about their ancestors military history.
The band then played the Battle Hymm of the Republic.
Governor Branstad spoke next describing his interest in the Littleton story and his love of history.
Keynote speaker Tom Morain of Graceland University, in a speech entitled "Breathing On Dry Bones" noted that artifacts alone are not enough to convey the story of our past. It takes the memories of those who lived to flesh out the stories of our past.
The ceremony concluded with retirement of the colors and playing of Taps. Members of the SEICWRT were in attendance.
Guests were invited to a reception at the Louisa County Heritage Center in Wapello, IA where museum volunteers served refreshments. The Iowa History Fund, is funded by 100% of the proceeds from the sales of Governor Branstad's autobiography.
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad gathers in front of the newly dedicated monument with the Littleton family decendants. (photo by Deb Olson)