“Scott County Soldier's Monument” designed by R. J. Carver 1880

Main Street
Davenport, Iowa

The Scott County Soldier's Monument is located in the center of Main Street, near Central High School. A movement to establish this landmark began in 1865 when an association was created to erect a monument to Abraham Lincoln, recently assasinated. After six years, with less than $700 collected, Nicholas Fejervary announced that he would donated $1300 if a monument to the Scott County soldiers who died in the Civil War were built instead.

The association hired R. J. Carver of Vermont to build the monument for $8000. The monument was dedicated on July 4th, 1881. In 1909, it was given to the city of Davenport.

The monument is made from English granite and rises to the height of 50'. The soldier at the top of the column measures eight feet from the soles of his boots to the crown of his cap. The base is 17'6" square.

The shaft bears the names of the eight Civil War battles in which Scott County units fought: Shiloh, Donelson, Iuka, Wilson's Creek, Vicksburg, Prarie Grove, Corinth and Fort Blakely. The north panel has Abraham Lincoln's statement, "They died, that the government of the People, by the People and for the People might not perish from the Earth." On the base are the following symbolic wreaths: over the coat of arms, the laurel for joy over the Navy; the olive branch for peace over the artillery; the oak for strength over the cavalry; and the ivy for lasting remembrance.