Revolutionary War Soldiers and Patriots Buried in Iowa

I have always loved history and felt a deep connection to our nation’s past. I also find great peace in visiting cemeteries—quiet places that invite reflection on the lives and legacies of those who came before us. I am especially proud of the role my own ancestors played in the American Revolution. These interests and passions come together in this project.

As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, documenting the Revolutionary War patriots buried in Iowa offers a meaningful way to connect local communities to the earliest chapters of our shared national story. Although the war itself was fought far from the Midwest, many veterans and patriots later settled on the Iowa prairies, carrying with them the spirit of service, resilience, and civic commitment that helped shape the new nation. This project seeks to preserve and share their histories, ensuring that their names, experiences, and contributions are not lost to time.

America 250 provides a powerful opportunity to highlight the lives of these patriots and to reflect on the enduring principles they helped secure. Honoring them deepens our understanding of how the nation’s founding generation spread across the continent and invites Iowans to see themselves as part of a long tradition of civic responsibility. By illuminating these stories, this project encourages communities to preserve local history, take pride in our shared heritage, and inspire future generations to engage thoughtfully in American democracy.

I invite you to explore the lives of these patriots. Each individual has a dedicated page on this website with information about their birthplace, service in the American Revolution, and death, along with photographs of their gravesite when burial locations are known.

If you are able, I encourage you to visit these cemeteries and gravesites in person. The Map tab provides a visual guide to all known cemetery locations. Please note that some are pioneer cemeteries—small, sometimes difficult to locate, and occasionally situated on private property. For your convenience, latitude and longitude coordinates are included for each site. The Patriots tab includes a an individual page for each Patriot known to have been buried in Iowa. Under the Additional Resources tab, you will also find a complete list of these patriots with detailed cemetery information.

We must honor these individuals for the roles they played—both collectively and individually—not only in the American Revolution but in Iowa’s history as well. I hope you enjoy exploring their lives as much as I have enjoyed researching and sharing their stories.

I would also like to acknowledge the important work of the Iowa Society Daughters of the American Revolution and the Iowa Society Sons of the American Revolution. This project would not have been possible without their longstanding efforts to document these soldiers and patriots.

“Our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor,”

Stefanie Wager