Montrose is steeped in history. The name Montrose means Mount of Roses and was originally established by David Kilbourne, a prominent Keokuk leader. At one time, the hillside along Bluff Park was covered in roses.
 
Father Marquette and Louis Joliet, famous French explorers stopped here. Joliet traded with the Indians and Father Marquette brought the message of Christianity.  Montrose is also home to the first apple orchard in the state of Iowa.  It sits beneath the waves of the Mississippi because it was submerged when the Keokuk Dam was built in 1912 and 1913.

In 1832 Captain James White made a claim and built a home here; two years before Lee County came into existence.

Fort Des Moines was located in what is now River View Park. Montrose has been home to thriving industries:  clam digging, saw mills; button making; and, boats landed at Montrose to take on or discharge freight. Montrose was also home to an opera house, three general stores, a hardware store, drug store, garden tool factory, button factories and coal and lumber yards. The businesses are no longer in existence because when the dam was built, these areas were flooded by the Mississippi.

The historic Mormon Trail began here in the winter of 1847.  The Mormons camped here for several days before beginning their westward trek. Present day Montrose is an active volunteer community.  Montrose is proud of its volunteer fire department that meets each month.  Montrose Riverfront, Inc. is comprised of many volunteers who keep Montrose history alive while planning for the future.  They host the annual Pride of Montrose festival on Father’s Day weekend.  Montrose is also home to the sixty year old Watermelon Festival, held annually the fourth Thursday, Friday and Saturday in August.

For more information on the History of Montrose, please visit Rootsweb.com

Cannon in the Montrose Cemetery

The following story is courtesy of Mary Sue Chatfield.

For as long as anyone alive can remember, the old cannon has stood as 
a sentinel, keeping watch ore the graves in the old part of the 
Montrose Cemetery.  An old photograph shows it festooned with a 
floral garland and American flags.  A group of people standing in 
front of the cannon were dressed in Civil War era clothing.  These 
clues gave some indication as to the time frame of the photo, but 
left many unanswered questions.   When and where was it made?  When 
and how did it arrive in Montrose?  Did it perhaps come on a 
steamboat, or on a train?  Was a dedication ceremony held after it 
had been placed in the cemetery? For many years, the only fact known 
for sure was that it was there, ever pointing skyward from its cement 
base.

Even though the cannon was still standing tall and erect, over the 
years the elements had taken their toll on the cement base, causing 
two sides of it to break loose, in danger of falling over.  It was 
obviously time for something to be done to preserve this landmark.  
Thanks to the generosity of a former resident and graduate of 
Montrose High School, Ralph Dobson, the cannon is now  mounted on an 
entirely new base, ready to face another 100+ years of “duty”.  In 
addition to the financial backing of Mr. Dobson, several local 
workers put in long hours of labor to bring this about.  City 
employee, Michael Hoenig, assisted by his father Keith Hoenig, and 
local contractors Joe and Bob Bergman worked on the project.  Other 
city workers and interested people provided a hand as needed.

First came the delicate job of removing the heavy cannon from its 
precarious position above the crumbling foundation and transporting 
it to the city shop for a thorough cleaning and a new paint job.  
Next, after much discussion, plans were made for remounting it on a 
new base, measurements were taken, and forms were built.  Even though 
the cannon had pointed skyward all this time, the decision was made 
to mount it in a horizontal position, which makes it “look” more like 
a cannon.  This new positioning has caused many people to become 
aware of the cannon for the first time, and it has sparked a renewed 
interest in our local history.

While the cannon was in the city shop, many markings and identifying 
features were seen for the first time.  Taking this information to 
the internet, Bob Bergman discovered the answers to several 
questions.  His findings about the cannon include:
      * It is a Civil War era U.S. Model 24 pounder 1844 flank howitzer.
      * It was made by Cyrus Alger & Company of Boston, Massachusetts in 
1847.
      * 300 such cannon were made by Cyrus Alger between 1846 and 1849.
      * Cyrus Alger was the best practical metallurgist of his time.
      * By 1850, his company was the largest foundry in the country.
      * Cannons of this type were usually used at forts.
      * The serial number is 168
      * The initials J.W.R. on the mussel stand for James Wolfe Ripley, 
Chief of American Ordinance.

Through the help of Todd Shillington, member of the Sons of Union 
Veterans of the Civil War in New York, we have learned that a cannon 
was donated by act of Congress to the Tip Best Post No. 75, the Grand 
Army of the Republic of Montrose, Iowa in 1882 for monumental purposes.

The above information still leaves us wondering where the cannon was 
used before and how it arrived in Montrose.  1882 was prior to the 
publication of the old Montrose Journal, but hopefully an article 
concerning this will be located in a Keokuk or Fort Madison paper.  
Until such time, we will have to be content with the recently learned 
answers to other questions while we enjoy the “new” cannon, once 
again restored to its place of honor in the cemetery.

On Memorial Day, Monday, May 26th at 2:00 P.M., a dedication ceremony 
will be held in the Montrose Cemetery for a plaque giving additional 
information about Cato Mead, free person of color and Revolutionary 
War soldier, whose memorial stone is located adjacent to the cannon.  
Further information on this dedication will soon be released, but all 
are invited to attend and view the cannon at that time.