Washington County Historian to Present on Keokuk County Civil War Soldiers on October 18th

A Washington County historian and nationally recognized collector of Iowa Civil War soldier images is sharing local Civil War history ahead of an upcoming presentation at the Keokuk County Historical Society and Museum, scheduled for Saturday, October 18th, 2026. Michael Huston, described as the nation's preeminent collector of Iowa Civil War soldier images and artifacts, will present Civil War Images of Keokuk County at the museum, located at 402 East Elm Street in Sigourney. The museum will be open from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. with the program beginning at 2:00 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own Civil War soldier images, as Huston may be able to help identify or provide information about them and offer archival scans. Huston has a particular interest in soldiers from Washington County, where he lives. His research has been published in Military Images magazine, and he hosts the Facebook group Iowa Civil War Images, dedicated to remembering and honoring men who served in Iowa units during the Civil War. The group's albums, organized by regiment and battery, constitute what is likely the largest compilation of Iowa soldier images in the world. Ahead of the presentation, Huston has begun sharing weekly posts about Keokuk County soldiers on Facebook, beginning with a historical photograph of the 2nd Iowa Infantry's regimental band. The large albumen image was shared by Jefferson County Heritage and is housed at the Carnegie Historical Museum in Fairfield, with a reproduction also displayed at the State Historical Society Museum in Des Moines. The eight soldiers pictured — David Jones of Fairfield, Willis E. Hall of Richland, John H. Foregrave of Richland, Sheridan Tracy of Brighton, Arthur Hathaway of Bloomfield, Minnardus Smallenburg of Keokuk, Henry H. Jones of Bloomfield, and Philo Case of Des Moines — had an average age of just 19.75 years old at the time of their service. According to Huston, two of the eight were from Richland in Keokuk County. Willis E. Hall enlisted on May 6th, 1861 at age 18 and mustered into Company E of the 2nd Iowa Infantry on May 28th, 1861. Born in New York, Hall rose through the ranks, being promoted to Fife Major in January 1862 and transferred from Company E to Field and Staff that same month. He re-enlisted in December 1863 and was later promoted to Principal Musician in May 1864 before being discharged for disability on February 12th, 1865. John H. Foregrave, born in Ohio, enlisted as a drummer at age 19 and mustered into the 2nd Iowa Infantry on May 28th, 1861. He served out his full term and was mustered out on May 27th, 1864 at Pulaski, Tennessee upon the expiration of his term of service. Willis E. Hall of Richland, Iowa, who enlisted in the 2nd Iowa Infantry at age 18 and rose to the rank of Principal Musician. (Image provided by and housed at the Carnegie Historical Museum in Fairfield, Iowa) Huston also shared a carte de visite image of Hall — a small photograph commonly used as a calling card during the Civil War era — as well as information on another Richland soldier, Wiley S. Sims, who enlisted at age 29, served in Company E of the 2nd Iowa Infantry, was wounded at the Battle of Corinth, Mississippi on October 3rd, 1862, rose to the rank of Sergeant, and was mustered out on May 28th, 1864. Wiley S. Sims of Richland, Iowa, who served in Company E of the 2nd Iowa Infantry and was wounded at the Battle of Corinth, Mississippi in 1862. (Image provided by and housed at the Carnegie Historical Museum in Fairfield, Iowa)