Nelson Pioneer

Mahaska County's Military Legacy

The Mahaska County Historical Society is gathering information of county veterans and active military personnel for our archives. In an upcoming military exhibit, information will be available to the public by accessing an interactive database. Veterans since the county's founding in 1844 will be included with this database. Only the required fields on the form will be made public. No contact information will be shared.

Any veteran or family member who would like to share their story more fully may indicate their interest on the form. The MCHS is conducting oral histories to preserve these stories of the past. These voice or video recordings will be preserved in the research library at MCHS. There is NO obligation to be interviewed if you fill out the form.

Sponsor a Soldier

Thanks to the creative efforts of Quad Cities-based exhibit design company Edwards Creative, "A Legacy of Patriotism and Service" honors the service and sacrifice of Mahaska County's servicemen and -women since the county formed in 1844. The exhibit emphasizes the local stories and experiences of those who served and their families and friends who remained in Mahaska. One of the key features is an interactive database where people can access basic information of those who served or who continue to serve.

Family members, friends, and community members are invited to Sponsor a Soldier and leave a message on that person's profile in the database. For $25, you can leave a message of thanks for any military personnel past or present.

The criteria for inclusion in the database are military personnel who:
- were born in Mahaska County
- lived in Mahaska County at the time of their enlistment and/or service
- have lived in Mahaska County for more than 5 years.

Veterans and active service include anyone who has gone through boot camp, whether they saw active service abroad or not. National Guard members are included in our database.

All donations through the Sponsor a Soldier initiative support the care and preservation of our military collections.

When donating online, please put Sponsor a Soldier in the memo line.

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A Note to Photographers

Please call our Director at 641-672-2989 or email them director@nelsonpioneer.org to get permission to come take photographs of the property. This is not an open site and permission is necessary so we can let our property caretaker know.