By CHUCK OFFENBURGER

RIPPEY, Iowa, Jan. 3, 2026 — It is in this new year of 2026, I hope, that we in Greene County finally pay public tribute to the 34 “Schoolboy Soldiers of Rippey,” who 165 years ago, closed the first school that had been built in our newly-settled county, and marched off to service in the Civil War.

Ten of them died in that service.

The 22 survivors were forever changed. Many of them became our civilian leaders the rest of their lives. Their story is one of patriotism, heroism, courage and service-over-self that, still today, should be in full public view and consciousness.

Aden Bardole, a Greene County High School senior, was wearing a Civil War replica uniform as he described one of his designs for a monument telling the story of the “Schoolboy Soldiers of Rippey.” This was in late November during a public program the memorial committee presented for the Greene County Historical Society.

“No matter how far down the vista of time a new record of valor is made up and forms a part of the history of Greene County,” early Jefferson newspaper editor E.B. Stillman wrote in his 1907 county history book, “it will not outrank in devotion to country and in the sacrifices made upon the altar of liberty, the deeds of these pioneer young men who came to these western prairies to find homes and the enjoyment of life in the pursuit of happiness and a competency. They, and those who enlisted in like spirit, should be accounted the bravest and the best of all, no matter who were their contemporaries or who may come after them.”

Alas, it’s all been nearly forgotten.

Or, as I told the Iowa history class last spring at Greene County High School in Jefferson, it’s “the most under-told and under-appreciated story in our local history.”

A half-dozen students in that class decided it didn’t have to be that way — and it shouldn’t be that way any longer. They told their teacher Dena Boyd they wanted to do something about it. They asked me if I would help.

Boyd, some of her students, and about 10 of us adults in the county who are history buffs have been meeting monthly for the past eight months. We’ve put together what I hope Greene Countians, and others beyond here, will recognize as inspiring and appropriate plans and projects.

Oliver Harris, one of the first Greene County High School students to get involved with the Schoolboy Soldiers of Rippey memorial committee, spoke “in character” as one of the soldiers at the historical society program. Harris is now a freshman at Iowa State University.

Roman Sebourn, a high school junior, who also spoke “in character,” as one of the Schoolboy Soldiers. He occasionally participates in Civil War military re-enactments.

And we are now asking for help.

All of what we propose will cost a total of about $95,000. We have currently received just more than $5,000 in donations, nearly all from individuals. We now seek larger donations and grants from the State of Iowa, Greene County, a couple of foundations, local companies and people everywhere.

The Greene County Historical Society, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit corporation, is our fiscal agent. Contributions, designated for “Schoolboy Soldiers of Rippey” memorials, can be sent to the historical society at its museum, 219 E. Lincoln Way, Box 435, Jefferson, IA 50129.

Several of our Schoolboy Soldiers memorial committee members in a quick meeting before the recent program for the Greene County Historical Society.

If you have questions or other inquiries, you can address them to our memorial committee, through me, using my contact information below here.

Here is what we plan to produce in 2026, all as part of Greene County’s celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary:

—One or two large stone monuments, which tell and illustrate the story of the Schoolboy Soldiers of Rippey. The current high school students favor locating one of those in the Greene County Courthouse, or on its grounds, in Jefferson. And they agree with our whole committee that there should be another appropriate monument in the pioneer cemetery of Old Rippey. That’s on the original townsite, before the community moved a couple miles east in 1870, re-locating to be on the then-new railroad right-of-way.

—This winter and spring, we are organizing a “military unit” of 32 current high school students (male & female) and two adult leaders to wear replica uniforms & accessories that we are purchasing. They will carry wood imitations of rifles being made by the high school industrial arts class. They’ll adapt the identities and stories of the original Schoolboy Soldiers. And, starting Memorial Day weekend, they will begin marching and participating in parades and services, portraying our soldiers in Civil War service.

—We have contracted with well-known Iowa playwright John Busbee, who bases in Des Moines, to spend 200 hours this year studying the Schoolboy Soldiers story, and then turning it into a stage play. Greene County High School drama coach Darren Jackson has already agreed that the production will be the school’s “fall play,” premiering next November.

—We are also considering funding a large mural that portrays the Rippey soldiers’ story, but we have not yet determined where that mural should be located.

The “Schoolboy Soldiers of Rippey” story merits all of the above.

As their original teacher and military leader Azor Mills said of their service in an 1887 reflection for the newspapers of Greene County, “If the state of Iowa can find a county school with a better war record, the survivors of this school will give them nine cheers and a tiger!”

“Privates” Harris, Sebourn and Bardole (left to right) with “Sgt.” David Burkett (right), a member of the memorial committee who has long been active as a Civil War re-enactor.

—

You can comment on this column below or write the columnist directly by email at chuck@offenburger.com.