Mellinger Memorial Library

05/28/2026

05/27/2026

Remember that during this time, heavy equipment will be moving in and out of the area. Please use caution and please respect the barricades that will be in place!

05/22/2026

Pictured is the information we need for children to register for the summer reading program. If you can't make it to the library and would like to have your child registered, please send us the information.

05/19/2026

Thanks to Kathy Vance's help, we now have a YouTube channel. You can find the cemetery walk videos there and we have a new project that when finished will be uploaded to the channel! Please check it out and subscribe!

Videos taken at or for the Mellinger Memorial Library in Morning Sun, Iowa including plenty of Morning Sun and Louisa County History!

05/18/2026

Summer is just around the corner, and we are excited to invite your child to participate in the Summer Reading Program at Mellinger Memorial Library in Morning Sun!
Enclosed you will find our activity calendar filled with fun and engaging events planned throughout the summer. We encourage all students to take part—not only for the enjoyment, but because summer reading plays a vital role in your child’s continued academic success.
Research shows that children who read during the summer maintain and even improve their reading skills, while those who do not can experience a “summer slide,” losing some of the progress they worked so hard to achieve during the school year. Just a little reading each day can make a big difference in confidence, comprehension, and overall learning.
To make reading even more exciting, we are offering a points-based incentive program:
• Each Easy Reader book = 25 points
• Each Chapter book = 50 points
• Each Library activity attended = 50 points
Every child who reaches 500 points will receive FREE school supplies to help them start the next school year off strong!
Our goal is to make reading fun, rewarding, and a regular part of your child’s summer routine. We hope to see your family at the library often this summer!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for your continued support in helping your child grow as a reader.
Happy Reading!

05/16/2026

John K. Brown was born on May 30, 1839, in Pennsylvania. By the time he was living in Davenport, Iowa, the United States was on the brink of civil war—a conflict that would claim more American lives than any other and permanently alter the nation’s course.
When John enlisted on October 24, 1861, the war was still young. Many believed it would be short. He joined the 8th Iowa Infantry, a regiment that would soon earn a reputation for endurance and sacrifice. The 8th Iowa fought in some of the Western Theater’s most brutal engagements, including Shiloh, where confusion, noise, and smoke made communication nearly impossible.
John was appointed Fife Major, a role far more important than it may sound today. During the Civil War, bugles, drums, and fifes were essential tools of command. Music signaled when to advance, retreat, wake, eat, and fight. In battle, the shrill sound of the fife cut through chaos, helping units stay together when officers’ voices could not be heard. As Fife Major, John helped maintain order and morale in moments when both were desperately fragile.
In January of 1864, with the war dragging into its fourth year and casualties mounting, John re-enlisted. This decision mattered. Veteran soldiers were the backbone of the Union Army by this point—men who understood the cost of war and still chose to continue. Later that year, on July 1, 1864, John was reduced to the ranks and returned to Company D, reflecting the shifting needs and hardships of wartime service.
By 1865, the war was ending, but its meaning was changing. The Union Army now included nearly 180,000 African American soldiers, many of whom were formerly enslaved. On June 25, 1865, John K. Brown was discharged from the 8th Iowa—not to go home, but to be promoted. He accepted a commission as Second Lieutenant in the 59th United States Colored Troops.
This was no small responsibility. White officers in U.S. Colored Troops regiments were expected not only to lead in combat, but to navigate deep racial prejudice, unequal pay, and skepticism from both civilians and fellow soldiers. The very existence of the USCT helped redefine citizenship, service, and freedom in post-war America. By serving as an officer in the 59th, John stood at the center of that transformation.
After the war, John returned to civilian life carrying the experiences of a nation reborn through conflict. He lived until March 1, 1904, and today he rests here in Elmwood Cemetery—a Civil War veteran whose service reflects the evolving purpose of the Union Army and the changing meaning of freedom in the United States.
As we pause here, we remember John K. Brown not only as a soldier, but as a witness and participant in one of the most defining chapters of American history.

05/15/2026

As we stand here today, we remember Lora Rock, a woman whose quiet life left an enduring mark on Morning Sun—and far beyond it.
Those who own a painting by Lora Rock don’t just own a piece of art.
They own a piece of Morning Sun history.
Although Lora was best known locally, her paintings traveled widely. Her work found homes across the United States, in Canada, and even across the world. A missionary carried her art to India. One painting was given as a gift to a home in Egypt. She exhibited in Cedar Falls, Mason City, Waterloo, and Wisconsin, and she sketched scenes in Arizona and California. For someone who rarely left her roots, her art had a remarkable reach.
Lora Rock was born on December 7, 1867, in Fairhaven, Ohio, the oldest child of Andrew and Martha Rock. In 1881, the family moved to Morning Sun. Over the years, nine children filled the Rock household—three boys and six girls. Lora was 23 years older than the youngest, often carrying both responsibility and example for her siblings.
The Rock family home stood just down the road, past this cemetery. Her father operated a brick factory and farmed, providing for a large family at a time when education beyond the eighth grade was uncommon. Yet education mattered deeply in this household. All six daughters became teachers. The boys learned practical trades. Two of Lora’s sisters later settled in Arizona and California. One sister, Carrie, made history in Arizona by becoming the first woman to pass the bar exam—before Arizona was even a state.
After graduating from high school, Lora taught in several rural schools around the Morning Sun community for 15 years. Former students remembered her as kind, patient, and well liked. She walked four miles round trip to school each day—and on payday, she walked two extra miles to pick up her check. It was a life of quiet perseverance.
Lora painted in both oil and watercolor, though oil was her favorite. She painted on whatever she could find—not always canvas. She painted on cut wood, on heavy cardboard once used to roll fabric, even on mirrors. The Pierce family preserved many of these works, including painted mirrors and canvases. Mr. L. R. Pierce admired her talent and quietly helped support her financially.
Her favorite subjects were landscapes, especially autumn and winter scenes—fields, trees, and skies caught in moments of stillness. In 1921, she painted two large murals for the new high school. One notable work, a large painting of Melrose Abbey, hung in the high school study hall.
Lora lived in the home where the Marian Minnis house now stands. Children often stopped by to see her paintings, and she welcomed them gladly. She once said that the praise of both children and adults was her greatest compensation. Those who watched her work were amazed at how quickly she painted. And remarkably, this artist—whose work reached across continents—never received a single hour of formal instruction.
Lora was a deeply religious woman and a devoted member of the United Presbyterian Church. In her final years, she lived at the Ross Nursing Home, still surrounded by some of her beloved paintings. She passed away on June 18, 1956, leaving behind a quiet but powerful legacy.
At a different time, in a different place, Lora Rock might have become a famous name in American art.
But fame was never what she sought.
Instead, she left Morning Sun something far more lasting—beauty, dedication, and a reminder that greatness does not always announce itself. Sometimes, it simply paints—patiently, faithfully—until the world takes notice.

05/14/2026

Here before you rests a family whose story is woven deeply into the beginnings of Morning Sun itself—a story of love, loss, compassion, and quiet strength.
William P. Brown stands at the beginning of this legacy. William was not only a father, but later an adopted grandfather in spirit and in deed. After the heartbreaking loss of his son, Thomas, William made a decision that would shape this community for generations. At the time, Thomas was buried at Rice Cemetery, some distance away. William and his wife Alice found that separation unbearable. They longed for a place closer to home, a place where family could rest together. In his grief—and his hope—William deeded the land that would become Elmwood Cemetery to the town of Morning Sun, ensuring that families would never again have to bury their loved ones so far away. Because of him, Elmwood became not just a cemetery, but a place of belonging.
Beside him in both life and purpose was Alice Crawford Brown, a woman remembered for her strength and remarkable knowledge. Alice was known throughout the area as “quite the doctor,” though she held no formal title. She possessed a deep understanding of herbs and home remedies and was often the first person called when illness struck. Neighbors remembered her willingness to help at any hour—saddling her horse in the middle of the night to reach someone in need. In an era with limited medical care, Alice was a lifeline, offering comfort, healing, and reassurance to many in Morning Sun.
Their daughter, Martha Brown, carried forward that same spirit of care, though in a different way. Martha never married, but her life was rich with purpose. When the Orphan Train stopped in Morning Sun—a moment that changed countless lives—Martha’s heart was captured by a young girl named Fannie Love. Martha took Fannie into her home, adopted her, and raised her as her own. What began as an act of compassion became a lifelong bond.
Fannie Love grew up to make Morning Sun her true home. She married Wilbur Duryea and became known for her creativity and love of art. Fannie expressed herself through her artwork, leaving behind pieces that reflected both talent and tenderness. Tragically, her life was cut short when she and her daughter died during childbirth—a loss that echoed painfully through her family.
Wilbur later remarried and had more children, and through it all, Martha stepped in once again—not just as an aunt, but as a fifth grandparent, embracing those children with deep affection. She adored them, ensuring that love did not end with loss. After Fannie’s death, Martha arranged for Fannie’s artwork to be recreated by artist Lora Rock, preserving her legacy and gifting the pieces to Wilbur and his family—a final, loving tribute to the daughter she had chosen and cherished.
Today, William, Alice, Martha, and Fannie rest together here in the family plot at Elmwood Cemetery, the very ground made possible by William’s vision and grief. As you stand here, you are not just among headstones—you are standing within a story of family built not only by blood, but by choice, compassion, and unwavering love.