History West Branch, Iowa



hoover birthplace cottage.



reconstructed jesse hoover blacksmith shop.


west branch laid out in 1869 joseph steer. incorporated in 1875.


the city first settled chiefly quakers ohio. name derived meeting place of west branch quakers, , location of city on west branch of wapsinonoc creek. of main street part of west branch commercial historic district.


before american civil war, areas in , around west branch stops of underground railroad. abolitionist john brown once stayed @ maxson farm east of west branch. stayed @ james townsend s inn, traveler s rest, in winter of 1856. in 2008, archaeologists found evidence of unmarked graves in nearby north liberty cemetery while investigating account of 17 escaped slaves died before reaching canada.


west branch experienced rapid growth after burlington, cedar rapids , northern railway built through it.


president herbert hoover born in west branch in 1874. herbert hoover presidential library-museum dedicated here hoover , close friend, president harry truman, in 1962. herbert hoover national historic site, includes library-museum, hoover birthplace cottage , gravesites of president , lou henry hoover, authorized congress on august 12, 1965.








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