National Register of Historic Places

Early, John and Elizabeth McMurn, House

Earlham, Madison County, Iowa
Listed
March 18, 1993
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
87001653

About this property

The John and Elizabeth McMurn Early House is a historic residence located south of Earlham, Iowa, United States. The Earlys settled in Madison County in 1855 from Eddyville, Iowa. They bought 160 acres (65 ha) of raw prairie and established a farm. This was the second house built on the property, and it was unusual for a "second generation" farm house in Central Iowa to be built of stone around the time of the Civil War. The Earlys were Presbyterians and held services in the house until a church was built. John Early was an ardent Republican and abolitionist who was active in the Underground Railroad. While "it is said, had as many as five runaway slaves on his place at one time", there is no evidence this house itself was a stop. The Earlys lived here until their deaths in 1872 (Elizabeth) and 1873 (John). The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

Location

Earlham, Madison County, Iowa
41.38921, -94.15784

Categories

EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Nearby Historic Sites

Henderson, Daniel and Nancy Swaford, House
Industrial
1.6 mi
McQuie, Peter and Isabelle McCulloch, Milkhouse
Industrial
2.9 mi
McDonald House
Industrial
4 mi
Smith, Hiram C., Milking Shed
Industrial
4.2 mi
Smith, Hiram C., House
Industrial
4.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Early, John and Elizabeth McMurn, House listed on the National Register?

Early, John and Elizabeth McMurn, House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 18, 1993.

What type of historic resource is Early, John and Elizabeth McMurn, House?

Early, John and Elizabeth McMurn, House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Early, John and Elizabeth McMurn, House?

The period of significance for Early, John and Elizabeth McMurn, House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Early, John and Elizabeth McMurn, House?

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