The book collection from Jerry Rowe’s estate will be on sale 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. this week, in the Fort Dodge Historic Society’s room at the Fort Dodge Public Library, just across the hallway from the Friends of the Library book sale.

Books will be on sale at both locations at the same time, even though the sales are separate, said historian Roger Natte.

Rowe was known in the community for his work in preserving and promoting Oakland Cemetery.

“The community remembers the work Jerry did for the cemetery, but not always the work he did for the Civil War,” Natte said.

-Messenger photos by Joe Sutter
Laura Maggio unloads books for the Friends of the Library’s semi-annual book sale to raise funds for programs going on at the library throughout the year. Like many bibliophiles, Maggio said she’s a “serial donator” — she buys books from the sale, reads them, then donates them back again.

The collection features newer titles as well as old ones, such as a history of the Secret Service written shortly after that agency was formed.

Books on history and patriots of the era can be found with an 1865 copyright date, the same year the war came to an end.

Other books are more expected, Natte said, such as a four-volume biography of General Lee or the four-volume “Battles and Leaders of the Civil War” published by Castle.

Some items don’t appear to have been published formally at all, such as a document called “Surrender Proceedings” from Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, April 1865, by Frank P. Cauble, research historian.

“I would guess we have about 400 books,” Natte said.

-Messenger photos by Joe Sutter
Friends of the Library President Linda Whiting shows the newly-designed book bags the group is selling this week. Purchase a bag for $5 and get a free book. Whiting said the bags were ordered locally.

Books are also on hand for collectors of Civil War items.

“We have a whole set of books on collections, from Civil War buttons to Civil War swords and sabers,” Natte said.

“We also have about 300 issues of the Civil War magazine.”

Rowe passed away on April 4 at age 85, a few months after publishing a book detailing the adventures of a Civil War drummer boy from Webster County.

For decades, Rowe researched the lives of Civil War soldiers, often with the goal of obtaining proper military headstones for veterans buried in unmarked graves.

-Messenger photos by Joe Sutter
Local historian Roger Natte estimates there are over 400 books in the collection of Jerry Rowe on the Civil War — from newer histories to a binder apparently compiled by a local historian in Appomattox, Virginia.

He was successful in getting numerous headstones over the years for the soldiers buried in Oakland Cemetery.

He also helped to found the Oakland Cemetery Walk, which brings historic figures from the cemetery to life every year using actors.

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Meanwhile, the Friends of the Public Library’s semi-annual book sale will offer its usual variety of used books, from mysteries to religious books, from kids books to classic literature.

This year the Friends are also selling book bags, said group President Linda Whiting.

“A new book bag was designed,” Whiting said. “This week if you buy a bag, you get a book free.”

Bags cost $5 and will be available all week, she said.

New this year, Monday was an “Early Bird Sale” for Friends of the Library members, who had the first pick of the collected volumes. Memberships were available for purchase at the door, starting at $10 for a single membership or $20 for a family.

This early pick will become part of the Friends book sales in the future, Whiting said.

Friends of the Library used book sale

• Today: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Wednesday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Saturday ($1 per bag): 9 a.m. to noon