Exira Sesquicentennial Special: Exira's Plow-Oak Tree
Plow in Tree(from an old postcard)
"A short mile south of Exira on the west side of U.S. Highway 71 stands a marker. It has been placed there to call attention to the interesting oak tree nearby known as the "Plow-Oak".
"The farm on which this tree stands is now owned by Victor A. Petersen who lives there, and his brother, Wilmer Petersen of Harlan. Not only have they marked the place, but they also maintain a public picnic area in the small grove of which the oak is a part. A favorite picnicing place enjoyed by many, especially Exira's Community Club.
"Slightly varying accounts of this interesting tree have been published from time to time. "Famous Trees", a government publication, contains an account of it; it has been written up locally; Des Moines papers have carried its story; and Robert Ripley's "Believe It Or Not" has carried word of the odd tree wherever it is printed. Some of these accounts say the plow was left leaning against the tree when a young man went off to war and did not return (Ed. note: the myth!), still others that the plow was replaced by a new plow and not needed any longer (Ed. note: much more likely!).
"Just how the tree, the plow and nature worked to perform the miracle we can not know. But there it is today, a large thrifty tree with an iron plow in its heart. This article of farm equipment protrudes clear through the tree trunk in a symmetrical manner, extending out on both sides of the trunk.
"The farm was first owned by the Andrew J. Leffingwell family of Exira, and a son, Frank, leaned it against a young oak after plowing one year, and left it there. (Ed. note: OK, the Leffingwell's probably bought a new plow!) As the years passed the plow was forgotten. However, the tree kept on growing and when noticed years later the two--the plow and the tree, had become as one. We have been told that it was first noticed at the time when the railroad right of way was put through.
"In September of 1935 a bronze plate was placed on the tree by the American Legion and American Legion Auxilliary. The purpose of this was to assure the preservation of so interesting a tree. However, examination of the tree in 1957 reveals the fact that the plate has disappeared, doubtless at the hands of some souvenir collector.
"In its growth the tree has raised the plow a bit off the ground, and as the trunk increases in diameter with age, less of the plow will be seen. (Ed. note: It was much less visible in 1997 when I last saw it.) But with each passing year public interest in the tree gows and Exira's pride in having this unique tree increases."
A traditional symbol of Exira, the Plow in the Tree was on the title graphic of Exira's hometown paper, The Audubon County Journal, which merged with the Audubon News-Advocate to become the Audubon County Advocate-Journal back in the 1990's, I believe.
Comments