HISTORY of The HARRISON CEMETERY

This was inscribed on the large stones on each side of the entrance of the cemetery.

HISTORICAL FACTS
(2) Oldest know burial, Joseph Nichol, 1838
(3) 1st area doctor, Dr. R.S. Searl, 1840
(9) Oldest birth date, James Greenwood, 1768-1844
(9) Gave land for cemetery, Anna Dickinson, 1776-1854
(6) Early area minister, Rev. J.N. Pressley, A.R.P. Church 1866

Early Families

 1. Dickinson                                  16. Winder              
 2. Nichol                                     17. Crow
 3. Dr. Searl                                  18. Kreiner
 4. Erwin                                      19. Wagg
 5. Grasham                                    20. Schafer
 6. Pressley                                   21. Berkhoff
 7. Fath                                       22. Williamson
 8. Foster                                     23. McDill
 9. Greenwood                                  24. Schneider
10. Paris                                      25. Creswell
11. Kennedy                                    26. Derby
12. Herron                                     27. Pemble
13. Staats                                     28. Stephen
14. McClung                                    29. Wiederrecht
15. Schofield

(right side on stone entrance)
Soon after 1836, when early settlers came into this part of Iowa, a burial plot was set
aside just north of the town of Harrison.  This plot was on the Anna Dickinson farm. 
In August 1857, the Dickinson family deeded 2 acres of ground to the Associate Reformed
Presbyterian Church.

An acre of this land was for a cemetery and it included the original plot near Harrison. 
On June 1887 at the meeting, chaired by Levi Stephen, the Harrison Cemetery Association 
was formed.  Officers elected were,  W.C. Williamson, Pres. (22), J.M. Creswell, 
V. Pres. (25), J.R. Crow, Sec.(17), G.W. Schofield, Tres.(15).

After this meeting, funds were solicited from neighbors and in 1887 an additional 1.3 acres
of land was purchased form Mark Davison, then, in October 1896, trustees of the church 
deeded the original acre of ground to the cemetery association. In 1908 an additional 
acre of land was purchased from H.B. Davison and R.D. McCollough.  This included 
the present parking lot.

The last purchase of land was from Josephine Scweitzer in 1945 and is the new addition 
on the south side.

Regular annual meetings were not held from 1919 to 1936 and the association lapsed. 

In 1972 the Harrison Cemetery Association was re-incorporated and the following 
officers elected.
(30) Marie Bartenhagan, Pres.
(31) Earl Eversmeyer, V. Pres.
(23) Irene McDill, Sec. & Treas.