This site is dedicated to the Preservation of Cemeteries in the State of Iowa

From The Standard, April 9, 2007, Waukon, Iowa: “Supervisors hear from department heads and concerned citizens,” by Mike Martin. During the time set aside for pubic comment at the March 5 meeting, Doug Mullen spoke to the Board about the care and maintenance of two cemeteries in Lafayette Township -- Village Creek Cemetery and another at the corner of Lansing Harpers Ferry Road and Sweet Ridge Drive. Residents have expressed concerns about upkeep at the cemeteries and both are classified as pioneer. The Board agreed they need a legal opinion from the county attorney before proceeding further.

Benton

From the Cedar Valley Daily Times, April 5, 2007, Vinton, Iowa: “Cemetery Commission under new leadership -- Chairman Davis resigns due to health concerns,” by Dean Close. Pictured is SAPIC member, Gene Davis, as he demonstrates how to dowse for graves and how to use powder to make inscriptions on old, worn stones easier to read. A history of the Benton County Pioneer Cemetery Commission is given from the beginning when Gene saw Paul Maddy on Iowa Public Television talking about restoring pioneer cemeteries to the present time when 30 cemeteries in Benton County have been restored. Gene credits SAPIC member Mike Magee and the Tama County Cemetery Commission, plus many volunteers from Benton County, for helping with the work. Martha Long will become chairperson of the commission in 2008. Also included in the article are excerpts from the LaPorte City Progress on the topic of cemetery care from the 1800’s.

From the Vinton Eagle, April 25, 2007, “Martha Long named ‘Woman of the Year.’” Pictured is Martha accepting special recognition from the Vinton Women’s club for her community involvement, including the updating of records of cemeteries in Iowa and for her tireless work in preserving Benton County history. She is a member of the Benton County Pioneer Cemetery Association and has worked closely with Gene and Frieda Davis at the Bear Creek Cemetery and assisting them with cemetery records.

From the Vinton Eagle and the Waterloo Courier, May 16, 2007: “May is Cemetery Appreciation Month in Iowa,” Letter to the Editor by Frieda Davis. In a well-written letter, Frieda lists the reasons why we need to take care of our cemeteries. She also suggests that the reader should take a walk through a cemetery this Memorial Day and appreciate the art, history, and stories recorded there.

Blackhawk

From the Waterloo Courier, April 9, 2007, “Tombstones damaged at Cedar Falls cemetery.”

Vandals destroyed several tombstones and other items, including flower pots, at Fairview Cemetery in Cedar Falls over the weekend.

From the Waterloo Courier, April 18, 2007, “Two accused of cemetery vandalism.” Two teenagers were taken into custody for allegedly vandalizing tombstones at Fairview Cemetery. They were charged with third-degree criminal mischief, released to their parents, and referred to juvenile court services.

Mike Magee reports that he has been assisting the caretaker with stone repair at the Waterloo Cemetery.

Boone

On March 26, Boone county residents, Tina Kiester and Larry Adams, along with SAPIC member, Pat Shaw, met with the Boone County Supervisors about the possibility of establishing a pioneer cemetery commission and an archives commission. The county supervisors from neighboring Greene County faxed a letter of support to Boone County telling of the positive aspects of having a cemetery commission. SAPIC member, Valerie Ogren, contributed information for the formation of the letter that outlined the history and accomplishments of the Greene County Commission that has been in existence since 2000.

Buchanan

County Report from Commission Chairman, Bill Reedy: This summer, the Buchanan County Pioneer Cemetery Commission celebrates its fourth birthday. We began with a running start, as the Genealogical Society had already done considerable work recording and identifying the pioneer cemeteries some twenty-five years previously. Some of the commission members had been involved in that work, and we were all familiar with it. During our first year, we erected large signs at most of the pioneer cemeteries, giving a brief history of each. We also researched titles and descriptions for all pioneer cemeteries, so that we would know the boundaries accurately, and to be prepared for any questions that might arise over ownership. Some of this research continues, as we are still able to fill in some of the holes in our information. In the course of our work, the county has received title to two cemeteries, we have corrected a title mistake affecting ownership of another, and updated an access easement to one landlocked cemetery. After three years of negotiation, we have just this spring concluded an access easement agreement to another. Now, for the brawn part -- we have been clearing brush, leveling ground, building fence, repairing fence, resetting stones, repairing stones, and replacing stones.

As we have a large number of stones that are either too badly broken to be repaired or are missing entirely, we have been replacing many. Because of the number involved, we have purchased equipment and supplies to manufacture the stones we need. After taking lessons from the local Amish tombstone maker, we think we have mastered the art. This equipment and process will be demonstrated at the July SAPIC meeting.

From the Cedar Valley Daily Times, April 9, 2007, “County pioneer cemetery group seeks volunteers,” by John Kiotzbach. The article relates the story of David Schwartz who was kidnapped and later reunited with his family. His captors renamed him “David Black.” His grave is in a Buchanan County cemetery.

There are about seventeen known pioneer burial sites in Buchanan County and most are more than 150 years old. Sadly, a few have succumbed to the natural development of the area. They lay beneath fields or under buildings.

In 2003, the Buchanan County Pioneer Cemetery Commission was formed by the Supervisors. The commission consists of nine members divided into three classes each serving staggered three-year terms. Members are from around the county and appointed by the Supervisors. Bill Reedy of Brandon is the Chair. They are members of SAPIC.

The commission is responsible for the control and maintenance of the pioneer cemeteries. The commission relies on members and volunteers to do the work. The commission will be happy to present a program to service groups, including a DVD that contains the following quote: “We owe it to the earlier settlers of the county and to those who passed away on their way west the respect of maintaining their burial sites.” Settlers like David Black.

Cedar

From the Cedar Rapids Gazette, April, 2007: “Men work to save church of ancestors,” by Dave Rasdal. Two members of the Red Oak Grove Presbyterian Church located 5 miles west of Tipton are trying to preserve the church that was founded in 1841 and closed in 2006. The two men, Cecil Mathias and Bob Rickard, now want to turn ownership of the church building over to the cemetery board, which is financially healthy. They are working to ensure that the cemetery remains viable as a perpetual care burial site.

Chickasaw

The Chickasaw County Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 24, #1, First Quarter, 2007 lists new updated records for the New Hampton St. Mary’s and the New Hampton Cemeteries, as well as other cemeteries. All publications of records are available from the CCGS, PO Box 434, New Hampton, IA 50659.

A copy of an article sent by Jeanette Kottke dated April 23, 2007 shows members of the Chickasaw County Cemetery Commission as they accept a grant in the amount of $1250 awarded to the Commission by the Waterloo and Northeast Iowa Community Foundation. Members shown are Thelma Allen, Betty Tylee, Verlaine Maher, Jeanette Kottke and Fred Reisner. Absent was Jerry Tieskotter, President of the Commission. To date four pioneer cemeteries have been cleared of brush, stones repaired, fenced and grassed. They are Stapleton, Pearl Rock, Cagley, and Jacksonville Twp. They are presently working on the Garden of Memories Dresden Twp. cemetery.

A Memorial Day event is planned at the New Hampton Township Union Cemetery to recognize 150 years of origin. Commission members will assist with this event.

SAPIC member, Carol Bottin, has received a report of several graves in a woods near Nashua that they will check out this spring. One grave may be that of a Civil War Veteran.

Clayton

From an e-mail message dated April 12, 2007, “Maintaining Hallowed Ground,” by Ron Harris. In an extensive article written for publication during Cemetery Appreciation Month, Harris mentions the reasons for preserving pioneer cemeteries, recent legislation regarding cemeteries, and the formation of SAPIC and county commissions. The entire article will be included in this newsletter.

Davis

From the Davis County Pioneer Cemetery Commission, Carol Hoffman, reporting: As you all probably know, the weather hasn’t cooperated with us to get out in our pioneer cemeteries. Maybe now we can get into our sites and do what we all are addicted to. Regardless of what the weather has dealt, we have found other ways to get things accomplished.

We have had two money makers. The first event was to raise funds to buy a used trailer to store and haul our equipment. We had a soup supper and baked goods auction which raised enough to buy a 1999 Wells cargo enclosed trailer. Then I baked homemade pies for Mother’s Day. This will help with incidentals not covered by our budget.

After 3 long years, we have finally seen a new fence installed around one of our cemeteries. When we first saw this site the multi flora rose was over 8 feet tall. So after many hours of hired labor and volunteer help, we got a new cattle panel fence installed on the Friday before Mother’s Day. On Saturday the 3 of us worked and got the mowing and first spraying of the weeds taken care of. The rest will have to wait until the beans come out this fall and then we will go back in and work as long as the weather permits.

We had leftover cattle panels and posts so these have been moved to another site that has been neglected for many years. Our daughter calls these sites “pick another,” but hard work pays off in the end.

Dubuque

From the Ottumwa Courier, March 21, 2007: “Coffins and candy keep Dubuque abbey afloat,” by Mary Nevans-Pederson. Trappist order monks and nuns in the Dubuque area are resorting to making coffins from the wood on their land and caramel candy to sustain their life style. They used to rely on farming operations when there was a larger population of younger monks. Last year, they shipped 850 caskets and have contracts for 1,700 more. Each casket and every piece of candy is blessed before being shipped.

Fayette

From the Fayette Leader, March 7, 2007: “Newbery Honor award given to book that has Arlington roots,” by Janell Bradley, Editor. Pictured is retired school teacher, Alice Miller, as she holds her copy of the book, “Hattie Big Sky,” which tells of a 16-year old woman leaving Arlington, Iowa to homestead in Montana. Author Kirby Larson tells the fictionalized story of her great grandmother, Hattie Brooks, who moved west about 1917 to homestead a cabin that was left to her in a will. Hattie, an orphan, was raised by various relatives. Hattie’s sisters still lived at Arlington when their parents died in Oklahoma. The book was recently named one of just three Newbery Honor selections. Alice Miller researched the Brooks family and sent volumes of information to the author. The gravestone of Hattie’s grandfather, John Brooks, is pictured as it rests in the Brooks Cemetery in Fayette County. Alice Miller, SAPIC member Steve Story, and the Fayette County Pioneer Cemetery Commission witched for burial sites and finally found grave markers that had been tossed over the fence. The markers were cleaned and placed in the cemetery. Landowner, Mark Fedeler, donated fencing to preserve the site and planted an oak tree there. Steve says, “We are glad we restored the cemetery which now has some FAME.”

From The Union, March 28, 2007: “Nutting Family Cemetery first pioneer project of 2007.” The Fayette County Pioneer Cemetery workers list their restoration and improvement projects for 2007. The volunteer crew will start at the Nutting Family Cemetery near Eagle Road off the Great River Road along the Dover-Clermont Township border. Work began at this site last fall, ending with the first major frost. Another cemetery that will soon receive attention is the Center Grove near Twin Bridges Park. Bill Moellering will be the “work crew chief” in 2007. Vergie Bruening is the president; Donal Boie, vice-president; and Frances Graham, secretary-treasurer. Appreciation was expressed to the hunters, hikers and snowmobile operators for the care and information they supply about the conditions they might notice in the cemeteries.

From The Fayette County Union, May 9, 2007: “Major Pioneer Cemetery renovations soon to be history,” by Mike Van Sickle, Union News Editor. Pictured in color on the front page is Harvey Ungerer of Hawkeye as he displays one of the gravestones to be put back in its proper place after the commission volunteers completed restoration last week of Nutting Cemetery in Clermont Township. Center Grove Cemetery, located south of Randalia will be the last of Fayette County’s 18 Pioneer Cemeteries to be enhanced by the volunteers who serve on the Commission. Pictured inside the paper are the Commission members who completed Nutting Cemetery on May 2.

From the Elgin Echo and The Fayette Leader, May 23, 2007: “Remembering Elvira, others buried in pioneer cemeteries,” by Meghan Powers. Pictured in both newspapers are the Fayette County Pioneer Cemetery Commission members who work at the Nutting Cemetery. The writer uses the headstone engraved simply with the name, “Elvira L,” to ask how many people ever stop to think about the lives of those buried under monuments covered with lichen and with engravings that are nearly illegible? Some believe that Elvira may have been the daughter of Mr. Nutting, who purchased land for the cemetery. She may have eaten wild parsnips and been poisoned, resulting in the first death in Clermont township in 1850. Examples of satisfying and interesting experiences in the Windsor and Pitts Cemeteries are also related in the article and several photos of the restoration process are included.

From The Union, May 23, 2007: Letter to the Editor from the Commission Chairman, Virgie Bruening (who is also chair of the county genealogical society). Virgie writes with pride of the well kept and beautiful cemeteries of Fayette County and praises the tremendous work of the caretakers. The letter mentions Cemetery Appreciation Month, the work of the restoration crew, and the signs that identify the pioneer cemeteries. She expresses appreciation to the work crew and the editor of the newspaper for excellent coverage.

Hamilton

From the Daily Freeman-Journal, Webster City, March 22, 2007: “Hunting for history,” by Tracy Runneberg, Staff Writer. Rebecca Mines, a member of The Hamilton County Heritage Hunters, is planning to identify and catalog Graceland cemetery digitally. She has taken maps provided by city records, will photograph each tombstone, and compile as much information as she can about each marker and plot. Mines has always been interested in cemeteries and the information and history they can provide. She came up with the idea to document the cemetery after seeing the devastation that nature and even people can provide. She treats each stone as if it belongs to one of her family members. There are at least 15,000 gravestones in Graceland and several smaller cemeteries in the county. The documentation will benefit many people now and in the future.

Jefferson

From the Fairfield Ledger, May 17, 2007: “Genealogical Highlights,” by Verda Baird. The column tells of Cemetery Appreciation Month in Iowa, including the fact that Jefferson County has 79 cemeteries and 49 of these burial sites have been designated as “pioneer cemeteries.” 24 have had no burials for more than 100 years. The genealogical section of the Fairfield Public Library has a two-volume set of alphabetized burials in all county cemeteries. The newest addition contains the computerized records of the Fell Cemetery donated by Don Wingate of Libertyville. Several histories of Jefferson county towns and villages are in the library, as well as the two-volume set of Lillian Thada’s “Reminiscing” columns which span 21 years and were published in the Fairfield Town Crier.

Johnson

Stuart Druivenga has spent over 300 hours restoring the Alt Cemetery as his Eagle Scout Project. A huge part of the project has been tree removal. He and his father, Paul, have spent a great deal of time on head/foot stone restoration and have found many buried bases that they have matched with stones. The Legion will be doing a short ceremony at the Alt Cemetery on Memorial Day. There are two Civil War veterans buried in the cemetery. Local Scouts will be in attendance. This will be the finale to Stuart’s project. He has been interviewed by the local newspaper and an article will be in the paper prior to Memorial Day. A Cedar Rapids TV station may film a segment on his project.

Jones

Steve and Donna Story worked in Madison Center Cemetery clearing weeds and brush on May 23. They began work in this cemetery in June of 1980. Steve replaced 2 fence posts at Pleasant Valley and reports that it still looks great.

The Jones County Pioneer Cemetery Commission will start on May 31 at Evergreen and East Wayne Cemeteries located in the north part of the county.

Lee

From the Lee County Pioneer Cemetery Association newsletter, “Preserving Our Past,” Spring Issue, 2007. Association president, Terry Altheide, writes in his president’s address on the first page about the emotion he feels as he views the graves in baby land at Keokuk’s Oakland Cemetery. He observes that scores of children’s graves are found in pioneer cemeteries, many of their stones buried under several inches of dirt for years and found during restoration. He quotes Doug Manning from the book, “The Funeral,” in which he says, “We need to know how much our loved one meant to others. That is why we have funerals. A funeral is a time for folks to gather and share with us the fact that they, too, loved our loved one. They too have suffered a loss. Nothing feels better to a person than this discovery, ‘Someone else thought my loved one was significant.’”

Terry’s message for 2007 is to ask the question, “What do these stones mean?” Do we just clean pioneer cemeteries because it just seems so right? Or do we go about our cleanups thinking, “I AM that someone else who thinks their loved one was/is significant.”

Also included in the newsletter is a schedule of events, a poem, information about a project to document all veterans’ graves in the county, and a spotlight on the Hyde Cemetery.

Madison

SAPIC member, Ben Mayer, of Architectural Stone Sales in Urbandale, reports that he will be demonstrating 19th century carving at the Centerville Civil War Days on Father’s Day weekend. He plans to use some period markers from the 1860’s that a client is having him re-engrave and repair from the Patterson Cemetery in Madison County.

Ben is willing, for a slight consideration, to make replacement markers out of Indiana Limestone from many pieces of stone that he has on hand and through his carving business that he has on the side. Contact him at his home: 317 E. Green St., Winterset, IA 50273. Telephone: 515-462-5841. He can also do custom stones.

Mahaska

From Jo Vernooy, chairperson of the Mahaska County Pioneer Cemetery Commission: It is an exciting time for us in the Mahaska County Pioneer Cemetery Commission. A matter involving a landlocked Pioneer Cemetery has been resolved, and a truly historic Pioneer Cemetery which had been only marginally worked on, will hopefully receive TLC from a local couple. Gorsuch Cemetery is right on the border of the Mahaska/Poweshiek County line. It has some mid-1800 gravestones. Prior to the Commission’s intervention, one of the descendants attempted to get to the cemetery to clean it up and decorate the stones, but it was rented to an individual who wanted hunting privileges in exchange for access to the cemetery. When the descendant declined to let him hunt coyotes on the property, the renter refused to let the descendant go to the graves. Since then, the property has been sold. We worked with the attorney handling the sale in order to get an easement to prevent this from ever happening again. We have also erected a fence with a large gate, to allow access for mowing. Also, we are working with the new buyers, who respect the graves. How wonderful that this Memorial Day, the descendant can visit and decorate the graves This is what we strive to achieve.

We are also working with a couple who are interested in the Muchakinock Pioneer Cemetery. For those of you familiar with Buxton, the Town of Muchakinock was the place from which the buildings, etc. were moved on skids to Buxton after the mine “played out” at Muchakinock. The Muchakinock Pioneer Cemetery is actually the largest Pioneer Cemetery in Mahaska County, but you couldn’t tell that by looking at it. It is overgrown and very few gravestones are standing. The Eddyville FFA has been building a fence to go around the Cemetery, and we are so grateful to them for their tenacity, working on it year after year. Mr Pat Powers, instructor, and his groups of FFA young men and women, are to be commended. The next Grave News Report, I hope to report that great things are being done at the Muchakinock Pioneer Cemetery. We are hoping to get enough history on the Town and Cemetery of Muchakinock to be included in the Coal Mining Days’ celebration held in Oskaloosa in October of each year.

We also submitted an article to The Oskaloosa Herald about Cemetery Appreciation Month, and, in turn, expressed our appreciation to our volunteers and Board of Supervisors for their vision and desire for preservation.

We are still looking for someone to repair the “flat (table top) stones” in Smith Cemetery. We have contacted several individuals, but are still awaiting a response from someone suggested by Loren Horton. We HAVE to get to work on these stones, or soon there will be nothing left to repair. If you, or anyone you know, has any experience with the repair of these stones, please, please let us know. We want skilled workers who know the historical value of these stones and want to help us preserve them. We are not asking for unpaid workers, we are willing to hire someone, but we just don’t know who to hire! Please contact Jo Vernooy at 641-660-432.

From the Ottumwa Courier, Progress 2007, March 10, 2007: “Pat Powers -- Challenging students to do more,” by Lori Faybik. The article lists the awards won by Mr. Power’s students on the local, state, and national levels in his tenure as FFA Advisor during his 23-year teaching career. Although not mentioned in the article, one of the community service projects undertaken by the Eddyville-Blakesburg FFA Chapter has been the fencing of the Muchakinock Pioneer Cemetery.

Ben Mayer, former member of the Mahaska Pioneer Cemetery Commission, who now lives at Winterset, will be spending Memorial Day repairing monuments at the Bedwell Cemetery in Monroe Township in Mahaska County. Although not a pioneer cemetery, the trustees of Bedwell are to be commended for keeping their responsibilities in regard to their burial grounds.

Marshall

Sharon Sturek, who has been trying to get the Price Cemetery restored for years, is elated to report that the cemetery has been fenced by landowner, Gary Buck. Sharon, representing the Price Cemetery, received a SAPIC grant for the burial site to help offset restoration expenses this summer.

Mitchell

In an e-mail message dated May 15, Neal DuShane of the Mitchell County Pioneer Cemetery Restoration Project responds to an inquiry about the disappearance of a gravestone from the Dudley Cemetery. DuShane and members of the Association are aware of the missing stone and the descendant who now has it in her possession. He says that her intention is to place it back in the cemetery IF the cemetery is going to be restored, preserved, and maintained. The stone was the subject of a story in the local newspaper a few years ago. He is hopeful that she will identify exactly which grave on which it belongs. He goes on to stress that there is a need to document, record, and log these sites so they aren’t completely lost to history. Volunteers and financial donations are also needed to help preserve these sites.

Monroe

From Rosalie Mullinix: Monroe County Pioneer Cemetery commission report -- we have had five cemeteries fenced. Hogeland and O’Brien which were very much in need of fencing as cows were in around the stones. Now it will be safe to repair and reset the stones. Brandon and Potts/Welsh had a protective fence kept up by landowners who are glad of a good fence around those cemeteries. Buxton, our most popular cemetery now has a good fence even though no cows were around it, it looks much better with a full tight fence around it. We have decided to put the stones, which are creek stones used as grave markers, up on a small cement foundation.

Carol Gillaspie, a charter member had to retire last fall due to health reasons and she has been replaced by Richard Hauesier. We were asked to help locate an unmarked unnamed cemetery and document it. This was to help Ernie Corso with state requirement for getting the mining town of Hocking back on the Iowa map. The cemetery is located in Hocking and has Manley children buried there. We had two people witch to confirm the location, then gave the state written facts to verify all information on this cemetery. Our Commission was glad to be notified of these burials.

Trussell Cemetery has had the trees and brush on two sides taken out and along with the third side will be fenced this year. The fourth side was fenced in recent years so will remain. The cemetery was witched to establish correct boundaries because we had a report of graves outside the fence, but found that just the head of one grave is a little past fence line but so close that we feel it will never be disturbed so will not move the fence.

Polk

From the Des Moines Register, May 18, 2007: “Remains of mystery man, an Iowa pioneer, laid to rest -- Archaeologists: He might have been a hardworking farmer,” by Grant Schulte, Register Staff Writer. Pictured is Hamilton’s Funeral Home director Johnny Moller as he hands a small casket containing the remains of a 19th-century pioneer to Scott Watts, with Watts Vault and Monument for burial in a small grave at the Booneville Cemetery on May 17. The remains were unearthed by accident a year ago by Regency Land Development, which was building a housing development in West Des Moines. State archaeologists examined the remains of the man who probably died in the 1850’s, was a Euro-American between 50 and 60 years old, who led a rigorous and labor-heavy life, and may have smoked a pipe. Other items found with the remains -- 92 square nails, remnants of a wooden coffin, buttons from his clothing -- helped date the original burial. The man’s headstone may read something to the effect of: “Booneville Area Pioneer, 1800s. Remnants Found in May 2006. Reburied May 2007.”

Story

In an e-mail message from Loren Larson dated April 26, 2007: Since I haven’t sent you any information on the Ballard Grove Cemetery in a long time I thought that you might like an update. Some friends helped me to locate the corners of the cemetery and fence a portion. We cut down trees and removed brush. A couple of years ago we had a monument placed in the cleared area. Last summer I received a call asking if I were the person that had been working on the cemetery. I was informed that Huxley had formed a historical society and the cemetery was one of the projects. When they finally located the cemetery they were surprised to find the fence and the monument. I showed them the corner posts and offered to work with them. They then informed me that the township trustees had agreed to pay for maintenance once the cemetery was cleaned up.

They have done more cleaning and I have removed additional trees. My desire is to clear off as much of the cemetery as I c an and relocate the fence to surround that part of the cemetery. Prior to the historical society I didn’t know what would become of the cemetery if I didn’t keep it up. Now there is hoe on the horizon that it will have perpetual care due to the trustees’ commitment.

Van Buren

From the Van Buren County Register, Keosauqua, April 26, 2007,” Cemetery Appreciation Month.” The proclamation dated April 10 and signed by Governor Chester Culver, is printed, along with information about the number of pioneer cemeteries within the county and a definition of pioneer cemeteries. Don Aldrich heads a cemetery work crew there.

Washington

My apologies to Arlen Nickolan for failing to include information about his recent restoration project in the last newsletter. Arlen submitted this information on January 19. Arlen’s first cemetery restoration was the Kupka Cemetery near Riverside. He is now undertaking the restoration of the Patterson aka Hawthorne Cemetery that sits within the properties of Sam and George Gerot. Both are neighbors and wholeheartedly support the project. There are 22 verified burials, the earliest seemingly in 1847. Arlen included several pictures of the site and completed a Cemetery Survey Form. He has contacted the county engineer’s office for possible help in cleaning the cemetery and will inquire about the possibility of using labor from offenders who need to complete community service. Arlen states that he and his wife enjoy the manual labor and the self-satisfaction that each project brings. Many future genealogists and historians will benefit from the efforts of such dedicated preservationists.

Winneshiek

In e-mail messages from Kevin Lee dated May 16 and 23: The Winneshiek County Pioneer Cemetery Commission has recovered a grave marker from a ravine near Burr Oak. On Saturday, May 5th members of the Winneshiek County Pioneer Cemetery Commission met at the Roland Hansen farm to recover the Ellen Ryan gravestone and transported it to the Crossroads Cemetery. Crossroads Cemetery is a reclaimed and newly fenced cemetery in section 30 of Burr Oak Township. Ellen was 80 years old and her death date is illegible, but the date seems to be 1853. The marker is 6 ft. tall and weighs approximately 800 lbs. With Alan Breitsprecher, his tractor and volunteers Charlie Emory, Bob Brimacomb, Tony Meyer and Kevin Lee, the marker now lays in a secure Pioneer Cemetery. At a later date the marker will be erected onto a recovered base and gently cleaned. The marker has been displaced for an undefined period and the linage of Ellen is not known and the original burial site is unknown. Anyone with information about Ellen Ryan may contact a member of the Cemetery Commission at 563-382-6290.

A special Thank You goes out to Roland and Alan for their help in recovering this marker.

The Winneshiek County Pioneer Cemetery Commission was formed in 1997 and celebrates its 10 year in existence this year.

Commission members are appointed by the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors and are volunteers in service.

Kevin Lee (chairperson)

Bob Brimacomb (vice chair)

Lorraine Houck (treasurer)

Susan Jacobson (secretary)

Carlton Haugen (board member)

Vicky Harvey (board member)

Tony Meyer (board member)

Donna Eberling (board member)

Over the past 10 years, the Commission has performed preservation activities and maintained 13 Pioneer Cemeteries, fenced 7, and surveyed 5 Pioneer Cemeteries.

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