Jerman family graves
JERMAN, JARRETT, BILTO, GADWAUGH, DANIELS, FREDRICK, BYWATERS, YORK, ELLIS, SHINKLE
Posted By: S. Ferrall IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 10/25/2011 at 16:47:59
Something like 57 years ago, Peter Jerman, while digging a well on the land then owned by him in South Fork Township, two miles north of Maquoketa, now owned by A.J. York, was killed by the well caving in on him, when about 15 or 20 feet deep. Mrs. Jerman, who was a relative of the writer, told the neighbors afterwards that Mr. Jerman dreaded for some reason to go down in the well to work on that particular morning, but was anxious to complete the well and went down to work. The ground was very sandy and caved in. The alarm was given and the settlers gathered at the place and made heroic efforts to rescue the poor fellow alive, but were unable to do so. The tragedy created a great deal of excitment at the time. Mr. E.D. Shinkle, who is a resident of Maquoketa at this writing, was present at the funeral of Mr. Jerman, who was buried on his land about 200 ft from where he was killed, by the side of a little son who had preceded him.
About two years after Mr. Jerman's tragic death, his wife died and was buried by the side of the husband. The graves were fenced and the fence kept up for many years, but after a lapse of 40 or 50 years the land was sold and the sons moved away and the fence rotted down. The land where the graves were, was pastured and in time all marks that would have lead to the identity of the graves were obliterated, but in August, 1906, Joseph Jerman came back to visit relatives and take a look at the old place where he first saw the light in 1845 and learing the conditions of the grave of his parents and little brother, determined to try to recover their remains on the 23rd of August.
He repaired to the spot with proper tools for digging, and with the aid of some of his relatives discovered the graves and recovered the bones and ashes of the dead, finding the black walnut coffins still holding together, after a period of considerably more than half a century. The child was buried about 1847 or 1848, the father in 1849 and the mother in 1851 or 1852. Mr. Jerman deposited the remains in the Esgate cemetery and will have them suitably marked while here.
Peter Jerman was one of the earliest pioneers of Jackson county. His name appearing on the records as early as 1838. At the time of his death he had one of the best improved farms in the Forks of the Maquoketa. He was a French Canadian and came to this locality with a French colony, among whom was his brother Oliver Jerman, Henry Jarrett, Charles Bilto, Charles Gadwaugh, Aram Daniels, a Mr. Fredrick, Mr. Bywaters and others whose names have escaped my memory.
...by J.W. Ellis~Annals of Jackson county Iowa; Vol No 3, July--October 1906; published by the Jackson County Historical Society; pg 98
Germaine graves
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