Iowa County Cemetery Stones and History 1844-1975 (manuscript) by Pauline Lillie

                    NILES & SPRAGE CEMETERY  (Iowa Twp.)              p. 1
                    
                    or Granny Sprague Graveyard.
                                                  by Pauline Lillie

Location
Section 3, Iowa 80 Township Range 9, on Hy. 6, and 149 west of Homestead

History
A grave alone- along the south side of the Rock Island Right-of-Way  
near Hy. 6 west of Homestead. Has White Fence and Small Stone. The  
story in part was given in Iowa County Vignette No. 13 under heading of  
"Little Grave South of the Railroad Tracks " researched and documented.
by Pauline Lillie

Early years it often was referred to as the "Granny Sprague Graveyard"  
After the railroad overlooked the moving of the grave they agreed to
see that it was maintained. The majority of markers were hardwood  
slabs sunk into earth at the head. Time passed wind and rain marred  
the crudely carved names and markers were displaced and slipped down  
from the graves and the years leveled. For they were not all financial-
ly able to buy stones. (Information from family members.)

It has been inferred that the other bodies were removed, and this one  
stone was overlooked. Am sure they never -for [sic] without stones, or slabs  
how could they locate: Probably railroad never cut into that part of  
cemetery. From information given by descendants researched of family  
and Iowa County Probate Records, would almost certainly establish that  
there was no body removal.

It seems odd that after Newell Wright (her father) died and was  
buried in Spicer Cemetery, that his wife Mary (her mother) who lived  
across the road would allow the railroad construction to continue and  
not see that her daughter was removed with the rest of them, unless  
they agreed to come back and remove. -

The stone reads;

Mary F. daughter of N.W. and Mary A. Wright       d. Aug. 19, 1854 ae 6 yrs  
                                                  9 months, 18 days

Her father Newell appears in the Spicer Cemetery listing- in Section -1-
Iowa Township.

Remarks
More of this area is given in the listing of the Spicer Cemetery and  
Brush Run; The Wright Family, and their problems, are in a long exten- 
sive manuscript; Which is not necessary to establish the history of this  
cemetery for the Bicentennial Project.

                              +++++++++++++++++++

Wright Lucian       :         unmarked grave; Off in pasture not far from this
                              the "Granny Sprauge Graveyard."     their cousin.


Researched by Pauline Lillie-Ladora.

          
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