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

                                                                      p.1
                    PLEASANT RIDGE CEMETERY
                                             York township 79 Range 9 
                                             Section 6. Located 3 miles 
                                             east & 2 north of Williamsburg 
                                             Copied 1st; 1962 by Pauline 
                                             Lillie- Recopied after the 
                                             research by L.A. & Alice Winborn 
                                             1974.

                                             NOT FOR L0AN

Researched and compiled history of cemetery and church of Pleasant 
Ridge Baptist in Section 6, Township 79, Range 9 York township in 
Iowa County, is credited to L.A. & Alice Winborn of Williamsburg 
who located trustee books, checked and rechecked plats, interview-
ed residents (relatives buried here.) Checked court (death,etc.) and 
historical records. Neglected and overgrown from 1940 until 1966 
when County bulldozed and cleaned up, overgrowth; Located south of 
Interstate 80- 1 mi, west of Hy. W 21- 2 mile. The York township 
trustees and Historical Society of Iowa County at a meeting on 
March 14, 1966 with descendants who incouraged re-establishing.A 
large marker stands in the cemetery now,- reads--

PLEASANT RIDGE 1871-1934. IN MEMORY OF THE PIONEERS WHO HAD THE 
COURAGE AND FAITH TO BUILD NEW HOMES ON THE UNBROKEN PRAIRIE: PLACED 
HERE IN THE BI CENTENNIAL YEARS OF 1975-1976

A condensed report which does not do justice to the 50 pages compil-
ed by the Winborns, but contains pertinent information is given here.

Iowa County History of 1881; During the months of July and August
of year 1866 the Rev. I.J. Wilkins and T. Wells held a Protestant 
Meeting every evening. This resulted in formation of Church Pleasant 
Ridge Baptist, organized December 1, 1866, and joined by 45 persons. 
History does not say where they worshiped before church was built in 
1869. Dedicated same year. Membership increased to 99 by 1875 after 
which time the replacement of Welch, Scotch and English in the commun-
ity by German Lutheran caused its rapid decline. The church was sold 
moved across the road, became part of a barn (information here by 
Carl Brockshus.)

Mr. Winborn thanks for assistance especially Martin Glandorf present 
York township trustee; Mr. Walter, present secretary and treasurer, 
and one of the surviving members of the past cemetery board, Mr. Tal-
bott.

Notes from Mr. Winborn- mentions this record is less than complete. 
If this cemetery contains about 30 burials in 1881 (Iowa County Hist-
ory 1881), and 27-30 or more are recorded since there there must be 
25 to 30 unrecorded graves. Possibly a large number of children 
from earlier years. This does not take into consideration removals 
form- or additions to- this number. Deaths in Iowa City, or Cedar 
Rapids, hospitals and are recorded in County Courthouses, elsewhere.


          continued on page 2


                              -484-

                    PLEASANT RIDGE CEMETERY                           p. 2


Deed for the land and Articles of Incorporation (1951) are re-
corded in Marengo, Iowa County Courthouse, but no official plat
of the original lots were found. Should one be found more postive 
data might be revealed. Statements by Walter Talbot and Walter 
Boyd, and others indicate that the old Baptist Church stood on
the portion of land just east of the present group of stone markers

The existing plat in the hand of Walter Boyd was prepared by Ralph 
(Doe) Chase years ago, likely with the help of older residents at 
a time when facts and memory were not so hard "to come by". This 
plat sets out Blocks one and four in which lots were sold. It grees 
with the original book, but the location (present) of stones and 
lots are not entirely in accord. Blocks two and three were never 
platted or sold. The south row of present stones are evidently in 
Block 4 which if interpreted correctly consisted of lots number -l-
to 96 starting with # 1- in the northeast corner (Hastings) running 
north and south continuously to the lot # 96 in the northwest corn-
er. There were evidently twelve rows of eight lots. Everything 
north of this row is in block one and another problem.

It would appear that block one was similarly numbered but this does
not come out right as near as I can make out. In 1962 or thereabouts 
the County Board of Supervisors and the Township Trustees of York Town-
ship found it necessary to replace the fence which were allowing cattle 
to roam among the graves at will. A bulldozer was brought in to re-
move underbrush which had grown into trees. Many of the stone markers 
had fallen out during the past 91 years, so were dug out of the under-
growth and dirt. These were piled to one side and later reset to the 
best of the trustees knowledge in their former position. Their pre-
sent location does not correspond to the records of the original lot 
sales in all cases.

The lack of the original plat, incomplete data, and neglect during
the depression years, which made the bulldozing necessary all contrib-
uted to some questionable records in block one. I find it impossible 
to reconcile all the members on these lots. It would seem from the 
total area that the lots were approximately 12 x 12 feet, but unless 
the sale of part of the block four area to the south took place, which 
was discussed in the meeting of August 2, 1919, this block is too narrow 
north and south. The Iowa County Historical Society will welcome any 
added data that may be offered on this cemetery.


continued on page 3


                              -485-

                    PLEASANT RIDGE CEMENTERY                          p.3 
                            continued


The material in the first column is the work of Mrs. Pauline Lillie 
of Ladora, Iowa who in 1962 at a time when some of the stones were 
Standing on the original foundation in underbrush and trees in Sect-
ion 6 York township. The second column is additional material secur-
ed in 1973 after the stones were reset by the trustees. Column three 
is data from the death records in the County Courthouse in Marengo. 
Column two and three are the work of L.A. & Alice Winborn:

(FOR THE BICENTENNIAL MICROFILMING AND RECORDS FOR ARCHIVES
it will be established that (COURT RECORDS APPEAR *) that
stones read in 1962 and when reset appear together) This elim-
inates for confusion of future reference use.)

Merritt   Mary J. wife of J.M. Merritt  b. March 18,1842 d. April 16,1877
Merritt   * daus. of Mathew and Rosanna
          * Anna R.                     b. Aug.21,1847   d.April 13,1863
          * Mary B                      b. Nov.9,1856    d.May 16,1866
          * Edna W                      b. July 29, 1859 d.Sept.24,1871

Pickard   Sarah wife of S.C. Pickard    b. Aug.17,1820   d.July 4, 1871

Pickard   * no name                     b. 1871          d. 1871

Price     Amanda M. wife of C.G.        b. Sept.16, 1843 d.Aug.15,1871

Price     Burr, son of Amanda & C.G. Price d.Aug.14, 1880 ae 1yr. 15.da
          Edith & Florence dau of Amanda & D.G. Infants

Grimm     Chas. H                       b. 1818          d. 1874

Grimm     Catherine                     b. 1827          d.Aug.21,1885

Nesmith   Dursslah dau of J.H.& S.T.    d.March 17,1871  ae 1yr.3mo.16 da

Wales     Thomas                        b.Feb.29,1832    d.July 10,1916
          Christiane his wife           b.Oct.26,1829    d.Mar.26, 1908
          (beautiful new stone)

McLennan  Donald M.                     d. Nov.26, 1913 
          (beautiful new stone)

Daniels   Judson A. son of A. L.        d.June 9,1873  ae 26yr.6mo.2da
                                              [36yr. penciled over 26yr. -sdw]
          Susie dau of H.B.             b.April 9,1881   d.Dec.10,1899 
          George W. Ree                 b. April 6,1821  d.Aug.8,1888 
          All these on one stone
          on lower edge is
Peet      George W.                     b.Dec.6, 1881    d.Aug.8,1888


                              -486-