"The three acres of land for the Center Friends Church and burial ground fwas given by Henry Hammer and his wife Hannah. The tract of land was deeded in 1855 to the care of the Trustees of Spring Creek Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends and their successors in office...Mahaska County...State of Iowa for the use of the Friends of Center Preparative Meeting for a meeting hourse and burying ground. The original deed is kept in the vault of Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends, Oskaloosa, Iowa; however it was recorded on 11 January 1856 and filed in Book six, page 232 in the Jasper County Recorder's Office.
"A Quit Claim Deed was found in Book 155, Page 256....Executed on the 23rd day of November, 1887 from Oskaloosa Monthly Meeting to Levi Roberts, Samuel Beals and S. S. Gidley, Trustees of Centre Monthly Meeting of Friends of jasper County, in conveyance all their interest......in the original burial ground given.
"The settlement's original name was Hammer's Grove. The land given by Henry Hammer was for a burial ground and a church. The first church was built of logs and is depicted here in a sketch by Leona Hammer Jones. Center Friends church celebrated their centennial anniversary in August of 1948.
"The cemetery contains one and one half acres and is located in section 20 Kellogg Township, Jasper County, Iowa. It lies North and East of the church, completely fenced with an entrance on the South.
"One of the earliest stones dated 18 April 1855, marks the grave of Elisha Booth, infant son of Jackson and Polly Ann Hammer Booth. All of the early interments are located in the 'Old Section' of the cemetery on the west side. This section is not platted in lots and the bodies were buried where spaces were available. There are approximately 121 identified and several unknown graves.
"The East section was platted, alleys laid out and lots numbered. Each lot has burial space for eight. The original burial register was destroyed in a fire, but has been reconstructed by church members and the Jasper County Cemetery Commission.
"The cemetery is well maintained and has a memorial fund to receive contributions for the perpetual care of the grounds. The cemetery is controlled by a committee under the Trustees of the Centre Friends Monthly Meeting and elected by the members of the Center Friends Church."
Source: Jasper County, Iowa Cemeteries: Rock Creek and Kellogg Township (Except Silent City), compiled by Jasper County Genealogical Society; published by the Iowa Genealogical Society. Copyright 1994. Used with their permission.
To purchase a copy of this book, contact the Iowa Genealogical Society.
|
Bentley Infant Eychaner, Mrs. Will (Gotschall) |
Hammer, Thomp Hammer, Edwin Hammer, Hannah (Mills) Hinshaw, C. W. |
Janeway, Lillian Janeway, William |
 |
To inquire about volunteering for the IAGenWeb Project enter here and Join Our Team! |  |
Server space for the IAGenWeb Project site is provided by the Friends of Iowa Gen Web |