Jefferson County Online Mathew & Lucretia Spurlock burial

Location: Polk Township, at the northwest edge of Aaronsville (at the time of their deaths in 1856). These burials are located on private property on what once was the Spurlock farm.

Burial: ONLY two - Mathew and Lucretia SPURLOCK, both in 1856.

Condition: Nicely kept up.

Mowed: yes

Mathew and Lucretia SPURLOCK both died in 1856 and were buried on their home farm. At the time, it was at the northwest edge of Aaronsville, just southeast of Abingdon or 'Bogus' as the locals used to call it. The SPURLOCKs moved to Iowa from Illinois while Abingdon was still young, and Mathew was known to have counterfeited money while living in Illinois. It has been alleged, but never proven, that he also counterfeited money while living here, and such was the reason Abingdon had the 'Bogus' nickname.

Lucretia died June 16, 1856, and Mathew died September 13, 1856; neither grave has ever had a headstone. At their request a brick wall five feet tall was constructed around their graves and an apple tree was planted either on them or nearby. Since that time the brick wall has collapsed and subsequent owners of the farm have removed it. Most likely the apple tree is now gone also.

The photo below was taken and contributed for our use by Janet Mills. She spoke with one of the Nordyke sisters from Batavia who grew up in the house and remembered the brick wall, and visited with the current owner of the farm who pointed out the burial location. While nothing remains to identify the actual burials, this photo shows where the brick wall used to stand.