LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA

CEMETERY RECORDS

Smith Cemetery
also known as Mormon Cemetery
Eliot Township


Twp. 73 North Range 2 West of 5th P.M., SW 1/4 SW 1/4, Section 28

Directions from Route 61, turn east on Highway 22 by Newport. Just past Elrick, the Smith Cemetery is located on private property of the Ball family farm, 8945 County Road Hwy 22.

It is high on the bluff. No one has been buried there for many years, many stones are lost or broken and weathering makes them difficult to read. It is thought that these were people of the Mormons who alter leaving Nauvoo, Illinois came here. Restored by Richard Lehart between 2001 and 2003, he installed a chain link fence around cemetery. An old cast iron fence surrounds some of the stones.

One story of interest was given to us by Valeen Ziegenhorne.

A Sarah Jane Ray of Sparta, Missouri wanted to marry Solon Peck who was not Mormon. Her father refused to let her marry him. So She, Sarah, met him with his horse and buggy and they raced to be married, followed by her father on horseback. Too late, the vows were over. The last name was changed from Rhea to Rae. Sarah Jane Peck died in October of 1901 in child birth and was buried in Smith Cemetery. Peck later was buried at Northfield. Their son was buried at Edwards Cemetery as John Harrison Peck, son of Solon and Sarah J. Rhea Peck.

Information sources: Cemeteries of Louisa County, Iowa, published in 1990, WPA records, and researcher personal records.

s/s : Shares stone n/d: No date p/o: Parent of
h/o: Husband of s/o: Son of c/o: Child of
w/o: Wife of d/o: Daughter of  

View Grave Stone Photos on Iowa Gravestone Photo Project.

Surname Given Name Birth Date Death Date Notes
Alsot Carrie   14 May 1898 d/o W. H. & M., aged 12yrs 5ms 14ds
Alsot Gay J.   4 Jul 1900 s/o W. H. & M., aged 6 ms 2 ds
Carl Elizabeth 1884 6 Jan 1873 w/o William M. Carl
Carl William M. 22 Dec 1882 15 Sep 1898 born in PA
Dawson Elizabeth   26 Jun 1852 her stone was found 1/2 mile down the road, at the Miller farm, laying in their yard
Dochterman Elitha A.   9 Nov 1865 d/o W. T. & L. A., aged 10ms 22ds
Hannan Elizabeth   27 Jan 1865 name also spelled Elisa Beth, aged 72yrs, w/o Thomas Hannan
Gebhart G. W.   18 Jul 1893 per obit Morning Sun Herald, July 20, 1893, abt 28 yrs, RR worker run over by train
Hannan Elizabeth   27 Jan 1865 name also spelled Elisa Beth, aged 72yrs, w/o Thomas Hannan
Hannan James   1858 s/o T. E. & F.
Hannan John E.   n/d s/o T. E. & F., aged 11yrs
Hannan Mary J.   18 Feb 1867 d/o H. W. & A., aged 9ms
Hannan Permilla   10 Mar 1879 w/o T. E. Hannan, aged 30yrs
Hannan Rachel   1856 d/o T. E. & P
Newell Robert   22 Apr 1866 aged 52yrs 10 ms 7ds
Newell Stephen   14 Aug 1845 aged 33yrs 4ms 8ds
Newell William   8 Feb 1855 s/o T. & S. J., aged 17ds
Peck Sarah Rea 1860 Oct 1901 w/o Solon Peck
Rea David   11 Dec 1880 aged 8yrs 11ms 26ds
Rea Lamar F.   25 Jun 1880 s/o J. & S. E., aged 22yrs
Rea Rebecca A.   30 Dec 1880 d/o J. & S. E., aged 2yrs
Rea Sarah   29 Jun 1878 w/o Joseph Rae, aged 42yrs
Smith Amanda   7 Jan 1855 d/o J. & B., aged 22ds
Smith Jacob   13 Apr 1841 s/o J. & B., aged 4hrs
Smith James H.   20 Sep 1869 aged 1yr 5ms 29ds
Smith Jesse   7 Sep 1846 s/o J. & B., aged 7ms 12ds
Smith Rachel   1 Oct 1848 d/o J. & B., aged 9ms
Smith Rachel   21 Apr 1851 w/o John Smith, born Shenandoah, VA, aged 35yrs
Smith Rebecca Ann Landis 5 Sep 1841 13 Dec 1857 w/o Levi Smith, married 25 Jun 1857
Smith Sarah   13 May 1857 d/o J. & R., aged 15yrs
Smith William   3 May 1853 s/o J. & M. aged 3yrs
Smith William H.   24 Apr 1860 s/o Wm. & C., aged 18yrs
Smith William S.   8 feb 1873 aged 52yrs

Page updated April 13, 2018

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Page created February 20, 2016 by Lynn McCleary