Cemetery Histories

King Cemetery, Scott Township A cemetery in Section 24 of Scott Township was given by Isiah and Dulcenia Oglesbee, and James and Renah Kale on January 5, 1889.

McDonald-Chase Cemetery, Douglas Township The McDonald - Chase cemetery is located in Douglas township, about six miles northwest of Winterset. The original burial ground was given by Thomas McDonald in 1875. In the McDonald part the plot owners are Mrs. John Beem, V. A. (Vincent Arthur), Charles Ruth, George Ruth, H. N. Laizure, W. F. Leach, S. M. Cochlin, J. J. Earp, W. E. Griffith, W. R. McMichols, J. A. McDonald, F. Stephenson, E. R. Smith, J. L. Cobs, W. Reed, H. L. Kitchell, F. M. Bruse, R. F. McDonald and W. A. (Wm. Asa) Chace. Thomas McDonald, grandfather of Frank McDonald, who lives near the cemetery, gave a small patch of his land for use as a burial place. The first person buried in this small burial ground was a tiny baby of Mr. And Mrs. W. S. McDonald. The baby had been interred earlier in the family yard until this plot had been prepared in 1875. A rail fence enclosed this plot. Tommy McDonald, as he was called, again gave more land in connection with this small cemetery and the men of the neighborhood cleared the land and it was enclosed with a board fence, but in later years it was replaced with a steel fence. In his later years Tommy gave the deed to the following and appointed them to care for the cemetery as long as any of them lived: Marion Bruce and wife (Harriet M. Templeman); Bob McDonald and wife (Leah Catherine Ruth); W. S. (Wm. Scott) McDonald and wife (Barbara Ellen (Combs) and John Ruth and wife. John Ruth, one of the last survivors of the original group being responsible for the care of the cemetery, as long as any of them lived, appointed these men as directors: Frank McDonald; Lee Laizure; Vern Clark; Wallace McDonald and Lee Chace. The Chace addition was given by Mrs. W. A. Chace, through the expressed wish of her husband who died in 1920. At this time there were but seven plots left in the original cemetery. On record, in the Recorder’s office in Madison county is filed No. 3502, the plat of the McDonald – Chace cemetery, which was filed October 26, 1934, by Maggie Reese Hobbs, recorder. When this addition was given, there was a stipulation that this burial place could be a last resting place for any person, regardless of creed or color. Names of plot owners in the Chace addition are: J. Bruns; S. S. Adams; Lee Chace; Florence Clark; Fred Kuntz; Vern Clark; W. W. McDonald; M. E. McDonald; F. S. McDonald; Ella and Lilly McDonald. The first person buried in the new addition was Hubert Clark, a young boy who was accidentally shot and died of blood poisoning. The cemetery is still used and is well kept.

McGinnis/Mount View Cemetery The McGinnis or Mount View cemetery, is located one mile west of Patterson, Section 30 of Crawford township. The deed was recorded at the court house by George G. Worbington, July 21, 1857. Mrs. Bird A. Wiley, a member of the Madison County Antique Club, prepared an article about the cemetery. It seems that 100 years ago, in February, a four year old daughter of G. G. and M. J. Worbington died. There was no burial ground until Mr. McGinnis donated the land. One small grave stood alone until two years later when the family lost another child, aged one year. The earliest tombstone was for these two children and was dated February 4, 1856. The cemetery used to be on the south side of the road to Patterson, but when Highway 92 was built, the location of the road was moved north, so now to visit the cemetery, you turn onto a graveled road at the top of what is known as the Turkey Ranch Hill and follow it for a quarter mile. There you find the well kept burial ground with an abundance of native trees and shrubs. Three generations of some families are now buried there as McGinnis and Bird. Other family names well remembered are: Farris, Tisdale, Caskey, Stroud, Lehman, Catterlin, Patterson, Brown, Faux, Stout and Shaffer. The oldest man buried there is “Grampa Tisdale,” aged 99 years.

Montpelier Cemetery	One of the older cemeteries of the county is in Section 20 of Crawford township, about a mile northeast of Patterson. This cemetery was located on an old stage coach trail, and several were buried there when they became ill enroute west and there is no record of their burials. Maria B. and J. Wilkins were the first people buried in Montpelier according to the record on the tombstones, in 1858. The land was given to the township by Thomas W. and Hannah Pyers Folwell, and A. E. and Helen Yoman and was recorded at the court house April 2, 1885. Some of the others buried there in “early days” were Mary J. McLees in 1862, Alexander McMichael in 1879, Oliver Crawford in 1869, Sara Buckman in 1881, T. L. Buckman in 1883, Sara Ann Crawford in 1872. Other family plots include the Wilkins, Small, Stoebler, Kinnard, Freeborn, Martin, Crossley and Hardy families. The cemetery is still used and plans are now being made to put a rock road around it.

Neal Cemetery, Union Township One small family cemetery in Union township is that of a Neal family, who retained the land when it was sold to the Cunninghams. The farm in Section 24 is now owned by Peter Cunningham.

North Branch Cemetery Another old cemetery in Madison township is two miles east of Earlham, and one-half mile south, in Madison township. It is stated that it was originated by the Kenworthy family, on what was later known for many years as the Len Moore farm.

Payton Cemetery This cemetery was known as the Blue Ridge Cemetery for many years. It is in the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 5 of Jefferson Township. It was a public cemetery, first used in 1860, and contains 56 marked graves. Members of the following early settler families buried here include: Bunch, Fisher, Golden, Hester, Hughes, Jennings, Lee, Leonard, McKean, Mitchell, Rose, and Violet. The deed was filed at the Recorder's Office by Jacob Payton November 1st, 1879, to the trustees. In the early days there was a schoolhouse on the grounds which was also used as a church by the Methodists of the community. The cemetery is no longer in use.