MITCHELL COUNTY IAGENWEB

 

Mitchell County Pioneer Cemetery
Restoration Project
(MCPCRP)

1st Quarter 2004 Newsletter

By: Neal Du Shane

1/29/2004

This fall and winter has yielded many achievements for MCPCRP activities in Mitchell County. Plus gives MCPCRP an opportunity to plan and prepare for 2004 summer projects. "A rolling stone, gathers no . . ." well you know the phrase.

MCPCRP's GOAL

To provide DIGNITY, HONOR, and RESPECT by restoring and preserving our Mitchell County Pioneer heritage. It has been expressed that these cemeteries should remain in their natural state. Most are in a state of decay and in an absolute derelict condition. In a few short years all evidence will be completely destroyed leaving no trace of some. We need to clarify MCPCRP purpose, our goal is to IDENTIFY, RESTORE and PRESERVE any Pioneer Cemetery in Mitchell County.

As defined by the State of Iowa; a Pioneer Cemetery is one with less than six burials in the past 50 years. Mitchell County has in excess of approximately 38 Pioneer Cemeteries, 60.32% of the known cemeteries are classified as Pioneer. Some are being maintained by individuals and/or the Township. 13 are in dire need of restoration, preservation and maintenance. Plagued by vandalism, ravages of time, decay and neglect, our historic pioneer burial sites are being destroyed.

Becoming a Mitchell County Pioneer Cemetery Restoration Project Booster you can do something to assist in the restoration of these cemeteries and the history they represent of our Mitchell County pioneer founders.

MONA CEMETERY

Plans for spring 2004 rededication with plans to restore the Mona Cemetery project were outlined by MCPCRP Coordinators and Otranto Township Trustee, Loren Meyer. This project had a set back with the person that volunteered to mow the cemetery last summer, moved out of the area and before MCPCRP was notified, the summer passed and the weeds once again control the ground.

This situation identifies the need to hire people to maintain our completed projects via private donations or local Township funding. Too much effort and pride has been put into our projects to allow them to go back to a derelict condition. We look forward to getting this project underway once again and hopefully will near completion this summer.

When we first discussed support from the Otranto Twp Trustees, Loren Meyer volunteered $500 per year for 3 years or material and labor of equal value. It is hoped that some of this financial support can be used to hire mowing and trimming but the Township Trustees during the summer months to keep this project from falling back into a decaying condition once again.

Through research at the Court House, at one time there was two Lutheran Churches in Mona. As hard as it is to believe for a town this size (even in its hay days) only one Church survives today.

Was the Mona Cemetery a city cemetery, or was it the cemetery of the other Lutheran Church? Would one Lutheran Church have been consolidated into the existing church? Should we be talking to the existing Lutheran Church Pastor to determine their support to maintain the Mona cemetery? Anyone have any input or answers to these questions?

CHERY MULLENBACH

Notified us she is working with friends in St. Ansger in hopes of getting volunteer assistance for some of the MCPCRP projects.

RANDY PISCHEL

Randy notified us he and his family are willing to assist with the mowing and general maintenance of one of our MCPCRP projects. Obviously Dudley or Mona is the top projects that are in the process of restoration and will be in need of maintenance this summer. I've asked Randy to drive to the sites and review their needs then let us know which one he would like to volunteer to assist with.

DUDLEY CEMETERY (316th & Hickory)

Coordinators report that fall provided temperatures that eliminated mosquitoes and work continued at this cemetery. Years of brush had grown in this location, to the point it was extremely difficult to find the three headstones. Brush burning and removal continues to clear the cemetery.

During the restoration process another headstone was dug up which was located under a tree root. It was found by probing the area with a steal rod. It is reported considerable digging had to be done to retrieve it.

We are continuing to compile historical information on this site with information provided by Monica Lonergan of Austin, MN as well as Jody Staff who resides near this historic site. Recently we inquired at the Court House hoping to find a plot plan of the cemetery but were unable to find one. We have been told there was one, at one time, but we have been unable to find the source to retrieve it. If you find any information on this cemetery, please let us know.

Research has identified eight names of people believe to be buried there plus we have found 4 headstones, 3 on site, one had been removed by a relative for preservation purposes.

Jody Staff reports that a cement base will be poured this spring to allow the first Pioneer Cemetery Identification Monument to be placed. It's reported that support from friends and neighbor's is high. People are stopping at the project and giving verbal support to MCPCRP goals (if only they had a lawn mower and weed trimmer).

MCPCRP CEMETERY MONUMENT(S)

Dale Hemingson of Des Moines has been working to develop a mold with changeable letters, in which to pour the cement, allowing us to build our own cement monuments to identify our Pioneer Cemetery Projects.

In December Neal Du Shane and Dale met in Ames and Dale gave us the first mold. Dale's concept is to reuse these molds and simply change the cemetery name and date on each monument. Dale has spent many hours developing this DIY mold concept and is gratefully acknowledged for his support to MCPCRP.

On the return trip to Osage Neal stopped at the palatial estate (dubbed "The Work Shop") of Steve Ham. Steve volunteered to head up the pouring project due to his vast knowledge working with cement. At this printing no information is forth coming other than one pour (Dudley Monument) has been completed and the monument weighs about 1,100 lbs.

Coordinators report they are in hopes of placing, the very first of its kind, monument this spring. More to follow, along with pictures, of this historic event.

"SMITH FAMILY CEMETERY" - Previously identified as the"Iron Spring Cemetery."

With historical information provided by Kathy Pike of Austin, MN this cemeteries identification has been changed to the "Smith Family Cemetery". We have researched this cemetery and have never found any reference as to being recorded or an official name. It's likely it was a family cemetery and it never had an official name nor was it ever recorded at the court house.

The current property owner reports that years ago someone dowsed the field. It's believed there are three people buried at this site, the dowsing yielded two adults and one child (Edith). Edith Smith is the only person that we have been able to identify via the headstone that is in the general area of the graves.

Edith Smiths headstone was removed from the field years ago, where it's believed the graves are located. When we first started the MCPCRP, Edith's headstone leaned against a well house in the yard out of sight of all except those that knew it was there. The property owner has created a flower bed in their front yard and located the headstone there for display purposes.

Larry and Marlene Kershner report, with the assistance of the property owner and Kathy Pike plus anyone else that wants to volunteer, they hope to identify the exact burial plots and put up some type of small identification/fence around the graves. At that time, hopefully relocate Edith Smiths headstone to its rightful location. Contact Larry or Marlene for exact dates and times for this project.

A complete history of what has been compiled to date on this site is posted on the internet.

The Kershner's update: Marlene and I want to get Kathy P. and Murray Kloberdanz together for a talk about the Smith family history and how that relates to the land Murray's family owns; then discuss options for a commemorative sign and re-erecting the existing marker near the graves.

OSCAR PETERSON CEMETERY

Larry Kershner writes:

I don't know. Last fall I talked to the landowner and mentioned the cemetery and he said he was too busy at the time to talk about it. So this spring I will endeavor to broach the subject again. Without his cooperation, there is little which can be accomplished. We are also at a loss as to how to document, once and for all, that the cemetery was on his land, or if it was elsewhere in the section. He believes the previous landowner that the stones were tossed onto his land one night. Our earlier discussions about the dousing indicating the graves means nothing to him. He wants documentation.

I'm hoping that he will at least:

--1. Let us have the stones for storage for a future restoration project in event he sells the land; or

--2. Let us fence off a 6-by-6-foot square in his windbreak, open to the road, with a plaque stating that somewhere in that area was the O.P Cemetery.

We have no other plans, except to join other restoration efforts as they are scheduled. We still hope to see Mona fully restored with a caretaker someday.

 

BOOSTER MEMBERSHIP

Providing DIGNITY, RESPECT and HONOR of our Mitchell County Heritage

Visit our web site at - http://iagenweb.org/mitchell/mcpcrp/crpindex.htm

As defined by the State of Iowa; a Pioneer Cemetery is one with less than six burials in the past 50 years. Mitchell County has in excess of approximately 38 pioneer cemeteries, 60.32% of the known cemeteries are classified as Pioneer. Most are in dire need of restoration, preservation and maintenance. Plagued by vandalism, ravages of time, decay and neglect, our historic pioneer burial sites are being destroyed. Becoming a Mitchell County Pioneer Cemetery Restoration Project Booster you can do something to assist in the restoration of these cemeteries and the history they represent of our Mitchell County pioneer founders.

 

MCPCRP - BOOSTER - ANNUAL DONATION

$10.00 Individual
$5.00 Family member of Individual member (per member)
$20.00 Business/Club/Association/Group

 

In an attempt to create cash flow for MCPCRP expenses a Booster Member Program was instituted in January 2004. All Coordinators of MCPCRP received copies of this application to hand out to generate financial support. In addition the MCPCRP web site has a copy of the application and has been installed for anyone that visits our web page. They can become a member and they can print the application as well as send a donation.

Any person sending a donation, their name will appear on the web page as a current year (2004) MCPCRP Booster Member. So far we have received much interest and several donations. Don't forget to keep promoting this Booster Membership program and handing out those Booster Member Applications as many people can't physically assist in our activities.

Vivian Du Shane is the top (aaaahhhhmmm - ONLY) recruiter at this writing. Know this will not last as you get to your friends and business associates recruited.

MCPCRP PRESENTATIONS - March 13th, 4 PM, American Legion, St. Ansgar.

Larry Kershner reports that with the assistance of several MCPCRP Coordinators they will be giving a presentation on our Pioneer Cemetery efforts in St Ansgar at the American Legion Post on March 13th at 4 PM. If you would like to participate or attend this presentation, contact Larry Kershner for full details. Good luck recruiting Booster Memberships.

Cheryl Jahnel reports that as President, she has invited MCPCRP to give the Power Point presentation at the Kiwanis Club in Riceville. Person giving the presentation as well as dates and time will be forthcoming. Contact Cheryl for details. Good luck recruiting the MCPCRP Booster Memberships there also.

It's obvious the more exposure we get the more support we will garner. Thanks to all of you for continuing to get us this exposure

SECOND ANNUAL - MCPCRP SPRING CLEANUP WEEKEND - MAY 1ST

"If you don't set goals, you will never achieve your goals" . . .

May 1st and/or May 8th, 2004 has been designated as the publication date/s for Community support and assistance to help MCPCRP clean-up these Pioneer Cemeteries.

  • Larry Kershner will be supporting this effort through publicity and presentations.
  • Loren Meyer will be the Project Coordinator for Mona Cemetery
  • Larry Fox for Dudley Cemetery
  • Steve Ham for Lohr Cemetery
  • Marlene Kershner for The Smith Family Cemetery
  • Cheryl Jahnel for Holbrook Corner/Nelson Cemetery.

VOLUNTEER NEEDED for Union Valley Cemetery

Participants - volunteers should provide, baggies, rakes, shovels, looping shears, chain saws, skid loader, cloth straps (for lifting headstones with skid loader), dimensional lumber suitable to pry headstones, paper, pencils, chalk, spray water bottles. Contact any of the Coordinators if you wish to volunteer your support to any of these projects.

UNION VALLEY CEMETERY: (South West of Orchard, IA) MCPCRP Volunteers Needed

Parking your vehicle at the dead end of 319th west of Orchard andwalking the fence lines south to this location. It's approximately a half mile walk (one way). The fence line jogs south, then west, then south, then east, then south . . . dizzy yet? J As you walk, you will discover a road that may have been used as a stagecoach road from Orchard to the Ghost Town of Watertown. It is currently used as a pasture road by the property owner. The road drops down from the upper hill to the fields in the river bottom and is approximately 400' north of the lone headstone of George Moore who passed away in 1863.

After research and historical writing's this cemetery once occupied one acre. With the exception of this lone headstone of George Moore, nothing is identifiable any longer. Mitchell County History books have written that at one time 20 or more headstones were visible and a stone/marble alter/mantle was also visible.

Dave Brunner of Osage has indicated he knows where the mantle for the cemetery is located, as he has a deer stand there, but at this point I have been unable to find it after four trips to this site.

We have talked with the existing property owner Harry Nolt and he is agreeable, giving us permission to cross his land and install a fence around the George Moore headstone to help preserve this single citadel for evidence a cemetery ever existed in this location. If the lone headstone is destroyed, absolutely no evidence will remain of this cemeteries existence, only references in history books.

MCPCRP's goal is to provide DIGNITY, HONOR, and RESPECT by restoring and preserving our Mitchell County Pioneer heritage. It has been expressed that these cemeteries should remain in their natural state. Most of their natural state is of decay and in an absolute derelict condition. In a few short years all evidence will be completely destroyed leaving no trace of a few of these if we don't restore/preserve them. We need to clarify MCPCRP purpose, our goal is to IDENTIFY, RESTORE and PRESERVE any Pioneer Cemetery in Mitchell County.

We need someone to talk with Harry Nolt the current property owner again and schedule putting up a snow fence or some other type fence around this headstone to try and preserve it?

Research will need to be done in the general area with Dave Brunner probing to try and identify other possible headstone that may have toppled. There is no record that anyone was exhumed from this cemetery and relocated, other than Mr. Orchard which now resides in the Orchard Cemetery near this cemetery. Assistance is desperately needed on this project.

EDEN CEMETERY - Update

Marilyn O'Connor reports that contact has been made with Ken Brandau a member of the Eden Church Board. They in the process of meeting and will be providing us their records to enter on our spreadsheet, to post on the internet. If not, we will have to spend time at the cemetery recording the information off the headstones (the hard way). One more accomplished and posted for genealogical information on the internet ? ? ?

LOHR CEMETERY - Update

Steve Ham reports that he and Bob Hollatz have put the finishing touches on this cemetery. The latest restoration was putting up a fence around the burial site. Other than putting up some flowers in the spring the physical restoration is complete on this Pioneer Cemetery.

We are still scratching our heads trying to find ANYTHING out about this pioneer cemetery. Other than knowing it resides on the Lohr family farm, and we have probed and found approximately 17 burials, that's it.

When we were back this past December I spent the afternoon at the Floyd County Court House in Charles City in hopes that before Mitchell County took 3 miles off the north end of Floyd County that they might have had some records of this site.

According to employees, the Floyd County Court House burnt and all records were destroyed in the 1890's. Nothing remains of records before this date.

Had an opportunity to visit the Floyd County Historical Society in the old Salzbury (Sp?) Laboratory Building and had an interesting conversation with them but yielded no information on the old Lohr Cemetery or historical records. If anyone has ANYTHING on this burial site we are in need of information.

 

LIBERTY CEMETERY - Volunteers needed

We are still in need of volunteers to record the information at the Liberty Cemetery at Little Cedar. About half the information (names with lots/plots) has been recorded and is posted on the internet but we need birth/death dates off the actual headstones as no record was kept by the cemetery caretakers. This information is on a Microsoft Excel data base that I can provide you if you wish to head up or assist with this project. Please contact Marilyn O'Connor if you are interested.

 

MITCHELL COUNTY ASSISTANCE UNTAPPED

We realize these projects are labor intensive and time consuming. Often it's easier to "do it yourself" or just run out to do some work for the afternoon.

When we started MCPCRP two years ago, we met with numerous groups, recruiting their assistance for MCPCRP Coordinators and projects. To date these volunteers report they have not received a call for assistance from any of the MCPCRP staff. It's a shame not to use assistance from volunteers when they want to help by getting involved with our excellent cause. Assistance is there for the asking . . . Know you are good . . . BUT . . . ;-)

Let's make it MCPCRP's goal to get the citizens of Mitchell County involved in 2004 . . . this assistance is there for the asking.

 

MITCHELL COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:

With the assistance of Cheryl Jahnel, we have worked out a $500 "in-kind" support program from the B.O.S. We have had our first reimbursement from them for materials purchase for the monument at Dudley. The way their support works - if we spend two dollars they will reimburse us one dollar. The catch is we need to have a positive balance to pay the individual for their pre-approved expenditures. It's simply "matching funds" up to $500. As of the end of January we have a balance of approximately $235. We need more income to be able to equalize their matching funding and take advantage of their generosity and support.

 

MCPCRP POWER POINT PRESENTATION

There is a new MCPCRP Power Point Presentation on the MCPCRP home page for you're to download and use. From time to time as our situation gains momentum we update this presentation to keep current with the happenings within MCPCRP. By the way you need Microsoft Power Point to run this program once downloaded.

 

PARTING THOUGHTS:

After reading my newsletters, Larry Kershner has been known to scream to Marlene, "pass me a loaded revolver".

Have a great winter . . . spring is just a few weeks away . . . well maybe months where you live?

Thanks for your support and assistance past and future. Without you, this project would not be taking place. We have a long way to go . . . but look what has been accomplished in two years.

You're absolutely the best volunteer team I've had the pleasure of working for. Thanks for all your time, financial contributions and outstanding achievements, lets continue to preserve our Mitchell County Heritage, your exceptional efforts are starting to bear fruit.

 


Neal Du Shane

1224 Canvasback Court
Fort Collins, CO 80525-8835
1-970-223-5156 Office
1-970-223-9742 Fax
1-970-227-3512 Cellular (Best # during the day)

n.j.dushane@comcast.net