Clark Cemetery - Also known as Henderson Cemetery or
Clark Graveyard
The last reading of this cemetery was done in May 1976
by the Wa-Da-Ta-Ka Camp Fire Girls

Transcribed by Judith Hutchison (rjhutch76@yahoo.com)

 

LAST NAME FIRST NAME BIRTH DATE DEATH DATE NOTES
Clark Roy August 18, 1889 Infant son of G.I & E.E.
Clark Jessie E. Sept 25, 1883 Infant dau of G.I. & E.E. 1 yr. 4 Mos 23 da
Combs Iva A. 1876 1877
Combs Ina M. 1876 1876
Combs Lillie Dale 1877 1877
Combs Leah M. (Dubois) April 18, 1819 March 17, 1913 Wife of John N. Combs
Combs J.N. April 28, 1864 46 Yrs., 5 Mos., 16 Das
Combs Ruth April 4, 1864 Dau. of J.N. & L. M. Combs
Larkin Melvina Emma Mar 26, 1871 Sept 25, 1872 Dau. of A.L. & C.A Larkin
Morrow Alice P. Oct. 14, 1882 Wife of S. Morrow - 20 yrs., 3 mos., 18 da.

 

The following is a brief history of the cemetery

as found out by the Camp Fire Girls in 1976
This small cemetery is located on the Otis Henderson farm in the S.W. 1/4 of Section
34 in Lake Townsip, Monona County, Iowa. It is a fenced area approximately 55' X 80'
and is a short distance west of the Henderson farm home. The area is on the south bank
of what I believe was at one time a small lake, perhaps a part of Badger Lake. There are
only 10 stones in the cemetery, two of them had fallen but were still in good condition
and there was one base with no sign of the stone that had stood on it.
We spoke to the owner of the property, Mr. Henderson, about the history of the cemetery.
He told us he did not know any of the people buried there or their families nor much about
the cemetery itself. He said no one ever comes to visit it. He stated that at one time several
years ago (pre 1976) an old couple from Nebraska used to come to the cemtery occasionally
and were the only visitors he had ever seen. They told him the cemetery used to be much larger
and extended way out south into an area which is currently a cultivated field. Mr. Henderson
said, however, that as long as he had farmed the land he had never seen any evidence
that the cemetery had ever been any larger than it presently is. He did not know whether
this couple actually knew that the cemetery had been larger at one time or whether
perhaps older members of their family had told them this. This couple no longer comes to
visit the cemetery and he presumed they are now decesased. He never learned their names.
The area that now comprises the farm yard and cemetery was at one time, according to
Mr. Henderson, a stopping place for people heading West. He pointed out the huge
trunk of an elm tree in his yard, which he said, lined up with cottonwood trees to the east;
this formed a landmark for which Westward bound travelers watched. They camped in this spot
while preparing to ford the Missouri River directly west of this spot. He speculated that perhaps
these families traveling West could have buried family or friends here while they waited to move
on and that those graves may not have been marked or that the markers were not permanent
and may have disappeared long before he took over the property.
Mr. Henderson keeps the weeds down in the cemetery and was interested in our project
when we explained it to him. He was very willing to give us all the information he could

about the cemetery.

 
Project completed by Fifth Grade Campfire Girls: Stacey Clark; Stephanie Reinke; Maria Samson;
Kryste Wiedenfeld; LuAnn Richardson.
Leaders: Judy Reinke and Diane Clark