Hickory Grove Cemetery
Also known as Covenator, Chisholm or Cemetery of the Pyramids
Hickory Grove Cemetery, located in section 29 of Pleasant Township, Monroe County, is widely known n the area because it is the location of three large stone pyramids constructed by a resident of the area. One of the pyramids was intended to be a tomb. The story behind these nique features, not actually within the cemetery, but adjacent to it with no fence between, has been provided by Helen Mathias:
“After reading more than 2,000 books, Axel Peterson, past 70 and the publisher since 1913 of a miniature paper called “Boomer” began to realize his dream of building three pyramids in the Chisholm (better known as Hickory Grove or Convenator) Cemetery northwest of Avery during 1939.”
“One of his books told the story of the ancient pyramids in Egypt and contained diagramed details of their construction. If there were pyramids in Egypt, Axel thought, he could build them here as well.”
“Peterson’s neighbors built the pyramids of native sandstone and cement. The largest of the three contains a crypt where Peterson planned for himself and a friend from Minnesota, Heymooler, to be entombed.
“An upside-down iron bed of a dump truck was used for the roof and upper side walls of the crypt. Concrete benches and a table were planned so that Peterson and Heymooler might be encased in cement and seated facing each other. These plans were never realized, however, and Axel was buried in the Cuba Cemetery east of Avery instead.
“Today, the pyramids stand as strange symbols to Axel Peterson’s faith. They attract many sight-seers as well as providing a place for young people to gather.”
Surname | Given_Name | Birth_Date | Death_Date | Notes | Age_on_Gravestone |
Douglass | Birtie A | Oct 30 1886 | Son Of A And J | 5y 9m 13d | |
Douglass | Archie | 1853 | 1931 | ||
Douglass | Jane R | 1849 | 1925 | ||
Douglass | Will M. | Mar 26 1902 | Husband of Grace | 24yr 6m 7d | |
Winans | Charles | Sep 19 1874 | Son Of H E And O E | 16d | |
Demoss | Jesse | Nov 25 1883 | Aug 10 1909 | Son Of A And L A | |
Scully | Bertha E | 1926 | 1926 | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |
Scully | Mitchell W | 1948 | 1948 | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |
Kellogg | Shirley Ann | 1947 | 1947 | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |
Crutchelow | Almira | Mar 24 1859 | Nov 3 1901 | Wife Of J O | |
Deaver | Anna E | July 12 1859 | Apr 6 1902 | Wife Of J O | |
Deaver | Frederick H | Aug 10 1880 | Dec 27 1912 | ||
Deaver | Bessie M | Apr 10 1883 | July 4 1911 | ||
Infant | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | ||||
Dean | Mrs. William | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |||
Dean | Mr. | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |||
Holt | George W | Apr 11 1831 | Mar 22 1909 | Co K 3rd Ia Cav Civil War | |
Barker | Mrs. | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |||
Fogler | Infant | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |||
Cox | daughter | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |||
Cox | Infant | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |||
Cox | Infant | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |||
Ferris | Margaret A | Mar 25 1876 | Jun 14 1914 | Wife Of S | |
Ferris | Stephen | Mar 9 1870 | Apr 23 1935 | ||
Williams | R R | Aug 13 1858 | Dec 26 1943 | ||
Williams | Mary Ann | Apr 1 1868 | Apr 13 1916 | ||
Sylvester | Charlene Y | 1925 | 1925 | ||
Pauley | Infant | 1895 | 1895 | ||
Pauley | Rosa E | 1868 | 1920 | ||
Pauley | James A | 1861 | 1943 | ||
Kistner | William | Apr 17 1842 | Mar 25 1917 | ||
Kistner | Charlotte | Jun 21 1845 | Feb 12 1918 | ||
Kistner | Lena | May 21 1900 | Dau Of W And C | 26y 9m 4d | |
Smith | Sarah A | Oct 2 1831 | Aug 21 1910 | ||
Smith | John | Nov 18 1833 | July 30 1911 | ||
Smith | Harry | 1870 | 1944 | ||
Evans | Vernie Henry | May 1 1911 | Apr 26 1916 | 4y 11m 26d | |
Thompson | Jeannette | Feb 19 1869 | Nov 20 1946 | ||
Thompson | Robert A | Feb 1 1863 | July 10 1938 | ||
Thompson | William J | 1905 | 1974 | ||
Sinks | William | Nov 8 1869 | Jan 20 1917 | ||
Prince | Nancy A | Apr 24 1851 | May 29 1909 | ||
Underwood | James | 1871 | 1916 | ||
Ferris | Bertie | Feb 9 1900 | Feb 7 1901 | Son Of S And M | |
Underwood | Forrest E | 1902 | 1982 | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |
JHS | |||||
Robnett | George William | Nov 14 1901 | Feb 20 1902 | Son Of George F And I | |
Robnett | George W | Aug 2 1846 | Apr 26 1891 | Co I 43rd Reg Mo Infantry Civil War | |
Demoss | George A | Oct 15 1891 | Son Of A And L A | 4y 9m 14d | |
Kistner | Chris | Oct 23 1891 | Son Of W And L | 2y 8m 15d | |
Pike | Daniel F. | 1839 | Dec 23 1886 | 47y 10m 25d | |
Ridley | Georgie A | Oct 211886 | Son Of H B And A | 1y 2m 11d | |
Ridley | Mrs. | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |||
Ridley | William | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |||
King | Rosella A | 1864 | 1943 | ||
King | William A | 1849 | 1898 | ||
King | Cora A. | Nov 11 1888 | Dau Of W A And R A | 5y 5m 27d | |
Evans | Rena | Jan 11 1892 | Dau Of Thomas L And S Evans | 13m | |
Roberts | Robert | July 26 1857 | Mar 7 1894 | ||
Davis | |||||
Davis | Davie B | Aug 31 1895 | Son Of D W And G | 4y 4m 1d | |
Surbuer | Charley N | Jun 18 1899 | Son Of A L And C B | 9m 16d | |
Thomas | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | ||||
Burlingame | David A | 1876 | 1879 | ||
Burlingame | Lewis H | 1889 | 1967 | ||
Burlingame | George | Oct 5 1814 | Sep 10 1885 | ||
Smith | Cora | May 20 1899 | Dau Of W D And L T | 10m 25d | |
Ryun | Eral | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |||
Ryun | Infant | Child of Earl - Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |||
Forsyth | Orville P | Sep 22 1884 | Son Of E And S A Son Of Erastus And Sarah Forsyth | 1y | |
Duffee | Lillie Mae | Feb 7 1896 | Oct 25 1906 | Dau Of J C And M E | |
Duffy | Infant | Dec 6 1916 | Son Of T And J | ||
Franklin | Cathrine | 1855 | 1888 | ||
Morgan | Della L. | Oct 28 1879 | Aug 16 1880 | Dau Of G And E | |
Morgan | Libby | Mar 23 1878 | Apr 16 1880 | Dau Of G And E | |
Morgan | Elizabeth | Mar 22 1850 | Dec 8 1917 | ||
Morgan | George | Aug 8 1850 | Apr 6 1910 | Dau Of G And E | |
Demoss | Bessie May | Oct 10 1888 | Dau Of T V And Z | 1y 10m 21d | |
Lessenger | Perry L | Aug 3 1900 | Oct 13 1902 | Son Of F E And Minnie M | |
Lessenger | Glen James | 1921 | 22d | ||
Farrell | Gracie V. | Aug 10 1886 | Dau Of J A And L | 1y 9m 5d | |
Coffman | Martha | May 7 1830 | Apr 10 1919 | ||
Gailey | James R | Co F 67th Regt Penn Vol Civil War | |||
Gailey | Lydia | 1836 | 1921 | ||
Holt | Nancy E | Jun 27 1891 | Wife Of G W | 21y 6m 19d | |
Deskin | Lydia Naomi | Sep 15 1871 | Jun 15 1901 | Wife Of C W | 29y 9m |
Mccrae | Margaret | May 26 1897 | Feb 7 1899 | Dau Of C And L | |
Steele | Maggie | Jun 12 1895 | Wife Of Robert | 22y 11m 25d | |
Best | John | May 23 1890 | Son Of W J And M A | 20y 11m 17d | |
Haddon | Aline E | 1911 | 1911 | Dau Of A And E | |
Haddon | Bryan | Aug 2 1899 | Son Of J And E | 2y 9m 23d | |
Haddon | Charlie | Dec 5 1891 | son of A. J. & E. | 1y 10m 17d | |
Pettit | Artemissa | Apr 24 1841 | Jan 6 1908 | Wife of T. J. | |
Pettit | Thomas J | May 22 1837 | Feb 121895 | 57y 8m 20d | |
Harnden | Emily E | Apr 25 1888 | Dau Of N E And M A | 4y 11m | |
Unknown | Sep 20 1884 | top of stone missing | 10y 11m 13d | ||
Harris | Daisy | Aug 12 1884 | Dau Of J L And S L | 6y 6m 21d | |
Riley | Freddie | Mar 14 1882 | Son Of A J And M A | 3y 3m 15d | |
Lessenger | James Cash | Jan 13 1884 | Civil War Vet | 33y 10m 2d | |
Lessenger | Julia Pauley | Feb 7 1853 | Dec 5 1929 | ||
Pauley | Solomon P | Aug 20 1816 | Oct 30 1892 | ||
Pauley | America I | Dec 10 1832 | Nov 22 1916 | ||
Cooper | Charlie E | Oct 6 1879 | Sep 2 1884 | Son Of E J And C A | |
Cooper | E J | Apr 7 1849 | May 12 1913 | ||
Bath | Lottie A | Dec 5 1884 | Children Of G And E E | 5y 10m 12d | |
Bath | Harry L | Dec 12 1884 | 3y 1d | ||
Hicks | Aaron | 1816 | Nov 26 1884 | Hus Of E A Born Perry Co Pa In 1816 Came To Iowa 1848 | 68y 3m 18d |
Hicks | Elizabeth A. | Mar 8 1897 | Wife Of A | 71y 1m | |
Pettit | Ollie | 1864 | 1904 | ||
Pettit | Daisy | 1875 | 1924 | ||
Kilpatrick | Samuel | Jan 15 1833 | Feb 6 1905 | ||
Kilpatrick | Elizabeth | Mar 8 1819 | Jan 23 1893 | ||
Kilpatrick | George | Sep 14 1869 | Apr 14 1900 | ||
Kilpatrick | Arthur | Nov 17 1860 | Aug 24 1894 | ||
Forsythe | Martha A | Sep 19 1884 | Dau Of George And Jane | 25y 8m 7d | |
Forsythe | Jane | Jun 11 1829 | Jan 3 1915 | Wife Of George | |
Forsythe | George | Mar 18 1826 | Nov 21 1908 | 82y 8m | |
Wiswall | Mary J | 1838 | 1883 | Wife Of Henry | |
Forsythe | Infant | July 16 1901 | July 23 1901 | Son Of J A And R M (Family-Record Has Francis Forsythe Son Of John A And Rosa M Harvey Forsythe) | |
Maxwell | Mary Howard | Oct 20 1881 | Wife Of M | 70y 2m 29d | |
Nichol | T | May 11 1875 | 69y | ||
Nichol | Stella M | Mar 24 1882 | Dau Of D G And A | 10y 6m 19d | |
Nichol | Infant | Jun 20 1878 | son of D.C. & A. | 5d | |
Nichol | Agnes | May 8 1849 | Feb 2 1917 | His Wife | |
Nichol | David | Feb 17 1843 | Sep 12 1921 | Co G 174 Ohia Inf Civi1 War | |
Huston | Sarah | Aug 281906 | Wife Of William | 82y 6m 18d | |
Huston | William | Jan 27 1906 | Husband Of Sarah | 88y 4m 5d | |
Calhoun | David B | 1819 | 1894 | ||
Calhoun | Margaret B | 1820 | 1916 | ||
French | Sarah A | Feb 1818 | Mar 7 1888 | ||
French | George M | Aug 13 1816 | Dec 8 1901 | ||
Long | Mammie | May 18 1888 | Dau Of J G And S | 9d | |
Sinclair | Mary | Dec 14 1885 | Wife Of John | 70y 10m | |
Sinclair | John | Feb 4 1896 | 80y 9m | ||
Holt | William A | July 3 1866 | Oct 24 1906 | ||
Holt | Frank S | Nov 27 1854 | Nov 6 1901 | ||
Mcmillan | Mary | Oct 12 1891 | Wife Of F W | 38y 6m 10d | |
Allen | Marjorie | Sep 7 1899 | May 11 1900 | Dau Of W S And Nettie | |
Allen | Jennett | 1860 | 1925 | ||
Allen | William | 1862 | 1933 | ||
Chisholm | Infant | Mar 24 1885 | Mar 24 1885 | Son Of A And Ke | |
Chisholm | Alex | Sep 21 1853 | Aug 7 1897 | ||
Chisholm | Infant | Son Of A And Ke | |||
Squire | Nancy H | 1860 | 1932 | ||
Squire | Marathan H | 1854 | 1931 | ||
Squire | Doris | 1900 | 1971 | Daughter of Nancy | |
Hawthorn | Hugh | 1823 | 1926 | Born Ireland Died Bradyville Iowa | |
Hawthorn | Sarah Hunter | 1826 | 1911 | Born Ireland Died Albia Iowa | |
Hawthorne | Samuel G | Jun 24 1889 | Husband Of M G | 24y 4m 4d | |
Bloomfield | Mable | Feb 1 1889 | Dau Of C N And H J | 8y 8m 2d | |
Bloomfield | Ernie | Feb 8 1889 | Son Of C N And H J | 4y 11m 13d | |
Nelson | Joseph C | Aug 1 1875 | Son Of J L And M J | 2y 1m 4d | |
Burrell | Sarah | 1844 | 1882 | ||
Burrell | Frank | 1837 | 1938 | ||
Thomas | Earnest | May 27 1894 | Son Of B And M E | 2y 2m 10d | |
Tedrow | Charles | Oct 21 1893 | Son of W. H. & J. L. | 1y 5m 7d | |
Hawthorn | Sarah H | Wife Of H | |||
Winans | Henry E | Mar 9 1852 | Dec 12 1920 | ||
Schooley | Phineas | Jun 2 1874 | 76y 2m 19d | ||
Schooley | Oscar B | Aug 9 1888 | Son of M. | 10y 8m 18d | |
Forsythe | Jane G | 1822 | 1890 | Wife Of David | |
Forsythe | David | 1818 | 1890 | (Died Oct 26 1890 82y Monroe Co Clerk Office) | |
Pettit | Willie L | Dec 17 1891 | Child Of B W And J E | 5y 1m 28d | |
Pettit | Clarence S | Dec 2 1891 | Child Of B W And J E | 2y 1m 5d | |
Haugh | T B | Jun 20 1845 | Jan 17 1877 | (Thomas Benton Haugh) | |
Haugh | Willie G | Jan 22 1875 | Son Of T B And L J | 4y 3m 4d | |
Burlingame | David A | Aug 12 1877 | Son Of A C And M S | 1y 6m | |
Chisholm | James | Feb 28 1875 | Son Of William And M J | 13y | |
Chisholm | Mary J | Feb 25 1887 | Wife Of Wm | 59y | |
Chisholm | Jennett | Sep 13 1892 | 101y 5m | ||
Chisholm | William G | Apr 14 1883 | 59y | ||
Copeland | Martha | Oct 13 1903 | Wife Of Thomas | 94y | |
Copeland | Thomas | May 7 1880 | 76y | ||
Sharp | Mary | Aug 10 1874 | Dau Of J R And A J | 1y 5m | |
Taylor | Thomas | Sep 8 1835 | Jul 24 1920 | ||
Taylor | Jane W (Wiley) | Nov 9 1835 | Apr 21 1918 | ||
Mccauley | William | Aug 10 1875 | Son Of J And R | ||
Mcauley | Hugh | Aug 11 1811 | Oct 1887 | ||
French | Ruth Ella | 1863 | 1890 | ||
French | Emmet E | Jul 12 1887 | Husband Of R E | 26y 11m 7d | |
French | Eddie S | Sep 6 1884 | Son Of E E And Ella | 2y 5m 20d | |
Morgan | John | Dec 19 1882 | 40y 2m | ||
Morgan | Ellen | Apr 5 1844 | Mar 13 1912 | ||
Evans | Nancy J | Mar 30 1859 | Jan 9 1936 | ||
Evans | Henry | Feb 13 1857 | Feb 23 1918 | ||
Stark | Lenna F | Jul 28 1891 | May 17 1915 | ||
Huston | Martha M | Aug 12 1867 | Nov 14 1925 | ||
Huston | Oliver C | Nov 30 1862 | Sep 23 1942 | ||
Hazlett | Eddie W. | Nov 29 1922 | Son Of E And V. | ||
Hazlett | Elvia R | 1881 | 1969 | ||
Hazlett | Bar T. | 1879 | 1950 | ||
Franklin | William B | 1876 | 1924 | ||
Franklin | George W | Oct 3 1846 | Mar 12 1933 | Co I 53 Rgt Ill Inf Civil War | |
Shafer | Eva P | 1897 | 1971 | ||
Engstrom | Barton R | Aug 31 1923 | Aug 22 1926 | ||
Pettit | Barton W | Feb 15 1860 | Apr 12 1930 | ||
Pettit | Sarah Etta | Feb 9 1864 | Mar 4 1950 | ||
Detar | Hazel M | 1908 | 1965 | Wife Of Eli | |
Detar | Eli E. | 1906 | 1993 | ||
Heywood | Lucy E. | 1903 | 1967 | ||
Heywood | Leo E | 1898 | 1978 | ||
Smiley | C N | Jan 6 1904 | Nov 17 1982 | Buck | |
Smiley | L Jane | Jan 24 1910 | Apr 10 1985 | Lorinda Jane Smiley Dau Of Jeremiah And Minerva Jane Stienmark Swinney Wife Of Charles N Buck Smiley | |
Polka | John | 1903 | 1975 | ||
Polka | Harriet T | 1906 | 1976 | ||
Cramer | Vaughn W. | Jan 6 1932 | Apr 27 1992 | PFC US ARMY Korea | |
Cramer | Margery Audrey | Jul 15 1904 | Jul 10 1998 | Dau of James & Rosa (Coffey) Pauley | |
Devette | Garret | 1878 | 1920 | ||
Devette | Martha | 1893 | 1971 | ||
Lytle | Merle | Feb 8 1919 | May 17 1919 | ||
Lytle | Mildred | Jul 17 1916 | Dec 1 1918 | ||
Newell | Willard J | Oct 3 1876 | Feb 23 1920 | ||
Newell | Hester | 1856 | 1931 | ||
Newell | Arnold | 1852 | 1940 | ||
Hazlett | Otto | Jan 4 1902 | Mar 4 1932 | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | 20y 2m |
Robnett | William H | 1841 | 1930 | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |
Kinsey | Ida F | Sep 26 1883 | Feb 21 1939 | ||
Kinsey | William | Mar 26 1875 | Jan 23 1948 | ||
Robnett | B | Mar 9 1858 | Sep 4 1943 | ||
Long | Jacob G | Nov 5 1860 | Mar 18 1944 | ||
Long | Barbara S. | Feb 22 1858 | Jan 7 1940 | ||
Mccracken | James | 1859 | 1939 | ||
Walker | Hester | 1932 | |||
Walker | Clifford M. | Oct 11 1918 | Dec 19 1997 | TEC 5 US ARMY WW II | |
Sylvester | Carl D | 1897 | 1968 | ||
Sylvester | Doris | 1901 | 1987 | Doris M Sylvester B Mar 23 1901 Monroe Co Iowa D Mar 3l 1987 Albia Dau Of James A And Rose Etta Coffee Pauley Md Carld Sylvester Who Died Jan 14 1968 | |
Sylvester | Carl Jr. | 1921 | 1992 | ||
Sylvester | Delbert E. | Oct 16 1923 | |||
James | Thomas | Aug 13 1906 | Aug 26 1986 | WW II | |
James | Mary A | Jul 7 1910 | Sep 15 1989 | ||
Saylor | Donald F Sr | 1926 | 1983 | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |
Storey | Lois E | Feb 19 1929 | Mar 29 1929 | ||
Storey | Ray P | 1898 | 1963 | W W I | |
Storey | Edith B | 1897 | 1966 | ||
Deaver | Cleo G | Jan 8 1894 | Dec 31 1965 | ||
Mcgee | Patricia Sue | 1934 | 1935 | ||
Mcgee | Ina | 1907 | 1995 | ||
Mcgee | Russell | 1903 | 1982 | ||
Newell | Tessie Mae | Jan 31 1889 | Oct 25 1978 | ||
Newell | Lauryon E | July 23 1887 | Dec 26 1935 | ||
Robnett | James W | 1877 | 1940 | ||
Robnett | Stephen | 1875 | 1946 | ||
Robnett | Lillie | 1886 | 1966 | ||
Robnett | Blanche M | 1900 | 1973 | ||
Robnett | Addie | 1878 | 1976 | ||
Kinsey | Noah E | Mar 11 1882 | Feb 22 1959 | ||
Kinsey | Mary Jane | Apr 24 1892 | Nov 21 1959 | ||
Kinsey | James W | 1911 | 1981 | ||
Kinsey | E. Marguerite | 1910 | 1975 | ||
Ostring | Edna Fern | Jan 31 1920 | Feb 19 1921 | Dau Of A R And F | |
Ostring | John | 1860 | 1937 | ||
Ostring | Hannah | 1860 | 1956 | ||
Mccracken | Hugh M | 1900 | 1983 | ||
Long | John | 1889 | 1965 | ||
Long | Clara L | 1892 | 1976 | ||
Schurtz | Daisy D | 1873 | 1948 | ||
Schurtz | William E | 1870 | 1940 | ||
Douglass | Archie | Jan 12 1901 | May 31 1981 | ||
Douglass | Effie M | 1877 | 1979 | ||
Douglass | Frederick P | 1875 | 1955 | ||
Douglass | Edwin | Feb 19 1904 | July 30 1941 | ||
Walker | Ray A | 1892 | 1977 | ||
Walker | Phoebe M | 1899 | 1977 | ||
Duffey | J Connard | 1866 | 1949 | ||
Duffey | Mary E | 1873 | 1956 | ||
Ostring | Max D | Oct 19 1919 | Dec 11 1944 | Pfc 126 Inf W W II | |
Ostring | Pearl E | Oct 19 1887 | Oct 8 1976 | ||
Ostring | Albert J | Dec 10 1886 | Apr 20 1971 | ||
Rogers | Beverly J | Dec 28 1929 | July 2 1989 | Beverly Jane Rogers-Born Dec 28 1929 Lockman-Died Los Angeles Calif-Dau Of Rogers Billy A Sep 26 1928 Merle And Fredia Ostring Ridgeway-Married Bill Rogers jun 26 1950-Who Survives--From Obituary | |
Rogers | Billy A. | Sep 26 1928 | |||
Parcel | John R | Apr 10 1931 | Mar 25 1986 | CPL US ARMY Korea (Dick Son Of John And Lucille Hollingsworth Parcel Wife Mary Louise Walker) | |
Parcel | Mary L | Aug 28 1938 | |||
Walters | Barbara | 1927 | 1999 | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |
Harnden | Abrum L | 1904 | 1973 | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |
Harnden | Thelma Jean | Jul 29 1956 | Mar 12 1971 | ||
Harnden | Carolyn C | 1929 | 1985 | Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier | |
Kinsey | John W | Dec 11 1911 | Apr 22 1981 | (From Newspaper Obit No Stone In Cemetery) |
Contributed by Stephen Stewart