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Hickory Grove Cemetery

Also known as Covenator, Chisholm or Cemetery of the Pyramids

Hickory Grove Cemetery

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.”

SurnameGiven_NameBirth_DateDeath_DateNotesAge_on_Gravestone
DouglassBirtie A Oct 30 1886Son Of A And J5y 9m 13d
DouglassArchie18531931  
DouglassJane R18491925  
DouglassWill M. Mar 26 1902Husband of Grace24yr 6m 7d
WinansCharles Sep 19 1874Son Of H E And O E16d
DemossJesseNov 25 1883Aug 10 1909Son Of A And L A 
ScullyBertha E19261926Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
ScullyMitchell W19481948Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
KelloggShirley Ann19471947Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
CrutchelowAlmiraMar 24 1859Nov 3 1901Wife Of J O 
DeaverAnna EJuly 12 1859Apr 6 1902Wife Of J O 
DeaverFrederick HAug 10 1880Dec 27 1912  
DeaverBessie MApr 10 1883July 4 1911  
 Infant  Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
DeanMrs. William  Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
DeanMr.  Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
HoltGeorge WApr 11 1831Mar 22 1909Co K 3rd Ia Cav Civil War 
BarkerMrs.  Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
FoglerInfant  Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
Coxdaughter  Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
CoxInfant  Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
CoxInfant  Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
FerrisMargaret AMar 25 1876Jun 14 1914Wife Of S 
FerrisStephenMar 9 1870Apr 23 1935  
WilliamsR RAug 13 1858Dec 26 1943  
WilliamsMary AnnApr 1 1868Apr 13 1916  
SylvesterCharlene Y19251925  
PauleyInfant18951895  
PauleyRosa E18681920  
PauleyJames A18611943  
KistnerWilliamApr 17 1842Mar 25 1917  
KistnerCharlotteJun 21 1845Feb 12 1918  
KistnerLena May 21 1900Dau Of W And C26y 9m 4d
SmithSarah AOct 2 1831Aug 21 1910  
SmithJohnNov 18 1833July 30 1911  
SmithHarry18701944  
EvansVernie HenryMay 1 1911Apr 26 1916 4y 11m 26d
ThompsonJeannetteFeb 19 1869Nov 20 1946  
ThompsonRobert AFeb 1 1863July 10 1938  
ThompsonWilliam J19051974  
SinksWilliamNov 8 1869Jan 20 1917  
PrinceNancy AApr 24 1851May 29 1909  
UnderwoodJames18711916  
FerrisBertieFeb 9 1900Feb 7 1901Son Of S And M 
UnderwoodForrest E19021982Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
JHS     
RobnettGeorge WilliamNov 14 1901Feb 20 1902Son Of George F And I 
RobnettGeorge WAug 2 1846Apr 26 1891Co I 43rd Reg Mo Infantry Civil War 
DemossGeorge A Oct 15 1891Son Of A And L A4y 9m 14d
KistnerChris Oct 23 1891Son Of W And L2y 8m 15d
PikeDaniel F.1839Dec 23 1886 47y 10m 25d
RidleyGeorgie A Oct 211886Son Of H B And A1y 2m 11d
RidleyMrs.  Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
RidleyWilliam  Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
KingRosella A18641943  
KingWilliam A18491898  
KingCora A. Nov 11 1888Dau Of W A And R A5y 5m 27d
EvansRena Jan 11 1892Dau Of Thomas L And S Evans13m
RobertsRobertJuly 26 1857Mar 7 1894  
Davis     
DavisDavie B Aug 31 1895Son Of D W And G4y 4m 1d
SurbuerCharley N Jun 18 1899Son Of A L And C B9m 16d
Thomas   Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
BurlingameDavid A18761879  
BurlingameLewis H18891967  
BurlingameGeorgeOct 5 1814Sep 10 1885  
SmithCora May 20 1899Dau Of W D And L T10m 25d
RyunEral  Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
RyunInfant  Child of Earl - Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
ForsythOrville P Sep 22 1884Son Of E And S A Son Of Erastus And Sarah Forsyth1y
DuffeeLillie MaeFeb 7 1896Oct 25 1906Dau Of J C And M E 
DuffyInfant Dec 6 1916Son Of T And J 
FranklinCathrine18551888  
MorganDella L.Oct 28 1879Aug 16 1880Dau Of G And E 
MorganLibbyMar 23 1878Apr 16 1880Dau Of G And E 
MorganElizabethMar 22 1850Dec 8 1917  
MorganGeorgeAug 8 1850Apr 6 1910Dau Of G And E 
DemossBessie May Oct 10 1888Dau Of T V And Z1y 10m 21d
LessengerPerry LAug 3 1900Oct 13 1902Son Of F E And Minnie M 
LessengerGlen James 1921 22d
FarrellGracie V. Aug 10 1886Dau Of J A And L1y 9m 5d
CoffmanMarthaMay 7 1830Apr 10 1919  
GaileyJames R  Co F 67th Regt Penn Vol Civil War 
GaileyLydia18361921  
HoltNancy E Jun 27 1891Wife Of G W21y 6m 19d
DeskinLydia NaomiSep 15 1871Jun 15 1901Wife Of C W29y 9m
MccraeMargaretMay 26 1897Feb 7 1899Dau Of C And L 
SteeleMaggie Jun 12 1895Wife Of Robert22y 11m 25d
BestJohn May 23 1890Son Of W J And M A20y 11m 17d
HaddonAline E19111911Dau Of A And E 
HaddonBryan Aug 2 1899Son Of J And E2y 9m 23d
HaddonCharlie Dec 5 1891son of A. J. & E.1y 10m 17d
PettitArtemissaApr 24 1841Jan 6 1908Wife of T. J. 
PettitThomas JMay 22 1837Feb 121895 57y 8m 20d
HarndenEmily E Apr 25 1888Dau Of N E And M A4y 11m
 Unknown Sep 20 1884top of stone missing10y 11m 13d
HarrisDaisy Aug 12 1884Dau Of J L And S L6y 6m 21d
RileyFreddie Mar 14 1882Son Of A J And M A3y 3m 15d
LessengerJames Cash Jan 13 1884Civil War Vet33y 10m 2d
LessengerJulia PauleyFeb 7 1853Dec 5 1929  
PauleySolomon PAug 20 1816Oct 30 1892  
PauleyAmerica IDec 10 1832Nov 22 1916  
CooperCharlie EOct 6 1879Sep 2 1884Son Of E J And C A 
CooperE JApr 7 1849May 12 1913  
BathLottie A Dec 5 1884Children Of G And E E5y 10m 12d
BathHarry L Dec 12 1884 3y 1d
HicksAaron1816Nov 26 1884Hus Of E A Born Perry Co Pa In 1816 Came To Iowa 184868y 3m 18d
HicksElizabeth A. Mar 8 1897Wife Of A71y 1m
PettitOllie18641904  
PettitDaisy18751924  
KilpatrickSamuelJan 15 1833Feb 6 1905  
KilpatrickElizabethMar 8 1819Jan 23 1893  
KilpatrickGeorgeSep 14 1869Apr 14 1900  
KilpatrickArthurNov 17 1860Aug 24 1894  
ForsytheMartha A Sep 19 1884Dau Of George And Jane25y 8m 7d
ForsytheJaneJun 11 1829Jan 3 1915Wife Of George 
ForsytheGeorgeMar 18 1826Nov 21 1908 82y 8m
WiswallMary J18381883Wife Of Henry 
ForsytheInfantJuly 16 1901July 23 1901Son Of J A And R M (Family-Record Has Francis Forsythe Son Of John A And Rosa M Harvey Forsythe) 
MaxwellMary Howard Oct 20 1881Wife Of M70y 2m 29d
NicholT May 11 1875 69y
NicholStella M Mar 24 1882Dau Of D G And A10y 6m 19d
NicholInfant Jun 20 1878son of D.C. & A.5d
NicholAgnesMay 8 1849Feb 2 1917His Wife 
NicholDavidFeb 17 1843Sep 12 1921Co G 174 Ohia Inf Civi1 War 
HustonSarah Aug 281906Wife Of William82y 6m 18d
HustonWilliam Jan 27 1906Husband Of Sarah88y 4m 5d
CalhounDavid B18191894  
CalhounMargaret B18201916  
FrenchSarah AFeb 1818Mar 7 1888  
FrenchGeorge MAug 13 1816Dec 8 1901  
LongMammie May 18 1888Dau Of J G And S9d
SinclairMary Dec 14 1885Wife Of John70y 10m
SinclairJohn Feb 4 1896 80y 9m
HoltWilliam AJuly 3 1866Oct 24 1906  
HoltFrank SNov 27 1854Nov 6 1901  
McmillanMary Oct 12 1891Wife Of F W38y 6m 10d
AllenMarjorieSep 7 1899May 11 1900Dau Of W S And Nettie 
AllenJennett18601925  
AllenWilliam18621933  
ChisholmInfantMar 24 1885Mar 24 1885Son Of A And Ke 
ChisholmAlexSep 21 1853Aug 7 1897  
ChisholmInfant  Son Of A And Ke 
SquireNancy H18601932  
SquireMarathan H18541931  
SquireDoris19001971Daughter of Nancy 
HawthornHugh18231926Born Ireland Died Bradyville Iowa 
HawthornSarah Hunter18261911Born Ireland Died Albia Iowa 
HawthorneSamuel G Jun 24 1889Husband Of M G24y 4m 4d
BloomfieldMable Feb 1 1889Dau Of C N And H J8y 8m 2d
BloomfieldErnie Feb 8 1889Son Of C N And H J4y 11m 13d
NelsonJoseph C Aug 1 1875Son Of J L And M J2y 1m 4d
BurrellSarah18441882  
BurrellFrank18371938  
ThomasEarnest May 27 1894Son Of B And M E2y 2m 10d
TedrowCharles Oct 21 1893Son of W. H. & J. L.1y 5m 7d
HawthornSarah H  Wife Of H 
WinansHenry EMar 9 1852Dec 12 1920  
SchooleyPhineas Jun 2 1874 76y 2m 19d
SchooleyOscar B Aug 9 1888Son of M.10y 8m 18d
ForsytheJane G18221890Wife Of David 
ForsytheDavid18181890(Died Oct 26 1890 82y Monroe Co Clerk Office) 
PettitWillie L Dec 17 1891Child Of B W And J E5y 1m 28d
PettitClarence S Dec 2 1891Child Of B W And J E2y 1m 5d
HaughT BJun 20 1845Jan 17 1877(Thomas Benton Haugh) 
HaughWillie G Jan 22 1875Son Of T B And L J4y 3m 4d
BurlingameDavid A Aug 12 1877Son Of A C And M S1y 6m
ChisholmJames Feb 28 1875Son Of William And M J13y
ChisholmMary J Feb 25 1887Wife Of Wm59y
ChisholmJennett Sep 13 1892 101y 5m
ChisholmWilliam G Apr 14 1883 59y
CopelandMartha Oct 13 1903Wife Of Thomas94y
CopelandThomas May 7 1880 76y
SharpMary Aug 10 1874Dau Of J R And A J1y 5m
TaylorThomasSep 8 1835Jul 24 1920  
TaylorJane W (Wiley)Nov 9 1835Apr 21 1918  
MccauleyWilliam Aug 10 1875Son Of J And R 
McauleyHughAug 11 1811Oct 1887  
FrenchRuth Ella18631890  
FrenchEmmet E Jul 12 1887Husband Of R E26y 11m 7d
FrenchEddie S Sep 6 1884Son Of E E And Ella2y 5m 20d
MorganJohn Dec 19 1882 40y 2m
MorganEllenApr 5 1844Mar 13 1912  
EvansNancy JMar 30 1859Jan 9 1936  
EvansHenryFeb 13 1857Feb 23 1918  
StarkLenna FJul 28 1891May 17 1915  
HustonMartha MAug 12 1867Nov 14 1925  
HustonOliver CNov 30 1862Sep 23 1942  
HazlettEddie W. Nov 29 1922Son Of E And V. 
HazlettElvia R18811969  
HazlettBar T.18791950  
FranklinWilliam B18761924  
FranklinGeorge WOct 3 1846Mar 12 1933Co I 53 Rgt Ill Inf Civil War 
ShaferEva P18971971  
EngstromBarton RAug 31 1923Aug 22 1926  
PettitBarton WFeb 15 1860Apr 12 1930  
PettitSarah EttaFeb 9 1864Mar 4 1950  
DetarHazel M19081965Wife Of Eli 
DetarEli E.19061993  
HeywoodLucy E.19031967  
HeywoodLeo E18981978  
SmileyC NJan 6 1904Nov 17 1982Buck 
SmileyL JaneJan 24 1910Apr 10 1985 Lorinda Jane Smiley Dau Of Jeremiah And Minerva Jane Stienmark Swinney Wife Of Charles N Buck Smiley  
PolkaJohn19031975  
PolkaHarriet T19061976  
CramerVaughn W.Jan 6 1932Apr 27 1992PFC US ARMY Korea 
CramerMargery AudreyJul 15 1904Jul 10 1998Dau of James & Rosa (Coffey) Pauley 
DevetteGarret18781920  
DevetteMartha18931971  
LytleMerleFeb 8 1919May 17 1919  
LytleMildredJul 17 1916Dec 1 1918  
NewellWillard JOct 3 1876Feb 23 1920  
NewellHester18561931  
NewellArnold18521940  
HazlettOttoJan 4 1902Mar 4 1932Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier20y 2m
RobnettWilliam H18411930Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
KinseyIda FSep 26 1883Feb 21 1939  
KinseyWilliamMar 26 1875Jan 23 1948  
RobnettBMar 9 1858Sep 4 1943  
LongJacob GNov 5 1860Mar 18 1944  
LongBarbara S.Feb 22 1858Jan 7 1940  
MccrackenJames18591939  
WalkerHester1932   
WalkerClifford M.Oct 11 1918Dec 19 1997TEC 5 US ARMY WW II 
SylvesterCarl D18971968  
SylvesterDoris19011987 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  
SylvesterCarl Jr.19211992  
SylvesterDelbert E.Oct 16 1923   
JamesThomasAug 13 1906Aug 26 1986WW II 
JamesMary AJul 7 1910Sep 15 1989  
SaylorDonald F Sr19261983Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
StoreyLois EFeb 19 1929Mar 29 1929  
StoreyRay P18981963W W I 
StoreyEdith B18971966  
DeaverCleo GJan 8 1894Dec 31 1965  
McgeePatricia Sue19341935  
McgeeIna19071995  
McgeeRussell19031982  
NewellTessie MaeJan 31 1889Oct 25 1978  
NewellLauryon EJuly 23 1887Dec 26 1935  
RobnettJames W18771940  
RobnettStephen18751946  
RobnettLillie18861966  
RobnettBlanche M19001973  
RobnettAddie18781976  
KinseyNoah EMar 11 1882Feb 22 1959  
KinseyMary JaneApr 24 1892Nov 21 1959  
KinseyJames W19111981  
KinseyE. Marguerite19101975  
OstringEdna FernJan 31 1920Feb 19 1921Dau Of A R And F 
OstringJohn18601937  
OstringHannah18601956  
MccrackenHugh M19001983  
LongJohn18891965  
LongClara L18921976  
SchurtzDaisy D18731948  
SchurtzWilliam E18701940  
DouglassArchieJan 12 1901May 31 1981  
DouglassEffie M18771979  
DouglassFrederick P18751955  
DouglassEdwinFeb 19 1904July 30 1941  
WalkerRay A18921977  
WalkerPhoebe M18991977  
DuffeyJ Connard18661949  
DuffeyMary E18731956  
OstringMax DOct 19 1919Dec 11 1944Pfc 126 Inf W W II 
OstringPearl EOct 19 1887Oct 8 1976  
OstringAlbert JDec 10 1886Apr 20 1971  
RogersBeverly JDec 28 1929July 2 1989Beverly 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 
RogersBilly A.Sep 26 1928   
ParcelJohn RApr 10 1931Mar 25 1986CPL US ARMY Korea (Dick Son Of John And Lucille Hollingsworth Parcel Wife Mary Louise Walker) 
ParcelMary LAug 28 1938   
WaltersBarbara19271999Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
HarndenAbrum L19041973Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
HarndenThelma JeanJul 29 1956Mar 12 1971  
HarndenCarolyn C19291985Funeral Home Marker set in a slanted cement pier 
KinseyJohn WDec 11 1911Apr 22 1981(From Newspaper Obit No Stone In Cemetery) 

 

Contributed by Stephen Stewart