Hickory Grove Cemetery, located in section 29 of Pleasant Township, Monroe County, is widely known in 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 unique 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.”

Mrs. Mathias and Mrs. Roberts copied the Hickory Grove inscriptions during June of 1978.  They were arranged as they appear on tombstones in cemetery, by row either from south to north or north to south.

Row 1, South to North

Kellogg, Shirley Ann, 1947-1947

Scully, Mitchell W., 1948 – 1948

Scully, Bertha E., 1926 – 1926

DeMoss, Jesse, son of A. and L.A. DeMoss, 25 Nov 1883 – 10 Aug 1909

Douglass, Archie, 1853-1931

Douglass, Jane R., 1849-1925

Douglass, Birtie A., son of A. & J. Douglass, d 30 Oct 1886, age 5 yr, 9 m, 13 d.

Winans, Charles, son of H E & O E Winans, d 19 Sep 1874, age 16 d

Row 2, North to South

Deaver, Anna E, wife of J O Deaver, 12 July 1859 – 6 Apr 1902

Deaver, Frederick H, 10 Aug 1880 – 25 Dec 1912

Deaver, Bessie M, 10 Apr 1883 – 4 Jul 1911

Holt, Geo W, Co K, 3^rd Ia Cav, 11 Apr 1831 – 22 Mar 1909

Ferris, Stephen, 9 Mar 1870 – 23 Apr 1935

Ferris, Margaret A, wife of S Ferris, 25 Mar 1876 – 14 Jun 1914

Williams, R R, 13 Aug 1858

Williams, Mary Ann, 1 Apr 1868 – 13 Apr 1916

Cruchelow, Almira, wife of J F Cruchelow, 24 Mar 1859 – 3 Nov 1901

Row 3 North to South

Sylvester, Charlene Y. 1925 – 1925

Pauley, infant daughter 1895 – 1895

Pauley, James A. 1861 – 1943

Pauley, Rose E. 1868 – 1920

Kistner, William 17 Apr 1842 – 25 Mar 1917

Kistner, Charlotte, his wife, 21 Jun 1845 – 12 Feb 1918

Kistner, Lena, dau of W & C Kistner d 21 May 1900, Age 26 yr. 9m. 4d.

Smith, John (father), 18 Nov 1833 – 30 Jul 1911

Smith, Sarah A. (mother), 2 Oct. 1831 – 21 Aug. 1910

Smith, Harry 1870 – 1944

Evans, Vernie Henry, 1870 – 1944

Thompson, Robert A. 1 Feb 1863 – 10 Jul 1938

Thompson, Jeanette, 10 Feb 1869 - 20 Nov 1946

Thompson, William J. 1905 – 1974

Sinks, William, 8 Nov 1869 – 20 Jan 1917

Prince, Nancy A. 24 Apr 1851 – 29 May 1909

Underwood, James 1871 – 1916

Ferris, Bertie, son of S&M Ferris, 9 Feb 1900 – 7 Feb 1901

Row 4 South to North

Ridley, George A. son of H.B. & A. Ridley, d 21 Oct 1886, age 1 yr. 2 m. 11 d.

Pike, Daniel 1839 – 23 Dec 1886, age 47yr. 10m. 25d.

Kistner, Chris, son of O.W. & L. Kistner, d 29 Oct. 1891 age 2yr. 8m. 15d.

DeMoss, George, son of A. & L. A. DeMoss, d 15 Oct. age 4yr. 9m. 14d.

Robnett, George W. 2 Aug 1846 – 26 Apr 1891, Co I, 43 Reg Mo. Inf (Gar)

Robnett, George William son of George F. & I  Robnett, 14 Nov 1901 – 20 Feb 1902

J H S (no further information)

Row 5 North to South

King, Rosella A. 1864 – 1943

King, William A. 1849 – 1898

King, Cora A. dau of A.W. & R.A. King, 11 Nov 1888 age 5yr. 5m. 27d.

Evans, Rena dau of L. & S. Evans, d 11 Jan 1892 age 13m

Roberts, Robert (Dearest Husband) 26 Jul 1857 – 7 Mar 1894

Davis, (broken stone)

Davis, Davie B. son of S W & G Davis, aged 4yr 4m 1d d 31 Aug 1895

Surbuer, Charley N. son of A L & C B Surbuer, d 18 Jun 1899 age 9m 16d

Burlingame, David 1876 – 1877

Burlingame, Lewis H. 1889 – 1967

Burlingame, George S. 5 Oct 1814 – 10 Sep 1855

Smith, Cora, dau of W D & L T Smith, 20 May 1899 10m 25d

Row 6 South to North

(Broken Stone) d Oct age 1yr 10m 2d

Morgan, Libby, 23 Mar 1878 – 6 Apr 1888

Morgan, Della, 28 Oct 1879 – 16 Aug 1880

Morgan, Elizabeth, 22 Mar 1850 – 8 Dec 1917

Franklin, Cathrine 1855 – 1888

Duffy, infant son of T & J Duffy 6 Dec 1916

Duffie, Lillie Mae, dau of J C & M E Duffie, 7 Feb 1896 – 25 Oct 1906

Forsythe, Orville P. son of E & S A  Forsythe, 22 Sep 1894, age 1 yr ( broken )

Row 7 North to South

Lessenger, Perry L. son of F E & Minnie M Lessenger, 3 Aug 1900 – 13 Oct 1902

Farrell, Gracie, dau of J A & L Farrell, d 10 Aug 1886, age 1yr 9m 5d

Coffman, Martha, 7 May 1830 – 10 Apr 1919

Gailey, James R. Co F. 67^th Regt. Penn Vol  ( Gar )

Gailey, Lydia, 1836 – 1921

Holt, Nancy E. wife of C W Holt, d 27 Jun 1891 age 21 6m 19d (see Row 2)

Deskin, Lydia Naomi, wife of C W Deskin, 15 Sep 1871 – 15 Jun 1901 age 29yr 9m

McCrae, Margaret, dau of C & L McCrae, b 26 May 1896, d 7 Feb 1899

Steele, Maggie, wife of Robert  Steele, 1872 – 12 Jun 1895

Best, John, son of W J & M A Best, d 23 May 1890, age 20yr, 11m, 17d

Haddon, Bryan, son of J & E Haddon, d 2 Aug 1899, age 2yr, 9m, 23d

(Stone overturned)

Pettit, Thomas J, 22 May 1837 - 12 Feb 1895, age 57yr, 8m, 20d

Harnden, Emily E, dau of N E & M A Harnden, d 25 Aug 1888, age 11m

(Top of Stone Broken), d 20 Sept 1884, age 10yr, 11m, 13d

Harris, Daisy, dau of J L & S L Harris, d 12 Aug 1880, aged 6yr, 6m, 21d

DeMoss, Bessie Mae, dau of T V & Z J DeMoss, d 10 Oct 1888, age 1yr, 10m, 21d

Riley, Freddie, son of A J & M A Riley, d 14 Mar 1882, age 3y, 3m, 15d

Row 8 South to North

Pettit, Daisy, 1875-1924

Pettit, Ollie, 1864-1904

Hicks, Elizabeth, wife of A Hicks, d 8 Mar 1897, age 71yr, 10m

Hicks, Aron, 1816 – 26 Nov 1884

Bath, Harry L, 12 Dec 1884, age 3yr, 1d )

Bath, Lottie A, 5 Dec 1884, age 5yr, 10m, 12d )  Children of C & E E Bath

Cooper, E J, 7 Apr 1849 – 12 May 1913

Cooper, Charlie E, son of E J & C A Cooper, 6 Oct 1878 – 2 Sep 1884

Pauley, Solomon P, 20 Aug 1816 – 30 Oct 1892

Pauley, America L, 10 Dec 1832 – 22 Nov 1816

Lessenger, James Cash, age 33yr, 10m, 2d (GAR)

Row 9 North to South

Kilpatrick, Elizabeth, 3 Mar 1829 – 23 Jan 1893

Kilpatrick, Samuel, 15 Jan 1833 – 6 Feb 1905

Kilpatrick, George 14 Sep 1869 – 14 Apr 1900

Kilpatrick, Arthur 17 Nov 1860 – 24 Aug 1894

Forsythe, Martha A, dau of George & Jane Forsythe, 19 Sep 1884, 25yr, 5m, 7d

Forsythe, George, 18 Mar 1826 – 21 Nov 1908, 82yr, 8m

Forsythe, Jane, wife of George, 11 Jun 1829 – 3 Jan 1915

Calhoun, David B, 1819 – 1904

Calhoun, Margaret H, 1820 - 1916

Row 10 South to North

Holt, Frank S. 27 Nov 1854 – 6 Nov 1901

Holt, William A. 3 Jul 1866 – 24 Oct 1906

Sinclair, John 4 Feb 1896 age 80yr 9m.

Sinclair, Mary, wife of John Sinclair, 14 Dec. 1886 age 70yr 9m.  

Long, Mammie, dau of J G & S Long, d 18 May 1888 age 9 d

French, George M. 13 Aug 1816 – 8 Dec 1901

French, Sarah A. Feb 1818 – 7 Mar 1888

Huston, William husband of Sarah, d 27 Jan 1900 age 85yr 4m 5d

Huston, Sarah wife of Wm. D 28 Aug 1906 82yr 6m 19d

Nichols, David, Co G. 174 Ohio Inf. 17 Feb. 1843 – 12 Sep. 1921 (Gar)

Nichols, Agnes, his wife 8 May 1849 – 2 Feb. 1917

Nichols, Stella M. dau of DG & A Nichols d 24 Mar 1882 10yr 6m 19d

Nichols, T. 11 May 1875 age 68

Maxwell, Mary Howard, wife of M. Maxwell, d 20 Oct 1881 age 70yr 2m 29d

Forsythe, infant son of J A & R M Forsythe, 16 Jul 1901 – 23 Jul 1901

Wisall, Mary, wife of Henry Wisall, 1838 – 1883

Row 11 North to South

McMillian, Mary wife of F W McMillian, d 12 Oct 1891 age 38yr 6m 10d

Allen, Marjorie, dau of WS & Nettie Allen, b 7 Sep 1899 d 11 May 1900

Allen, Jenett, 1860 – 1925

Allen, William 1862 – 1933

Chisholm, Alex, 21 Sep 1853 – 7 Aug 1897

Chisholm, infant son of A & N E Chisholm, 24 Mar 1885 – 24 Mar 1885

Squire, Marathan, H. 1854 – 1931

Squire, Nancy H. 1860 – 1932

Squire, Nancy Doris, daughter 1900 – 1971

Hawthorn, Hugh, b Ireland 1829 – d Braddyville IA 1926

Hawthorn, Sarah Hunter, b Ireland 1826 – d Albia IA 1911

Hawthorn, Samuel, G. husband of M G Hawthorn, d 24 Jun 1889 – age 24yr 4m 4d

Bloomfield, Ernis, son of C N & H J Bloomfield, 8 Feb 1887 age 1yr 11m 13d

Bloomfield, Mable dau of C N & H J Bloomfield, d 1 Feb 1889 age 3yr 8m 2d

Nelson Joseph C. son of J L & M J Nelson, d 1 Aug 1875 age 2yr 1m 2d

Burrell, Frank, 1837- 1938

Burrell, Sarah, 1844 – 1882

Thomas, Earnest, son of B & M E Thomas, 27 May 1894 age 2yr 2m 10d

Row 12 South to North

Burlingame, David A. son of L C & M S Burlingame, d 12 Aug 1877 age 1yr 6m

Haugh, Willie G. son of T B & L J Haugh, d 22 Jan 1875, age 4yr 3m 4d

Haugh, T B 20 Jun 1845 – 17 Jan 1877

Pettit, Clarence S.2 Dec 1891 age 2yr 5m 5d{Children of}

Pettit, Willie L. 17 Dec 1891 age 5yr 1m 28d{B W & J E Pettit}

Forsyth, David 1816 – 1890

Forsyth, Jane C. wife of D. Forsyth, 1822 – 1890

Schooley, Oscar G, son of O M Schooley, d 9 Aug 1888 age 10yr 8m 18d

Schooley, Phineas, d 2 Jun 1874 age 76yr 2m 19d

Winans, henry E. 9 Mar 1852 – 12 Dec 1920

 Row 13 South to North

Chisholm, James son of Wm. & M J Chisholm, d 28 Feb 1875 age 12

Chisholm, Jennett Grandmother d 13 Sep 1892 age 101yr 5m

Chisholm, Wm. Father 14 Apr 1883 59yr

Chisholm, Mary J. wife of Wm. Chisholm Mother 25 Feb 1887 age 50

Copeland, Martha wife of Thomas Copeland 13 Oct 1903 age 94yr

Copeland, Thomas May 1880 age 76yr

Taylor, Thomas 8 Sep 1835 – 24 Jul 1920

Taylor Jane W. 9 Nov 1835 – 21 Apr 1918

Sharp, Mary dau of J R & A J Sharp, 10 Aug 1874 age 1yr 5m

McCauley, William, son of J & R McCauley, 10 Aug 1875

McCauley, Hugh, b 11 Aug 1811 – d Oct 1887

French, Ruth Ella 1863 – 1890

French, Emmet E. husband of R E French, 12 Jul 1887 age 26yr 11m 7d

French, Eddie son of E E & Ella French, 6 Sep 1884 2yr 5m 20d

(broken stone)

Morgan John, d 19 Dec 1882 age 40yr 2m

Morgan Ellen, 5 Apr 1844 – Mar 1912

Row 14 South to North

Polka, John 1905 – 1975

Polka, Harriet, T. 1906 – 1976

Heywood, Lucy E. 1903 – 1976

Heywood, Leo, 1898 – 1978

DeTar, Hazel M. wife of Eli, 1908 – 1965

DeTar, Eli 1906 –

Pettit Barton W. 15 Feb 1860 – 12 Apr 1930

Pettit, Sara Etta, 9 Feb 1864 – 14 Mar 1950

Engstrom, Barton R. 31 Aug 1923 – 22 Aug 1926

Shafer, Eva P. 1897 – 1971

Franklin George W. Co I, 53^rd Rgt Ill Inf, 3 Oct 1846 – 12 Mar 1933 (Gar)

Franklin Wm B. 1876 – 1924

Hazlett, Bar T. 1879 – 1950

Hazlett, Elvia R 1881 – 1969

Hazlett, Eddie, son of E & B Hazlett, 29 Nov 1922

Huston, Oliver, 30 Nov 1862 – 23 Sep 1942

Huston, Martha M. 12 Aug 1867 – 14 Nov 1925

Stark Lenna F. 28 Jul 1891 – 17 May 1915

Evans, Henry 13 Feb 1857 – 23 Feb 1918

Evans, Nancy J. 20 Mar 1859 – 9 Jan 1936

Row 15 North to South

DeVette, Garret, 1878 – 1920

DeVette, Martha 1893 – 1971

Newell, Arnold, 1852 – 1940

Newell, Hester, 1856 – 1931

Newell, Willard, J. 3 Oct 1876 – 23 Feb 1920

Hazlett Otto 4 Jan 1902 – 4 Mar 1932 age 20 2m

(Cement Marker)

Robnett, Wm. N. 1841 – 1930 (Gar 1861 – 1865)

Kinsey, Willaim 26 Mar 1875 – 23 Jan 1948

Kinsey, Ida F. 26 Sep 1883 – 21 Feb 1939

Robnett, B. 9 Mar 1858 – 4 Sep 1943

Long Jacob G. 5 Nov 1860 – 18 Mar 1944

Long Barbara A. 22 Feb 1858 – 7 Jan 1940

McCracken James 1858 – 1939

Sylvester, Carl D. 1897 – 1968

Row 16 South to North

Kinsey James W. 1911 –

Kinsey Marguerite 1910 – 1975

Kinsey, Noah E. 11 Mar 1882 – 22 Feb 1959

Kinsey, Mary Jane 24 Apr 1892 – 21 Nov 1959

Robnett, Stephen, 1875 – 1976

Robnett, Addie 1878 – 1976

Robnett Blanche M. 1900 – 1973

Robnett James W. 1877 – 1940

Robnett Lillie 1886 – 1966

Newell Lauron E. 23 Jul 1887 – 26 Dec 1935

Newell Tessie Mae 31 Jan 1889 – 25 Oct 1978

McGee, Patricia Sue 1934 – 1935

Deaver, Cleo G. 8 Jan 1894 – 31 Dec 1965

Storey, Ray 1898 – 1963 (WWI Veteran)

Storey, Edith B. 1897 – 1966

Storey, Lois E. 19 Feb 1929 – 29 Mar 1929

Row 17 North to South

Ostring, Edna Fern dau of A R & F Ostring 31 Jan 1920 – 19 Feb 1921

Ostring John 1860 – 1937

Ostring Hannah 1860 – 1956

Long John 1887 – 1965

Long Clara L. 1892 – 1976

Schurtz, Daisy D. 1873 – 1948

Schurtz, Wm E. 1870 – 1940

Douglass, Frederick P. 1875 – 1955

Douglass Effie M. 1877 – 1979

Douglass Edwin 19 Feb 1904 – 30 Jul 1941

Walker Ray A. 1892 – 1977

Walker Phoebe M. 1899 – 1977

Duffey J. Connrad 1866 – 1949

Duffey Mary E. 1873 – 1956

Ostring Max D. (WWII Veteran) 19 Oct 1919 – 11 Dec 1944 IA PFC 126 Inf

Ostring Albert J. 10 Dec 1886 – 20 Apr 1971

Ostring Peral 19 Oct 1887 – 8 Oct 1976

Row 18 South to North

Harnden Abrum L. 1904 – 1973

Harnden Thelma Jean 19 Oct 1887 – 8 Oct 1976

1981 Burial

Kinsey John W.  11 Dec 1911 – 22 Apr 1981