Rose Hill Cemetery is located along U.S. Highway 2 in the southeastern section of Mt. Ayr, PoeTownship, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Photograph contributor
Norma G. (FOLAND) BECKER

When Rose Hill Cemetery was acquired it was covered with wild roses. The land, 25 acres in Section 7 of Poe Township and located on the southeastern edge of Mount Ayr, was used as a cemetery prior to its acquisition. Early interments were of Ella EVANS who died October 15, 1860; Albert ROMANS who died March 11, 1861; John DICKEY who died September 27, 1862; Alice ROMANS who died December 17, 1862; and Burnice BEALL who died November 12, 1862. There are probably other interments with no gravestones or markers.

G. N. SALES and his wife deeded 3 3/8 acres on May 28, 1863 to ten men: A. G. BEALL, Z. W. BEALL, D. C. KINSELL, G. T. YOUNG, C. ROMANS, J. T. WILLIAMS, Adam WARNER, Samuel DICKY, W. R. DENNIS, and Ith BEALL. It isn't know whether these men then donated the land to Rose Hill Cemetery, but it is believed that they did.

On May 5, 1882, Joel LIPES deeded 11 5/8 acres to Day DUNNING, probably at the time trustee of the cemetery. Joel JUDSON deeded 10 acres to Rose Hill Cemetery Association on December 8, 1891, making 25 acres.

Two African-Americans who resided at Lesanville were interred in Potters Field of Rose Hill Cemetery. These interments were George MURPHY who died in 1866, and Sam MURPHY who died in 1868. Another African-American interment was made in 1880. David MARSHALL, married to Sam MUPRHY's widow, and Sam MURPHY's daughter died of consumption and were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery. Legend is that when one of the African-American men died, a barber named Bill was called to shave the man for his burial. The man's family said that Bill stole the two quarters laid over the deceased's eyes.

SOURCE: LESAN, Mrs. B. M. Early History of Ringgold County: 1844 - 1937 Pp. 131-2. Bliss Pub. House. Lamoni, Iowa. 1937.

Feature Name:
Rose Hill Cemetery
Feature Type: cemetery
State: Iowa
County: Ringgold
USGS 7.5' x 7.5' Map: Mount Ayr
Latitude: 404235N
Longitude: 0941350W

Map provided by google maps

INTERMENTS:
Rose Hill Cemetery interments for surnames ASBURY, BEAL, BEARD, BLACKMAN, CAMP, CANNON, CROUCH, DADY, DUGAN, ELLIOTT, GERMAN, GLENDENNING, HODSON, HOFFMAN, HOUK, JETER, LESAN, MARK, McCLANAHAN, McGAHUEY, MORTON, OWEN, and WATT may be found on the cemetery’s web page located at Iowa GenWeb Gravestone Photo Project page:
iowagravestones.org/cemetery_list.php?CID=80&cName=Rose+Hill