Zearing, Iowa 1956 History

Alice Johnston Brierley compiled the following history of the Zearing Cemetery Association. Alice has been a faithful and efficient officer of the association for many years.

The Zearing Cemetery Association was organized on April 22, 1893. Ana McDowell Thatcher was the first president. Ida Bishop Dool was the first secretary.

A few of the charter members are known. In addition to the first officers they were :

Simon Kersey was the first caretaker of the cemetery. He mowed the grass with a scythe and took the hay in payment for his labor.

Money taken in at the ball games played in Gogerty's pasture was used for cemetery expenses. Easter dinners and suppers were served for many years to raise money for the caretaker's salary and for maintaining the flower beds. During World War II it became necessary to discontinue the Easter dinners because of rationing.

The 1955 membership list contains eighty-four names. The 1955 officers are :

H. L. Ruff, National Secretary, Modern Woodmen of America, furnished the following history of Camp No. 1975. The records at the headquarters are incomplete.

Camp No. 1975 was chartered on May 6, 1893. The following were charter members :

James C. Armstrong signed the first Pass Report in July, 1893. Etna F. Moore served as Consul from January, 1919, to January, 1921. None of the other reports in the lodge were signed by a Consul.