The Great Mary A. Maxwell death mystery-Elwood, Iowa

MAXWELL, SMITH, COLLENBAUGH

Posted By: Robert Ankenbauer (email)
Date: 4/17/2004 at 09:47:06

Several researchers including myself have been looking for information on the death and place of burial of Mary Ann Maxwell, wife of Morgan Maxwell (c1801-1873). She was born Mary Ann Smith in c1801 in Vermont.
In 1870, she was living with her husband in Berlin Township, near Elwood, Clinton County, Iowa. Her husband Morgan Maxwell died 26 Oct 1873 and is buried at Elwood Cemetery, Elwood, Clinton County, Iowa.
Mary Ann Maxwell is living in the household of her son, John S. Maxwell in 1880 near Elwood, in Brookfield Township, Clinton County, Iowa in 1880. After that, there is no trace of her. There is no tombstone for Mary A. Maxwell at the Elwood Cemetery, where her husband is buried.
Here are some speculations, for which there is absolutely no evidence:
1. She died in Clinton County, Iowa after 1880 and is buried in an unmarked grave at Elwood, Iowa.
2. She died in Calhoun County, Iowa after she traveled with one of her two sons, John S. Maxwell or Benjamin F. Maxwell, to Calhoun County, Iowa in 1882.
3. She died in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa after she traveled with her son John S. Maxwell to Des Moines, Iowa in 1887-1888.
4. She died in Greene County, Indiana after she traveled with her son Benjamin F. Maxwell to Greene County, Indiana in 1892.
5. She died in Sac County, Iowa after she traveled with her daughter Rosanna Maxwell (Collenbaugh) to Cook Township, Sac County, Iowa in March 1883.
After thinking about this for several years, I think that Mary Ann Maxwell probably died about 1882 near Elwood, Iowa. Several of her children seem to have migrated away from Clinton County, Iowa in 1882-1883, so it would seem that something (i.e., their mother) was keeping them near Elwood until 1882 or so.
I appreciate your help in this mystery.
Sincerely, Robert Ankenbauer