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The land for Lorah Cemetery was deeded to township trustees in 1856 by James Mayhew and James Brinkerhoff. The first white death in Pymosa Township was a small daughter of James Brinkerhoff. She was first buried in the family yard, but her body was moved to the cemetery once it was established. The last burial in this cemetery is believed to be Frederick Stutleberg in 1935. Unfortunately, the cemetery records were destroyed in a fire at the trustee's home.

This cemetery was walked in November, 2011. All existing gravestones were photographed and the photographs uploaded to the Iowagravestones Photo Project (GPP). The cemetery was visited again in July, 2012 to retake a few stones, and those photos have been uploaded also.

This cemetery was also walked and recorded many years ago by Mrs. Dorothy Henriksen for the Cass County Genealogical Society and prepared by Edna Christensen. Mrs. Henriksen recorded burials of 121 individuals. That recording has been published in Cass County, Iowa - Cemeteries, Book One - Benton Twp., Brighton Twp., Pymosa Twp., which is available from the Iowa Genealogical Society. The Cass County Genealogical Society has also graciously made their most recent recording of Lorah Cemetery (August 2012) available here:

Mrs. Henriksen's recording indicates there were many unmarked graves, and there appears to be evidence of that today. The cemetery currently appears very well-maintained. It is neatly mowed and generally well-kept. The 4-H clubs, in cooperation with township trustees, took over care of the cemetery in the 1950's. However, time and the elements have taken their toll. Some markers recorded by Mrs. Henriksen can no longer be found. One corner of the cemetery contains a pile of broken gravestones and gravestone parts. Many of these are just blank bases, but a few are markers with inscriptions still partially readable, as shown below.

Sources:  Cass County, Iowa, published in 1980 by the Cass County Genealogical Society, pg. 12, and Memories of Lorah, by Trena Chinitz, pp. 94-99.

Lorah/Pymosa Cemetery comprises one acre located in Section 22 of Pymosa Township: the N.W.1/2 acre of the N.W.1/4 of the S.W. 1/4 and the S.W.1/2 acre of the S.W. 1/4 of the N.E.1/4.

DIRECTIONS: Take the US-71/Atlantic/Audubon exit (Exit 60) from I-80 and drive south on US-71 (toward Atlantic). Drive 1.9 miles and turn right (west) at the Lorah sign onto Burt Rd. Follow Burt Rd. west for about 1/2 mile until you reach a T-intersection, then turn left (south) onto Dunbar Rd. Follow Dunbar Rd. for approximately 1.8 miles and you will see Lorah Cemetery on the left. Address: 63401 Dunbar Rd.