1910

The ladies met at the Presbyterian church Saturday afternoon for the purpose of organizing a Cemetery Association. The following officers were elected:
Pres. - Mrs. F. J. Keeling
Vice-Pres. - Mrs. Minnie White
Cor. Sec. - Mrs. Jessie Chapman
Rec. Sec. - Mrs. Anna Goodwin
~Elkader Register & Argus - Thur., 24 Feb. 1910. Volga City Views column ~Contributed by Reid R. Johnson

History (as of 1951)

Hill Crest Has Third Centennial
(The heading is misleading by calling a "third centennial" for the cemetery.
Perhaps the writer of the article meant something else.... sf)

Sexton Harry Boleyn has made a survey of some information and facts which may be of interest to the community. Among his findings is the grave of a child buried in 1851, the first grave in Hill Crest cemetery. The child, J.R. Silver, son of E. and L. Silver, died June 30, 1851.

The first adult grave was Schuyler Harvey, died February 9, 1856. The second adult, James Ambrose, died February 9, 1857.

Only two* veterans of the War of 1812 are buried in Clayton county. That of Jason S. Butler, N.Y. Mil., buried in Volga, the other was buried in McGregor.

There have been six generations of Bachtells buried in Hill Crest. Mrs. Ingraham of the first generation; Mrs. David Bachtell of the second; Elmer Bachtell, third; baby Bachtell, fifth and Carol Lee Bachtell of the sixth generation.

There have been five generations of Proberts buried, namely: James Probert, first generation; William Probert, second; Ernest Probert, third; Florence Probert, fourth and Juli Anna Probert of the fifth generation.

Charter members of the association buried in Hill Crest: Mrs. Margaret Keeling, the first president; Mrs. Katherine Ainsworth, Mrs. Valeria Germar, Mrs. Mary Probert.

Sextons buried there include: Lemuell Epps, Irving Phillips, Leon Blake, Lewis Goodwin and Orin Tinkem.

The oldest birthdate inscribed was found to be James Beatty, August 21, 1783, death May 31, 1865.

The oldest persons buried: Julia Chapman, 1808-1906; Losha Ann Phillips, 1813-1911.

There have been 29 Civil war veterans, nine World war I veterans and one World war II veteran buried in Hill Crest cemetery.

~The Elkader Register and Clayton County Messenger; Thursday, May 24, 1951
~transcribed by S. Ferrall, February 2023

*See War of 1812 records in the Military section of the website. There are several additional soldiers of that war buried in the county, not just two as this article notes.