Poweshiek County IAGenWeb

Cemeteries


Sheley Cemetery

Link to IAGenWeb Gravestone Photo Project for Sheley Cemetery

HISTORY -  Sheley Cemetery (pronounced She-lee).  

Moses Saunders was buried here in 1851.

This cemetery is less than half a mile north of the border between Mahaska and Poweshiek counties, and less than half a mile west of the border between Union and Jackson Townships.  Many Sheley Cemetery burials are of Mahaska county residents.  If you are unable to locate information about a burial on this Poweshiek county site, you should check the IAGenWeb Mahaska County website also.  The 1905, 1913, 1914 and 1920 plat-maps of Union Twp. (T77NR15W) in Mahaska county show land owned by many of the surnames represented in this cemetery.

There was, in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, a hamlet located less than a mile east and south of Sheley Cemetery, just across the township line in Jackson Township.  The Poweshiek county map in the 1876 Andreas Atlas of Iowa identifies it as Brownville, associated with the Sherman Post Office.  The name seems to have been later changed to Browntown, possibly to resolve postal addressing confusion with Brownsville, in Mitchell county, Iowa.  No visible trace of Browntown seems to remain at present.

Information about Browntown is scant.  If you have information about Browntown and the surrounding area, the Poweshiek Coordinator would be grateful if you'd share it.

Much of the then-current information on this page was previously recorded by the WPA in the late 1930s, and again by Karen Groves, Velma James and Elizabeth Ernst in September, 1979.

LOCATION -  

Sheley Cemetery (pronounced She-lee), Union Township, Section 34, west of the intersection of 537th Avenue and 110th Street.  A lane (537th Ave.) goes west to the cemetery from the intersection.  This burying ground is located on top of a hill, north and west of the site of Browntown.  Moses Saunders was buried there in 1851.  This cemetery is now county property, identified as Parcel 630-3008700 by the Poweshiek County Geographic Information System.  Thanks to Randy Schmadeke for update information on this cemetery.

Sheley Cemetery: 41.51275N, 92.57193W


Partial List of Burials

Name Born Died Age Notes
Anderson, Nelson
11-Dec-1873 4y-11m-27d Son of A. S. & L. A.
Beget, Sadie Cleaudine
17-Mar-1876 2y-3m-8d Dau. of Bernard & Sarah
Bittner, Alice Jessie 24-Dec-1867 25-Dec-1867
Black, James F.
20-Feb-1876
Son of J. & A. E.; stone broken, leaning against tree
Booze, Clarinda
04-Apr-1892 65y-11m-5d Wife of James
Booze, Infant
30-May-1857
Dau. Of P. & S.;
stone flat on ground
Booze, Isadora A.
02-Apr-1863 1y-8d Dau. Of P. & S. T.;
stone flat on ground
Booze, Mary
05-Aug-1855 70y-6m-13d Wife of J.
Booze, Paschal
20-Aug-1863
Co. K 10 Iowa Vol.;
GAR marker
Bradley, Calvin M. 1903 1987
PVT US ARMY WORLD WAR II
Bradley, Cloyd W. 1905 1983
PFC US ARMY WORLD WAR II
Bradley, Isac W. 1898 1963

Brados, John W.
01-Apr-1880 3y Son of G. W & P. B.
Brees, Timothy
15-Apr-1871 37y Husband of Rebecca B.
Brees, William
17-Apr-1872 35y Husband of Perella
Bru, Donena Mae (Moore) Milligan 30-May-1956 21-Nov-2008
Dau. of Donald Moore & Nena (Hicks) Schmadeke
Cadwell, Donald G. 1935 1935

Chees, James W.
07-Sep-18??
Son of T. J. & M. M.; broken stone, flat on ground
Cochran, Claude E.
08-Jan-1894 1y-20d Son of K. S. & J. A.
Cochran, Francis A.
19-May-1881 18y-8m-1d Son of Hiram & Mary J.; same stone
Cochran, Fredrick E.
21-May-1899 6m-21d Son of J. W. & F.
Cochran, Hiram
24-Aug-1874 38y-3m-20d
Cochran, Mary J.
12-Mar-1880 40y-4m-5d Wife of Hiram, same stone
Cochran, Sarah E. 03-Feb-1867 22-Oct-1956
Same stone as William A.
Cochran, William A. 27-Apr-1857 17-Jan-1913
Same stone as Sarah E.
Dalby, Nancy C. (or G.)
03-May-1856 30y-8m-9d Wife of Simon
Davis, Anna
19-Dec-1881 91y
Davis, Rev. Clifford F. 14-Apr-1904 21-Jun-1974
Same stone as Elsie M.
Davis, Elsie M. 12-Jun-1905 07-Oct-1982
Same stone as Clifford F.
Evans, Dolly
30-Apr-1856 38y-4m-6d Wife of W. L.; stone flat on ground
Evans, Eli G.
12-May-1865 2y-5m-9d Son of W. L. & D.; Suspect data! Mother (Dolly) apparently died 9 years before 2-yr old son Eli
Evans, William L. (01-Jul-1812) 06-Jun-1870 illegible (57)y-11m-6d Stone broken. DoB and years at death derived from other sources.
Ferree, Emma R. 1914 1964
In Memory Wife and Mother
Foster, Mary L.
27-Apr-1888 32y-4m-26d Wife of D. Foster; dau. of B. B. & R. A. Kerby
Foster, Nickolas
27-Aug-1888 2y-3m-18d Son of D. & M. L.; same stone as Mary L.
Fox, Lydia E. 1900 1930

Galbraith, Brian Lynn 21-Sep-1947 22-Apr-1973
Father of Michael
Galbraith, Lester J. 1922 1986
Married 25-Feb-1942; parents of Kathie, Mac, Randy, Brian, Diane; same stone as Merna Sue
Galbraith, Lester Mac 25-Sep-1944 08-Aug-1993

Galbraith, Merna Sue 18-Feb-1924 26-Nov-1995
Married 25-Feb-1942; parents of Kathie, Mac, Randy, Brian, Diane; same stone as Lester J.
Gillespie, Oren B.
11-Feb-1868 10y Son of William & Mary
Gorsuch, Clara B.
28-Sep-1866 4m-3d Dau. of E. & S. A.
Gorsuch, Ed 28-Feb-1868 __-Feb-1908

Gorsuch, Elizabeth J.
29-Jan-1857 5y-10m-17d Dau. of E. & S. A.; stone broken
Gorsuch, Infant Son
 

Gorsuch, Martha W.
13-May-1871 26y-8m-17d Wife of E. W.
Grife, Grace E. 1882 1916
Same stone as Walter S.
Grife, Walter S. 1869 1966
Same stone as Grace E.
Hart, Absalom H. 1869 1944

Hart, John W. 1863 1933

Hope, Fannie E. 1845 1930
Same stone as Thomas L.
Hope, Henry
23-Dec-1878 56y-2d Husband of Susannah
Hope, Henry M.
10-Jan-1871 1y-4m-22d Son of Thomas & Fannie; stone lying flat
Hope, Thomas L. 1847 1925
Same stone as Fannie E.
Hughes, Mary Ann
16-Jan-1875 11m-15d
Hunt, Abraham
26-Mar-1884 58y-3m-1d
Hunt, Martha
04-Jan-1881 43y Wife of Abraham
Johnson, Arthur E.
08-Feb-1858 1y-1m-27d Son of G. & C.
Johnson, Elizabeth N.
26-Feb-1864 54y-14d Wife of W. G.
Johnson, Granderson
26-Apr-1863 39y Stone broken
Johnson, Jennie M.
11-Jun-1864 2y Dau. of G. & C.
Johnson, Sarah E.


Dau. Of L. A. & C.; remainder of stone is buried
Jopp, John H.
09-May-1854 8m-24d Son of R. M. & E.
Kellogg, Fred R. 21-Mar-1910 11-Mar-1911
Son of W. H. & M. E.
Kershner, Isaac W. 1847 1924
Same stone as Lydia M.
Kershner, Lydia M. 1849 1944
Same stone as Isaac W.
Kirbay, James
19-Nov-1872 60y-2m-22d
Kirby, Mary
24-Oct-1883 74y-1m-15d Wife of James
Kirby, Ruth A.
10-Aug-1890 54y-3m-23d Wife of D.
Lamb, Carol


No dates; funeral home marker in 1978
Lamb, Cynthia


No dates; funeral home marker in 1978
Lamb, Donald Keith 1928 1981
PFC US ARMY
Lamb, Lori


No dates; funeral home marker in 1978
Latchem, Chelnissa
02-Aug-1875 28y-9m-4d Wife of A. F.; stone broken
Latchem, Infant


Dau. of A. F. & C.
Latchem, Sarah
04-Feb-1886 75y-11m-1d
McGriff, Gary Lee
17-Feb-1940
Son of Avlie G. and Sadie (Dankert) McGriff
McGriff, J. W.
11-Jan-1894 63y-27d
McGriff, Jerry Dean 02-Dec-1945 02-Dec-1945
Unmarked grave? - Son of Avlie G. and Sadie (Dankert) McGriff
McGriff, Joseph C. 1883 1957
Same stone as M. Elizabeth
McGriff, M. Elizabeth 1886 1943
Same stone as Joseph C.
McGriff, Wesley Eugene 1946 1946
Unmarked grave? - Son of Avlie G. and Sadie (Dankert) McGriff
McPhaill, Mary
30-Sep-1859 82y-5m-15d
McVicker, Charley H.
30-Nov-1880 1y-1d
Meeker, Clara C.
23-May-1890 21y-8m-23d Wife of Ed; same stone as "Infant"
Meeker, Infant
20-Apr-1890 1d Dau. of Ed & Dollie; same stone as Clara C.
Meeker, Mary E.
28-Sep-1875 11m-13d Dau. of R. E. & J.
Meeker, Robbie D.
19-Feb-1895 19y-7m-11d Son of R. E. & J.
Meeker, Robert E. 15-Feb-1833 27-Apr-1917
Father; husband of Virginia (same stone)
Meeker, Virginia 11-Feb-1844 30-Mar-1927
Mother; wife of Robert E. (same stone)
Mincer, Albert
27-Aug-1860 1m Son of J. & M.
Mincer, Alford
11-Sep-1861 1y-1m-15d
Mincer, James 26-Jul-1818 21-Feb-1873
Stone broken
Mincer, Martha
19-Sep-1870 41y-7m-7d Wife of J.
Minner, Celesta J.
06-Apr-1878 15y-10m-24d Dau. of John & Catharine
Minner, Pearlie J. 29-Mar-1889 09-Jan-1891

Moor, Mary E. 26-Nov-1876 24-Apr-1901
Mother
Moore, Charles 1902 1971
Funeral home marker in 1978
Moore, Elmer M. 1864 1903

Moore, G. I. 08-Aug-1906 18-Oct-1908
Son of G. I. Moore and wife
Moore, Gladys M. (Freshour) 1912 1984
Same stone as Mose
Moore, James C., Jr. 1973 1985

Moore, James Carroll, Sr. 18-Aug-1941 23-Aug-2005
Husband of Jo Anne (Hartman) Moore
Moore, Jo Anne (Hartman) 08-Aug-1950 10-Sep-2008
Wife of James Carroll Moore, Sr.
Moore, John E. 02-Sep-1856 29-Apr-1929
Same stone as MayBelle
Moore, Leroy 1894 1910

Moore, Mary Ann 1972 1972
Funeral home marker in 1978
Moore, Maybelle (Adkins) 11-May-1865 09-Jan-1933
Same stone as John E.
Moore, Mose 22-Jun-1899 24-May-1964
Same stone as Gladys M.
Moore, Moses
16-May-1884 52y-9m-15d Father
Moore, Scott Lee 1974 1975
Funeral home marker in 1978
Moore, Vi - Viola 1937 1972
Little Buddy
Rakestraw, Margaretta
04-Nov-1890 78y-5m-22d Wife of Milton; same stone
Rakestraw, Milton
06-Mar-1870 58y-4d Same stone as Margaretta
Rakestraw, Rhoda M.
07-Jun-1887 37y-11m-7d Wife of E.
Rakestraw, Roy B.
12-Feb-1888 3y-3m-16d Son of D. & M.; stone broken
Reed, Evelyn G. 1918 1935

Reed, J. Arthur 1910 1939

Reed, John A. 1882 1965

Reed, Leroy 27-Sep-1908 30-Mar-1909
Son of J. A. & B. S.
Reed, Lois Irene 26-Feb-1921 30-Nov-1940

Reed, Loyd 17-Sep-1927 30-Nov-1927

Reed, Merrill
27-Mar-1933

Reed, Nellie H.
05-Dec-1893 3y Dau. of J. W. & Emma F.
Reed, Susie H. 1878 1963

Rice, Jessie S. M.
19-Feb-1864 1y-10m Dau. of E. L. & S. M.
Roach, Fredrick
27-Feb-1867
Son of J.D. & R. M.
Roach, Luther I.
01-Jul-1859 6y-9m-28d Son of W. M. & S.
Roach, Susan
07-Feb-1863
Wife of William
Roop, Mary
17-Sep-1872 76y-11m-15d Wife of John
Saunders, Elizabeth
27-Jun-1856 25y Wife of J. F.
Saunders, James F.
07-Mar-1870 47y Stone broken, standing by tree
Saunders, Moses
19-Jan-1851 67y-9m-16d Same stone as Zion
Saunders, Zion
15-Feb-1892 81y-1m-2d Wife of M. G.; same stone as Moses
Schwaigert, Caroline M.
14-Nov-1879 4m-5d Child of G. & M.
Schwaigert, Charley H.
31-Jul-1878 17y-7m Child of G. & M.
Schwaigert, John B.
05-Aug-1876 9m-3d Child of G. & M.
Sheley, Beverly
29-Jun-1852 29d? Son of (illegible) & C.
Sheley, Charley S.
03-Jan-1877 3m-23d Son of E. F. & A.
Sheley, Elizabeth
23-Feb-1880 75y-1m-20d Wife of J. S.
Sheley, Eva
27-Apr-1903 20y-3m-21d
Sheley, Fred L.
05-Oct-1906 20y-11m-29d Son of A. & E.
Sheley, Infant
26-Feb-1892 1d Dau. of M. M. & R. L.
Sheley, John S.
29-Jul-1870 illegible
Sheley, Lizzie Maud
02-Jun-1900 19y-21d Dau. of A. & V.
Sheley, Minnie M.
22-Sep-1874 2m Dau. of A. & E.
Sheley, Samuel 23-Mar-1828 15-Dec-1854
Son of J. S. & E. Sheley
Sheley, Viola L.
05-Mar-1899 34y-20d Wife of A.
Sheley, W(illiam) M(arion)
 
CO F 10th IOWA INF; eldest child of Beverly Whiting Sheley & Charlotte Saunders Sheley
Shion, Catharine
28-Jan-1887 75y-18d Wife of James; Suspect data! Catharine appears to be 15 yrs older than her husband?
Shion, James
13-Jul-1900 72y-7m GAR & Post 127 markers
Sirovy, Linda J. (Reed) 15-Apr-1950 08-May-1990
Dau. of Marvin & Evelyn Anderson Reed
Sirovy, Tammy Adele
__-Oct-1970
Dau. of Linda J. (Reed) Sirovy
Smith, Albert
15-Jul-1868 1y-9m-26d Son of A. & C.; stone flat on ground
Tragar, Freddie
01-Nov-1896 3m
Watkins, Emily L.
22-Nov-1868
Wife of T. T.
Watkins, Infant


Son of T. T. & E. L.
Watkins, Jane
10-Jul-1863 61y-10m-8d Wife of R. Watkins
Watkins, John


Stone broken
Watkins, Rege (or Bede?)
05-Jun-1861 71y-10m-15d
Watkins, T. T.
23-Sep-1881 58y-4m-5d Co I 13 Reg I V Inf.
Watson, Annie 1873 1959

Whitehead, Clara E. 26-Mar-1906 28-Mar-1907
Dau. of G. W. & N. C.
Whitehead, Moses E.
25-Jan-1891 1m-1d Son of J. M. & E. A.
Whitehead, M. W. 1860 1934
Grandfather of Wm.. Al, Mike, Dick, Ray and Maxine McGriff
Whitehead, Wm. G. 20-Nov-1906 22-Nov-1906
Son of Chas. & Mary
Whiteman, Jas.
23-May-1866 66y-11m-16d
Whiteman(?), James B.
26-Jul-1853 11m-1d Son of J. K. & C.; stone broken, standing by tree
Wiles, Christopher
10-Dec-1884 76y-10m Same stone as Eliza
Wiles, Eliza
17-Jul-1887 75y-6m-15d Same stone as Christopher
Wiles, Sarah J.
21-Mar-1862 10y-7m
Wiles, Wm.
11-Nov-1886 35y
Wilkason, Nelson
04-Dec-1866 26y-5m-21d
Wilkinson, Abel
illegible 2y-9d
Wilkinson, Infant


Son (of C. L. & N. A.)
Wilkinson, Nanna A.
04-May-1885 18y-10m-9d Wife of C. L.
Wilkinson, Nelson
04-Dec-1866 26y Nelson Wilkason, d. December 4, 1866, aged 26y-5mo-21d?
Wilkinson, Rachel S.
30-Aug-1857
Dau. of A. & S.; stone broken
Wymore, Bent 1879 1953

Wymore, Chris 18-Dec-1884 10-Dec-1920

Wymore, Julia
05-Sep-1891 3m Child of Thompson & Margaret; same stone as Lynch
Wymore, Lynch
26-Sep-1887 11y-10m Child of Thompson & Margaret; same stone as Julia
Wymore, Margaret 1855 1935
Same stone as Thompson
Wymore, Thompson 1837 1915
Same stone as Margaret


WPA Grave Records, 1940, not found in 1978 survey
Name Born Died Age Notes
Balbey, Nancy G.
03-Mar-1856 30y Wife of A.; Probably Nancy Dalby
Boach, Susan
07-Feb-1863
Wife of M. M.; Probably Susan Roach. Same date of death, "Wife of W. M."
Gorsuch, Challnissa 29-May-1873 02-Oct-1916

Gorsuch, Ed 28-Feb-1868 24-Feb-1908
Son of E. & S. A.
Miles, Christopher
10-Dec-1884 76y Probably Christopher Wiles, same date of death and years of age
Miles, Eliza
17-Jul-1887 75y Probably Eliza Wiles, same date of death and years of age
Miles, M. M.
11-Nov-1886 35y Probably Wm. Wiles, same date of death and years of age
Miles, Sarah J.
21-Mar-1862 11y Probably Sara J. Wiles, same date of death and (approx.) years of age
Rakestraw, Rhoda M.
07-Jan-1887 37y Probably Rhoda M. Rakestraw, d. 07-JUN-1887, aged 37y-11mo-7d, "Wife of E."
Smith, Harlan A.
03-May-1898

Smith, John
15-Jun-1860

Whitehead, Infant 28-Mar-1907 28-Mar-1907
Probably Clara E. Whitehead, b. 26-Mar-1907; d. 28-Mar-1907
Whitehead, Infant 08-Jul-1874 08-Jul-1874

Wilkinson, Sarah
1860 69y-4m-16d Wife of Abel


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