Iowa County Cemetery Stones and History 1844-1975 (manuscript) by Pauline Lillie

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                    German Lutheran Cemetery 
                    St. Johns(old Maas)


Location
Section 31, lenox Township Range -9- on Section line of Washington 
(See. 36) township; Down by the Iowa River. A lane, for a drive off 
Hy. 6 which is east of South Amana about a mile then north.

History
It is not shown in 1874 Atlas, or mentioned in the 1881 History, but 
on the 1900 Atlas p. 37 is listed down on edge of Section 36 Lenox
on the Henry Maas farm, after crossing the Rock Island Railroad track; 
Land owned before the tract is G. Maas; 1950 Atlas p. 5 lists in the 
SW corner of Section 31 Lenox Township; This description becomes dif-
ficult because at one time there was an Amana Township.

From the Pioneer Republican news article, time the German Church (Lutheran 
St. Johns) in Iowa Township had their centennial January 1, 1964: The foll-
owing: This refers to the St. Johns Church- In 1866 a tract of 15 acres 
was bought from A. L. Ruth at $ 10.00 an acre. The following year an 
acre was set aside for the cemetery; up to that time the cemetery near 
the Rock Island Railroad at South Amana had been the burial ground. 
Since it was on the Maas farms in the early years naturally picked 
up that name, for to refer to St. Johns cemetery would mean that one 
in Iowa twp. Section 22 or about 6 miles east and south.

Condition
It was in 1962 when I copied the stone, at that time the cemetery was 
still in fair condition. Had been mowed once, but weeds had started 
to appear in places, since then it has ben neglected. Here are many 
large lovely stones; It is well fenced in; Since that time I under-
stand several infants were buried without markers.

Remarks
None it is now considered abandoned.


Researched by Pauline Lillie- Ladora

 1978:- Plans to clean up this cemetery this summer as a youth project 
 under supervision of Iowa County Board of Supervisors.


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