Page County, Iowa: Shearer Cemetery History

Much History Surrounds Shearer Church, Cemetery
submitted by Julia Johnson - julia.johnson63@gmail.com
Early Days Recalled by Chas. G. Maxwell (Editor’s note: Mr. Maxwell is well qualified to write of those early days, his father having been postmaster for the neighborhood. The post office, now extinct, was named Center. As a boy, Charlie Maxwell remembers seeing the stagecoach from Maryville stop at his father’s place on its way to Hawleyville, Clarinda, Manti and Shenandoah. Mr. Maxwell still makes his home in the same neighborhood, with his daughter, Mrs. Merl Cox). Before a graveyard could be started in a new country, there must be people living in the surrounding country. Page County, Iowa, was 95 years old this spring. Just think what a change has been made in that length of time. One hundred years ago today, no white man had a home in Page County. The first white man to settle in Page County was G. W. Farrens, who came to Page County in the fall of 1840 and took a claim on a tract of land now known as section 27 in Buchanan Township, Page County, Iowa. In the spring of 1841, Henry and David Farrens came and took claims on land near their brother, G. W. Farrens. Some of the early settlers of Buchanan township were Wm. Hardee 1842, Lark Thompson 1843, Dan Duncan 1845. Wm. Shearer and his six sons, Joel, William, Thomas, John, Jacob and Henry, came in the spring of 1849, taking claims on land in section 23, Buchanan township; E. McFarland 1851, Samuel and Wayne Davison 1852; John Nixon, Joseph Snodgrass and Peter Bebout 1854. CEMETERY STARTED 1853 Up to 1854 there had been but very few deaths. About the year 1853, Mrs. Joel Shearer passed away. There being no graveyard in the country, Wm. Shearer gave an acre of his land for a graveyard. This was the starting of the Shearer graveyard. The first grave was that of Mrs. Joel Shearer, about the year 1853, Mrs. John Nixon 1855. From 1853 to 1870 there were several graves made, and from 1870 to 1910 most all the early settlers of this country were buried in this graveyard. From 1910 to 1936, many of the younger generation. The coffins of 1850 to 1870 were made, as needed, of walnut lumber by local carpenters. There being no church buildings in the country from 1850 to 1883, and modern means for preserving bodies unknown, the corpses were buried, and later on the funeral was preached at some school house in the vicinity. The men who were usually called on to dig the graves were men living near the graveyard. In the winter, when the weather was very cold and sometimes the ground was frozen and covered with snow, these men would build a fire near the grave so they could warm when they got cold. CHURCH BUILT 1883 In the year 1882 many of the people who had relatives and friends buried in the Shearer graveyard, considering the fact that many of their friends as well as relatives would follow later on, and that they needed a building where funerals could be held comfortably, a meeting was called on Jan. 5, 1883, to consider the erecting of a building near the Shearer graveyard, where a funeral occasion could be held comfortably at any time of the year. This meeting was held at the Pine school house. It was agreed on by the outsiders and four church denominations to build a union church near the Shearer graveyard. The principal object in building was understood by both outsiders and church members, that it was for the convenience of holding funerals, and when not used for funerals the different church denominations of this vicinity could use it for church services. The four denominations were Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, Free Methodist, and Christian church members. At this meeting two petitions were made out, asking the people of this vicinity for donations for the building. G. W. Chitty and Louis Sowers were to circulate the petitions for donations, with the understanding that one-half be paid in sixty days and the last half when the building was completed. March 10, 1883, at this meeting a board of trustees was elected to see after building the church and to remain in office one year. Following were the first trustees: A. C. Fine for M. E. Methodist, Thomas Shearer for Baptist, J. W. Maxwell for the Christian, Hiram Ingram for Free Methodist, and E. McFarland for outsiders. The officers of the board of trustees were E. McFarland president, J. W. Maxwell secretary, Thomas Shearer treasurer, G. W. Chitty and Ethan Oxley were appointed to collect the donations and turn the same over to Thomas Shearer, the treasurer. It was decided to name this building the Shearer church. On March 17, 1883, at a meeting of trustees of the Shearer church, all the members of the board being present, the plans and specifications were made out. The size of the house was 24x36x12 feet. Building bids were called for. On March 31, 1883, a meeting of the trustees was held to consider bids to building the church. Members of the board all were present except Hiram Ingram. The contract was let to G. R. Parsons and N. E. Thrapp, to build said house for $140.00 April 7, 1883, at a trustees’ meeting to consider lumber bids, the Hopkins Lumber Co. bid was accepted, and E. McFarland was appointed to see after the ordering of the lumber. INGRAM DONATES GROUND On Sept. 11, 1883, Hiram Ingram and his wife deeded one acre of land to the five trustees of the Shearer church, commencing at the center of northeast quarter section 23, township 67, range 36, and running west 8 rods, north 20 rods, east 8 rods, south 20 rods to the place of beginning, consideration one dollar. On Sept. 15, 1883 the board let the contract to G. W. Chitty to plaster the church, for $80.00, E. McFarland to build the flue, house to be completed by Oct. 10, 1883. March 8, 1884, was the first annual meeting of the subscribers. Everyone that made a donation to the church fund was considered a member of this association, and had a right to vote for members of the board of trustees or any other question that might come up in regard to this church building. The records of the secretary and treasurer were examined by A. W. Drake, R. Maxwell and G. W. Chitty. They reported the amount collected was $715.30, the amount expended $683.10, amount on hand $42.20. The same trustees were elected for another year, A. C. Fine, Hiram Ingram, Thomas Shearer, J. W. Maxwell and E. McFarland. E. McFarland and A. C. Fine were appointed to select lumber to seat the house, and to hire a carpenter to make the seats. They hired Fine and Wilcox to make the seats for $50.32. So far as I have been able to find out, this was the last meeting of any importance of the first board of trustees and donators. On March 10, 1885, the trustees reported that there had been collected $738. 27, expenses were $736.67, and amount on hand $1.60. On Oct. 27, 1898, they took up a special donation to paint the house. The amount collected was $23.44, expense $21.88, amount on hand $1.56. CHURCH HONOR ROLL The names of the first donators to build the Shearer church follow: R. Maxwell $10, E. McFarland $25, L. Sowers $25, O H McFarland $4, Thos. Davison $5, Hiram Ingram $20, G. W. Farrens $7, J W Shearer $1, Henry Carr $2, J W Maxwell $10, Thos. Shearer $30, A. C. Fine $15, A. Bebout $10. Willard Shearer $5, A Wilder $10, I Lasley $5, Henry Laub $25, N W Cline $10, W W McFarland $2, J W Chitty $1, J F Calhoon $10, Ham Sowers $5, Abner Sowers $3, J P Harris $2, Viola Chitty $5, A. W. Drake $10. Eath Oxley $20, Wm Hardee $10, J M Fine $10, I J Dungan $10, J D Collins 45, Al McGuire $20, G W Chitty $5, H. C. Davison $5, J F Walker $10, Const Carmichael $5, Dave Artlip $5, Lettie Maxwell $5, Robert Davison $2, A. Foster $3, George Foster $1, Sarah McFarland $10, D M Farrens $5, C. G. Maxwell $1. G W Woldruff $2, H N Robinson $1, Alonzo fine $1, Henry Carver $1, Beaty Kelley $3, Dan Duncan $2.50, Wm. McKie $5, H H Roush $5, Harris Sowers $5, A. J. McFarland $5, E. S. Damon $5, Elihu Phipps $1, J Nixon $5, Geo. H Walker $2, Sam Wolf $2, Margaret Davison $25, Mrs. L Fine $3, Douglas Fine $2, Jeptha Grove $5, Good & McKie $5. E Hardee $1, W Harris $1, J. J. Harris, $2, J. D. Maxwell $15, J. Vandagriff, $3, Elick Phipps $2, L M Sowers $5, Martin Wolf $2, J. J. Manley, $5, Permelia Allen $5, David Calhoon $10, Joseph Snodgrass $10, G M Ingram $10, Mary Davison $5, E. J. Fine $2, John Creps $15, Jacob Garman $10, M. A. Bebout $5, George Shotridge $5, Wm Damewood $5, James Damewood $5, John Crabill $25, Thos. McCluer $5, L. Stewart $1, David Booze $2.50, Denis Jeffers $50, Axie Eads $7, J Thompson $5, Mrs. Stotler $2, George Maxwell $2, Till Crain $5, Ed Crain $2, and Sam Nixon $10. Clarinda Herald Journal, Clarinda, Iowa, Thursday, July 9, 1936

Much History Surrounds Shearer Church, Cemetery

submitted by Julia Johnson - julia.johnson63@gmail.com

Early Days Recalled by Chas. G. Maxwell

(Editor’s note: Mr. Maxwell is well qualified to write of those early days, his father having been postmaster for the neighborhood. The post office, now extinct, was named Center. As a boy, Charlie Maxwell remembers seeing the stagecoach from Maryville stop at his father’s place on its way to Hawleyville, Clarinda, Manti and Shenandoah. Mr. Maxwell still makes his home in the same neighborhood, with his daughter, Mrs. Merl Cox).

Before a graveyard could be started in a new country, there must be people living in the surrounding country. Page County, Iowa, was 95 years old this spring. Just think what a change has been made in that length of time. One hundred years ago today, no white man had a home in Page County.

The first white man to settle in Page County was G. W. Farrens, who came to Page County in the fall of 1840 and took a claim on a tract of land now known as section 27 in Buchanan Township, Page County, Iowa. In the spring of 1841, Henry and David Farrens came and took claims on land near their brother, G. W. Farrens. Some of the early settlers of Buchanan township were Wm. Hardee 1842, Lark Thompson 1843, Dan Duncan 1845. Wm. Shearer and his six sons, Joel, William, Thomas, John, Jacob and Henry, came in the spring of 1849, taking claims on land in section 23, Buchanan township; E. McFarland 1851, Samuel and Wayne Davison 1852; John Nixon, Joseph Snodgrass and Peter Bebout 1854.

CEMETERY STARTED 1853

Up to 1854 there had been but very few deaths. About the year 1853, Mrs. Joel Shearer passed away. There being no graveyard in the country, Wm. Shearer gave an acre of his land for a graveyard. This was the starting of the Shearer graveyard. The first grave was that of Mrs. Joel Shearer, about the year 1853, Mrs. John Nixon 1855. From 1853 to 1870 there were several graves made, and from 1870 to 1910 most all the early settlers of this country were buried in this graveyard. From 1910 to 1936, many of the younger generation.

The coffins of 1850 to 1870 were made, as needed, of walnut lumber by local carpenters. There being no church buildings in the country from 1850 to 1883, and modern means for preserving bodies unknown, the corpses were buried, and later on the funeral was preached at some school house in the vicinity.

The men who were usually called on to dig the graves were men living near the graveyard. In the winter, when the weather was very cold and sometimes the ground was frozen and covered with snow, these men would build a fire near the grave so they could warm when they got cold.

CHURCH BUILT 1883

In the year 1882 many of the people who had relatives and friends buried in the Shearer graveyard, considering the fact that many of their friends as well as relatives would follow later on, and that they needed a building where funerals could be held comfortably, a meeting was called on Jan. 5, 1883, to consider the erecting of a building near the Shearer graveyard, where a funeral occasion could be held comfortably at any time of the year. This meeting was held at the Pine school house. It was agreed on by the outsiders and four church denominations to build a union church near the Shearer graveyard. The principal object in building was understood by both outsiders and church members, that it was for the convenience of holding funerals, and when not used for funerals the different church denominations of this vicinity could use it for church services. The four denominations were Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, Free Methodist, and Christian church members. At this meeting two petitions were made out, asking the people of this vicinity for donations for the building. G. W. Chitty and Louis Sowers were to circulate the petitions for donations, with the understanding that one-half be paid in sixty days and the last half when the building was completed. March 10, 1883, at this meeting a board of trustees was elected to see after building the church and to remain in office one year. Following were the first trustees: A. C. Fine for M. E. Methodist, Thomas Shearer for Baptist, J. W. Maxwell for the Christian, Hiram Ingram for Free Methodist, and E. McFarland for outsiders. The officers of the board of trustees were E. McFarland president, J. W. Maxwell secretary, Thomas Shearer treasurer, G. W. Chitty and Ethan Oxley were appointed to collect the donations and turn the same over to Thomas Shearer, the treasurer. It was decided to name this building the Shearer church.

On March 17, 1883, at a meeting of trustees of the Shearer church, all the members of the board being present, the plans and specifications were made out. The size of the house was 24x36x12 feet. Building bids were called for.

On March 31, 1883, a meeting of the trustees was held to consider bids to building the church. Members of the board all were present except Hiram Ingram. The contract was let to G. R. Parsons and N. E. Thrapp, to build said house for $140.00

April 7, 1883, at a trustees’ meeting to consider lumber bids, the Hopkins Lumber Co. bid was accepted, and E. McFarland was appointed to see after the ordering of the lumber.

INGRAM DONATES GROUND

On Sept. 11, 1883, Hiram Ingram and his wife deeded one acre of land to the five trustees of the Shearer church, commencing at the center of northeast quarter section 23, township 67, range 36, and running west 8 rods, north 20 rods, east 8 rods, south 20 rods to the place of beginning, consideration one dollar.

On Sept. 15, 1883 the board let the contract to G. W. Chitty to plaster the church, for $80.00, E. McFarland to build the flue, house to be completed by Oct. 10, 1883.

March 8, 1884, was the first annual meeting of the subscribers. Everyone that made a donation to the church fund was considered a member of this association, and had a right to vote for members of the board of trustees or any other question that might come up in regard to this church building.

The records of the secretary and treasurer were examined by A. W. Drake, R. Maxwell and G. W. Chitty. They reported the amount collected was $715.30, the amount expended $683.10, amount on hand $42.20. The same trustees were elected for another year, A. C. Fine, Hiram Ingram, Thomas Shearer, J. W. Maxwell and E. McFarland.

E. McFarland and A. C. Fine were appointed to select lumber to seat the house, and to hire a carpenter to make the seats. They hired Fine and Wilcox to make the seats for $50.32. So far as I have been able to find out, this was the last meeting of any importance of the first board of trustees and donators.

On March 10, 1885, the trustees reported that there had been collected $738. 27, expenses were $736.67, and amount on hand $1.60. On Oct. 27, 1898, they took up a special donation to paint the house. The amount collected was $23.44, expense $21.88, amount on hand $1.56.

CHURCH HONOR ROLL

The names of the first donators to build the Shearer church follow: R. Maxwell $10, E. McFarland $25, L. Sowers $25, O H McFarland $4, Thos. Davison $5, Hiram Ingram $20, G. W. Farrens $7, J W Shearer $1, Henry Carr $2, J W Maxwell $10, Thos. Shearer $30, A. C. Fine $15, A. Bebout $10.

Willard Shearer $5, A Wilder $10, I Lasley $5, Henry Laub $25, N W Cline $10, W W McFarland $2, J W Chitty $1, J F Calhoon $10, Ham Sowers $5, Abner Sowers $3, J P Harris $2, Viola Chitty $5, A. W. Drake $10.

Eath Oxley $20, Wm Hardee $10, J M Fine $10, I J Dungan $10, J D Collins 45, Al McGuire $20, G W Chitty $5, H. C. Davison $5, J F Walker $10, Const Carmichael $5, Dave Artlip $5, Lettie Maxwell $5, Robert Davison $2, A. Foster $3, George Foster $1, Sarah McFarland $10, D M Farrens $5, C. G. Maxwell $1.

G W Woldruff $2, H N Robinson $1, Alonzo fine $1, Henry Carver $1, Beaty Kelley $3, Dan Duncan $2.50, Wm. McKie $5, H H Roush $5, Harris Sowers $5, A. J. McFarland $5, E. S. Damon $5, Elihu Phipps $1, J Nixon $5, Geo. H Walker $2, Sam Wolf $2, Margaret Davison $25, Mrs. L Fine $3, Douglas Fine $2, Jeptha Grove $5, Good & McKie $5.

E Hardee $1, W Harris $1, J. J. Harris, $2, J. D. Maxwell $15, J. Vandagriff, $3, Elick Phipps $2, L M Sowers $5, Martin Wolf $2, J. J. Manley, $5, Permelia Allen $5, David Calhoon $10, Joseph Snodgrass $10, G M Ingram $10, Mary Davison $5, E. J. Fine $2, John Creps $15, Jacob Garman $10, M. A. Bebout $5, George Shotridge $5, Wm Damewood $5, James Damewood $5, John Crabill $25, Thos. McCluer $5, L. Stewart $1, David Booze $2.50, Denis Jeffers $50, Axie Eads $7, J Thompson $5, Mrs. Stotler $2, George Maxwell $2, Till Crain $5, Ed Crain $2, and Sam Nixon $10.

Clarinda Herald Journal, Clarinda, Iowa, Thursday, July 9, 1936