LOCAL/FAMILY HISTORY DEPT. *  DONNELLSON PUBLIC LIBRARY *  500 PARK AVE. *  DONNELLSON, IA *  52625

English Colony:Old English Cemetery

Van Buren County, Bonaparte Township, Section 11.
Also known locally as: Gabby, Synder and House
                                                                     

In 1981 Verle & Jane DeRosear and Harley & Erma DeRosear visited this cemetery  For many years there was a suspicion that it may have had ties to the English people who had settled near there. After probing we found 13 stones, about 6 inches below the sod. The stones were lifted out and laid flat where they had fallen. We had been told by local residents that the area had been logged. At that time, many of the stones were used as props, under the wheels of trucks, which were stuck in mud. We can only guess that the cemetery was much larger and that much historical and family information has been lost.

Some have referred to this being a Mormon cemetery. I do not believe there are Mormon burials here. Although there was a Mormon camp in the area, I feel their burying ground was at the mouth of Reed's Creek.  by E.D.
 

Burials
                                                    
BATEMAN
William               Born 26 Apr 1801    Died 24 Nov 1875 

Jane                    Died 08 Mar 1868    68yr 11mo 8da
wife of W. Bateman
 

BROWN
Rachel                Died 05 Dec 1865    63yr 3mo 22da
 

ETHERIDGE
Mary Jane           Died 01 Dec 1863    5yr 9mo 4da

John A.                Died 17 Jul 1860    2yr 9mo
son of J.R.
& I. Etheridge

John D.                Died 24 Mar 1853    45yr 2mo 24da

John C.                Died 30 Jun 1852    72yr 3mo 6da

* Mary                  Died 15 Feb 1864    59yr 7mo 15da
wife of J. Etheridge

* William H.         Died 22 Aug 1865    1yr 1mo 8da                                                       
 

FULLER
Pauline Browning   Died 06 Jan 1890    82yr 7mo
 

GABBY
James B.                Born 01 Aug 1806    Died 14 Jan 1883

* Marion                  Born 16 Jul 1856    Died 12 Mar 1933
son of James B. Gabby
 

HALFHILL              
Phebe A.                Died 17 Dec 1865    42yr
wife of Peter Halfhill             1866?)

Peter                      Died 14 Feb 1865    52yr 2mo 6da
husb of Phebe Ann
Halfhill  
 


HOUSE
Ellen                       Died 28 Dec 1862    65yr 13 da
wife of S. House

Samuel                  Died 19 Aug 1860    65yr 4mo 16da
 

LAMSON
Adah                      Died 19 May 1869    70yr 11da
wife of Judson Lamson
 

LANGWITH
Elizabeth               Died 14 Nov 1852
wife of E. Langwith
73yr 6m  13da  

Sarah                     Died 13 Sep 1857
dau of E. & S.

Thomas                 Died 03 Feb 1875
son of E. & S.
 

SAGE
Annie E.                Died 25 Aug 1868    1yr 11mo 7da
dau of J.R. & J. Sage

Adah                     Died 07 Aug 1865    1yr 6mo 22da
dau of J.R. & J. Sage                          (1mo 7da?)
 

THOMAS
Rebecca               Died 11 Feb 1875    in 69th year
 

WARE
John                      Died 14 Apr 1851    54yr 25da

James                   Born 06 Nov 1799    Died 08 Feb 1853

This is the largest stone in the cemetery, his wife's name is on the
other side of the stone.

Ann                        Born 05 Nov 1802    Died 22 May 1869
wife of James Ware

Note: On another side of the stone, there appears to have been names and dates of two persons.  Believe to have been etched out.
 

WYER
Henry                   Died 25 Dec 1853    55yr

Peter                   Died 10 Jul 1862    77yr 10mo

Margaret             Died 25 Oct 1853    29yr 5mo 9da
dau of J. & A. Wyer

John                    Died 25 Dec 1855    65yr

Anna                   Died 06 Mar 1864    65yr 3mo 16da
wife of John Wyer
 

* Names were obtained from an old manuscript copy of this cemetery done in 1964 by Marion Flake, a local resident.  We were unable to find these stones,
but are quite sure these names belong in this cemetery.

From research done by Erma Derosear .  Erma's husband  Harley  Derosear  descended from this group  of immigrants.
More information can be found at the library.
 

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