....It is late December, the snow is starting to blow as the winds are increasing out the northwest at a steady 20mph with gusts to 40mph as the temperature drops from 10-20 degrees above zero to well below zero as the night proceeds. It is winter on the prairie of Fayette County, Iowa. Extremes will be 100 degrees in the summer to 35+ below in the winter, with relentless blowing wind during much of the year. Snow is light thus far this year, but 10 to 25 inches on the ground are not uncommon, with high winds creating blizzards and whiteouts. The the two blizzards with 20+ inches of snow, in April of 1961 produced drifts in many areas which would have been to the top of the church steeple. Historical there have been many hard times created by weather extremes.
....The pioneer farmers around Garden Prairie Church had to be totally self sufficient for extended periods of times. In the beginning they were living in small log houses and utilizing small log barns and outbuildings. Eventually rough cut lumber from the saw mills, north on the Volga River became available to build shelters. All commodities came by traveling 40 miles by ox team to the Mississippi River at Dubuque or perhaps McGregor, or by Teamsters who supplied the few merchants in Brush Creek, Maynard or Fayette. Hard cash was almost nonexistent. A little wheat, corn or oats might be traded or sent to the river market. Hogs could be raised and the pork salted and/or smoked and shipped by wagon, if enough salt was available. Butter could be made from excess cream that settled to the top of milk and skimmed off. Butter could be salted and shipped. At first cash crops were few.
....Then in 1873 the railroad came to Brush Creek and Fayette County. The agricultural boom years for the area started. The farms and towns grew. They were in their "hay day," which would last until the arrival of the big dollar agro-business era accelerating starting in the 1960's and a way of life that had existed for over a century rapidly disappeared from the Iowa prairie and hills. bz/2001

Garden Prairie Cemetery Burials Sorted by Surname

Surname, Given, Birthday, Death Day, Age, Note

Ayres Mathew 1864 March 18 1880 26y3m
Cornilsen Andrew 1907 1964 57
Cornilsen Margaret 1909 1964 55
Corson Samuel 1865 September 21 1877 11y10m Son of John & Ellen
Davis Emma M. 1866 1956 90
Davis Henry 1830 May 09 1897 67 Husband of Margaret Hume
Davis Jane H. 1866 1950 84
Davis John R. 1863 1951 88
Davis Margaret (Hume) 1835 January 17 1907 72 Wife of Henry
Fereday Charles 1881 November 13 1888 7y1m26d Son of S. & E.A. No Stone
Fereday Florence 1883 November 08 1888 5y6m23d Dau of S. & E.A. No Stone
Fereday Samuel February 15 1898 September 25 1889 41y7m9d
Fereday Samuel B. February 15 1898 September 25 1939 41y7m Inscription data in ??
Hetzel Albert 1879 December 04 1901 22
Hetzel Amy J. 1879 1949 70
Hetzel Eddie April 13 1879 April 07 1895 15
Hetzel George 1870 1944 74
Hetzel Henry Birth? Death? Age?
Hetzel Jacob June 08 1842 February 28 1907 64 Husband of Kate Father
Hetzel Kate December 02 1852 September 16 1895 Wife of Jacob
Hetzel Vina Birth? Death? Age?
Kershaw Fanny August 01 1877 1929 62 Wife of John
Kershaw John Birth? July 25 1879 Age? Husband of Fanny
Leverington Harvey 1892 1912 20
Lower Helen Birth? 1924 Age?
Martin Jonnie 1874 August 03 1888 14
Martin Sarah T. 1848 July 12 1897 49
Ray Charles D. June 16 1864 August 06 1888 24 same stone as Jonnie Martin
Recoy Mary 1820 September 26 1890 70
Rollinson Jacob I. 1877 February 19 1891 14y10m19d
Sherman Clarissa J. 1846 September 03 1884 38y1m12d (Wife of Josiah Sherman)
Sherman Gladys G. October 17 1901 July 21 1902 Dau of N.W.(Nelson) & I.M.(Ida Deeds) (Grand-dau of Josiah Sherman)
Swales Abigal 1881 1965 84 Dau of John G.
Swales Anna E. August 20 1850 August 27 1910 60 Wife of John G.
Swales Clara Ellen February 21 September 07 1880 1y5m15d Dau of John G.
Swales James 1850 1913 63 Bro of John G. (Son of Mary Heidy & Richard Swales of Ohio; half-brother of Martha Jane Sherman Thompson and Josiah Martin Van Buren Sherman).
Swales John G. June 30 1849 March 13 1922 73 (Bro of James Swales) (Son of Mary Heidy & Richard Swales of Ohio; half-brother of Martha Jane Sherman Thompson and Josiah Martin Van Buren Sherman).
Swales John Richard February 04 1887 1972 85 (Son of John G.)
Swales Lura Elida (Hoisington) February 09 1886 June 29 1959 73 (Wife of John Richard)
Swales Olive August 08 1877 June 29 1933 65 (Mary, Dau of John G.)
Swales Nettie (Birdsall) 1894 1970 76 (Second wife of John Richard Swales)
Swales Ruth November 19 1880 November 22 1880 3d (father? John G.)
Terrell Maynard C. June ?? 1918 October 06 1985 67 (Husband of Marian Eleanor Swales)
Turner Wesley April 19 1885 1884 9m16d Son of F.C. & M.J.
Van Ngo Man 1956 1994 38
Wood Libbie 1805 January 04 1897 94
Wood Lillie B. December 03 1896 January 04 1897 1m Dau of B. & Ian
Wood Infant Son 1881 May 25 1881 0 Son of B. & Ian
York Edwin 1869 1940 71 Brother
York Mary Lucretia January 28 1832 December 23 1913 81 Wife of Rowland
York Rowland July 23 1822 October 02 1892 70 Husband of Mary Lucretia
Young Margarette A. October 10 1846 August 02 1899 52 Wife of Robert
Young Robert June 03 1843 March 02 Husband of Margarette Death in May?

Garden Prairie Cemetery Burials Sorted by Year of Death

.....Nearly all of the ground around Garden Prairie Church/Cemetery was unplowed virgin prairie in the late 1850's. Beginning in the early 1860's more and more farms were claimed/bought, more and more ground was being broken for the first time by "sod-busting" plows. Big heavy plows pulled by 5-9 teams of oxen. Once the deep rooted prairie grass was "broken" and turned over the first year, the following plowing seasons were significantly easier and could be done with smaller plows, smaller teams of oxen.
....If one examines the burial grounds at Garden Prairie, it is obvious unmarked graves would have to be present. If the first burial we know is listed as 1877, one has to assume there are a number of other unmarked burials from deaths on the surrounding farms from about 1863+, plus stones were expensive at a time when there was very little actual hard cash to buy commodities. Imported markers were generally Indiana Marble. Many graves were marked with wood, limestone, or native granite boulders until a permanent marker could be acquired and/or afforded. Many graves just went unmarked, thus one has to assume 20-40 unknown burials in Garden Prairie of people closely related to the local families listed.

Death Surname Given Birth

Death? Hetzel Henry Birth?
Death? Hetzel Vina Birth?
1877 Corson Samuel 1865
1879 Kershaw John Birth?
1880 Ayres Mathew 1864
1880 Swales Clara Ellen
1880 Swales Ruth 1880
1881 Wood Infant Son 1881
1884 Sherman Clarissa J. 1846
1884 Turner Wesley 1885
1888 Fereday Charles 1881
1888 Fereday Florence 1883
1888 Martin Jonnie 1874
1888 Ray Charles D. 1864
1889 Fereday Samuel 1898
1890 Recoy Mary 1820
1891 Rollinson Jacob I. 1877
1892 York Rowland 1822
1895 Hetzel Eddie 1879
1895 Hetzel Kate 1852
1897 Davis Henry 1830
1897 Martin Sarah T. 1848
1897 Wood Libbie 1805
1897 Wood Lillie B. 1896
1899 Young Margarette A. 1846
1901 Hetzel Albert 1879
1902 Sherman Gladys G. 1901
1907 Davis Margaret (Hume) 1835
1907 Hetzel Jacob 1842
1910 Swales Anna E. 1850
1912 Leverington Harvey 1892
1913 Swales James 1850
1913 York Mary Lucretia 1832
1922 Swales John G. 1849
1924 Lower Helen Birth?
1929 Kershaw Fanny 1877
1933 Swales Olive 1877
1939 Fereday Samuel B. 1898
1940 York Edwin 1869
1944 Hetzel George 1870
1949 Hetzel Amy J. 1879
1950 Davis Jane H. 1866
1951 Davis John R. 1863
1956 Davis Emma M. 1866
1959 Swales Lura Elida 1886
1964 Cornilsen Andrew 1907
1964 Cornilsen Margaret 1909
1965 Swales Abigal 1881
1970 Swales Nettie (Birdsall) 1894
1972 Swales John Richard 1887
1985 Terrell Maynard C. 1918
1994 Van Ngo Man 1956
Young Robert 1843

Burials of interest in Brush Creek/Arlington/Groat Cemetery, 4 miles to the east.
....Groat has been databased and is found in full on other pages linked off the Fayette Index. Many of the individuals buried at Groat were related or neighbors to the burials in Garden Prairie Cementery.

....Mary Ann Heidy married three times in Harrison/Carroll Co, Ohio: John Faulkner in 1825, Caleb J. Sherman in 1832, and Richard Swales 1848. Two of her children with husband Caleb J. Sherman, Martha Jane (Thompson) and Josiah Martin Van Buren Sherman pioneered in Fayette County, Iowa. Her youngest two children John G. and James Swales would remove to the Brush Creek farms in the late 1870's.
....Andrew Thompson removed his family from Harford Co, Maryland to New Rumley Twp, Harrison Co, Ohio in 1817. Shortly after that other surnames that would become common around Brush Creek/Arlington Iowa, including the Sherman and Swales families came in this eastern area of Ohio along the Ohio River. Nearly all were pioneer farm families.
....In 1854, three son's of Zach 1 Caleb Thompson, William, Samuel 1 Andrew, Morris Jackson removed to Fairfield Twp, Fayette County, Iowa, the area which would become Brush Creek (Arlington in 1895). Samuel Thompson was 27 when he migrated to Iowa, his wife Martha Jane Sherman 21. Josiah Sherman, Martha's brother was 16+, in 1854, at the time of the migration. Josiah either came to Iowa with the Thompson brothers in 1854, or within two years with another Thompson brother. At this time (2001), I would have to speculate he came with the initial Thompson movement in 1854, since his sister Martha came at that time.
....Martha and Josiah Sherman's half brothers, John G. Swales and James Swales, along with William David, Morris Jackson, Alexander Thompson all would end up farming within a 4-5 mile circle of each other starting 1+ miles west of Brush creek and extending out 5+ miles to the west. Many of the Thompson clan are buried in Groat Cemetery and Garden Prairie Cemetery, just WxSW of Arlington.
....Morris J. bought a farm 1+ miles west of Brush Creek in 1863. William David bought a farm 5+ miles west of Brush Creek in 1865. Samuel 1 Andrew bought a farm with his brother-in-law Josiah Sherman 2+ miles west in 1865. Josiah was 27 at the time, Samuel was 38. Samuel had been farming 5 miles to the NE of Brush Creek, at the beginning of the Grannis Canyon Valley, since about 1857. I have to speculate that Josiah had been farming living with Samuel and Martha, and that in 1865 Samuel helped Josh purchase the farm west of Brush Creek, to get Josiah started with his own land. Samuel 1 would die on the way back to Ohio, probably to pick up his parents and some other siblings/relatives/friends who were ready to move to Iowa. In 1865 the father, Zach 1 Caleb Thompson at age 69 would moved to Brush Creek and buy from his sons a 120 acre farm 1/2 mile east of the Six-Corners Intersection at the south edge of Brush Creek.
....Back in Ohio, John G. and James Swales were 5 and 6 when the Thompson bothers removed to Iowa. They were in their early teens when the Thompson brothers start their home farms to the west of Brush Creek. John would marry in 1876 while in Ohio, thus the Swales brothers apparently came to Brush Creek in the late 1870's and took up farms around the Thompson brothers or bought land from them. I have not researched that issue to date (2001), but it would appear the Swales brothers moved to Iowa in their late twenties. The farms around Garden Prairie and Groat Cemeteries were dominated by farms settled by the Carroll County, Ohio clans.
....Immediately west of Brush Creek the great tall to wet grass prairies of Iowa started. The land was glaciated during the last Ice Age, while the area immediately to the east of Brush Creek was not ground down by the ice and thus the deep hills created by erosion are located there, and in the pre-white era covered with climax Oak-Hickory-Maple forest interspaced with grassy meadows and waterway bottom lands. It was settled first, and easiest to utilized by eastern pioneers used to forest land farming. The prairie is not flat, it is rolling landscape with many of the hills/valleys being quite big. Prairie streams were abundant and the water seeped out of the big spongy grasslands. The valley and flats were wet grass prairie to watery sloughs. Pre-white Iowa west of Brush Creek was in reality the great "wet-lands." Perhaps up to 70% of the general landscape from NE Iowa to near the wind blown Alluvial hills along the Missouri River were wetlands, rich in prairie flora and fauna. It was a very diversified environment, not the mono-culture of the corn and bean fields of today. Moving down into the lower flats were wet sloughs and marshes. Prairie streams were common in a multitude of sizes with wetland trees and shrubs common along their routes. Near the edge of the prairie/forest land, oak habitat invaded out into prairie land creating breaks and small groves. Pioneers on the prairie would try to own woodlot plots of land for fuel and building supplies, or they would have to buy from someone hauling timber out into the prairie regions by ox team. Fencing prairie land could require the movement of large numbers of wooden fence posts.
....The nearest village the eastern side farms of the Thompson/Swales/Sherman farms was Brush Creek, with Fayette becoming just a short rail ride away in 1873. The western most farms were close to about equal distance between Maynard, Fayette and Brush Creek. All of the farms were close to each other, within several miles.

GENEALOGY OF MARY ANN HEIDY (FAULKNER, SHERMAN, SWALES)

1 [1] Mary Ann Heidy b: March 20, 1809 in Virginia d: May 09, 1854 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio Burial: 1854 Allen Cemetery, Row 2, Lot 3, Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio
..  +John Faulkner    m: August 22, 1825 in Harrison Co., Ohio
. 2 David Faulkner b: July 21, 1826
. 2 Mary Ann Faulkner b: July 16, 1828 d: April 20, 1866 Burial: St. John (Grissinger) Cemetery, Lewisberry, Fairview Twp., Cumberland Co., PA  Occupation: Birth also reported July 14, 1828.
.....  +John Adam Yencel b: March 03, 1823 in Harrison Co., Ohio   m: February 06, 1850 in Harrison Co., Ohio   Father: John Yencel Mother: Elizabeth Grissinger

  *2nd Husband of [1] Mary Ann Heidy:
..  +Caleb J. Sherman b: February 14, 1785 in Salisbury, New Brunswick, Canada d: March 18, 1842 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio Burial: Allen Cemetery?, Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio m: April 10, 1832 in New Rumley Twp, Harrison Co, Ohio Occupation: Bet. 1830 - 1842 Farmed 86 acres, Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio  Father: Ring Sherman Mother: Mary

. 2 [3] Martha Jane Sherman b: January 10, 1833 in Rumley Twp,Harrison County, Ohio (later Perry Twp, Carroll Co. d: January 25, 1921 in Harper, Harper Co, Kansas Burial: I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Harper, Kansas
.....  +Samuel Andrew Thompson I b: August 15, 1827 in Rumley Twp, Harrison Co, Ohio (later Perry Twp, Carroll Co) d: April 07, 1865 in Trip to Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio Burial: Uncle Gabriel's Lot, Allen Memorial Cem,Perry Twp, Carroll Co,Ohio m: January 25, 1853 in Carroll Co, Ohio   Father: Zachariah I Caleb Thompson Mother: Priscilla Albaugh
..... 3 [2] Mary Priscilla Thompson b: 1855 in Taylorsville, 1+ mi E, Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: 1908
.........  +John L. Kline b: 1852 d: 1890
.....  *2nd Husband of [2] Mary Priscilla Thompson:
.........  +William M. Gwinn b: 1833 d: 1908
..... 3 Amanda Katura Thompson b: September 13, 1856 in Grannis Hollow area, 3+mi E, Fayette, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: 1942 in Fayette, Westfield Twp, Iowa Burial: Grandview Cemetery, Fayette, Iowa
.........  +Walter Eugene Hunt b: 1851 in Banbury, England d: 1945 in Fayette, Westfield Twp, Iowa Burial: Grandview Cemetery, Fayette, Iowa m: 1878
..... 3 Annis E. Thompson b: 1858 in Grannis Hollow area, 3+mi E, Fayette, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: 1930 in Nashville Area, Kingman Co, Kansas
.........  +William Robinson b: 1857 d: 1929 in Nashville Area, Kingman Co, Kansas  m: 1880 in Fayette Co., Iowa Occupation: Farmed.
..... 3 Zachariah II Caleb Thompson b: 1860 in Grannis Hollow area, 3+mi E, Fayette, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: 1943 in Harper, Harper Co, Kansas Burial: I.O.O.F. Cemetery?, Harper, Kansas  Occupation: Cabinet maker by trade, farmer, merchant in Harper, KS
.........  +Lydia Kate Gwinn  d: 1939 in Harper, Harper Co, Kansas Burial: I.O.O.F. Cemetery?, Harper, Kansas m: March 03, 1887 in Harper, Harper Co., Kansas
..... 3 Frances A. Thompson b: 1862 in Grannis Hollow area, 3+mi E, Fayette, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: 1933
.........  +James T. Shambaugh b: 1854 in Carroll Co?, Ohio d: 1907
..... 3 Samuel II Andrew Thompson b: 1864 in Grannis Hollow area, 3+mi E, Fayette, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: 1942 in Harper, Harper Co, Kansas   Occupation: 1884 Farmer, Sod Breaker
.........  +Ida Liggett Gwinn b: 1869 d: 1958 in Harper, Harper Co, Kansas  m: April 06, 1892 in Harper, Harper Co., Kansas   Father: William Gwinn Mother: Martha Liggett
.  *2nd Husband of [3] Martha Jane Sherman:
.....  +M. E. Little    m: Aft. 1866 in Brush Creek (later Arlington, Fayette, Co., Iowa Occupation: Name shows as M.F. Little on a 1875, Fayette Co., IA map. Residence: Farmed 1-2 miles north of the Morris J. Thompson farm at Brush Creek, IA
. 2 Andrew Jackson Geo. Wash. Sherman b: February 01, 1836 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio d: 1863
.....  +Matilda Wood  d: 1863

. 2 [4] Josiah Martin Van Buren Sherman b: June 01, 1838 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio d: October 16, 1921 in Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa   Occupation: Farmed, Sec 36, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
.....  +Clarrisa June Shepherd b: July 22, 1846 in Indiana d: September 03, 1884 in Sherman farm, sec 36, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa m: February 28, 1861 in Fairfield Twp (farm home of bride), Fayette Co, Iowa   Father: Nelson Shephard Mother: Marinda Unknown
..... 3 William C. Sherman b: April 09, 1862
.........  +Elizabeth Hamilton b: 1864   m: December 20, 1888 in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa
..... 3 Nellie K. Sherman b: April 18, 1863
.........  +Eugene Hall    m: December 31, 1888 in Brides parents farm home, 3mi west Brush Creek (Arlington) Fayette Co, Iowa.
..... 3 Chestina Belle Sherman b: August 05, 1865 in Oelwein, Fayette Co, Iowa d: May 16, 1939 in Wenatchee, Washington
.........  +John Charles Hartley b: August 05, 1858 in Ravenswood, West Virginia d: July 13, 1930 in Kingston, Missouri  m: February 17, 1892 in Colorado   Father: Edward Hartley Mother: Mary Elizabeth Tomlinson
..... 3 Nelson W. Sherman b: July 25, 1867
.........  +Ida M. Deeds    m: January 01, 1889 in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa
..... 3 Mary E. Sherman b: September 01, 1868
.........  +John Wesley Kyle
..... 3 Miranda E. Sherman b: October 16, 1872 d: 1873
..... 3 Charles M. Sherman b: June 24, 1873 d: September 18, 1884
..... 3 John H. Sherman b: May 31, 1875 in Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
..... 3 Annie H. Sherman b: May 07, 1877
.........  +Martin Dalton
..... 3 James C. Sherman b: July 16, 1884
.  *2nd Wife of [4] Josiah Martin Van Buren Sherman:
.....  +Nancy Jane Hargass b: 1848   m: 1885

. 2 John Patterson Sherman b: November 08, 1841 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio d: August 08, 1848 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio Burial: Allen Cemetery, Perry Twp., Carroll Co., Ohio

. 2 Samuel Williams Sherman b: November 08, 1841 d: October 09, 1916 in Dennison, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio Burial: Union Cemetery, Uhrichsville, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio
.....  +Margaret A. Cole b: February 17, 1844 in Washington Co, PA d: December 27, 1912  m: August 11, 1864   Father: Moses Cole Mother: Rebecca Buxton
..... 3 John L. Sherman b: Abt. 1865 in 1882
..... 3 Charles Sherman b: Abt. 1867 d: 1882
..... 3 Emma Aganes Sherman b: October 14, 1870 in Havover, Licking Co, Ohio d: January 18, 1909 in Dennison, Tuscarawas Co, Ohio
.........  +Leonidas Bell Roney b: December 17, 1861 in Dreseden, Ohio d: July 16, 1924 in Trinway, Ohio  m: December 30, 1890
..... 3 Francis Earle Sherman b: November 05, 1879 d: November 30, 1958
.........  +Ella Grossarth b: 1875 d: January 15, 1960  m: 1898
..... 3 [5] Sadie Naomi Sherman b: November 05, 1879 in Hanover, Licking Co, Ohio d: September 26, 1966 in Dennison, Tuscarawas Co, Ohio
.........  +Jessie H. Hicks b: 1873 d: December 03, 1958
.....  *2nd Husband of [5] Sadie Naomi Sherman:
.........  +Harry S. Aiken b: February 23, 1869 d: July 18, 1920

. 2 Uriah McCoy Sherman b: November 08, 1841 d: January 22, 1916 in Lemoyne, PA Burial: Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Fairview Twp., York Co., PA
.....  +Tacy Elizabeth Yencel b: June 05, 1833   m: February 02, 1862 in York Co, PA   Father: John Yencel Mother: Elizabeth Grissinger
..... 3 John A. Sherman
..... 3 William Caleb Sherman
..... 3 Tacy Elizabeth Sherman b: April 02, 1872 d: November 19, 1956 Burial: Camp Hill, PA   Residence: Wormlesburg, PA, into old Uriah M. Sherman house.
.........  +Sherman Shetrone Bear b: September 1868 d: April 01, 1913  m: November 15, 1899
..... 3 James M. Sherman b: December 24, 1876 d: July 1885 Burial: St. John's (Grissinger) Cemetery, Lewisberry, PA

  *3rd Husband of [1] Mary Ann Heidy:
..  +Richard Swales b: 1806 in England d: May 08, 1851 in Carroll Co., Ohio Burial: 1851 Allen Cemetery, Row 2, Lot 1, Perry Twp., Carroll Co., Ohio m: July 31, 1848 in Perry Twp., Carroll Co, Ohio
. 2 John G. Swales b: June 30, 1849 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co., Ohio d: March 13, 1922 in Fayette, Fayette Co., Iowa Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa  Occupation: Farmed, Sec 35, Smithfield Twp, Fayette
.....  +Annie Elizabeth Coulter b: August 20, 1850 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co., Ohio d: August 27, 1910 in Arlington, Fayette Co., Iowa Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa m: April 12, 1876 in Hicksville, Ohio   Father: John S. Coulter Mother: Mary Tomlinson
..... 3 Mary Olive Swales b: August 08, 1877 in Swales farm, Sec 35, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: June 29, 1933 in Fayette, Fayette Co., Iowa Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
..... 3 Clara Ellen Swales b: November 22, 1879 in Swales farm, Sec 35, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: September 07, 1880 in Swales farm, Sec 35, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
..... 3 Zelma Abigail Swales b: August 06, 1881 in Swales farm, Sec 35, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: December 25, 1965 Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
..... 3 William Swales b: August 02, 1883 d: January 1943 in Huntington, Indiana
.........  +Mary Hartman b: November 19, 1899 d: February 04, 1990  m: September 10, 1919
..... 3 [6] John Richard Swales b: February 04, 1887 in Swales farm, Sec 35, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: April 12, 1972 in Oelwein, Fayette Co., Iowa Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
.........  +Lura Elida Hoisington b: February 09, 1885 in Fontanelle, Iowa d: June 29, 1959 in Oelwein, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa m: September 03, 1914 in Arlington, Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa   Father: George Hoisington Mother: Lovina Aspinwall
.....  *2nd Wife of [6] John Richard Swales:
.........  +Nettie Birdsell b: 1894 d: 1970 Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa m: July 04, 1964 in Stanley, Scott Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa   Father: Oliver Birdsell Mother: Mary Hyde
..... 3 Ruth Swales b: November 22, 1880 in Swales farm, Sec 35, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: November 25, 1880 in Swales farm, Sec 35, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
..... 3 [7] Florence Evelyn Swales b: February 24, 1892 in Arlington, Fayette Co., Iowa d: October 04, 1977 in Mt. Carroll, Illinois
.........  +Roy Albert Wallace b: April 19, 1892 in Independence, Buccanan Co, Iowa d: November 06, 1946 in Pecatonica, Illinois  m: July 04, 1918 in Camp Dodge, Des Moines, Iowa   Father: John Wallace Mother: Etta Crow
.....  *2nd Husband of [7] Florence Evelyn Swales:
.........  +Irving Missman b: June 18, 1887 d: February 26, 1962 in Lanark, Illinois  m: November 27, 1959 in Rockford, Illinois
.....  *3rd Husband of [7] Florence Evelyn Swales:
.........  +Ernest W. Burkholder b: May 22, 1895 in Carroll Co, Illinois d: March 1976 in Savanna, Illinois  m: February 28, 1975 in Lanark, Illinois
. 2 James Swales b: November 18, 1850 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio d: June 10, 1913 in Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa  Occupation: Farmed, Sec 36, Smithfield Twp, Fayette
.....  +Clara Unknown
..... 3 Mary Swales
..... 3 Edna Swales

GENEALOGY OF RICHARD SWALES

1 Richard Swales b: 1806 in England d: May 08, 1851 in Carroll Co., Ohio Burial: 1851 Allen Cemetery, Row 2, Lot 1, Perry Twp., Carroll Co., Ohio  Died of pneumonia caused by typhus.
..  +Mary Ann Heidy b: March 20, 1809 in Virginia d: May 09, 1854 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio Burial: 1854 Allen Cemetery, Row 2, Lot 3, Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio m: July 31, 1848 in Perry Twp., Carroll Co, Ohio   Father: John Heidy Mother: Sarah Jane Sterlings
. 2 John G. Swales b: June 30, 1849 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co., Ohio d: March 13, 1922 in Fayette, Fayette Co., Iowa Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa  Occupation: Farmed, Sec 35, Smithfield Twp, Fayette
.....  +Annie Elizabeth Coulter b: August 20, 1850 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co., Ohio d: August 27, 1910 in Arlington, Fayette Co., Iowa Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa m: April 12, 1876 in Hicksville, Ohio   Father: John S. Coulter Mother: Mary Tomlinson
..... 3 Mary Olive Swales b: August 08, 1877 in Swales farm, Sec 35, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: June 29, 1933 in Fayette, Fayette Co., Iowa Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
..... 3 Clara Ellen Swales b: November 22, 1879 in Swales farm, Sec 35, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: September 07, 1880 in Swales farm, Sec 35, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
..... 3 Zelma Abigail Swales b: August 06, 1881 in Swales farm, Sec 35, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: December 25, 1965 Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
..... 3 William Swales b: August 02, 1883 d: January 1943 in Huntington, Indiana
.........  +Mary Hartman b: November 19, 1899 d: February 04, 1990  m: September 10, 1919
......... 4 Alice Evelyn Swales b: January 28, 1922 d: June 29, 1982
.............  +Raymond Nell b: June 1922   m: June 10, 1942
......... 4 Riva Elizabeth Swales b: January 12, 1925
.............  +Jack Rasmussen  d: 1960  m: March 1958
......... 4 Helen Marie Swales b: October 31, 1928 d: January 21, 1999
.............  +Richard Bruss b: June 17, 1928   m: 1947
......... 4 Elsie Lou Swales b: September 09, 1931
.............  +Joseph E. Harris b: April 27, 1930   m: July 06, 1949
......... 4 John William Swales b: December 13, 1933
.............  +E. Mae Wall b: May 01, 1933 in Huntington County, Indiana   m: April 1952
......... 4 Charles Lawrence Swales b: December 16, 1938
.............  +Janet Joan Bragg b: March 12, 1940   m: August 14, 1960
......... 4 James Swales
..... 3 [2] John Richard Swales b: February 04, 1887 in Swales farm, Sec 35, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: April 12, 1972 in Oelwein, Fayette Co., Iowa Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
.........  +Lura Elida Hoisington b: February 09, 1885 in Fontanelle, Iowa d: June 29, 1959 in Oelwein, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa, m: September 03, 1914 in Arlington, Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa   Father: George Hoisington Mother: Lovina Aspinwall
......... 4 [1] Ruth Elida Swales b: May 03, 1916 in St. Anthony, Iowa d: October 10, 1991
.............  +Earl Howard Utter b: September 18, 1903 d: June 11, 1969  m: June 22, 1941 in Garden Prairie Church, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
.........  *2nd Husband of [1] Ruth Elida Swales:
.............  +George Dahl b: September 03, 1902 d: January 1984 in Vancouver, Washington  m: June 02, 1976 in Spokane, Washington
......... 4 Esther Anna Swales b: November 21, 1917 in Keswick, Iowa
.............  +Jesse Floyd Holtzman b: May 01, 1911 d: May 01, 1993 in West Union, Fayette Co, Iowa
......... 4 Marjorie Bernice Swales b: September 10, 1919
.............  +Edward Jackley Cass b: August 14, 1915   m: September 19, 1943
......... 4 Marian Eleanor Swales b: July 29, 1922
.............  +Maynard Terrell b: June 05, 1918 d: October 1985 Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa m: August 04, 1946 in Garden Prairie Church, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
......... 4 Earl Richard Swales b: May 05, 1928 in Arlington, Fayette Co,Iowa
.............  +Beverly Ann MacTaggart b: July 10, 1929 in Strawberry Point, Clayton Co, Iowa   m: November 27, 1949
.....  *2nd Wife of [2] John Richard Swales:
.........  +Nettie Birdsell b: 1894 d: 1970 Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa m: July 04, 1964 in Stanley, Scott Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa   Father: Oliver Birdsell Mother: Mary Hyde
..... 3 Ruth Swales b: November 22, 1880 in Swales farm, Sec 35, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: November 25, 1880 in Swales farm, Sec 35, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
..... 3 [3] Florence Evelyn Swales b: February 24, 1892 in Arlington, Fayette Co., Iowa d: October 04, 1977 in Mt. Carroll, Illinois
.........  +Roy Albert Wallace b: April 19, 1892 in Independence, Buccanan Co, Iowa d: November 06, 1946 in Pecatonica, Illinois  m: July 04, 1918 in Camp Dodge, Des Moines, Iowa   Father: John Wallace Mother: Etta Crow
......... 4 Howard Ivan Wallace b: May 04, 1922 in Iowa City, Iowa d: May 24, 1922
......... 4 Evelyn Mae Wallace b: July 31, 1924 in Madison, Wisconisn
.............  +Walter Nehrkorn b: July 06, 1924 d: May 01, 1997  m: June 06, 1948 in Pecatonica, Illinois
......... 4 Leon Victor Wallace b: June 17, 1929 in Beloit, Wisconsin
.............  +Lorna Mae Tiffany b: July 31, 1936 in Colfax, Iowa   m: June 08, 1958 in Colfax, Iowa
......... 4 Marjorie Olive Wallace b: March 14, 1931
.............  +Francis Gene Buell b: December 19, 1929 in Kalamazoo, Michigan
.....  *2nd Husband of [3] Florence Evelyn Swales:
.........  +Irving Missman b: June 18, 1887 d: February 26, 1962 in Lanark, Illinois  m: November 27, 1959 in Rockford, Illinois
.....  *3rd Husband of [3] Florence Evelyn Swales:
.........  +Ernest W. Burkholder b: May 22, 1895 in Carroll Co, Illinois d: March 1976 in Savanna, Illinois  m: February 28, 1975 in Lanark, Illinois
. 2 James Swales b: November 18, 1850 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio d: June 10, 1913 in Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa  Occupation: Farmed, Sec 36, Smithfield Twp, Fayette
.....  +Clara Unknown
..... 3 Mary Swales
..... 3 Edna Swales

GENEALOGY OF CALEB J. SHERMAN

1 Caleb J. Sherman b: February 14, 1785 in Salisbury, New Brunswick, Canada d: March 18, 1842 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio Burial: Allen Cemetery?, Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio  Occupation: Bet. 1830 - 1842 Farmed 86 acres, Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio
..  +Mary Ann Heidy b: March 20, 1809 in Virginia d: May 09, 1854 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio Burial: 1854 Allen Cemetery, Row 2, Lot 3, Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio m: April 10, 1832 in New Rumley Twp, Harrison Co, Ohio   Father: John Heidy Mother: Sarah Jane Sterlings

. 2 [5] Martha Jane Sherman b: January 10, 1833 in Rumley Twp,Harrison County, Ohio (later Perry Twp, Carroll Co. d: January 25, 1921 in Harper, Harper Co, Kansas Burial: I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Harper, Kansas
.....  +Samuel Andrew Thompson I b: August 15, 1827 in Rumley Twp, Harrison Co, Ohio (later Perry Twp, Carroll Co) d: April 07, 1865 in Trip to Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio Burial: Uncle Gabriel's Lot, Allen Memorial Cem,Perry Twp, Carroll Co,Ohio m: January 25, 1853 in Carroll Co, Ohio   Father: Zachariah I Caleb Thompson Mother: Priscilla Albaugh
..... 3 [1] Mary Priscilla Thompson b: 1855 in Taylorsville, 1+ mi E, Fairfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: 1908
.........  +John L. Kline b: 1852 d: 1890
.....  *2nd Husband of [1] Mary Priscilla Thompson:
.........  +William M. Gwinn b: 1833 d: 1908
..... 3 Amanda Katura Thompson b: September 13, 1856 in Grannis Hollow area, 3+mi E, Fayette, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: 1942 in Fayette, Westfield Twp, Iowa Burial: Grandview Cemetery, Fayette, Iowa
.........  +Walter Eugene Hunt b: 1851 in Banbury, England d: 1945 in Fayette, Westfield Twp, Iowa Burial: Grandview Cemetery, Fayette, Iowa m: 1878
..... 3 Annis E. Thompson b: 1858 in Grannis Hollow area, 3+mi E, Fayette, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: 1930 in Nashville Area, Kingman Co, Kansas
..... 3 Zachariah II Caleb Thompson b: 1860 in Grannis Hollow area, 3+mi E, Fayette, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: 1943 in Harper, Harper Co, Kansas Burial: I.O.O.F. Cemetery?, Harper, Kansas  Occupation: Cabinet maker by trade, farmer, merchant in Harper, KS
.........  +Lydia Kate Gwinn  d: 1939 in Harper, Harper Co, Kansas Burial: I.O.O.F. Cemetery?, Harper, Kansas m: March 03, 1887 in Harper, Harper Co., Kansas
..... 3 Frances A. Thompson b: 1862 in Grannis Hollow area, 3+mi E, Fayette, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: 1933
.........  +James T. Shambaugh b: 1854 in Carroll Co?, Ohio d: 1907
..... 3 Samuel II Andrew Thompson b: 1864 in Grannis Hollow area, 3+mi E, Fayette, Westfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: 1942 in Harper, Harper Co, Kansas   Occupation: 1884 Farmer, Sod Breaker
.........  +Ida Liggett Gwinn b: 1869 d: 1958 in Harper, Harper Co, Kansas  m: April 06, 1892 in Harper, Harper Co., Kansas   Father: William Gwinn Mother: Martha Liggett
.  *2nd Husband of [5] Martha Jane Sherman:
.....  +M. E. Little    m: Aft. 1866 in Brush Creek (later Arlington, Fayette, Co., Iowa Occupation: Name shows as M.F. Little on a 1875, Fayette Co., IA map. Residence: Farmed 1-2 miles north of the Morris J. Thompson farm at Brush Creek, IA
. 2 Andrew Jackson Geo. Wash. Sherman b: February 01, 1836 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio d: 1863
.....  +Matilda Wood  d: 1863

. 2 [8] Josiah Martin Van Buren Sherman b: June 01, 1838 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio d: October 16, 1921 in Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa   Occupation: Farmed, Sec 36, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
.....  +Clarrisa June Shepherd b: July 22, 1846 in Indiana d: September 03, 1884 in Sherman farm, sec 36, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Garden Prairie Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa m: February 28, 1861 in Fairfield Twp (farm home of bride), Fayette Co, Iowa   Father: Nelson Shephard Mother: Marinda Unknown
..... 3 William C. Sherman b: April 09, 1862
.........  +Elizabeth Hamilton b: 1864   m: December 20, 1888 in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa
......... 4 Ethel Lucille Sherman b: October 17, 1889
......... 4 Eva Francilla Sherman b: 1891
......... 4 Newell Sherman
......... 4 Glenn Sherman
......... 4 Beryl Sherman
..... 3 Nellie K. Sherman b: April 18, 1863
.........  +Eugene Hall    m: December 31, 1888 in Brides parents farm home, 3mi west Brush Creek (Arlington) Fayette Co, Iowa.
..... 3 Chestina Belle Sherman b: August 05, 1865 in Oelwein, Fayette Co, Iowa d: May 16, 1939 in Wenatchee, Washington
.........  +John Charles Hartley b: August 05, 1858 in Ravenswood, West Virginia d: July 13, 1930 in Kingston, Missouri  m: February 17, 1892 in Colorado   Father: Edward Hartley Mother: Mary Elizabeth Tomlinson
......... 4 [6] Roy Sherman Hartley b: November 17, 1892 d: April 16, 1966
.............  +Eileen Mae Becker b: 1894 d: 1920
.........  *2nd Wife of [6] Roy Sherman Hartley:
.............  +Edna Hazel Becker b: September 15, 1896 d: November 1981  m: February 16, 1921
......... 4 Reuben Kaiser Hartley b: July 01, 1896 d: February 26, 1990
.............  +Glenna Johnson b: July 09, 1895 d: September 06, 1993
......... 4 Raymond Tartar Hartley b: March 12, 1900
.............  +Esther Margaret Fort b: April 20, 1901 in Breckenridge, Missour d: November 25, 1984  m: February 16, 1930 in St. Joseph, Missouri
......... 4 [7] Hazel Gertrude Hartley b: December 14, 1902
.............  +Jonathan Henkins b: March 20, 1903 d: August 02, 1931  m: January 23, 1926
.........  *2nd Husband of [7] Hazel Gertrude Hartley:
.............  +John Charles Pember b: February 22, 1898 d: February 04, 1975  m: June 16, 1934
..... 3 Nelson W. Sherman b: July 25, 1867
.........  +Ida M. Deeds    m: January 01, 1889 in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa
......... 4 Gladys G. Sherman b: October 17, 1901 in Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa d: July 21, 1902 in Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: Garden Praire Cem, Sec 34, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
..... 3 Mary E. Sherman b: September 01, 1868
.........  +John Wesley Kyle
......... 4 Velma Kyle
..... 3 Miranda E. Sherman b: October 16, 1872 d: 1873
..... 3 Charles M. Sherman b: June 24, 1873 d: September 18, 1884
..... 3 John H. Sherman b: May 31, 1875 in Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
..... 3 Annie H. Sherman b: May 07, 1877
.........  +Martin Dalton
..... 3 James C. Sherman b: July 16, 1884
.  *2nd Wife of [8] Josiah Martin Van Buren Sherman:
.....  +Nancy Jane Hargass b: 1848   m: 1885

. 2 John Patterson Sherman b: November 08, 1841 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio d: August 08, 1848 in Perry Twp, Carroll Co, Ohio Burial: Allen Cemetery, Perry Twp., Carroll Co., Ohio

. 2 Samuel Williams Sherman b: November 08, 1841 d: October 09, 1916 in Dennison, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio Burial: Union Cemetery, Uhrichsville, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio
.....  +Margaret A. Cole b: February 17, 1844 in Washington Co, PA d: December 27, 1912  m: August 11, 1864   Father: Moses Cole Mother: Rebecca Buxton
..... 3 John L. Sherman b: Abt. 1865 in 1882
..... 3 Charles Sherman b: Abt. 1867 d: 1882
..... 3 Emma Aganes Sherman b: October 14, 1870 in Havover, Licking Co, Ohio d: January 18, 1909 in Dennison, Tuscarawas Co, Ohio
.........  +Leonidas Bell Roney b: December 17, 1861 in Dreseden, Ohio d: July 16, 1924 in Trinway, Ohio  m: December 30, 1890
......... 4 Elizabeth Annie Roney b: January 14, 1892 d: December 10, 1893
......... 4 Bessie Louise Roney b: January 02, 1894 in Dennison, Tuscarawas Co, Ohio d: June 12, 1971 in Fort Belvoir, Virginia
.............  +Lysle Isaac Lee Hazen b: February 1891 in Beaver Falls, PA d: December 12, 1970 in Grove, Oklahoma  m: January 12, 1916
......... 4 [9] Edith Naomie Roney b: October 03, 1895 d: January 14, 1974
.............  +Jerry Friend
.........  *2nd Husband of [9] Edith Naomie Roney:
.............  +William Wood b: August 21, 1872 d: October 28, 1960
.........  *3rd Husband of [9] Edith Naomie Roney:
.............  +James Baraden Jamison    m: July 27, 1916
......... 4 Agnes Miriam Roney b: July 26, 1897 in Dennison, Tuscarawas Co, Ohio d: February 29, 1968 in Beaver Falls, PA
.............  +James Thomas Penman b: September 22, 1897 d: November 21, 1974  m: July 27, 1918
......... 4 Walter Ansel Roney b: October 06, 1899 d: October 24, 1962 in Tappan Lake, Urichsville, Ohio
......... 4 [10] Leonidas Sherman Roney b: July 06, 1901 in Dennison, Tuscarawas Co, Ohio d: June 18, 1972 in Massillon, Ohio
.............  +Vesta Custer b: November 07, 1898 d: February 14, 1975
.........  *2nd Wife of [10] Leonidas Sherman Roney:
.............  +Mildred Feil Kutz b: July 19, 1903 d: March 16, 1983  m: July 19, 1943
......... 4 Thomas Webb Roney b: April 15, 1903 d: April 22, 1962 in Elwood city, PA
.............  +Patricia Briad b: October 25, 1907 d: March 21, 1991  m: June 03, 1929
......... 4 [11] Margaret Christina Roney b: July 18, 1906 in Peublo, Colorado
.............  +Joseph Colyer
.........  *2nd Husband of [11] Margaret Christina Roney:
.............  +Cyrus H. Steinberger    m: October 14, 1925
..... 3 Francis Earle Sherman b: November 05, 1879 d: November 30, 1958
.........  +Ella Grossarth b: 1875 d: January 15, 1960  m: 1898
......... 4 Helen Sherman  d: 1961
.............  +John Graham
..... 3 [12] Sadie Naomi Sherman b: November 05, 1879 in Hanover, Licking Co, Ohio d: September 26, 1966 in Dennison, Tuscarawas Co, Ohio
.........  +Jessie H. Hicks b: 1873 d: December 03, 1958
.....  *2nd Husband of [12] Sadie Naomi Sherman:
.........  +Harry S. Aiken b: February 23, 1869 d: July 18, 1920
......... 4 William Joshia Aiken b: 1898 d: 1928

. 2 Uriah McCoy Sherman b: November 08, 1841 d: January 22, 1916 in Lemoyne, PA Burial: Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Fairview Twp., York Co., PA
.....  +Tacy Elizabeth Yencel b: June 05, 1833   m: February 02, 1862 in York Co, PA   Father: John Yencel Mother: Elizabeth Grissinger
..... 3 John A. Sherman
..... 3 William Caleb Sherman
..... 3 Tacy Elizabeth Sherman b: April 02, 1872 d: November 19, 1956 Burial: Camp Hill, PA   Residence: Wormlesburg, PA, into old Uriah M. Sherman house.
.........  +Sherman Shetrone Bear b: September 1868 d: April 01, 1913  m: November 15, 1899
......... 4 Paul Sherman Bear
.............  +Urgia Catherine Ketterman
..... 3 James M. Sherman b: December 24, 1876 d: July 1885 Burial: St. John's (Grissinger) Cemetery, Lewisberry, PA

....Like other lands to the east, as soon as the Native American’s were exploited and removed from the land, the frontier in Iowa was a magnet of free or cheap land. The first "legal" movement into the Iowa territory was in 1833, and into Fayette County in the late 1840’s. This was public land and was generally sold or claimed with military bounty warrants in parts of sections after surveys were conducted. Public auctions for the land was generally held at the nearest federal land office. The military warrants were given to soldiers as a type of payment for service and could be used to claim or "buy" land. These warrants were often sold to others who could use them to claim newly opened lands. Squatters were settlers who may have come into an area, started farming in hope of being able to buy the land they were on, which many times was sold to a higher bidder, or they would miss the auction/sales.
....A majority of the Iowa pioneers were coming in from locations a state or two to the east. Many were used to farming the cleared forested land of the east, or if from Europe, used to the intensive farming of very small fields. The tall and wet grass prairies of Iowa with its dense root system was unfamiliar and difficult to farm with the implements available. Many early farmers tried to claim and clear forest land for farming and avoided the prairies, as the sod had to be broken (heavy root systems of the grasses had to be plowed up). The first farmers into an area were often of the subsistence type, bringing with them almost all necessary supplies and tools, raising enough food and making enough items to survive without any significant outside support. When mills and trails were available, pork packing and flour shipping in oak barrels generally by oxen drawn heavy freight wagons toward the Mississippi River, occurred. The development and transportation of agricultural implements and machinery also rapidly became an economic factor in early Iowa.
....The Civil War of the early 1860’s brought a huge demand for food and farm products, and thus an economic incentive to produce and transport goods out of Iowa to the cities and troops to the east. Most of the farms in Iowa after about 1860 turned to row cropping and livestock production with the intention of producing a surplus to sell for cash income, thus necessities formerly made at home could now be purchased in general stores that would spring up every 2-6 miles in the countryside, often around some type of milling operation. Thus the early villages were only a few log cabins servicing and supplying the agricultural endeavors of the early settlers. Villages were very small and all transportation by animal power until the Railroads would economically change everything in the mid 1870’s.

GARDEN PRAIRIE'S PRAIRIE

View is the the SxSW from the "virgin prairie" ground just to the north of the church. The entire burial ground is nearly the entire area across the picture in the back by the large "planted" pine tree.

The little plot of ground immediately to the north and part of the Garden Prairie Church/Cemetery land is reported to be 100% unplowed virgin prairie (but a Swale's relative living just to the north of the cemetery claims her father reported to have plowed the land). The soil below this plot may be representative of what was in the regions before the "white tide." (view is the WxNW)

....Prairies are made up of mostly grasses, sedges (grass-like plants), and other flowering plants called forbs such as coneflowers and milkweeds. Some prairie areas also have a few trees.

....Fayette County prairies had some water, medium-deep silt or sandy loam soil with good to adequate drainage on the hills. These areas are dominated by tall grasses like big bluestem and Indian grass. Rosinweed and yellow coneflower, etc were common. By late summer, many flowers reach 4 to 6 feet high, with grasses 4-10+ feet high.

....In the lower lands there was a great deal of water, with deep clay silt loam or peat like soil, poor drainage. Slough and marsh conditions could be found over vast areas of prairie wetlands. Sedges, bulrush, marsh milkweed and prairie cordgrass are a few of the species of plants common to the wet prairie.

....Many prairie plants are adapted for a dry, windy, hot climate. Leaves of prairie plants tend to be long and narrow to prevent overheating. Some plants have divided leaves or broad leaves held stiffly upright, to expose less surface to the sun. Fleshy, hairy leaves and sticky sap help hold in moisture. Plants also have buds at or below the soil surface and a lot of root mass below ground--an adaptation to the natural fires that occurred in the grassland ecosystems. Prairies need fire. Without it, invading trees and shrubs gradually turn grasslands into shrubby savannah and woodlands.

....In places where grasslands neared the forest edge, oak trees spread out across the prairie. Settlers called these park-like grasslands "oak openings." Today, they are known as oak savannas. A prairie oak’s shade creates a microclimate underneath its canopy, allowing prairie plant species with broader leaves to thrive in the cooler, more even temperatures and moister soils.

The cool morning mist and fog rises over the mature Iowa tall grass prairie in the late summer and fall. It is extremely dense and hard to move across. There are wet grass prairie areas interspersed throughout. The prairie is full of a variety of birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles and mammals along with a great variety of other flora and fauna.

OF THE PRAIRIES AND FAMILY FARMS
....In 1850 the area west of Brush Creek would appear much as above with thick 8-10 foot tall big blue steam, Indian Grass, little blue steam, several other grasses and a variety of forbs and wildflowers. The good soil that developed under Iowa Native Prairie from the hills of Fayette County westward was often 20 or more inches deep of rich black topsoil. The most productive soils in the world develop under tall/wet grass prairies in temperate climates. The grasses and forb species are high producers of organic material, the parent mineral/rock base of the soils is generally ground up and left by glaciers resulting in a great variety of particle size and chemical make-up. The climate is relatively hot with very adequate rainfall during the summer and the available mineral base is good for high production. The winters are fairly long and cold, thus decomposition is slowed down, which allows the organic and inorganic materials to interact and over a time span of generally about a thousand years produce an inch or so of rich black and often porous soil, capable of supporting continuous high production of native plants. Or high production of domestic crops if utilized correctly.
....Since the intensive plowing of the region with mechanized farming of the mid to late 1900's, the topsoil has eroded away to less than half the original 20 inch average, plus severely reduced important trace elements in the soil. It takes generally about 1-2000 years to produce an inch of rich black Iowa topsoil, and generally less than 10 years to erode away the average inch of soil, utilizing the big agro-business farming that has developed since the 1960's. Productivity, however, has increased by intensive use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and fossil fuels.
....With modern filed tile practices, nearly 100% of the prairies are now plowed and planted to row crops. Literally no sloughs and wetland remains. They were disappearing in the first part of the 1900's, but were brought rapidly to extinction by tiling, plus road to road plowing which started in the 1960's and accelerated rapidly in the next couple of decades to produce nearly a complete mono-agriculture of corn and beans. All livestock is now raised in huge confinements as big-business concerns. Only big business and big local farmers can buy the land as it becomes available due to the rapidly inflating cost of the land and the size of the farms.
....In 1860, less than 40 acres would support many family, In 1900, farms were often 80-120 acres with draft animals; in 1940, 120-180 acres, with crop rotation, with both draft animals and tractor power; in 1955 farm size was starting to increase faster, 200-360 acres, some chemicals being utilized, but generally still small family farms using crop rotation and had a diversity of livestock. By the 1960, a radical change of land use was coming down the pipe. There was a drastic increase in the use of chemicals. Fences were pulled and the land plowed from road to road. All wet land was tiled and row cropped with corn and beans. Livestock confinements became the norm (Try to find a cow, pig, chicken today). There was a rapid and total reduction of diversified family farms.
....By the end of the 1900's, farm operation in the best Iowa prairie lands had increased from a few hundred acres to often a few thousand acres. Instead of a functional town every 6-10 miles, there may be a functional town every 20-40 miles or more. Nearly all of the pioneer villages cease to exist as "normal" towns. True big agro-business became the norm, and the "modern" world has taken over the prairies. Original pioneer style diversified Iowa family farms are now completely extinct. bz/2001