Brush Creek Cemetery
also called the Groat Cemetery or Arlington Cemetery

....Originally referred to as the Brush Creek Cemetery, Groat Cemetery contains many early pioneer graves from the Brush Creek, as does the much larger Taylorville Cemetery 2+ miles northeast of Arlington.

....Information on the Brush Creek Cemetery is sketchy, but it would appear likely that the land was "donated" by a pioneer farmer, perhaps one of the Shambaugh clan.  Many of the surnames in the cemetery were active in the early Christian Church of the area, which was a church in Harrison/Carroll County, Ohio, from which the Thompson, Allen, Albaugh, Amos, Kirby, Shambaugh, families attended before removing from Ohio to the Brush Creek area.  There is good chance the cemetery was a popular burial ground for members of the Christian Church.  Later in the 1800's, the Groat family farmed in the immediate area of the cemetery and it would become commonly referred to as Groat Cemetery.  The first burial found today in Groat was in 1855, however, it is likely with so many lost pioneer grave stones, or unmarked graves that burials occurred here several years earlier.  Today, Groat contains about 350 marked burials and perhaps another 100+/- unmarked.

....The village of Taylorville (Taylorsville), 2+ trail miles to the northeast of Brush Creek also received burials starting in 1848, perhaps a few  years before the Brush Creek Cemetery. The town of Taylorville was much more established in the early years but as Brush Creek grew with the railroad coming in 1873, Taylorville business slowly moved to Brush Creek, and slowly disappeared.  The Taylorville Cemetery however had become the burial ground of choice for all of the surrounding area, and today contains 2500+/- burials.  Taylorville Cemetery sits out in the country in the rolling hills on the edge of the deep non-glaciated hill area to the northeast.  Groat is on the edge of the rolling high grass/wet grass prairie to the west.  Brush Creek was located right at the edge of the prairie/hill geological habitat.  Why, because the original Mission Road to Fort Atkinson tended to follow this intersection probably because it was the easiest route to "trail" ox pulled wagons.  Wet grass prairie county was very difficult to traverse, as was the deep valleys of the hills, but along the edge it was dryer and more rolling.  Travel was still very difficult at best.

....Apparently there are no remaining valid accounts of the origins of Brush Creek Cemetery.  A statement made in the Brush Creek New during July of 1879 made note that cattle and hogs were often tramping over the graves and "attention was requested to look after it."  Meetings were held to discuss ways and mean of fencing in the cemetery and improving upon its dilapidated condition.  There was talk of locating a new burial grounds and removing the graves, but efforts to that effect failed.  By 1880 a new wooden fence had been erected, the grounds cleaned up and memorial services held.

....In 1914 a new cemetery association was formed with Trustees Harry Gleim,  W. C. Gleim, J. G. Shambaugh, John Swartz.  Funds were raised for the purchase of a very substantial iron fence, like that which adorned the Taylorville Cemetery at that time.  a clean-up day was set with requests for any family having graves in the cemetery to help.

....The Brush Creek Cemetery, today is generally referred to as the Groat Cemetery, after the Groat family the came to own the surrounding farm land. The village of Brush Creek would change its name to Arlington in 1895 because of the concern of the town's image coming from the original name.  Shortly the cemetery would be referred to as Arlington Cemetery and after the Groat family started farming the area surrounding the cemetery it was also referred to as the Groat Cemetery.  Today the name Groat Cemetery seems to be the most common reference. 

....Originally the village that developed along the Mission Road in Section 28, of Fairfield Township of Fayette County, Iowa, over which supplies were hauled by ox wagons from the Dubuque area northwest to Fort Atkinson and the Mission, was called Brush Creek.  .In very early days of the 1840's a man by the name of Moe lived on the banks of the prairie creek in the area. Several cabins were built near the creek on the northwest edge of today's Arlington, Iowa and the area became known locally as Moetown.  As a few merchants and craftsmen settled near the crossing ford of the Mission Road with the creek the little gathering of cabins started to be called Brush Creek, probably because as one approached the area of the hill and wet grass prairie, the stream running through the prairie region was  surrounded by growth of wetland tree species such as willows and cottonwoods, and  appeared quit 'brushy."  Like many things 'pioneer,' names often 'appeared' as descriptors of the surroundings, as well as from names of men in an area.

[] Brush Creek History Timeline []
[] Groat Cemetery with Graphics []

Burials sorted alphabetically by Surnames in Groat Cemetery (Brush Creek or Arlington Cemetery)

BrushCreekCemetery - GroatSurnames 

Surname Given Birth Death AgeYrs Information

Abbott Luther H. 1813 1892 79 
Abbott Nancy E. 1815 1863 48 Wife of Luthur H.
Adam Julia F. 1856 1883 28 
Annis Willis F. 1876 1877 0 Son of B.F. & P.A.
Arbuckel John 1783 1863 80 
Arbuckel Marietta Barnes 1829 1900 71 Wife of V.
Baker Sadie 1881 1953 72 
Barnes Nellie Jane Chase 1804 1887 83 Wife of Joseph
Bassett G.D. 1838 1904 76 
Bassett Gracie 1869 1869 Daughter of C.J. & E.A.
Bassett Guy L. 1878 1879 Son of C.J. & E.A.
Bassett Guy L. 1878 1879 Son of G.J.& E.A.
Bassett Jay H. 1870 1929 59 Father
Bassett Vernie May 1883 1894 9 Daughter of C.J. & E.A.
Bates George A. 1838 1922 84 
Bates Jane 1842 1916 74 Wife of George A.
Beman Charles 1873 1875 2 
Beman Ella A. 1853 1875 Name? Derflinger?
Beman Lyman 1870 1870 Infant of H.F. & S.A.
Bingham James birth? death? age? Co. C, 6th Iowa Calvary
Bingham Joseph H. birth? death? 61 
Bingham Sarah 1802 1885 83 Wife
Bingham Sarah 1802 1885 83 Wife of Joseph
Boekenheuer Minnie 1865 1888 Wife of Fred. Sp? Boekenhenen
Bond Charles L. 1875 1895 
Bond Eliza 1854 1949 95 Mother
Bond Hiram E. birth? death? age? Co. D, Iowa 7th Cavlary
Bond Vina 1887 1896 9 
Brooks Benjamin 1864 1936 72 
Brooks Charolette birth? 1877 age? 
Brooks Chauncey E. 1817 1901 83 
Brooks D.A.C. 1850 1877 27 
Brooks David birth? 1877 age? 
Brooks George A. 1870 1878 8 Son of Wm.
Brooks Hannah 1847 1871 (nee Casebeir) Wife of Chancy
Brooks Hannah 1831 1873 42 Wife of Chauncey
Brooks Henry birth? death? Infant of Royce ?
Brooks Ida M. 1873 1878 5 Daughter of N.E. & A.V.
Brooks Joel 1882 1884 2 Son of C. & A.E.
Brooks Noel 1850 1871 Son of C. & A.E.
Brooks Olive birth? 1871 71 Wife of L.
Brooks Ray 1872 1872 Son of Henry
Brooks Ray W. 1875 1875 0 Infant of Henry
Brooks Roy birth? 1877 age? 
Brooks Roy E. 1876 1877 Son of Henry
Bunknown birth? death? age? C.S.
Bunknown birth? death? age? J.B.
Calkins Adeline birth? 1863 age? 
Calkins Christa Servoss 1818 1893 74 Wife of I.C.
Campbell Florence E. 1864 1878 
Carothers E.J. birth? death? age? 
Carothers John 1837 1922 85 
Carothers Mary 1840 1931 81 
Carothers N.B. birth? death? age? ?? mark on surname.
Carpenter Eliza Harkin 1858 1883 25 Wife of J.W.
Cary Lazarus 1794 1877 83 
Cavanaugh Abigail birth? death? age? Wife of John
Cavanaugh M.A. birth? death? age? 
Cavanaugh Sylvester birth? 1879 age? 
Cavanuagh Mary A. 1856 1883 27 Wife of T.
Cavanuagh Sylverster 1852 1879 71 
Clendennen William birth? death? age? Co. G, Iowa 6th Calv.
Cole B.S. birth? death? age? No dates (same as Benjamin 1867-1939?)
Cole B.S. birth? death? age? 
Cole Elizabeth 1821 1897 75 Wife of J.E.
Crawford Margaret birth? 1865 age? 
Crawford Margaret Ross 1778 death? age? Wife of Major James Crawford
Crawford Mary 1864 1865 
Crawford Willie 1863 1875 Son of J.N. & Abby
Cushion Albert 1854 death? age? 
Cushion Eliza Ann 1851 1919 78 Wife of Albert
Daniels John birth? death? 80 
Daniels Margaret birth? death? 57 Wife of John
Darling John L. 1859 1863 4 Son of D.G. & M.E.
Darling Mary E. 1836 1861 
Darling Mary E. 1827 1861 34 Wife of D.G.
DeBow Hiram 1852 1862 
Derfilinger Agnes 1865 1870 5 
Derflinger Alice 1828 1915 87 Mother, wife of J.E.
Derflinger Charles W. 1873 1875 2 Son of Alice & Jacob
Derflinger Ella A. 1853 1875 Dau. of Alice and Jacob
Derflinger Jacob E. 1821 1893 73 
Derflinger Jonas 1816 1877 61 
Derflinger Katie R.V. 1869 1878 8 
Derflinger Mary 1889 1923 33 
Derflinger Unknown birth? death? age? 
Draper Rosanna 1786 1865 79 
E(?) S.J. birth? death? age? 
Eckhart Sarah 1855 1882 27 Wife of G.H.
Finney Emily B. 1844 1865 
G(?) E. birth? death? age? 
G(?) E.J. birth? death? age? 
G(?) M & R birth? death? age? Two burials, probably young children.
Garrison Harriet M. 1835 1883 48 Wife of A.
Gase Olive 1808 1893 85 Wife of Archibald
Gaynor Mary M. 1853 1872 Wife of William
Gaywood Mary M. 1823 1872 49 
Gell Franklin P. 1853 1874 Son of Thomas and Mary A.
Gell Henry A. 1859 1872 Son of Thomas and Mary A.
Gell Mary A. 1818 1886 68 Wife of Thomas
Gell T.F. 1851 1917 66 
Gell Thomas 1801 1872 71 Husband of Mary
Gleim Annie 1849 1909 60 Wife of W.C.
Gleim Ernest L. 1876 1878 Son of W.C. & A.E.
Gleim James M. 1869 1870 Son of W.C. & A.E.
Gleim Murray 1872 1877 4 Son of W.C.& A.E.
Gleim W.C. 1840 1925 84 Husband of Annie
Goddrich Cnthia C. 1872 1872 0 Daughter of W.M. & M.J.
Goddrich Emma birth? death? 0 Darughter of W.M. & M.J.
Goodrich Ella birth? death? 0 Daughter of W.M. & M.J.
Grant birth? death? age? Note: a puzzle
Grapes Harold 1905 1936 31 
Grapes Leon A. 1900 1962 62 Col. JAGSD WWi & WWII
Grapes Martha B. 1865 1959 94 
Grapes Nona birth? 1895 age? Only one date on stone, probably death.
Grapes Tom B. 1860 1928 67 
Greeley Hank E. 1881 1883 2 Son of A.H. & H.I.
Greenley John 1806 1884 78 
Groat Effie J. 1803 1874 71 Wife of J., Sr.
Groat John A. 1839 1883 44 
Groat John B. 1839 1883 44 Inscription says "Father"
Groat Olive B. 1872 1894 
Groat Sarah A. 1836 1921 85 Inscription says "Mother"
H(?) J. birth? death? age? 
Hale Charle L. 1837 1879 42 L. might be W.
Hancock George 1797 1878 81 
Hancock Harriet S. 1844 1855 
Harkin Catharine 1823 1878 55 Wife of William
Harkin Eliza birth? 1883 age? 
Harkin Thomas 1841 1892 51 Co. E, 30th Reg, Wis Vol Inf
Harkin William 1811 1872 61 Husband of Catharine
Heath infant 1879 1879 Son of C.E. & L.
Heath Jessie 1878 1880 2 Daughter of C.E. & L.
Hetzel Amy J. 1879 1949 70 
Hetzel Amy J. 1879 1949 70 
Hetzel Ardith J. 1916 1998 71 
Hetzel Edward B. 1915 1998 82 
Hetzel George 1870 1944 74 
Hetzel George 1870 1944 74 
Hildreth Jonathan 1796 1882 86 Father, War of 1812
House ?.H. birth? death? age? 
House Ellen 1844 1925 81 
House Leo Willie 1878 1878 Son of Wm & Ellen
House Leo Willie 1872 1878 6 
House William 1844 1925 81 
Hovver Nancy 1873 1873 
Hunter Caroline 1848 1931 83 
Hunter Joseph 1831 1923 92 
Hunter Robert 1848 1881 33 
Hunter William J. 1872 1873 Son of Robert
Hunter William J. 1872 1873 
J(?) J.C. birth? death? age? 
Jackson Etna 1866 1924 58 Daughter of J.R. Keith
Jewett Connie C. 1869 1870 Daughter of W.R. & E.A.
Jewett Emma A. 1852 1930 78 
Jewett Lillie M. 1874 1874 Daughter of W.R. & E.A.
Jewett Walter 1848 1929 81 
K(?) J.D. birth? death? age? 
Kamper Ann Johanna 1844 1896 52 Mother, Wife of J.H.
Kamper J.H. 1839 1910 81 Father, Husband of Ann
Keith Drusilla Z. 1849 1887 38 Wife of J.R.
Keith Emily B. birth? 1865 age? Daughter of John and Mary Ann
Keith Etta J. 1866 1924 
Keith John birth? death? 84 
Keith Judson R. birth? death? age? Co. H, 16, U.S. Inf
Keith Mary A. 1812 1886 74 
Keith birth? death? age? Note: a puzzle
Kellogg Caroline C. 1876 1877 
Kieseneatter Lulu 1872 1890 
King Barbara 1815 1885 70 Mother, native of Haddington, Scotland
King John H. 1874 1874 0 Son of Wm. & J.
King Thomas E. 1813 1877 64 Father, native of Lanarkshire, Scotland
King William W. 1879 1880 Son of Thomas E.
Kraft Anna F. 1882 1883 2 
Kraft Marie 1821 1899 77 Mother
Kraft Peter 1821 1880 79 Father
Kreamer John 1852 1928 76 
Kreamer John D. 1880 1881 Son of J. & M.
Kreamer Margaret 1857 1893 36 
L(?) D. birth? death? age? 
Lackey Dorothy 1859 1882 Wife of Willis
Leibundguth Henry A. 1879 1879 0 Son of Jason and Lina
Leibundguth Jacob A. 1854 1879 
Lickiss Lucy A. 1857 1865 7 
Little Gerogia birth? death? age? 
Little Hattie J. 1859 1865 6 Daughter of B.F. and M.E.
Manchester Lydia 1830 1882 52 
McA(?) L. birth? death? age? 
McAlavy Latischa 1793 1865 77 
McAlavy Lemina 1819 1861 42 Wife of William
McAlavy William 1818 1892 74 Husband of Lemina
McAlister Jennie birth? death? age? Daughter of Andrew W. & Emily
McAlister John 1850 1879 29 Son of Margaret & Daniel
McAlister Margaret A. 1819 1889 70 
McAlister Margaret L. 1873 1893 Daughter of R.D. & J.
McAlister Thomas K. birth? death? age? Son of R.D. & J.
McAllister Thomas 1868 1877 
McCormick Isabell 1878 1879 Daughter of William & M.A.
McCrea infant 1876 1876 0 
McCrea Mathew 1865 1876 
McCrea Matthew 1865 1876 
McCrea Robert C. birth? death? age? Son of S. & J.
McCrea Stephen 1867 1876 9 Son of M. & M.A.
McFarlane (?) 1808 1875 67 Stone is broken
McFarlane (?) J. birth? death? age? 
McFarlane Daniel 1796 1870 74 Native of Sterlingshire, Scotland
McFarlane Daniel J. 1872 1873 Son of J. & M.A.
McFarlane David J. 1872 1873 Son of J. & V.A.
McFarlane N. birth? death? age? 
McFarlane Nancy birth? 1878 
McFarlane Nancy 1811 1878 67 Wife
Meis M.J. birth? death? age? 
Meis W.H. birth? death? age? 
Meis Warren C. 1822 1877 65 
Metzger Helmag 1901 1901 
Minken Mary 1795 1882 87 
Moine Clinton 1855 1875 Son of J.N. & C.D.
Moline Alice 1855 1866 Daugher of E. & M.
Moline Ben F. 1871 1936 65 
Moline Clemon 1875 1932 56 
Moline Clinton 1855 1875 Son of J.N. & C.D.
Moline Eugene 1827 1879 52 
Moline Harlan 1851 1877 26 Son of D. & C.,
Moline Jessie 1875 1876 Son of E. & M.
Moline Mahia 1831 1922 91 
Moline Malisa 1857 1913 56 
Newsom H.R. birth? death? age? 
Newsom Lewis W. 1882 1883 Son of W.H. & E.
Nichols Nettie 1854 1931 77 
Osborn Ettie 1867 1871 4 Daughter of J.N. & E.L.
Osborn Walter 1871 1871 0 Son of O.H. & Mary
Penhollow Thursa V. 1861 1936 75 
Penhollow W. Harrison 1855 1931 76 
Pennloton Oakley C. 1895 1908 Son of Mrs. M.O.
Peterman baby Ruth birth? 1886 age? Probably an infant born 1886.
Peterman John 1842 1886 44 Co F, 38th Reg, IA Inf.
Peterman Lewis 1818 1865 45 
Pflueger Effie Groat 1864 1908 44 
Purintun Edward 1872 1873 0 Son of O.S. & M.L.
Purintun Elam B. 1867 1873 6 Son of G.H. & S.A.
Purintun Walter J. 1865 1873 8 Son of G.H. & S.A.
R(?) H. birth? death? age? 
Robbins Burr birth? 1930 age? 
Robbins Horace S. 1856 1930 74 
Robbins Julia H. 1848 1938 90 
Robbins Lottie 1861 1927 66 
Robbins Lottie birth? death? age? 
Robinson J. birth? death? age? Co D, JNO 21, IA Inf
Robinson John J. birth? death? age? Co. D, 211 A, Iowa Infantry (Civil War)
Robinson M.A. birth? death? age? 
Robinson Thurzy 1813 1874 60 Wife of Thomas
Rosenkranz Effie Z. 1867 1899 32 
S(?) T. birth? death? age? Four S(?) stones unreadable.
Sargent birth? death? age? Note: a puzzle
Schwartz Henry 1861 1873 Son of August and Sophie
Schwartz infant birth? death? age? 
Schwartz Mary 1837 1901 63 Wife of August
Schwartz Sophie 1829 1883 53 Wife of August
Schwartz August 1832 1899 66 
Seargeant Delinda Fox 1851 1875 Wife of Timothy
Servoss Christa 1818 1893 75 
Servoss Mary 1794 1868 74 
Shambaugh (?female) 1860 1862 2 Daughter of T.E. & B.A.
Shambaugh B.A. 1834 1904 79 Father
Shambaugh C.D. 1812 1894 81 
Shambaugh Charles A. 1852 1862 Son of C.D. and Sarah E. Shambaugh
Shambaugh Emma E. 1855 1861 6 Daugher of C.D. and Sarah E. Shambaugh
Shambaugh Jacob G. 1848 1926 78 
Shambaugh Joseph V. birth? death? Son of T. & E.
Shambaugh Joseph Wm 1853 1863 Son (probably of C.D. and Sarah E. Shambaugh
Shambaugh Lena 1866 1877 Daughter of T.E. & B.A.
Shambaugh Marion S. 1858 1858 0 Son of Charles D. & Sarah E.
Shambaugh Mary 1786 1869 83 
Shambaugh Mary Jane 1820 1893 72 
Shambaugh Matilda 1846 1866 Wife of B.
Shambaugh Matilda 1836 1866 30 
Shambaugh Sarah E. 1826 1908 84 
Shambaugh T.E. 1822 1867 45 Mother
Shambaugh Wm. Francis birth? 1868 age? Son of ? & ?
Sherman Francis 1849 1862 Son of F.S. & M.
Sherman Francis 1859 1862 3 Son of S. & M.
Spalding Edna 1876 1876 
Spores Annis 1867 1948 81 
Spores Noah 1858 1931 73 
Sweet Charlie 1865 1865 Son of A.F. & P.E.
Sweet Edward E. birth? death? 2 
Thompson Allen 1838 1913 75 
Thompson Catharine 1838 1926 88 
Thompson Eli 1844 1903 58 Husband of Elize, b. Perryville, Ohio, d. Sargent, Neb.
Thompson Eliza 1826 1881 55 Wife of Eli
Thompson Flora 1878 1886 8 Daughter of Wm & M.
Thompson Flora I. 1798 1870 71 
Thompson Joseph G. 1866 1935 79 
Thompson Katherine L.J. 1859 1876 Daugher of Eli & Eliza
Thompson Lavina 1843 1870 37 Wife of Alexander
Thompson Mary E. 1867 1963 96 
Thompson Morris J. 1829 1918 89 
Thompson Priscilla A. 1806 1874 68 Wife of Zachariah
Thompson Sadie M. 1861 1880 Daughter of Eli & Eliza
Thompson Sarah J. 1832 1870 48 
Thompson William 1823 1894 71 
Thompson Zachariah 1796 1880 84 
Truesdell Hannah I. 1843 1927 84 Second wife of W.P.
Truesdell J. Verdine 1877 1901 33 Son of W.P. & Hannah
Truesdell Olive E. 1845 1871 25 First wife of W.P.
Truesdell William E. 1868 1876 8 Son of W.P. & O.E.
Truesdell Willima P. 1840 1907 67 
Trusdell William E. 1868 1876 8 Son of Wm P. & O. E.
Unknown A. birth? death? age? S.A.
Waste Mason S.C. 1868 1871 3 Son of T.L. & M.R. Waste
Waste Mason S.C. 1879 1888 8 Son of T.L. & M.R.
Welsh Henry 1886 1886 age? Infant son of James & Ellen
Welsh John birth? death? age? So. I, 8(3?), 1st A Iowa Calvary
Welsh John birth? death? age? Co I, 8th IA DAV
Weston Lester E. 1913 1914 Son of E.G.
Whitter Elizabeth A. 1862 1884 Daughter of E.E.
Wood A.H. 1879 1880 Son of J.A. & H.
Wood A.H. 1813 1902 89 
Wood Elizabeth 1815 1886 69 Wife of A.H.
Wood Francis E. 1851 1852 0 
Wood J.A. 1837 1911 74 
Wood Jessie 1850 1850 0 
Wood Melissa 1846 1873 26 Wife of Lemuel
Wood Syrene R. 1854 1876 32 Wife of J.A.

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[] Brush Creek History Timeline []
[] Groat Cemetery with Graphics []

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