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Iowa County Cemetery Stones and History 1844-1975 (manuscript)
by Pauline Lillie
West Union Cemetery (Yoder) p. 1
Location
Section 13 Greene 78 Township, Range 9, about 2 miles south and 3
east of old town of Holbrook.
History
The history of this cemetery is also the history of the Mennonite
people who live in this area, and of their church and their religion.
In 1874 Atlas p. 7 on the Yost Yoder farm; 1900 Atlas p. 9, on the
Amos Swartzendruber; The 1915 Atlas p. 29 lists on the Amos Swart-
zuber farm, west of the center line of the section. The 1915 Hist-
ory Vol. I. mentions a burial ground on page 185; This Mennonite
Cemetery and the information may be found from pages 172 to 176 in
Vol. I. History of Iowa County 1915- Pages 175 refers to the West
Union Churchouse was built in 1898. The Iowa County Historical Vig-
nette No. 37 page 111 by Theo Ressler, on "The Succession of Amish
Mennonite Bishops." including the life of Gideon A. Yoder, and Abner G.'
Yoder. He has up dated account for the Mennonite Religion, and the
people as of to-day. That Abner G. Yoder is buried in West union
Mennonite Cemetery. This a most interesting insight of these families.
Legal
In Book 2 of Miscellaneous Records p. 247, Iowa County Recorder, there
appears Articles for the West Union Amish Mennonite Church to Public
(for Greene Township, Iowa County) for incorporation; Containing -5-
articles, Filed May 6, 1898; Signed by Samuel Fisher- George W. Eash-
Jno. W. Kempf- John Erb- Michael Martin.
Check the "Cemetery Directory of Amish & Mennonite in Iowa-Johnson &
Washington Co. Iowa" Published 1972 by Mary A. Gingerich - Kalona, Iowa
The West Union Cemetery appears on pages 113- to 139 with plats (she
gives the following;) West Union located 1 mile east of West Union Mennon-
ite Church and 3/4 mi. West of Iowa-Johnson Co. line in Section 13 Greene
Township, Iowa County; (That the numbering begins at the Northwest corner-
rows are numbered from west to east.) Plats begins North side, running
south. The book was a gift from Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Winborn to the William-
sburg, Library.
Condition
This cemetery is neat, clean and in perfect condition.
Remarks
The stones listed here were copied by Mrs. Wm. K. Wagner and Mrs. Herman H.
Wennermark and Mrs. Mable V. Wood of Cedar Rapids, September 6, 1967 for
the Iowa County Historical Society, and re-copied for arrangement with the
Society Bicentennial project.
Researched by Pauline Lillie - Ladora, Iowa.
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