Lincoln Township Cemetery Project

LINCOLN TOWNSHIP CEMETERY

BY BARB BUTCHER & KAREN HANSEN

We continue to gather information on those people who are buried at the Lincoln Township Cemetery and their families.  It is much more difficult than we had imagined.  Obituaries of many are not available, so we have searched many other sources.  Names are often spelled many different ways, as you will see with Scherdin.  We would appreciate any information that you could add for these names. 

BIRCH

{BIRCH, William W., d 12 Jan 1883, 30y 7m 14d}

             On the 1880 Iowa Census for Valley Township, William Burch was listed as a 28-year-old male born in Pennsylvania.  His occupation was listed as farmer.  Listed with him was Annie Burch his wife, age 31, born in England; and Ada Burch, daughter, age 6, born in Wisconsin.  Could this be the William who is buried in Lincoln Township Cemetery?  (FamilySearch.org)

  On the 1885 Iowa Census for Valley Township, was listed Annie F Birch, age 35, widowed, farming, born in England; Ada E, age 11, born in Wisconsin; and Raymond E, age 4, born in Iowa.  They were living in Section 2, SE SE, Valley Township.  (1885 Pottawattamie County Iowa Census p. 383)

ELWELL

{ELWELL, Jennie B., d 9 Mar 1883, 5y 6m 16d, daughter of W.E. & R.}

  On the 1880 Lincoln Township, Ringgold County Iowa Census we find Elwell, William, age 31, a farmer born in Indiana; Rosina, age 29, keeping house born in Illinois; Bertha, age 9 born in Kansas; Weston, age 7 born in Kansas; George, age 6 born in Kansas; Jennie, age 2 born in Iowa; and Elvira, age 6 months born in Iowa.  (FamilySearch.org)

  On the 1885 Iowa Census for Lincoln Township, William E. and Rocina Elwell are listed with five children, Berthy, age 13; Ira W., 12; George H., 10; Clara, 5, and Maggie, 1.  (1885 Pottawattamie County Iowa Census, pp. 73-74)

KENNEDY

{KENNEDY, Effie M., d 30 Nov 1882, 15y 2m 23d, wife of John C.}

  The 1880 Iowa Census for Center Township in Pottawattamie County listed Alex Kenedy farming at age 61, his wife Jane keeping house at age 56, and their children John C. a single farmer age 26, Margaret age 21, James C. age 19, Newton D. age 17, Virginia age 15, and Luella age 12.  (FamilySearch.org)

PELECKE or RELECKE

{PELECKE, Oscar H., d 15 Dec 1875, son of C. & S.}

  The 1880 Iowa Census for Lincoln Township in Pottawattamie County lists Chris Peileckle age 28 and a farmer, his wife Sarah E. age 29 and keeping house, and a daughter Della N. age 6.  Also with this family is Eward Ashhorn a farmer age 30 and his wife Mary keeping house age 24.  Also listed is Jacob Butcher a laborer age 20.

  The 1885 Iowa Census for Cass Township in Cass County lists Christ Pelake (Relake) age 32 born in Pennsylvania; his wife Sarah, age 33 born in Pennsylvania; Della, age 11 born in Illinois; and Clara, age 2 born in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.  They lived in Township 75, Range 37, Section 22, SW  NE.  (Ancestry.com)

PHILLIPS

 {PHILLIPS, Minnie, d 14 Nov 1886, 20y 11m 8d, wife of F.L.}

             On last Wednesday evening a very quiet wedding occurred at the residence of Mr. John Phillips.  The principle actors were Mr. Frank Gardner and Miss Fannie Phillips.  The old man wishes for them a happy and prosperous life.  And as they are going down the valley, may their paths be free from thorns and always sunlit.  (The Walnut Bureau, 3 Oct 1878)  [Is there a connection between Minnie and Fannie Phillips?]

On the 1885 Iowa Census for Wright Township in Pottawattamie County are F. L. Phillips, age 23, a farmer born in “Canady”; M. E. Phillips, age 19, born in possibly Cass County, Iowa; L. M. Phillips, age 1, born in Pottawattamie County, Iowa; E. C. Phillips, age B (baby?), born in Pottawattamie County, Iowa; and A. D. Smith, age 17 born in possibly Cass County, Iowa.  (Ed. Note:  Could A. D. Smith be a brother to the wife M. E. Phillips?)  (Ancestry.com)

  On the 1895 Iowa Census for Center Township in Pottawattamie County are Francis L. Phillips, age 34, born in N.B. (New Brunswick?); Della F. Phillips, age 23, born in Illinois; Elmer C. Phillips, age 10, born in Pottawattamie County; William L. Phillips, age 9, born in Pottawattamie County; and Lesly S. Phillips, age 1 born in     Pottawattamie County.  (Ancestry.com)

 SEEMANN

{SEEMANN, Bettie, d 30 Dec 1887, 18y 10m 22d, dau. of F.C. ——– Gone, but not forgotten, weep not, father and mother, for me; For I am waiting in glory for thee.}

  Betty Seemann died at age 19 years on 29 December 1887 from dyptheritis.  She was a single white female born in Iowa who had resided in the state for 19 years.  Her occupation was listed as a servant girl.  The doctor was Albert Von Egert, Marne, Iowa and burial was in Walnut.  This information was reported on 24 January 1888.  She has a stone in the Lincoln Township Cemetery.  (Information from the Cass County Iowa Court House Death Records #505)

ST. CLAIR

{ST. CLAIR, Wilbur, b 17 Dec 1863, d 7 Jun 1934; ST. CLAIR, Caroline, b 22 Dec 1873}

  The 1870 Iowa Census for City of Red Oak Junction in Montgomery County listed P. St. Clair a 35-year-old clergyman, L. J. keeping house at age 30, and W. F. at school at age 6.  All three were listed as born in Indiana.   (Ed. Note:  P. and  L. J. are  the  parents of W. F. who is Wilbur.)  (Ancestry.com)

  The 1880 Iowa Census for Hamburg in Fremont County listed Peter St. Clair as the 44-year-old editor of the Fremont Times; his wife Louisa J. keeping house at age 39, son Wilber F. working in the printing office at age 16, daughter Stella age 6, and F. P. Spratlin a 20-year-old clothing store clerk.  Peter, Louisa J. and Wilber F. were listed as born in Indiana while Stella was born in Iowa.  (FamilySeach.org)

  The 1900 Missouri Census for Lockwood City in Lockwood Township in Dade County listed Peter St. Clair as born July 1836, age 63, having been married 44 years and a preacher; Louisa St. Clair, his wife born July 1840, age 59, and the mother of five children two of whom were still living; and daughter Selby(?) St. Clair born in November 1873, age 26, divorced with no children and her occupation elocusions.  Peter and Louisa were listed as born in Indiana and Selby as born in Iowa.  (Ancestry.com)

 SCHARDEN

{SCHARDEN, Oscar, d 22 Jul 1887, son of A. & B.}

             The 1900 Iowa Census for Washington Township in Cass County listed August Schardin born February 1845 in Germany and came to this country in 1861.  His wife Bertha was born December 1850 and came to this country in 1874.  They had been married 24 years with four children born to Bertha and two of them living.  Listed with them was their son Harry born February 1892 in Iowa.  (Ancestry.com)

  FUNERAL SERVICES FOR MRS. SCHERDIN FRIDAY.  Funeral services were held yesterday at 2 p.m. at Zion’s Lutheran church for Mrs. Bertha Scherdin, wife of August Scherdin.

The services were conducted by the pastor, the Rev. J. H. Lindemeyer.  Short services were held at the home preceding the church services.  The following were pallbearers:  John Duden, William Dreager, Charles Miller, Henry Meyer, Jacob Swin and Barney Ehle.  Burial was in Atlantic cemetery.  (The Atlantic News-Telegraph, 11 Jan 1919, p. 1)

  The 1930 Iowa Census for Atlantic City in Cass County listed the widowed August Schardin at age 85.  With him were two granddaughters, Marie B. Hopke born about 1901 and Mabel A. Hopke born about 1909.  (Ancestry.com)

  Burials in the Atlantic Iowa Cemetery include Flora, daughter of A. & B. Scherdin born 4 July 1879 and died 3 Oct 1894; and Harry, son of A. & B. Scherdin born 13 Feb 1892 and died 30 Dec. 1927.

  AGED ATLANTIC MAN SUCCUMBS THIS MORNING.  August Scherdin, 90, Is Victim of Heart Disease.  Funeral to Be Held Thursday.  August Scherdin, 90, a native of Germany, long time resident of this community and a retired farmer, died at 5:48 this morning at his home, 701 Laurel street, following a short illness with heart disease.

Mr. Scherdin was stricken last Thursday.  He had been in a critical condition since.

He was born in Germany on Feb. 30 (Ed. Note:  Obvious error), 1846, being a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Johannes Scherdin.  In 1869 he came to the United States and settled at Iowa City, where on Feb. 12, 1876, he and Miss Bertha Retzlaff were united in marriage.  Following their marriage they moved to a farm in Lucas county, residing there until 1887 when they located on a farm southwest of Atlantic.

Survived by Daughter.  In 1906, Mr. and Mrs. Scherdin retired from farming and moved to this city, residing here until their respective deaths.  Mrs. Scherdin died several years ago.  For the last seventeen years Miss Marie B. Hapke had been the housekeeper for her grandfather.

A daughter, Mrs. Herman Hapke of this city, survives.  Three children preceded him in death.

Rites Thursday.  Funeral services will be held at 4:30 o’clock Thursday afternoon at Zion’s Lutheran church, of which he had been a member for a long period of years.  The Rev. Martin E. Seltz will officiate and interment is to be in the Atlantic cemetery.

The body will lie in state at the Roland, Peacock & Baxter funeral home until Thursday morning, when it will be removed to his late home, remaining there until the hour of the rites.  (The Atlantic News-Telegraph, 4 Feb 1936, p. 1)

 BB & KH