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The First Graves

Uncle John McCall Tells of the First Burial Near Boone

Uncle John McCall who resides just south of town was a caller t the Republican office Saturday. He is one of the old, old settlers of Boone county, having come here with his father in 1847. Indulging in a brief reminiscence of the early days he incidentally mentioned a recent visit to the spot where the two first burials occurred in this part of the county. The location is on a point of groud west of Honey creek about a mile and a half south of the city and some distance below the old cemetery which was used before the present Linwood cemetery was laid out.

Only two people were buried at the place mentioned by Mr. McCall. The first was his cousin, whose name was John McCall and who was buried in 1848, fifty years ago. The second burial was that of Jacob Pea, a brother of John Pea who still resides here and whose home is just west of the city. Jacob Pea was killed in 1850 by Lou Jewitt. The tragedy occurred a the home of Montgomery McCall, the father of our narrator. A dispute arose between the men in the house and they went out into the yard where Pea was stabbed to death by Jewitt. William Crooks, a young man then residing here and who was afterward killed at the battle of Shiloh, arrived on the scene with John McCall just after the tragedy occurred. Jewitt fled but in a day or two was captured by Wm. Holmes, who was then sheriff of the county. The prisoner was taken to Des Moines for trial. He was released on bond but jumped his bail and went to California. He was never brought back for trial and little or nothing further was ever heard from him.

A fence of heavy rails was built around the two graves but time has obliterated the fence so that only one piece of a decayed rail remains to mark the early means of protection. Mr. McCall is in favor of making some improvements about the lonely graves and thinks the relatives of the two departed ones should act togther in the matter.

Source: Boone County Republican, May 25, 1899.

Transcribed by Lynn Diemer-Mathews and uploaded January 6, 2025.

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