Sheppard Cemetery, Union Township, Hardin County, Iowa

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This file was contributed for use by:
Charlotte Mazurik
< mazurik@netins.net >
June 2000

Sheppard Cemetery, Union Township, Section 8

Mr John SHEPARD, a pioneer, donated a portion of his farm for  a permanent public buring ground, where the pioneer settlers, or those people passing through this area could bury their dead without expense.  John SHEPARD was the first surveyor of Hardin County. He was born in Breckenridge Co. Kentucky on November 25, 1802 to John and Lucretia PATTERSON SHEPARD both natives of Kentucky. John SHEPARD SR. died when John Jr. was a small boy, and his mother married James JONES, and removed to Indiana, where she subsequently died. John left Kentucky in 1827. He was 25 when he went to Indiana for a short time. Then he went to the lead mines of Wisconsin, near Galena, Illinois. In July of 1831 he married Tennessee MACOMAS, who was born in Lawrence Co., Ohio, November 14, 1817. To this union were born nine children: Benjamin, Lydia, Jane, Mary, Julia, John, son, infant and Emeline. In the fall of 1851, SHEPARD bought a claim on section 7, Union Twp. where he resided until 1875, when he removed to Union. He was first elected County Surveyor in March of 1853, serving two terms.

Although, in 1937,the earliest date on a marker was August 5, 1851, The earliest burial was that of John SHEPARD's daughter just prior to this time. A little daughter of John and Tennessee SHEPARD sickened and died. And as was customary among the settlers, Mr. and Mrs.George WEST, neighbors of the SHEPARD'S went to offer their help and sympathy. Mr. WEST and Mr. SHEPARD made the little coffin of boards and Mr. WEST was givin directions as to just where to dig the grave. After the grave was ready, Mr. SHEPARD carried the little casket with the body of his child to the grave, singing hymns all the way. Each grave was protected by a picket fence. The rest of the cemetery was covered with hazel brush and large trees and was a feeding ground for the stock of the neighborhood

In 1970, the oldest grave stone that could be found was of Thomas C Johnson, who died Nov 6, 1852 at the age of 3 1/2.  He was the son of Isaac Johnson, Mrs. George (Melissa Johnson)  West parents. .From records on Nov 18, 1933 Marshalltown T-R There was a West reunion at that time in Liscomb of the four remaining children of the ten children of George and Mellissa Johnson West. The story recalled the West home being near the Sheppard Cemetery and the account of John Sheppard's burial of his daughter being the first burial.. The June 3 1860, Sunday afternoon tornado wipe away the West farm. The only thing they salvaged was the family bible that was found over two miles away still in tact.

The ladies felt a desire to make it a beautiful spot so they met, Feb. 1, 1887, at the home of Clay SMITH and organized a society, known as the Shepard Cemetery Society. The officers, protem were: Mrs. Henry BURHARDT, Pres., Mrs Tena LOVELL, Sec., Mrs. Bettie ROWEN, Treas. The Executive Committee, Mrs. Edna UPTON, Mrs. Mattie LEPLEY and Mrs. H.E. SMITH. Their objective was to improve, repair and beautify the cemetery. They wrote a constitution for a guide and held meetings the second Thursday of the month. At first dues were 5 cents per meeting and later were a 1 $ per year.

At first most of the work of clearing and fencing was donated by the men. To raise money for the upkeep of the cemetery, the ladies served oyster and ice cream suppers and monthly dinners.

In1892 a committee of: John MASON, Hiram ROWEN and Mrs. Peter LEPLEY secured subscriptions and donations of work for the erection of a church, which they named the SHEPARD UNION CHURCH. Peter LEPLEY donated the land for the church grounds. The land was across the road to the south of the cemetery. The church was not used for many years. In 1948 it was sold at auction to Jacob NEWBY for $2000 and was torn down in the 1950's

In 1905 lots in the Old part of the cemetery sold for $ 1 per lot. In 1906 John NEWBY was contracted to keep the grounds in repair. He would recieve 50 cents per grave if you wanted your lot mowed. .In 1908, the society bought 1 acre of land for $100 to the east of the cemetery from J. H. SMITH. These lots were sold for $10 each. They also erected a new fence.In 1909, the society started a Permanent Care Fund of $25 per lot. Lots were to cost $ 2.50, they were to be 8 X 18 feet with a 4 foot path and brick at each corner.. In 1936 they erected the third new fence, It is rod iron fence and gates. In 1973 lots were $75 and Permanent care was $40. In 1999 lots are$ 250.

Little known fact: Isaac JOHNSON brought two slaves with him from Kentucky to Hardin County, a man and his wife. They had been given their freedom but were old family servants and deeply attached to the Johnson Family and preferred to remain with them. They are the only colored people buried in Shepard Cemtery. Compiled by Glenn and Sally PAUL of Eldora, in 1974. Updated Jun 3 1999 by Charlotte Mazurik.

This listing is arranged in five areas-section (a) is the original plot in the far northwest corner of the cemetery. Sections ( b ) and ( c ) are the next sections that were added.  They are in the southwest corner of the cemetery with ( b ) on the west side of the Main Sheppard Gate and ( c ) on the east side of the gate.between the west and east gates.  Section ( d ) is the next section that was added, it is located on the east side of the drive from the east gate to the north fence and east to the cedar trees on the old east boundrey. Section ( e ) is the newest section and to date has not had a burial yet, It is the entire section to the east side of the cemetery from the cedar trees to the east fence...

Rows listed are from the west to the east, with the first grave being number 1 in the southwest corner of each section. Spaces are numbered where there was a stone.  It is possible there are graves where stones are no longer there and were not counted or listed.  FMH stands for Funeral Home Marker.   Red type means stones are damaged or badly weathered and hard to read at this date.

Sections (a) - (c) in other file.

SECTION (d) New Section East of Eastgate