Watkins Cemetery, Muscatine Co IA

Watkins Cemetery

Pike Twp, Section 27
near Nichols, Iowa

 INFORMATION ON WATKINS CEMETERY
Submitted by Eleanor B. McCleary & Charlene Nichols Hixon on May 12, 2001

Watkins Cemetery is situated in Section 27 of Pike Township. This rural cemetery preserves the legacy of William
Watkins. In Muscatine County Book of Lands ‘G’, a Warranty Deed was found, dated 10 December 1847, between
William Watkins and Wm. Parvin & Wife. Over the passages of time cemetery burial records have been lost. We
were not able to locate a plat map at any of the County offices or Pike Township offices. The best we can do is
record what the remaining grave markers tell us. Burials are still being accepted here today.

Directions from Highway 22; turn onto Elder Avenue going south. Travel on gravel road until reach a fork in road.
Make a right, continue on Elder Avenue going West. Pass by 195th Street, then take next right onto 200th Street.
The cemetery will be on your left.



All of the Pike Township Cemeteries have now been resurveyed and are available in book form as
Pike Township Cemetery Records, Muscatine County, IA  March 1836 - March  2001
by Eleanor B. McCleary & Charlene Nichols Hixon
The book includes: Table of contents, map of Pike Township, history, map and cemetery registers of Nichols Cemetery, Wesson Cemetery, Watkins Cemetery, St. Mary Cemetery of Nichols and Lone Tree, and Lenz Cemetery.  1, 777 people indexed.
Cost of book is $18 plus $4.00 to ship.
The book may be ordered by sending the above amount to
Eleanor McCleary
906 Sunrise Circle
Muscatine IA  52761

Eleanor "Lynn" McCleary has generously contributed much information to our website regarding the Pike Township cemeteries from her book, but the book has much greater detail than we are able to present here.

Items on the below list which were not sent to us by Ms. McCleary but were on our original list are in red.  Our initial listing of Watkins Cemetery  was obtained from the files of the Musser Library in Muscatine and WPA Cemetery Surveys. These may or may not be included in the book.



Register of Remaining Grave Markers

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
b. = date of birth
d. = date of death
Co. Court House = Muscatine County Court House
na = none
GAR = Grand Army of the Republic - Civil War Era
f. = father
m. = mother
obit = Obituary from newspaper
WPA = Gravestones copied by Graves Registration Project, W.P.A.
 
 
Last Name First Name Date of Birth Date of Death Notes
Ames A.A. 13 Mar 1870 6 Apr 1932  
Ames Absalom D. na 2 Feb 1880 age 39 yrs. 11 mos. 10 dys. 
(GAR marker) - WPA -Civil War Vet
IA 16 Inf F
Ames ** Amos Holland 24 Apr 1838 11 Nov 1907 age 69 yrs. 6 mos. 17dys
Co. Court House death record states
bur. 12 Nov 1907 in Nichols. 
**We believe he rests here 
but no marker exists today.
Ames Annie na 25 Feb 1891 Wife of A.H. Ames 
age 47 yrs. 6 mos. 27 dys.
Obit: b. 29 Jul 1842, nee MacDonald
1st husband Thomas Hodgson
2nd husband Amos Ames 1886
Ames Dorsey P. na 10 Mar 1876 age 73 yrs. 3 mos. 17 dys.
Ames Dr. A.B. 26 Oct 1874 23 May 1962  
Ames Family Monument     Josie, Grover Cleveland
Josephine and George B. Ames listed
Ames George B.  na 18 Jan 1891 Grave marker reads 
" G.B.A." - age 18 yrs. 7 mos. 1 dy.
 f. S.H. Ames m. Josephine 
Ames Grover Cleveland na 4 Nov 1886 Grave marker reads
" Grover" - age 1 yr. 7 mos. 18 dys. 
f. S.H. Ames m. Josephine
Ames John na 22 Sep 1859 age 25 yrs. 7 mos. 6 dys.
Ames Josephine 1851 1928 Grave marker reads "Mother" 
(Women's Relief Corps marker)
Ames Josephine (Josie) na 31 Oct 1886 Grave marker reads "Josie" 
age 3 yrs. 4 mos. 15 dys. 
f. S.H. Ames m. Josephine
Ames S. N. A. na na Grave marker reads "S.N.A." 
Ames S.H. 10 Mar 1846 6 Nov 1917 Co. Court House named 
Silas H. Ames 
age 76 yrs. 7 mos. 26 dys 
d. 5 Nov 1917 
f. D.T.M. Ames m. Susien Piera
Ames Susan Pierce 4 Sep 1805 5 Jan 1893 Wife of D.P. Ames 
age 87 yrs. 4 mos. 1 dy.
Ames Wealthy na 30 Aug 1885 Wife of A.H. Ames 
44 yrs. 7 mos. 5 dys.
Ames  Louis na na Grave marker reads "Louis" 
not listed on Family Monument 
Baird Mildred F. Dowler 1911 1994 Mother of Judy
Blow Elizabeth 23 Mar 1876 31 Jul 1963  
broken stone Unknown na na Only base remains 
no names found
Cozad J. Frank 8 May 1907 27 Apr 1972 Co. Court House named 
James Franklin Cozad 
b. IL - married 
f. Willliam Josiah Cozad 
m. Mary Bell Thorp
Laughlin Sergt. Levi 17 Sep 1835 1 Feb 1921 Co. F 49 Ohio Inf. 
government stone & GAR marker

WPA lists as LOUGHLIN

Lomen Lucille Schmelzer 26 May 1921 13 Dec 1988
Maine Annie B. 1810 1873 Grave marker reads "Mother" 
Metcalf Family Monument  . Reuben, Melissa Jane & 
James Cyrus Metcalf named
Metcalf James Cyrus 17 Jan 1858 29 Aug 1879 Grave marker reads "Brother" 
b. Muscatine Co., IA 
d. Nichols, IA - 
brother to Reuben Metcalf 
age 20 yrs. 
Metcalf Melissa Jane 7 Apr 1833 17 Jul 1920 Grave marker reads "Mother"
 Wife of Reuben Metcalf
Metcalf Reuben 15 Jun 1825 25 Jul 1878 Grave marker reads "Father" 
b. in Hundon, England
Moore Family Monument     Fannie Moore b. 1836 d. 1900
Peter Moore and Annie B. Maine
Moore Fannie Louisa 28 Dec 1836 7 Mar 1900 Grave marker reads "Mother" 
Co. Court House b. Clark Co., OH
Moore  Peter 1824 14 Sep 1913 Grave marker reads "Husband" 
age 89 yrs. 10 mos. 14 dys. - b. Holland
Moots Eddie na 1 Aug 1897 Son - age 7 mos. 9 dys.
b. Sweetland, IA 
Shares stone with Gertie Moots
Moots Gertie na 25 Jul 1897 Mother - age 26 yrs. 10 mos. 26 dys. 
Shares stone with Eddie Moots 
WPA names Gertrude Moots, b. 1871
Morgan Nancy na 4 Aug 1879 Mother - age 76 yrs. 5 mos. 19 dys.
Musser records show b. 1803
Newton Angeline 1 Nov 1858 28 Sep 1859 Grave marker reads "Angeline" 
f. T. Newton m. V.
Newton Family Monument     Angeline, Thomas N., Vialy, Waldo 
and Warner Newton named 
Newton Family Monument na na No names
Newton Iowa Ida 1862 1919 sister of Philander
Newton Philander na na Co. A 11 Iowa Inf. (government stone) 
(GAR marker)
Newton Thomas N. 20 Apr 1820 12 Jan 1904 Grave marker reads " Father"
Newton Vialy 24 Mar 1821 26 Jun 1891 Grave marker reads "Mother" 
Wife of T. Newton
Newton Waldo 24 Oct 1849 26 May 1914  
Newton Warner 19 Jul 1849 11 Nov 1865 Grave marker reads " Warner" 
f. T. Newton m. V.
Oostendorp Daryl 7 Aug 1912 19 Dec 1988 f. James Oostendorp m. Viola Watkins
Oostendorp James William 1887 1981 Co. Court House; b. 1 Jul 1885 
d. 5 Dec 1981 
f. William Oostendorp 
m. Katherine Schlapkohl 
Oostendorp Viola Amanda 1884 1966 Shares stone with James Oostendorp 
Co. Court House; b. 5 May 1885
d. 21 Jul 1966 
f. Charles Watkins m. Harriett Hall 
obit d. 21 Jul 1966, age 81
Ortega Lissel Diane 15 May 1993 15 May 1993  
Redman Frank 15 Sep 1893 9 May 1972 Co. Court House d. Fruitland Twp.
Redman Isola  1886 16 Jul 1977 Co. Court House; Izola May Redman
b. 15 Dec 1886 d. 16 Jul 1977 
f. Charles Watkins m. Harriett Hall 
obit confirms
Ripley Eveline  1831 8 Feb 1858 Wife of James M. Ripley 
age 27 yrs. 4 mos. 8 dys.
Ripley George Llewellyn 1855 1919 Shares stone with Harriet Metcalf Ripley
Ripley Grace E. na 9 Sep 1884 age 3 yrs. 5 dys. - f. G.L. Ripley m. H.B.
Ripley Harriet Metcalf 1861 1955  
Rose James W. na 25 Jun 1877 age 5 mos. 8 dys. - f. A.D. Rose m. A.J.
Roush Myrta T. 05 May 1869
Pike Twp, 
Muscatine Co
1 Aug 1895 Grave marker reads " Myrta" 
Wife of Wm. Roush - age 26 yrs. 
(spelled RAUSCH
on marriage record) married 
29 Aug 1894 Muscatine Co IA
nee TRAUTMAN d/o Philip & Sarah
WPA also lists as ROUSH
Schmeltzer George M. na 11 Oct 1865 age 5 mos. 1 dy.
f. D. Schmeltzer m. M. 
Schumacher Elizabeth 6 Apr 1816 4 Oct 1900 Mother
Schumacher Infant na na Daughter - f. J. Schumacher m. E. 
(rest of stone sunk)
Schumacher Jacob 30 Oct 1819 15 Apr 1905 Father (GAR marker) 
Co. Court House d. 14 Apr 1905 
in Fruitland b. Germany
Stretch Andrew na 27 Oct 1849 age 50 yrs.
Stretch Bertha I. na 2 Sep 1861 age 4 yrs. 5 mos. 8 dys. 
f. G. Stretch m. E.
Stretch Francis M. na 9 May 1862 age 19 yrs. 6 mos. 2 dys. 
member of Co. A. 14 Reg. Iowa Vol. Inf.
IA 11 Inf A-died of wounds
at Quincy IL Listed in war records 
as buried at the National Cemetery
in Quincy IL. 
Either he was moved to this location
or this is a Memorial Stone
Stretch George 1827 14 Jun 1862 age 35 yrs. 5 mos. 10 dys.
WPA listed as STETCH
Stretch Hamilton M. na 11 Sep 1862 age 10 mos. 23 dys. 
f. Geo. Stretch m. E.M. 
Stretch Malinda 1801 15 Oct 1877 Wife of Andrew Stretch 
age 76 yrs. 9 mos. 15 dys. 
f. George Purcell
Stretch Marion na na (GAR marker) 
Stretch Melinda Purcell na na Marker states 
"Dau. of a Revolutionary Soldier, 
erected by the Oskaloosa Chapter D.A.R."
It is placed next to the
Stretch Family Monument 
(may be same as Malinda, w/o Andrew)
Stretch Willie M. na 5 Sep 1871 age 2 yrs. 12 dys. - f. M. Stretch m. L.E.
Stretch  Family Monument     Francis, Malinda and Andrew Stretch
Sutton Hazel Marie 12 Mar 1893 6 Jan 1896 age 2 yrs. 9 mos. 24 dys.
Trautman Ezra P. 27 Nov 1859
Pike Twp, Muscatine, IA
21 Jun 1888 Grave marker reads " Ezra" 
f. P. Trautman m. Sarah 
age 28 yrs. 6 mos. 24 dys
Trautman Family Monument     Ezra P., Philip, Sarah Tautman 
& Myrta T. Roush named
Trautman Philip 1826 15 Sep 1872 Grave marker reads "Father" 
 age 46 yrs. 8 mos. 26 dys 
father of Ezra
f/o Willard R (married Effie Boggs
01 Mar 1885 Muscatine Co IA)
f/oMyrta (m. Wm. Roush) 
f/o Frances
(m. Albert H. Heath 27 Dec 1880 
Muscatine Co IA)
Trautman Sarah 6 Dec 1825 8 Jan 1912 Grave marker reads " Mother" 
age 86 yrs. 1 mos. 2 dys
1910 lived with widowed daughter 
in law Effie Boggs Trautman, 
(widow of Willard Ray)
In 1910 was listed age 84 b. Ohio 
nee SOUTHWORTH
Watkins Cecil R. 1905 1943 (WW I marker - memorial stone)
Watkins Charles W. 1860 1943 Shares stone with Harriett H. Watkins
Watkins Chester A. 1865 1941  
Watkins Clara na Sep 1873 Grave marker reads "Infant" 
f. J.G. Watkins m. Sarah Ann 
Watkins Dallas T. na na Grave marker reads "D.W." 
no dates given 
Per Civil War IA Roster IA Vols: 
served in the 9th Volunteer Calvalry, 
Co. A.  d. 14 Aug 1864 at 
Devall's Bluff, Ark.- age 20 yrs
Watkins Earl na na Grave marker reads " Earl" 
no dates are listed
Watkins Family Monument na na Oliver, Ida, Hayden & Willie 
Watkins named
Watkins Family Monument     Clara and Sarah Ann Watkins 
Watkins Fred H. 1888 1917  
Watkins Harley O. 15 Jan 1884 18 Aug 1949 Father - WWI marker
Watkins Harriett H. 24 Jul 1860 27 Oct 1952 Co. Court House f. John Hall m. Alinda
Watkins Hayden na 15 Sep 1889 Grave marker reads "H.W." 
age 10 mos. 20 dys.- b. IA
 f. J.G. Watkins m. S.A. 
Watkins Howard L. 1911 1919  
Watkins Ida na 15 Aug 1864 Grave marker reads "I.W." 
1 yr. 4 mos. - f. J.G. Watkins m. S.A.
Watkins Infants na na Grave marker reads "Infants" 
no dates are listed
Watkins Nellie E. 1897 1928 Shares stone with Chester A. Watkins
Watkins Oliver  na 31 Aug 1861  age 1 yr. 2 mos. - f. J.G. Watkins m. S.A. 
Watkins Russel 11 Aug 1897 26 Dec 1976  
Watkins Sarah Ann 1834 13 Jun 1888 Grave marker reads "Mother" 
Wife of J.G. Watkins - age 54 yrs. 20 dys. 
b. in Harrisburg, PA 
Co. Court House d. 12 Jun 1888
buried 14 Jun 1888
Watkins William (Willie) na 17 Sep 1859 Grave marker reads " W.W". 
per Federal Census of Iowa, Pike Twp. 
Mortality Schedule 1860; age 2 yrs. 9 mos. 
f. J.G. Watkins m. S.A.
Watkins Willie 8 Aug 1896 4 Mar 1897  
Watkins Wm. na 6 Apr 1851 age 13 yrs. 2 mos. 16 dys.
Younkin Abigail 1821 9 Oct. 1862 Wife of Elijah Younkin 
age 41 yrs. 1 mos. 23 dys.
listed on WPA as Younker
Younkin Barbary na 13 Mar 1853 age 2 yrs. 4 mos. 12 dys.
- f. E. Younkin m. A.
listed on WPA as Younker
Younkin Elijah 1816 11 Jun 1883 Father - age 67 yrs. 5 mos. 
WPA b. 1816
listed on WPA as Younker
Younkin Martha na 28 Feb 1864 age 20 yrs. 3 mos. 8 dys. 
f. Elijah Younkin m. Abigail 
listed on WPA as Younker
         

The below listings were found on the Musser Library lists or the WPA lists but did not appear on the McCleary/Hixon list
 
YOUNKER D.W. 1837 25 Mar 1885 WPA (as seen above,
may be Younkin)
WALKER William , 1851 MPL

Notes related to the MPL list of Watkins Cemetery burials:
The Troutman marker was listed as being "off to itself"

The epitaph of Annie Ames was also given:
"A precious one from us has gone
A voice we loved is stilled
A place is vacant in our home
That never can be filled"


Muscatine Co Cemetery Listings

Original Muscatine Co. Genealogy Table of Contents