COFFINS GROVE CEMETERY

 

            Situated 4 1/2 miles NE of Manchester, Iowa.  Coffins Grove Twp.  It is on the 700 acre farm originally owned by Henry Baker, the land of which he purchased in 1841 and in subsequent years to 1850's from the U.S. Government, mostly.

            He contributed two acres for a cemetery as is shown by the deed.  It is situated about a half mile east of the large brick Inn which he built in 1856 and his little children were the first burials on the land.  There was no fence at that time (1846).  Elizabeth, wife of Henry Baker, d. 1849, and was buried on the farm, same lot as children.  Other burials followed including that of Clement Coffin and his wife etc.

            The Coffins Grove Cemetery Association was organized in Jan. 1869,; the two acres surrounding these early graves served as a suitable place for burial purposes and a deed was given by Henry Baker for this purpose.

            The grounds are divided into lots there being fifteen tiers from North to South and twenty-three from East to West with a wide driveway from North to South through the center.  It is on the east side of this driveway where the Coffin and Baker lots are situated.

            Judge Clement Coffins stone is white marble; a tall obelisk with a rather lengthy inscription of data.  Small obelisks connected with looped iron chain surrounds this lot.

            Henry Baker stone is a huge granite on the lot adjoining the Coffin lot.  His wife and three children's stones are old and fallen.  The inscriptions are quaint and touching.  Little Julia, Jacob and that of Susan, the oldest child that was drowned are here.  Her younger sister also named Susan grew to womanhood and married.  She is buried in Manchester, Iowa her grave being removed to that cemetery (Oakland).  Manchester, Ia.

            The Society have recently beautified the grounds and set up many of the stones that had been knocked over by live stock.  They also removed brush and rank grass and weeds, and painted the fence.  Placed some steps and repaired the fence adjoining the farm fields.

            The grounds have a frontage of 330 feet with a depth of 265 ft.  A wide driveway encircles the lots.  A rather large circular plat was left without plotting so that public services could be held.  It also is a convenience for driving through and around the cemetery.

            The Henry Baker Inn that was once so famous, it being on the stage road, is plainly visible from the cemetery.  This road was surveyed by Henry Baker, Clement Coffin and Joel Bailey, from Dubuque.  A portion of this road is still in use as a public highway; starting about 1 3/4 miles west of Manchester, branching off from No. 20.

            When Mr. Baker's wife died he went to Morenci, Michigan and brought his oldest niece, Emily E. Hawley (daughter of Hial Newton and Sarah Baker Hawley) to mother the Inn and his little daughter, Susan.  He was Justice of Peace and held court in the upper hall of the Inn.  Also performed marriage ceremonies.  My father, James F. Gillespie was in his employ and on Sepot 18 1862 was married there to my mother, whose daughter I am and who copied the date from the stones in the Cemetery in 1949.

                                                            Sarah L. Gillespie-Huftalen

 

 

Submitted by Ann Baumgarn on October 22, 2003.

 

 

List of Those Who Lie Buried in the Coffins Grove Cemetery

Alcock, Jennie, died Feb 6 1877, age 4 Yrs 3 Mos 20 days.  Dau of R. & L. Alcock

Alcock, Mary

Alcock, Delbert, Died Aged 5 Yrs 10 mo 7 days.  Son of R. & L. Alcock

Alcock, Julia, Died Age 7 Yrs 10 Mo 10 days.  Dau of R. & L. Alcock.

Alcock, Frank, Died Aged 1 Yr 6 mos, Son of R. & L. Alcock

 

Baker, Henry, Esq. Born Feb 20 1814, Died June 16, 1899.  Age 85 Yrs 3 Mo 26 Days.

Baker, Elizabeth, Born 1816, wife of Henry Baker, Died Dec 15, 1859, Age 43 Yrs

Baker, Julia Adelaide, Died Oct 15 1846, Age 2 yrs. l mo.

Baker, Edward Jacob, Died Aug 20 1846, Age 4 Yrs. 7 Mos.

Baker, Susan, Died Apr 1^st 1849, Age. 3 Yrs 3 Mos.

Barney, James R.  Died Dec 21 1871, Aged 52 Yrs 11 Mos 21 days.

Brown, Daniel W.  Son of D. & J.A. Brown, (no dates)

Brown, John, Died Oct 4 1872, Aged 64 Yrs.

Brown, Elizabeth W., Died Oct 26, 1875, Age 52 Yrs 2 Mo 19 da. Wife of John B.

Blanchard, Auldia M. Died Feb 23 1863, Age   yrs 3 mo. 19 days, son of S.M. & A.B.

Boldan, John, 1813-1865, Phebe, 1827-1879 (one stone)

Breckenfield, Wm. Born Oct 26 1907,  Died Nov 1 1907 s. of Carl & Emma B.

Benson, Mary J. Born June 16, 1833, Died April 1, 1902..

 

Coffin, Clement C. Born Aug 25 1795, Died July 7 1867.

Coffin, Susan Williams, wife, Died Feb 25 1871, Age 73 Yrs 5 mos.

Coffin, Freeman, Died July 3, 1854, Age 67 Yrs. (from MI, died visiting Bro Clement)

Coffin, Jerome

Carpenter, Homer D., (C?) Died Apr 29 1883, Age 33 Yrs, 6 mos 6 days.

Carpenter, Sarah, Died Apr 15 1884, Born May 22 1853.

Carpenter, William, Born Nov 8 1825, Died Feb 1 1892.

Cook, Emery Born Feb 17 1829 , Died Dec 7, 1919.

Cook, Helen M. Died Feb 19 1891, Age 28 Yrs 4 mo 26 days, Dau of Emery & Mary

Cook, Edward

Cowell, Susanne,

Cowell, George

Cowell, Margaret

Coleson, Wm. Died Feb 17 1902, Age 78 yrs 10 mo 14 days.

Coleson, Jane, W. Born Dec 10, 1831, Died Sept 26, 1906.

Coleson, James S. Born Apr 25 1854, Died Nov 8 1908, "At Rest."

Coleson

Correll, Margaret, Died July 16 1856, Age 21 Yrs 3 mo. 17 da. Wife of John C.

Correll, Susan E. Died Oct 8 1871, Age 36 Yrs.)

Correll, George, Died Dec 20 1873, Age 39 yrs:}on double stone.

     "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord."

 

Durey, Alfred, Died Feb 2 1877, Age 46 Yrs 4 mo 28 days

Durey, Mary, Died June 8 1908, Age 68 yrs 10 mo 2 days.  Wife of Alfred.

Durey, Charley, Died Dec 24 1866, Age 4 yrs.

Durey, Elemer, E. Died Apr 14 1865, Age 8 mos.

Disbrow, Johnny M. Died Sept 27     son of W.A. & M. Disbrow.

Evans, Infant daughter of Wm. & Ada Hersey Evans, Died Aug 11, 1903.

 

Farlinger, Isabel, Born July 3 1847, Died Nov 7 1889 (Dau of Isaac McGee)

Farlinger, Marie L. Born Dec 21 1869, Died Dec 15 1886 (Dau of Wm & Isabell)

 

Griffin, Clement C. Died Dec 8 1862, Age 1 Yr 9 mo (Son of Ray B. Griffin)

 

Hacker, Willie (No date, a small stone.)

 

Hill, Edwin E. Died Nov 15 1864, Age 2 Yrs 9 mo 2 days (Children of N.S. & S)

Hill, Jay, Died 9.13, 1866, 3 mo. 2 days (Hill. Obelistk stone)

Howland, Amos, Died Sept 4 1865 Age 8 yrs. son of B & P Howland

Howland, T.T.T.

Howland, Amos, Died Sept 4 1865, Age 8 yrs. son of B. & P Howland

Howland, Sarah, Died Sept 4 1865, Age 5 yrs. dau of B. & P Howland

Howland, Barney  Died Sept 10 1870, Age 3 yrs. 8 mos. S. of Jas & Ellen P. Howland

 

Johnston, John S. Died Jan 11 1858, Age 65 Yrs 2 Mos 27 Days. "Rest in Memory"

Jacobs, John, Born Nov 1 1840, Died Apr 3 1923, Age 82 Yrs 5 mo 2 da.

Jacobs, Magdalena, Born Dec 7 1843, Died Nov 6 1907, Age 63 Yrs 11 mo 1 da.

     Stones marked," Father", "Mother"

 

Keyes, Sarah Luella, Died Sept 18 1856, Age 9 Mo 2 wk 2 days, d. of Susan Coffin K.

Kendrew, Daniel, Born July 4 1862, Died Jan 26 1879, Age 16 Yrs 6 mo 22 days

Kortright, Julia, Died Nov 13 1854, Dau of R.F. & B.A. Kortright

 

Lillibridge, Abraham F., Died Nov 30 1855, Age 1 yr 6 mo, s. of A & M Lil.

 

Mohler, Magdalena, wife of Martin Garber, Died Dec 8 1876, Age. 75 Yrs 10 mo 16 d

Mohr, Isaac, Died Nov 6 1862.  Age 16 Yrs.

McGee, John, Died Feb 18 1893, Age 70 Yrs 5 Mo 28 Day.

McGee, Janet, Died May 21 1889, Age 61 Yrs 11 mo 11 Days., wife of John McGee.

McGee, MaryAnn, Died Jan 4 1864, Age 2 Yrs 11 mo dau of Jno & Janet McGee

McGee, Isaac

McGee, Sarah (Smart), Born May 19 1827, Died Aug 27 1888, wife of Isaac McGee

McGee, Adelaide, Died Oct 5 1862, Age 5 Yrs 3 Mo. 7 Da.  Dau of Jno & Janet

McGee, George, Died March 15 1879, Age 26 Yrs son of Isaac & Sarah McGee

McGee, Nellie, Died Jan 19 1892, Age 26 Yrs 7 mo 26 days, Dau of Isaac & Sarah

McGee, Oscar A., Died Jan 25 1889, Age 22 Yrs 4 Mo 6 Days, Son of Jno & Janet

Miller, L.B., Died Aug 5 1881, Age 73 Yrs. (Mother of Mrs. Benj Smith)

Minkler, Azubah, Died Apr 20 1865, Age 24 Yrs "Gone home, our Mother".

Minkler, Edw. W., Co. F 27^th Iowa Inf.  INF. (No dates)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nelson, Catherine, Died Aug 21 1882, Age 78 Yrs 7 Mo 13 Days, wife of N.H. Nelson

Nelson, Nathan H. Died Aug 8 1886, Age 90 Yrs 1 Mo 29 Days

Nelson, Nathan H. Died Feb 6 1872, Age 37 Yrs.

Nelson, D, Died Oct 27 1870, Age 27 Yrs 11 Mo 16 days. (Oliver D.)

Nelson, Mary E., Died Sept 16 1869, dau of Oliver D. Nelson

Nelson, Milton, Died Feb 18 1862, St. Louis, Hospital, of fever in Civil War

New, Mary E. Wife of Jas M. New. (no dates)

New, Anna A. Died Apr 21 1864, Age 7 mo 19 days. Dau of J.M. & M.E. New.

 

Parliman, John, Died Nov 21 1852, Age 63 Yrs

Parliaman, Wm Died Feb 26 1853, Age 36 Yrs 5 mo (hus of Adeline Gillespie)

Parliaman, Hannah, Died Nov 6 1852, Age 2 Yrs. dau of J. & S.

Parliaman, Emeline, Died March 31, 1856, Age 17 Yrs. dau of J.& S. (or F? & S)

Parliaman, Elizabeth, Died, Nov 15 1852, Age 73 Yr 8 mo

Peck, William, Died July 31 1855, Age 35 Yrs 11 mo 21 days.

Pellymounter, Frank, Died March 19 1871, Age 8 Yrs 4 Mo "Gone but not forgotten"

Pierce, Ernest D., Born Sept 29 1866, Died Jan 2 1888.

Pitts, Marguerite, Born Aug 28 1837, Died Nov 9 1931, "Mother"

Pitts, Peter, Born Oct 14 1831, Died Feb 11 1904, "Father"

 

Stewart, Samuel, Born 1831, Died 1901.

Stewart, Ann, Born 1841, Died 1927.

Stewart, A.W.  Died Feb 4 1879, Age 37 Yrs 11 mo 5 days.

Stewart, Mary S., Died Aug 30 1876, Age 71 Yrs 5 mo 5 days.

Sullivan, Elmer F. . Died May 18 1871, Age 1 Yr. 3 Mo s. of S.P. & E.A. Sullivan

Scholes, Harriet C. Died Dec 5 , Age 25 Yrs 8 Mo 6 Da. , wife of Jno F.S.

Scholes, Hiram P. Died June 4 1857, Age 34 Yrs 5 Mo 21 Da.

Scholes, Hertie, Died July 28 1824, Died

Dmith, Benjamin, Born Jan 26 1824, Died.

]Smith, Sophronia (Miller), Born Oct 17 18278, Died Dec 22 1893.

Smart, Isabel, Died 1880,. Age 26 Yrs.  Wife of Samuel Smart.

 

Towner, Caroline, Born July 11, 1829, Died Apr 13 1873.

Towner, Rosetta, Born Sept 228 1854, Died Sept 15 1876.

Towner, Willard, Born Feb 12 1866, Died Aug 15 1896.

Disdale, Oscar E. Died Oct 10 1866, Age 13 Yrs 9 Mo, only son of L.& E Tisdale

Tripp, John Died Sept 30 1875, Age 67 Yrs 7 mo 19 days.

Tripp, Esther, wife of Jno Tripp.  Died Oct 9 1876, Age 61 Yrs 5 Mos.

Tripp, Robert, Died July 27 1855, Age 3 Yrs. Son of J. & E. Tripp

Tripp, Eliza, Died March 18 1855, Age 1 Yr. Dau of J.&. E Tripp.

Tripp, Phebe, Died Jan 2 1870, Age 35 Yrs.

Tripp, Michael, Died March 10, 1870, son of G.P. & M.E. Tripp.

Tripp, G.P. Corporal Comp F. 27^th Iowa INF.  (Civil War Star Marker)  Notes from his

           Civil War Diary at Coffins Grove Stagecoach Inn Museum

Tripp, Lillie A. Died July 29 1885, Age 18 Yrs 4 mo 5 da.  Dau. Of G.P. & M.E.

 

Van Alstyne, Roma, Born July 7 1873, Died July 15, 1873, 8 days old.

Van Alstyne, James H. Died Oct 22 1874, Age 35 Yrs 5 days. (Hung himself)

Van Alstyne, Elizabeth, Born Apr 8 1840, Died Jan 25 1899, wife of James.

Van Alstyne, C.M. Died Jan 5 1881, Age 21 Yrs 9 Mo 18 Days.

Yarmouth, Wilhemina, Mutter.  Born Apr 15 1885, Died Aug 21 1903.

 

Epitaphs Copies

 

Susan Adelaide Baker, "In memory of the only child of Henry and Elizabeth Baker, Died Apr 1 1849, Aged 3 Yrs 3 Mos.  "So fades the lovely blooming rose cutdown and withered in an hour."  (The Bakers named another daughter Susan.  She survivedto marry Albert Hersey.)

 

In memory of Julia Adelaide Baker, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Baker, Died Oct 18 1846, Aged 2 Yrs and 4 Mos.  "And love and hope and beauty bloom; The blossoms gathered for the tomb."

 

In memory of Edward Jacob Baker, only son of Henry and Elizabeth Baker, Died August 26 1846, Age 4 Yrs 7 Mos.  "Weep not for your son, Whom the veil…..In life's happy…..Hath bid……"

 

Clement C. Coffin, Born at Edgerton, Martha's Vineyard, Aug 25 1795, Died July 7 1867, Coffins Grove, Delaware County, Iowa.  "Punctuality, activity, energy and fidelity in the discharge of his duties marked his character.  The brittle thrad of life is broken; the body lies in the kindred dust; the spirit dwelleth with God."

 

Susan Williams, wife, Born Williamsburg, Massachusetts, Sept 25, 1797, Died Feb 25, 1871, Age 73 Yrs. 5 mos.  "She is not dead but sleepeth.

     

     (Note: These inscriptions are on the faces of the tall shaft on the Coffin lot.  The stones of the Henry Baker family join this lot at the north.  East side of central driveway.)

 

 

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