Page Co., History Shearer Church, Cemetery

      Shear Cemetery,(Section 23) Buchanan Twp., Page Co., IA.

Before a graveyard could be started in a new country, there must
be people living in the surrounding country.  One hundred years ago,
no white man had a home in Page County.

Up to about 1854 there had been a few deaths.  There being no 
grave-yard in the cotintry, William SHEARER gave an acre of land for 
the cemetery.  This was the starting of the "SHEARER Cemetery.  The 
first grave was that of Mrs. Joel SHEARER in 1853.  Mrs. John (Mary) NIXON
was buried there in 1855.  From 1853 tp 1870 there were several 
graves made and from 1870 until 1910 most all of the early settlers of 
the country were buried in this cemetery.  From 1910 to 1838 many of 
the younger generation.  The coffins from 1850 to 1870 were made as
needed of walnut lumber by local carpenters, there being no church
building in the country from 1850 to 1883, and modern means for
preserving the bodies unknown, the bodies were buried and 
later on the funaral was preached at some schoolhouse.

The men called on to dig the graves were men living near the 
grave-yard.  In the winter when the weather was very cold, these men 
would build a fire near the grave so they could keep warm.  Later as
transportation got better, often wives of the grave diggers would
bring dinners to the men as it would usually take the biggest 
part of a day to dig a grave, even with several men working.

In the year of 1882, many of the relatives and friends who had 
dear ones buried in the SHEARER Cemetery considered the fact that many
of their friends, as well as relatives, would follow later on and
that they needed a building where funerals could be held comfortably.  
A meeting was held January 5, 1883 to consider a building 
to be erected near the SHEARER Cemetery.  The meeting was held in the
"Pine School House".  It was agreed on by outsiders and four church
denominations to build a new building near the cemetery.  The 
principal object in building was understood by both outsiders and 
church members that it was for the convenience of holding funerals and 
when not in use for funerals, the different church denominations of 
this vicinity could use it for church services   The  denominations
were Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, Free Methodist, and Christian.

The following trustees were elected:  
	A.C. Fine      for the Methodists,
	Thomas SHEARER for the Baptists, 
	J.W. Maxwell   for the Christians,  
	Hiram Ingram   for the Free Methodists.  

It was decided to name this building the SHEARER Church.

The contract was let to G.R. Parsons and N.E. Thrapp to build said
house for $140.00 and to buy the lumber at the Hopkins Lumber Co.
On September 11, 1883, Hiran Ingram and wife donated the land on
which to build the church.  G. W. Chitty was to plaster the house 
for $80.00.  E.M. McFarland was to build the flu, and the church was 
to be completed by October 10, 1883.  The building cost $683.10.  The
seats were made by Fine and Wilcox, cost $50.32.

Since Joseph SHEARER deeded this land for a ce;netery, it has been
a place of honor and respect for the men, women and children in 
the commnunity. Joseph SHEARER's monument is located over his grave 
and shows this land was deeded prior to 1853.  Not only have we had
pride in this plot of ground as a place to bury our loved ones, 
but it has been a landmark where we could fellowship and prove our
patriotism.

About the beginning of this century, some of the teachers of the
Fine, Pine and Star Schools saw the need of teaching the children
respect for the dead and patriotism for the flag.  The teachers 
and pupils of the Pine and Star Schools would march to the corner east
of the cemetery, and the ones from the Fine School would come in a
wagon.  They would march together up the hill to the cemetery where
they would give a short program and decorate the graves.  

Among the Teachers were May and Kate Martin, Charles Huntsman, and 
Edna Bashor.

This was done for several years and then for a time no interest. 
was taken, and the cemetery was neglected.  As money was scarce, the
only care given the graves was as people cared for their own.
Orlando McFarland kept the plot of the cemetery and helped in 
locating graves, and helped to dig many graves when the need arose.

At that time, people did not seem to know there was a cemetery tax
for the upkeep.  When the truste's found this out, about 1910, a
meeting was called and a motion was made by Jasper Fine and 
seconded by Roy Moffitt that this tax be levied and the money used to hire
caretaker Charley Webb was hired as caretaker to cut the wild
plum trees, grub out the roots of the trees, cut the blue stem 
grass that was as tall as the monuments, level the ground so that it 
could be mowed.

In April, 1916, a group of people interested in the cemetery 
met at Byron MOFFITT's and organized a Cemetery Association.  
Ezra HARDEE was elected President and Mrs. HARDEE the Secretary-Treasurer. 
They planned for a short program with a speaker and music. Mrs. George
LAUB said beings they were meeting in the morning, why not have
Sunday School? It was decided to hold the services the last Sunday
in May. As people had; to drive horses, it was decided to have 
a basket dinner. The dinner was heeld in the church and Jessee
Henderson returned thanks for our food and the privilege of meeting 
togetheir.  As there was no water Wayne DAVISON suggested 
that a tank of lemonade be made.  They used a tank that had been 
used to haul water for a thashing machine.  It held 300 gallons.

These dinners with programs and decoration of the soldiers graves
continued for years.  The HARDEE's held their offices as long as
health permitted.  Later Wayne DAVISON was elected President, then
Byron MOFFITT, Herman CLARK, and Larry CLARK.

For a good many years the dinners were big drawing cards and 
people came from far and near. The tables were spread under the oak 
trees in the yard and in the afternoon the church seats and piano was
moved out in the yard where the stage had been built.  This was
always decoarated with flags and red, white and blue bunting.

As cars became more plentiful, the dinner began to lag, so it was
decided to have just an afternoon program.  They were fortunate 
at this time to have a firing squad (thanks to Roy FINE), and the
school band.  A collection is taken at each meeting to pay the
expenses, including the speakers and decorations.

On Wednesday, February 17, 1954, the historic old church burned to
the ground.  In June, 1956, the community bought the Lone Elm School
house southeast of Braddyville, and Clifford WHITE of Riverton 
moved it to the site of the old church.  Members of the community came
together and laid the cment blocks.

On April 25, 1963, a tornado destroyed the rebuilt SHEARER Church.
The church was totally wrecked.  The piano and some of the seats
were salvaged.  Again the community met with a basket dinner and
gathered up the debris.  Plans were made for re-building a shelter
with a sliding door, so the piano can be rolled out for use.
Thus, through fire and storm, our SHEARER Church is still 
standing, united our community closer together and is a wooden monument to
all that our forefathers hoped and stood for.

E-Mail: Paul R. Sarrett, Jr. Page Co., Coordinator