9/25/17 - Checked on cache and it was missing along with the Cedar tree it was in. Replaced a little differently and upped the Difficulty!
Primitive Baptist Cemetery
The oldest church in Madison county is the Primitive Baptist church located a mile northeast of Winterset, and the cemetery which adjoins the church is one of the oldest in the county. The church was founded in 1847.The Rev. John Evans, who came to Madison County in 1846, was the first minister, a “Hardshell Baptist” and he helped organize the church in 1847 at the home of John Butler in Union Township.
Vivian Robbins Debutts of Sioux City, daughter of Mrs. Caleb Robbins of Winterset, and granddaughter of Elizabeth Crawford Banks wrote a history of the church, its early members and the dates of the burials in the cemetery. James P. Crawford was thought to be the first person buried in this cemetery. He and his family came to Madison County May 15, 1855 and he died December 6, 1855.
Cemetery Falls Into Disrepair - 1901
From the Winterset Reporter, June 13, 1901
A great many of the readers of the Reporter are aware that there is a country graveyard situated about a mile north of Winterset depot, and we thought perhaps a little sketch concerning this little city of the dead might be of interest to some of our readers.
Years ago somewhere in the fifties this spot was chosen to lay away the remains of some of the pioneers of this county in and eventually a church was built on the spot by the sect known as the Primitive Baptists. John Evans then owner of the land wishing to make arrangements to give the land for cemetery purpose offered to deed that corner of his farm to the church and to make the deed valid, the church appointed three trustees and the land was deeded to them and their successors and thus it stands to the present day.
But during the time of the war the church was destroyed and the little band moved their meeting place up to the North River , where they still hold regular monthly meetings. But owing to the inability of the trustees to attend to the cleaning up and mowing of the grounds the resting place of some of the oldest settlers of Madison County has been allowed to grow up in weeds and brush and become a byword and reproach to the community. But Mrs. Mahala Osburn has taken it upon herself to raise funds to hire someone to clear this away and make this place a little more sightly. Many of the families that have dear ones laid away there have left the county while others have grown careless and we believe that a great many would be willing to contribute a small amount if they knew where to give it and that it would be judiciously used.
The Primitive Baptist Church was not known as a startlingly progressive organization They usually had monthly preaching appointments instead of weekly services—were against missionary organizations believing it to be against “the Word of God” and preached a predestinarian gospel They were also known as Two—Seed, Hard-shell and Anti—Missionary and a preacher was not much who could not be heard a country mile. To this church Abraham Lincoln’s parents held membership while residing in Indiana.
The first known minister of any denomination to enter Madison Co. was John Evans, a Hardshell Baptist. He came from northwest Missouri in May 1846 and staked a claim for himself, but he was also guilty of staking imaginary claims hoping to hold them until he could locate or convert members of his faith to live there. He had a very successful three years around Winterset, preaching the first sermon, conducting the first funeral, marrying the first couple and helping constitute the first church. It was called Middle River of the Primitive Baptist. It was organized at the home of John Butler who lived 2 miles NE of Winterset in 1847. Charter members were: Aquilla Smith, Sally Ann Mills, Samuel Crawford, Polly Crawford, John Butler, Susannah Butler, Mathew Jones, Lucinda Jones, L. D. Skidmore, Rebecca Thornburg and Lydia Evans. The first meetings were held in homes and soon as many as 50 were attending. All records were destroyed November 7, 1897 when the house of the church clerk, Asa B. Smith, was destroyed by fire.
The first wedding in the County took place June 1, 1846. John Butler was father of the bride and his daughter Betsy Butler married Daniel Chenowith. Her father didn’t have their cabin up yet so they were married out in the timber.
John Evans also preached at the Buffalo Center community south of town baptizing converts in Middle River. Evans was a great uncle of Inez Hartman, Ed’s first teacher. He moved to Nebraska from this area and died there. His was a large family and several of his ancestors still live in and around Winterset. One of his brothers built the stone house now owned by Charles Lee. Several relatives are buried in the Primitive Baptist Cemetery.
In 1857 Evans sold his claim to Alfred Hood, reserving two acres where the present church and cemetery are, for that purpose. About 1859 a meeting house was started just east of the present one. It was ready for the plasterers when the Civil War broke out and the question of slavery entered the Church causing a division. In 1861 the Elder died and meetings were discontinued for a time. Later they were held at the Gorr Schoolhouse 9 miles NE of Winterset and near Buffalo Mill. Among the Elders at this time was an Elder Jordan. Meetings closed at Buffalo when the dam washed out by floods and the Mill closed down and members moved elsewhere in search of work.
In 1903 Elder Jordan raised money and built a Church where the present one stands. This building was badly damaged in the "Tileville cyclone” and again meetings were held at Buffalo Schoolhouse until money and plans were made available for rebuilding. About this time the membership became the largest in many years. Elder Jordan lived with and preached for the Church longer than any other minister.
Gravestones in the cemetery dating to the late 1800’s would indicate it’s been active for some time. The Primitive Baptist Church is a small group of Christians desiring to honor God in a simple way, as explained on a website about Old School Baptist religion.
The simplicity of the building and the “unadorned” cemetery speaks to the simplicity about the church and its followers, praising God without a lot of visual and outright trappings, honoring him and Jesus much as early Christians must have done before churches became a bigger business.
450 interments
"Please be respectful, do not hunt at night, do not disturb mourners, and leave this peaceful and revered place in good condition. Remember to practice CITO, always. Thank you."