Another small rural cemetery located in Cerro Gordo County.
A bit of history on one of the earlier settlers of Grant Township and one who is also buried in this cemetery. His name is Mark Dexter. Mr. Dexter was one of the most prominent and conspicuous figures in the local history of Grant township, and also bears the same relationship to Mason City, in which latter place he settled in February, 1856.
He was a wagon maker by trade, and finding his knowledge in that line in requisition, he opened a shop and manufactured the first wagons made in Cerro Gordo county. He devoted part of his time and energies to the calling of carpenter and builder, and also to bridge building. He built the first school house in the county, and hung the first bell, whose tones summoned the school children to duty. Mr. Dexter was married in 1859 to Amanda, daughter of Alva L. and Miranda (Hartwell) Whitting. In 1863 he settled on the west half of the northwest quarter of section 16, in what is now Grant township. He made his purchase of the claim in 1864, holding possession until 1866, when he sold to J. C. Thompston and moved to a new location on section 8. He then became owner of 240 acres of fine land.
Mr Dexter has at intervals, as occasion demanded, given much attention to building and has erected several school houses. His wife died in December, 1880, leaving seven children — Olive (Mrs. J. L Hooper), Dwight, Whiting, Amanda, Mary Jane, Selee and Thomas. Mr. Dexter was a native of Canada, and was born July 27, 1834. His parents were John and Margaret (Dudgeon) Dexter, the former a Canadian, the latter a native of Scotland. The family came to the States in 1835, settling in Lee Co., Ill. Mark was reared on a farm, but at the age of eighteen learned his trade, and followed it as a vocation in Lee county until 1855, when he started for Iowa, driving a team for J. B. LONG, who brought the first steam engine to Cerro Gordo county. The same engine supplies the power in a mill at Forest City. (At the time of this writing)
Cache is not located near any stones. As with all cemetery caches, no night caching and if there should be a service being held it would be best if you came back another time.