Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

written by Mrs. Albert Benadom.]
The dedication services were held June 22, 1952.
The Rev. Roland Badger, Hopkinton, and former
Antioch pastor, conducted the services.
The ANTIOCH LADIES AID SOCIETY was organized
Feb. 15, 1912. The first officers were Nelle Byerly,
president; Della Ristine, vice president; Blanche
Russell, secretary; and Mable Hay, treasurer. The 24
members the first year were Nora Landis, Eliza Byerly,
Zella Johnson, Carrie Byerly, Mabel Hay, Susie Byerly,
Mrs. J.M. Shields, Nelle Byerly, Mary Benadom. Eva
Carter, Grace Ristine, Della Ristine, Etta Hay, Lin
Johnson, Blanche Russell, Grace Byerly, Mary White,
Lottie Porter, Belle Huggins, Rose Johnson, Ettie
Johnson. Mrs. F.A. Bills. Lena Johnson and Grace
Atwood.
Probably the most interesting meeting in 1914 was
the one held at the Landis home Dec. 31. It was
recorded that nine members were absent, and nine
members were present, as were 56 visitors. The
meeting is remembered by a member of the community
as a New Year's Eve party.
The Antioch Ladies Aid Society continued after 1923.
but records are no longer available after that year.
The earliest minutes of the Antioch Social Circle are
dated 1923. As the Ladies Aid Society had done for
many years, the Circle also helped with the upkeep and
the general improvements of the church. The latest
contribution was the tuck-pointing and sealing of the
outside walls in 1986. The money was raised by
holding garage sales, bake sales, and donations from
the many friends of the church from California,
Washington, Florida, as well as many cities in Iowa.
Twenty-six families donated a total of S 1,656.
The 1987 officers are: Verna Fieldler, president; Betty
Thomsen, vice-president; Ruth Harderson. treasurer;
Dolores Eilers, secretary. Other members are Donna
Glenn, Helen Hansen, Debbie Hardersen, Patsy May,
Sherry McGreevy, lva Morning, Elie Paulson. Melinda
Powell. Millie Schuman. Margaret Ann Siebels. Lucille
Sievers, Audrey Smith, Lynette Smith, Edna Storm.
Irene Von Muenster, Julie Von Muenster and Tena
Waggoner.
As in the beginning, people of all faiths continue to
join the Antioch Social Circle.
Shortly after the completion of the church, the first
interment took place. A special stone, purchased in
1940 by the Cemetery Association using the last of the
funds of the Ladies Aid Society, marks the grave of
Elizabeth Ambrose. 1806-1866. The cemetery is
located east of the church.
The cemetery didn't always look as it does now. The
story is told that one day in the fall of 191 1. a funeral
service was being held at the church. Mourners.
gathered at the grave-site, were startled to hear
someone in a passing auto remark, “Isn't this a hell of a
place to be buried?"
Before the people left the cemetery. a work day was
set. So it was that a chance remark turned into a
blessing for the community.
Two additions have been made to the original one
acre of land given for cemetery purposes in 1865 by
Jacob and Elizabeth Kramer. The additional land was
purchased in 1921 and 1959.
The cemetery grounds was changed in 1930 as a
result of the first Highway 64 paving. The hill was cut
down in front of the church and a concrete wall and iron
fence was constructed.
People in the community who have served on the
cemetery board include R.A. Russell, secretary from
1916-1932; Lula Weighels Byerly, secretary from 1932-
1987; W.E. Hay served as treasurer from 1911-1945:
W.M. Byerly served as a trustee from 1911-1924; Albert
Benadom served as treasurer from 1946-1976: Nathan
Carter was trustee from 1927-1943; and Alvin Byerly,
president from 1953-1987.
Present members of the board are Darvin Hardersen,
president; Ruth Hardersen, secretary; Wayne
Schwartz, treasurer: Leo Bonjour and Philbert
Hardersen, trustees.
Members of the old Antioch Church as taken from
the church clerk's book dated Oct. 10, 1868 to Oct. 18.
1897 are as follows:
Anthony Waggoner. Mary M. Wilcox, Abraham
Landis, Mariah M. Landis. Susannah Landis. Margaret
Smith, L.B. Smith, Mathew Porter, File Belknap, Rhoda
Belknap. Almira Porter, Joseph H. Johnson, Catharine
E. Johnson.
Henrietta Brown, Almira Belknap, Valentine May,
Eliza Waggoner, Emerilla Byerly, Michael Byerly,
Elizabeth Byerly, William Jeffries. Barbara Ann Byerly,
Catharine Byerly, Catharine Kramer, Daniel Beam.
Catharine Elizabeth Beam, Nathan Potter, Clementine
Potter.
Edward Wilcox, Susan Margaret Byerly, J .B. Landis.
Ruth Emily Northey. Martha Smith. Robert Northey.
James Cummings, Harriett Cummings. Mary
Waggoner, Delia J. Brainard, John H. Beam, Adam
Byerly. George Cummings, Comelious Smith, Marcy C.
Porter, John Blackford, Lydia Blackford, Rofs Porter,
Sarah Jane Porter, James Carter, Rhoda Jane Carter.
Homer Van Amburg, Enace Warner. Emma Warner,
Herman Warner, William Tallman. Rachel Tallman.
Grace Waggoner, Owen Johnson, Naoma Johnson,
Parthena Waggoner, Elijah Van Anken, Caroline Van
Anken,
Thomas M. Belknap, Zechariah Waggoner, Sarah
Waggoner, Alexander W. Hay, Phebe Hay, Robert
Grewcock, Annie Grewcock, Mary Ann Grewcock,
Charles Tienlove, Wm. H. Sarabee. Thomas Maxwell.
Agnes Maxwell, John Fall, Emily Stalker, Jacob W.
Stalker,
George W. Ankeny, Timothy L. Brown, James Beam,
Louisa Beam. Adelia Cummings. Martha E. McFarland.
Samuel Ankeny, Milton C. McFarland, Olive Fall, Clara
C. Smith, Eliza Brown, Thomas Dawson,
Etta Beam. Marg Beam, John Hay, Catharine Hay,
Douglas Byerly, Jennie Byerly, Cordela Hay, Mary C.
Potter, Elizabeth Johnson, Mariah Byerly, Olive A.
Johnson. Cora Beam. Charles Brown, Rhoda C. Brown,
John L. Streeter, Sarah S. Streeter.
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