March 19, 2024

Cemetery deserves more attention

Janine Johnson
San Diego, Calif.

In Poweshiek Township in Jasper County, there is a cemetery called Sams. Everyone seems to know about Green Castle or McKeever Cemetery but no one seems to know about Sams Cemetery. It is located on North 47th Avenue West, West of West 126th Street North, near Mingo.

I have had the opportunity to visit Sams several times, and I am consistently saddened at its disrespectful and neglected condition. There are Civil War, World War I and World War II vets buried there. There are at least 10 children buried there who never made it to their first birthday. The cousin of our President Andrew Johnson is buried there. This cousin, Henderson Johnson, was the founder of Valeria, Iowa.

Benjamin Franklin has a famous quote: “You can tell a lot about a community by how they take care of their cemetery.” How true.

This cemetery has trash, dead trees and only two thirds of the cemetery is mowed. Grave markers have been moved; probably by a mower, and never moved back to its rightful place.  On a recent visit, I could not even get in the cemetery to pay my respect because of a gate that was wired shut with barb wire.

A few weeks ago, the elected trustees of Poweshiek Township decided to do some upkeep at Sams. This is after, in my opinion, years of neglect. There is much left to do just to bring it a simple place of dignity to all who are buried there. So what is the responsibility of a community to their small country cemetery? Do our vets deserve more than neglect and debris? Poweshiek Township residents, take a look at Sams. On this upcoming Memorial Day, step away from the hot dogs on the grill for a moment and remember what this important holiday is all about. Take a drive and pay your respect to our vets, the children, and the 200 plus souls buried at Sams Cemetery. I don’t think this is what you want to represent your communities as so aptly described by Benjamin Franklin.