Jones County Pioneer Cemetery Commission

08/29/2026

Another before and after

08/29/2026

The pioneer members are working to get the stones cleaned and sprayed. Here is just one before and after photo. First one last fall, and now .

06/13/2026

Mike Rowley (far right blue shirt) from Clive, Iowa procured the granite stone for Joseph Knox and delivered to Four Horn Cemetery and set it today. We had a small gathering with the local Veterans, Genealogists, Pioneer Cemetery Commission members. Mike was also in Fort Madison earlier today for a ceremony with the DAR at Betsey Ross's sister's grave. So we did a 250th photo with the flag. Mike had one more stop in Belle Plaine with another Civil War stone. Mike goal is 76 stones this year.

06/13/2026

Ready to set the stone approximately 2:45 today Saturday June 13th.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/tCsFBBDrWqEWKK4H8?g_st=ac

06/09/2026

With the end of the school year, with summer and county fairs quickly approaching the America 250 Iowa Projects continue at a fast pace.
The Iowa Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) members have joined with the General Society of the War of 1812 in the State of Iowa (GSW1812) and the Iowa Department of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) and local citizens throughout Iowa to reach a goal of placing military gravestones on the unmarked graves of at least 76 veterans across Iowa.

This involves identifying, researching and documenting those veterans, submitting a stone application to the VA and then if approved taking delivery the 240 lbs stones and transporting and placing them where needed.

On early Saturday morning two stones and one member will leave Des Moines to take part in a 10:30 am ceremony at the City Cemetery in Fort Madison, Iowa to dedicate a restored marker on the grave of the daughter of Betsy Ross of flag making fame.

From there the first stone will travel 2 1/2 hours to Four Horn Cemetery in Scotch Grove, Iowa to place a stone (around 2:45) on the grave of Joseph Knox, a Civil War veteran who served in Company E of the 3rd Iowa Cavalry, 1864-1865. Rita Balichek and Jim Christianson were instrumental in making this possible one hundred and six years after his death.

The drive will continue and the transportation of another stone heads for Oak Hill Cemetery in Belle Plaine, Iowa. fCharles Bassett, a Civil War veteran of Company H, 43rd Wisconsin Infantry died at the age of 78 after a likely fall from a train. The planned installation is expected around 5:00pm The initial research by Becky Myers made the recognition for this veteran possible after 146 years.

Mike Rowley
Clive, Iowa

This photo is from a stone set in Drakesville earlier this year.

12/21/2024

Happy 187th birthday, Jones County, Iowa!!! 🎉🎂🥳

08/18/2024