116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
History Happenings: Linn County Unburied
Cemeteries reveal rich history, including star-crossed lovers
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Walk through any of Linn County’s cemeteries and you will be surrounded by our community’s history.
Of course, the details of that history are not readily apparent from tombstones, grave markers, and the like. Fortunately, The History Center’s “Linn County Unburied” program provides a wealth of information and context about those who are enjoying their final rest in the area.
Each Linn County Unburied program focuses on a different cemetery as Jenny Thielman, The History Center’s program manager, shares fascinating facts and stories about the lives of those whose legacies live on.
The programs occur at The History Center, 800 Second Ave. SE, making them accessible to everyone and ensuring the weather is not a deterrent to participation.
Here are some of our favorite tidbits from previous editions of the program. We’re hopeful they might entice you to attend the Linn County Unburied program, set for 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 8. The focus will be Marion’s Oak Shade Cemetery, which was established in the mid-19th century and reflects the community’s rich heritage.
Oak Hill cofounder’s home
Sometimes, Linn County Unburied reveals the history of landmarks that are not located in a cemetery but have a close connection to one. Take, for example, the house that most recently housed the Moniker 86 restaurant at 821 Third Ave. SE.
The house was built in 1870 and first occupied by Maria Carpenter, widow of Gabriel Carpenter, who was a cofounder of Oak Hill Cemetery, 1705 Mount Vernon Rd. SE, in 1853.
Taylor Carpenter, the son of Gabriel and Maria, moved into the house when he got married. The house changed hands several times before being converted into a funeral home in the early 1920s.
In a full-circle moment, Taylor Carpenter’s funeral was held at Beatty’s Funeral Home, which operated in the house until the early 1980s.
Since the late 1980s, the location has housed several restaurants, including Moniker 86, which did not survive the one-two punch of COVID and the derecho in 2020. The location is currently for sale.
Oldest grave at Linwood
Linwood Cemetery, 520 Wilson Ave. SW, the oldest cemetery on the west side of Cedar Rapids. Among those buried there is Abel Adams, who was born in 1820 and passed away in 1915 at the age of 95.
Adams moved to Cedar Rapids from Clinton County around 1885. During the Civil War, Adams was a member of the 13th Iowa Infantry Company F, a unit that participated in the siege of Vicksburg, Miss., from May 18 to July 4, 1863. The Confederate surrender at Vicksburg was a significant turning point in the Civil War.
Adams is an example of the valor of Iowans when the country needed them.
Star-crossed lovers
In addition to stories of heroism, a cemetery can also hold stories of tragedy. For example, there is an obelisk in Center Point Cemetery that marks the final resting place of Flora Hunt and James Osborn, two star-crossed lovers.
Flora was 15 and James was 19 when they fell in love during the summer of 1876. Flora’s father did not approve of the age difference even as James tried to win over Mr. Hunt. On Jan. 1, 1877, the couple declared their love for another at a New Year’s Day dance.
What happened between the dance and the dramatic event of Jan. 5 is unclear. What is known is that on that day, Flora walked into the parlor, threw an empty bottle of strychnine at her father’s feet and crumpled to the floor in death.
A few weeks later, James shot himself, leaving behind a letter asking to be buried beside Flora. That request was granted, and 500 people attended James’ service.
These three examples hardly do justice to all the stories Thielman brings to life (if you will) during Linn County Unburied. Again, we hope you will attend the next event in the series on April 8. You can find more information at historycenter.org/unburied.
Jessica Cline is a Leadership & Character Scholar at Wake Forest University. Her dad, Rob Cline, is not a scholar of any kind. They write this monthly column for The History Center. Comments: HistoricalClines@gmail.com
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