In 2017, the Ely Community History Society completed a four-year project to restore the old Fackler's Grove Cemetery located near the intersection of Seven Sister’s Road and Polk Avenue south of Ely. This is a pioneer cemetery with some of the earliest settlers of the area buried within it, but it was in a sad state of disrepair. Family surnames buried there include: Dennis, Duro, Fackler, Haynes, Heidt, Hieber, Kershner, Startzer, Vornholt, Walther, and Zobel.
We started renovation of the cemetery in the summer of 2013 with permission from the Big Grove Township Trustees (Johnson County, Iowa). The Trustees are mowing the cemetery as well as the long path to get to it. The restoration has been a long process.
Clary and Barb are physically unable to re-erect the largest headstones (the main Fackler headstone, the Startzer headstone, and the Henry H. Vornholt headstone). It would involve large equipment and is beyond our means. Hopefully this can happen in the future through the Big Grove Township Trustees or family members.
HOW TO ACCESS THE CEMETERY
Please click and read important info!
PLOT MAP
(Click to enlarge it). The view is looking to the south from the gate.
Click for a handout about people buried within the cemetery.
The number by the person's name corresponds to the grave number on the plot map. This handout is also located in a box on the gate to the cemetery.
CONTRIBUTE!
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| Elizabeth and Valentine Fackler came to Johnson County, IA in 1839 and settled near what was to become known as "Fackler's Grove. They are buried in Fackler's Grove Cemetery. Click the image to enlarge it. |
SOME ON-LINE INFORMATION
- On-line information and photos of gravestones can be found at Find A Grave website: Fackler's Grove Cemetery
- You Tube Video shot by Robert Hach, Jr. of a walk-through of Fackler's Grove Cemetery before restoration
- Ancestry.com message board about the cemetery
Ely Community History Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 191
Ely, IA 52227
The ECHS is a not-for-profit organization.
