Oakwood Cemetery in Independence, Iowa contains over 10,000 burials.

November 2006 - Near the entrance is the Cummings burial plot containing six burials but only 5 stones. Left to right Harriet Cummings, Mary Armstrong, Sarah Grove Cummings, Charles W. Cummings and Henry Cummings. Harriet's and Charles' stones are laying down, Mary's is at an angle.

September 2007 - The Buchanan Genealogical/Historical Society came through and fixed many stones including Harriet's, Mary's and Charles'. Sarah's stone has been broken off for many years. I will show you each stone going from left to right.

Harriet, Dau. of C. W. & S. Cummings, Born 5 Jan 1847, Died 7 Oct 1852 [taken Nov. 2006]

Harriet, Dau. of C. W. & S. Cummings, Born 5 Jan 1847, Died 7 Oct 1852 [taken Sept. 2007, it's standing but the death date is hidden]

Mary, Dau. of G. & B. E. Armstrong, Born 18 Jan 1851, Died 8 Oct 1852 [taken Nov. 2006, used chalk to help read the initials]

Mary, Dau. of G. & B. E. Armstrong, Born 18 Jan 1851, Died 8 Oct 1852 [Ellen Finley taught me how to use pellon and crayons to do a rubbing - Nov. 2006]

Mary, Dau. of G. & B. E. Armstrong, Born 18 Jan 1851, Died 8 Oct 1852 [turned out very well]

Mary, Dau. of G. & B. E. Armstrong, Born 18 Jan 1851, Died 8 Oct 1852 [as it stands today - Sept. 2007]

[Sarah, wife of Charles W. Cummings, Died 28 Apr 1864] Aged 56 Ys. 2 Ms. 24 Ds. [taken Nov. 2006]

[Sarah, wife of Charles W. Cummings, Died 28 Apr 1864] Aged 56 Ys. 2 Ms. 24 Ds. [taken Sept. 2007]

Our Father, Charles W. Cummings, Died 21 May 1862, Aged 61 Ys. 9 Ms. 4 Ds. [as it lay in Nov. 2006]

Our Father, Charles W. Cummings, Died 21 May 1862, Aged 61 Ys. 9 Ms. 4 Ds.

Our Father, Charles W. Cummings, Died 21 May 1862, Aged 61 Ys. 9 Ms. 4 Ds. [as it stands in Sept. 2007]

Henry Cummings, CO. M, 1st IOWA CAV. [Abt 1845/46 - Dec 1892]

Henry Cummings, CO. M, 1st IOWA CAV. [Abt 1845/46 - Dec 1892]

Now for the rest of the tombstones.

Michael Berberich and Sarah Cummings Berberich family burial plot including their son-in-law, Arthur G. Mann

Michael Berberich, 22 Sep 1834 - 16 Jul 1897, Sarah J. Berberich, 3 May 1841 - 16 Sep 1890

Michael Berberich, 22 Sep 1834 - 16 Jul 1897, Sarah J. Berberich, 3 May 1841 - 16 Sep 1890, with Evelyn Thompson Davis, Sarah's great grand niece.

Michael Berberich, 22 Sep 1834 - 16 Jul 1897, Sarah J. Berberich, 3 May 1841 - 16 Sep 1890

Michael Berberich, 22 Sep 1834 - 16 Jul 1897

Sarah J. Berberich, 3 May 1841 - 16 Sep 1890 [Daughter of Charles W. and Sarah Cummings]

Arthur G. Mann, 18 July 1861 - 26 Dec 1898

Arthur G. Mann, 18 July 1861 - 26 Dec 1898

The House of Stewart, frontier-style
[these Stewarts are not related to us but this is such a wonderful memorial that Mr. Stewart had made for his family that I wanted to include it on this page]

Unfortunately, no one included Mr. Stewart's name and dates on this House of Stewart.

Th e House of Stewart

The House of Stewart

The House of Stewart
Melissa M., Wife of R. F. Stewart, 1854 - 1905
Verna M. 1876 - 1880, Winifred C. 1874 - 1892, Their Children

Mother [Melissa M., Wife of R. F. Stewart, 1854 - 1905]

Verna [1876 - 1880, Dau. of R. F. and Melissa Stewart]

Thanks, Ellen!
For taking time and energy to teach me how to do great stone rubbings.