The town of Batavia was originally called Creese.Just wanted to add that Henry Crees, my gggg grandfather, donated the land for the cemetery at Batavia as itwas part of his original land. The town was called Creesville, sometimes mispelled as "Creeseville" before becoming Batavia. His family moved to WestLiberty after grandpa Henry died, and from there, some moved to Audubon County.
Tombstones of his father in Pennsylvania, and tombstones of his children in PA and also IA spell the last name "Crees." My grandmother was Katherine Esther
Crees Roberts.
Best Regards,
Bill Brunia
"Fairfield Ledger", October 23, 1958
Find '1817' Head Stone In Batavia Is Actually 1847
Batavia, Ia. -- The head stone marking the grave of Henry CREESE in the Batavia cemetery came into prominence during the past few days when the cemetery caretaker, Ed HARRIS, noted the date of death on the stone as July 29, 1817.
Some began to wonder about the date since there is no record of white people in Jefferson county until 1835.
A close examination of the old stone shows that the date is July 29, 1847, instead of 1817 as it appears today. By carefully and lightly rubbing the surface of the stone, one can feel where the extended part of the figure four was cut into the stone. However, time and weather have all but worn away that part of the figure, while the vertical portion of the numeral is still quite clear, making it appear as the figure one.
But even so, 1847 was a long time ago. It is an old head stone to say the least.
Old Stones
And there are others in the old cemetery. HARRIS pointed to two head stones, side by side, which he says are supposed to be the oldest in the graveyard. The oldest stone marks the grave of Louisa M. LAFFERTY, daughter of S. and E. M. LAFFERTY, who died Aug. 5, 1846, at the age of nine years.
The other stone marks the grave of A. LAFFERTY, who died Aug. 15, 1848, at the age of 45.
Tombstones of his father in Pennsylvania, and tombstones of his children in PA and also IA spell the last name "Crees." My grandmother was Katherine Esther
Crees Roberts.
Best Regards,
Bill Brunia
"Fairfield Ledger", October 23, 1958
Find '1817' Head Stone In Batavia Is Actually 1847
Batavia, Ia. -- The head stone marking the grave of Henry CREESE in the Batavia cemetery came into prominence during the past few days when the cemetery caretaker, Ed HARRIS, noted the date of death on the stone as July 29, 1817.
Some began to wonder about the date since there is no record of white people in Jefferson county until 1835.
A close examination of the old stone shows that the date is July 29, 1847, instead of 1817 as it appears today. By carefully and lightly rubbing the surface of the stone, one can feel where the extended part of the figure four was cut into the stone. However, time and weather have all but worn away that part of the figure, while the vertical portion of the numeral is still quite clear, making it appear as the figure one.
But even so, 1847 was a long time ago. It is an old head stone to say the least.
Old Stones
And there are others in the old cemetery. HARRIS pointed to two head stones, side by side, which he says are supposed to be the oldest in the graveyard. The oldest stone marks the grave of Louisa M. LAFFERTY, daughter of S. and E. M. LAFFERTY, who died Aug. 5, 1846, at the age of nine years.
The other stone marks the grave of A. LAFFERTY, who died Aug. 15, 1848, at the age of 45.
The town of Batavia was originally called Creese.Just wanted to add that Henry Crees, my gggg grandfather, donated the land for the cemetery at Batavia as itwas part of his original land. The town was called Creesville, sometimes mispelled as "Creeseville" before becoming Batavia. His family moved to WestLiberty after grandpa Henry died, and from there, some moved to Audubon County.
Tombstones of his father in Pennsylvania, and tombstones of his children in PA and also IA spell the last name "Crees." My grandmother was Katherine Esther
Crees Roberts.
Best Regards,
Bill Brunia
"Fairfield Ledger", October 23, 1958
Find '1817' Head Stone In Batavia Is Actually 1847
Batavia, Ia. -- The head stone marking the grave of Henry CREESE in the Batavia cemetery came into prominence during the past few days when the cemetery caretaker, Ed HARRIS, noted the date of death on the stone as July 29, 1817.
Some began to wonder about the date since there is no record of white people in Jefferson county until 1835.
A close examination of the old stone shows that the date is July 29, 1847, instead of 1817 as it appears today. By carefully and lightly rubbing the surface of the stone, one can feel where the extended part of the figure four was cut into the stone. However, time and weather have all but worn away that part of the figure, while the vertical portion of the numeral is still quite clear, making it appear as the figure one.
But even so, 1847 was a long time ago. It is an old head stone to say the least.
Old Stones
And there are others in the old cemetery. HARRIS pointed to two head stones, side by side, which he says are supposed to be the oldest in the graveyard. The oldest stone marks the grave of Louisa M. LAFFERTY, daughter of S. and E. M. LAFFERTY, who died Aug. 5, 1846, at the age of nine years.
The other stone marks the grave of A. LAFFERTY, who died Aug. 15, 1848, at the age of 45.
Tombstones of his father in Pennsylvania, and tombstones of his children in PA and also IA spell the last name "Crees." My grandmother was Katherine Esther
Crees Roberts.
Best Regards,
Bill Brunia
"Fairfield Ledger", October 23, 1958
Find '1817' Head Stone In Batavia Is Actually 1847
Batavia, Ia. -- The head stone marking the grave of Henry CREESE in the Batavia cemetery came into prominence during the past few days when the cemetery caretaker, Ed HARRIS, noted the date of death on the stone as July 29, 1817.
Some began to wonder about the date since there is no record of white people in Jefferson county until 1835.
A close examination of the old stone shows that the date is July 29, 1847, instead of 1817 as it appears today. By carefully and lightly rubbing the surface of the stone, one can feel where the extended part of the figure four was cut into the stone. However, time and weather have all but worn away that part of the figure, while the vertical portion of the numeral is still quite clear, making it appear as the figure one.
But even so, 1847 was a long time ago. It is an old head stone to say the least.
Old Stones
And there are others in the old cemetery. HARRIS pointed to two head stones, side by side, which he says are supposed to be the oldest in the graveyard. The oldest stone marks the grave of Louisa M. LAFFERTY, daughter of S. and E. M. LAFFERTY, who died Aug. 5, 1846, at the age of nine years.
The other stone marks the grave of A. LAFFERTY, who died Aug. 15, 1848, at the age of 45.
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