Journey To Orchard

Did you know there is a tiny town by the name of “Orchard” in Iowa? The DOT map lists the population there as 88. My mom, my sister, and I visited there on Sunday during our cemetery tour. Maybe its location was a factor in Orchard remaining small in size……it sits on a county road, a few miles off the beaten tracks of busy highways 218 and 9. The railroad runs through it, northwest to southeast, however.

As we neared Orchard from the east, we slowed up for Mennonite girls on bicycles, then steered sideways to allow farm implements nearly as wide as the road to pass by. A well-kept-up Congregational Church with a nifty bellfry welcomed us once we entered the city limits.

Reminders of the past sat along Main Street……several old, abandoned storefronts. The Orchard Farmers Co-op appeared to still be doing business, however.

*

Our reason for visiting Orchard was to find the local cemetery, of course, which was not a difficult task. It was waiting quietly for us just west of town, amidst trees and farm fields.

We were looking for the grave of Elihu Orchard who had married Mary Blue, a sister of my mother’s great-grandmother, Emma Blue Wilkin. My mother’s father’s middle name was Elihu, bestowed on him in honor of his great-uncle. In the printed Wilkin history I have, it states that Elihu Orchard was known as “Uncle Tip” because he had fought in the Battle of Tippecanoe, but obviously, that is incorrect because Tippecanoe took place in 1811 and Elihu Orchard wasn’t born until 30 years after that. Perhaps his father, Moses Orchard, the founder of the town of Orchard, had taken part in that battle. Or else, Elihu’s nickname originated for a different reason. He was a soldier in the Civil War and the family history says he was involved “in the siege of a Spanish fort and Blakly Mobile”, whatever that means. (That can be Sempringham’s puzzle to work on, if he wishes.)

That’s my mom!

This next photo of a child’s gravestone is being included because of its design……the fallen bird with one wing up against a cross. That’s what it appeared to be, anyway. I’d not seen anything like that before.

By the time we were done wandering around the Orchard Cemetery, the afternoon was still young enough that we decided to attempt finding Riverside Cemetery in Charles City. After asking for directions, we found it easily, and what a sprawling and well-cared-for place it is, located on 49 wooded acres along the east bank of the Cedar River, north of downtown Charles City. There was statuary in the old sections of the cemetery……too bad the faces are so mottled……these statues evidently were in vogue as cemetery decor back in the early 1900’s.

We were looking for the grave of Emma and Mary Blue’s mother, Catherine VanAmberge Blue Trussler, who had come to Iowa from New York State. There wasn’t enough time for us to do a thorough search for her stone, though, because the cemetery is so immense. The caretakers’ office has all the grave locations on file, but it isn’t open on Sundays.

There were some unusual gravestones there……these final photos show three that have a tree or log theme:

Someday, maybe I will return to Riverside Cemetery to do a more in-depth search.

*

Mom, Sis, and I truly had a wonderful day together---lots of laughter and reminiscing. The weather was pleasant---almost warm---with sunny skies overhead.

*

[P.S. – Emma Blue was married to Minard Artemus (Art) Wilkin who had a photography business in Charles City back in the 1800’s. His father, Ira Wilkin, worked with daguerreotypes in various places in the Midwest. I would love to find an old photo with either of their names on it. If you ever find one, may I get a copy of it? Please, pretty please!]

*

Have a great day!

*