Chariton Cemetery

On the south edge of Chariton off Highway 14, just after you cross over the overpass of State Highway 34, is our beautiful, well-kept Chariton Cemetery.  There are sixty acres in this cemetery, most is developed, used and maintained.
The first burial in this cemetery was that of Mary Sulphin Scott Howard, who with her husband John came to Iowa in 1849, there being but one house in Chariton at the time of their arrival.  She died in Oct. of 1850 and was buried in a cemetery located where Columbus School now stands.

Now who could ask for a prettier place to take a walk these May mornings than the Chariton Cemetery. I was heading south here this morning toward the little restroom building constructed in 1929, complete with fireplace, so that cemetery visitors would have a place to rest once they got here. It's kept locked most of the time these days, but would be in immaculate condition --- if someone would sweep up the dead flies all over the highly polished hardwood floor that were fairly obvious when I stuck my nose up against the front door glass. Since Memorial Day's coming, I expect someone will get to that before then.

If you climb through the pines in the distance to the top of the next hill, the Chariton River valley will spread out before you.