Facklers Grove

 
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.



INFORMATION HANDOUT
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!
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.
We welcome any information about the cemetery or the people buried there.  Family history or documents can be submitted to be included in our Archives Room for others to find.  Photos may be submitted digitally, or we can scan them for inclusion in our Digital Photo Archive, and return the photo to you.  Documents may be scanned or copied as well.  Please contact us via the email in the right column.

SOME ON-LINE INFORMATION
If you wish to donate toward this worthy project, please send your check with "Fackler's Grove Cemetery Project" in the memo line to:

 Ely Community History Society, Inc.
  P.O. Box 191
  Ely, IA 52227

The ECHS is a not-for-profit organization.