Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-11
Grave Blocks Way
For Public Road

Farmers OF Jefferson and Logan
townships have filed with the board OF
supervisors a petition TO have an east
and west road two miles long opened
southeast of Nancleve. The supervis-
ors heard objections TO the opening OF
| the proposed road and appraisers are
| to be appointed 10 appraise the DAM
ages.
The movement to open TINS ROAD mas
, caused to be recalled the efforts OF a
former land owner OF the same nelsh-
obrhood, who blocked the opening OF a
highway just mile aurtn OF whefe
! the proposed road may bs opened. Be
cause OF the opposition Of this in'ni m
his lifetime and the fact that he
was buried at his own request just
where the road would have run, have
been AT leas: partly responsible lor
the road never having been opened.
These facts account in part also WI!
, strip of territory more than three
miles long north and south has no
east and west road thru II.
Two miles duo east of NancleNe
Z there once alNNl -i3SS4 saHsiANN' -AN'N'f
N4tth,ae. He was German. and ne
had been q seaiarins man. He i Wen
remembered by the older residents.
who say he never married. hut wEo
knew little Of his history. he got pos
session Of 80 acres in 1858. He con-
,inued 70 live on the land until ne dieu
March IS. 1880.
The land he owned was divided
soaarely il, :he middle by the DIVISION
line between sections s and The iine
extended cas-; and west. Al either emu
Of the dividing line between the two
sections a public highway ended. IA II
Of these roads joined north and south
rol5s The east and west road west
OF the land ran into Nancleve. The east
and west read. east of the iano ran
over toward Haverhiil Had the TWO
cas-, and west roads been extended
until they Joined they would nave
passed souarely thru Matthiae's land
II was this division OF his land by {
publsc road that he opposes ana con-
,ir,,el; 10 oppose as long as he hVeo-
Every effort made 10 open read pc
tween sections and I. found Aa;thiae
a--aved asains; IL
7. is said that he purposeiy arrangei
MS affairs SO that after MS death the
oaenire OF the road would he blocked
forever. There IS no documentary
evidence 10 support this gossip. ons
-he-e is evidence TO sustain the belle,
without completely verifying II.
THE buildings of Matthiae's farm
we're a., the east SIDE of the road. ana
a ntrle distance west of where the road
s,,- toward Haverhiil ended. Near
the buildings. and directly in The pain
a. the road. the opening Of which Mat
,i7iae had opposed. he planted grove
OF pine trees.
Matthiae made viii tes" days be-
fore he died He named Dr.. George
click. Of this city. and KHAN kunkoi
., Haverhir trustees OF his estate In
his will he left the following instrrc-
tons regarding his burial: y wish te
he buried In my evergreen grove nortr
Of farm ward on the high ground
amongs. the pine trees. Some trees te
be cut down 70 make room Cor tne
grave"
In special instructions LETT for th'
trustees Matthiae gave them more
explicit instructions regarding his bur
ial To them ne gave directions In tn
following words: 81 wish TO be buriec
in nv evergreen grove on the ridg'
north of the yard my grave to be GOV
cred with simple slab and surround
ed BY a low iron railing which nigh
he made little ornamental.
His instructions were carried out
He was buried among the everereens
lust west OF where the east and wes
roads joins the north and south road
Tire iron railing that vas erecte'
around the grave still stands, an
here's the Joker. The law prohibit
public highway being opened thr'
burying ground. And 1t is said
the road was opened it would pas
over Matthiae's grave. The road ha
never been opened. and II probabl.
never will be. So now farmers of tn