Cedar Township.

Ware, John, far., Sec. 30; P. 0. Big Mound.

Zedekiah Cleveland and Miss Anna Ware were the first couple married in the Clay Grove settlement. They were married in the winter of 1836. The bride was the daughter of Lindsey Ware, who came from Illinois a few months previous, and settled near the Grove. At last accounts, Mrs. Cleveland was living in Davis County, near the Missouri State line.

Mrs. Ware, the mother of Mrs. Cleveland, was the first death in that neighborhood. She died in August, 1838, and was buried on her husband’s farm. Thirty years after burial, when her remains were taken up for re-interment in another place, the pine coffin was found to be perfectly preserved, except one small spot on the lid.

Source:  The History of Lee County, Iowa, by Western Historical Co., Chicago, 1879