1880 Cherokee County, Iowa Mortality Schedule, Town of Cherokee



Name: Mary Terwillegar

Age: 17

Marital Status: Single

Birthplace: Iowa

Parent's Birthplace: Unknown

Occupation: Domestic Servant

Month Person Died: March

Cause of Death: Diptheria





Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, Iowa, March 18, 1880



DIED - TERWILLIGER - ln Cherokee, on

Friday, the 5th inst., of diphtheria,

Miss M. J. Terwilliger, aged 17 years.

The Times says: "Miss Terwilliger

had been in town about a week when

she was stricken down, and death ended

her suffering in four days. Her remains

were taken to Spirit Lake for interment."





Mary Jane Terwillegar is buried at Loon Lake Cemetery in Jackson County, Minnesota, where her parents are also buried.

Unfortunately, local folklore has created a story about witches being buried at Loon Lake Cemetery. Mary Jane Terwillegar is said to be one of the witches. Part of that story says Mary Jane was beheaded with an axe by the citizens of the town of Petersburg, Minnesota in 1881. This researcher, a great-grandniece of Mary Jane's, found both of the above records showing Mary Jane's death in Cherokee County, Iowa. Mary Jane's brother, Ben, and his family still lived in Cherokee County in 1880.

Loon Lake Cemetery has been badly vandalized. Mary Jane's tombstone was found on a neighborhood lawn and in turn was taken to the Jackson County courthouse. In 2009, Mary Jane's tombstone is at the Jackson County Historical Society in Lakefield, Minnesota.



Mary Jane I hope you can finally rest in peace.



The above research was done by Janine Eller Porter.







1880 Cherokee County, Iowa Mortality Schedule, Town of Cherokee



Name: Mary Terwillegar

Age: 17

Marital Status: Single

Birthplace: Iowa

Parent's Birthplace: Unknown

Occupation: Domestic Servant

Month Person Died: March

Cause of Death: Diptheria





Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, Iowa, March 18, 1880



DIED - TERWILLIGER - ln Cherokee, on

Friday, the 5th inst., of diphtheria,

Miss M. J. Terwilliger, aged 17 years.

The Times says: "Miss Terwilliger

had been in town about a week when

she was stricken down, and death ended

her suffering in four days. Her remains

were taken to Spirit Lake for interment."





Mary Jane Terwillegar is buried at Loon Lake Cemetery in Jackson County, Minnesota, where her parents are also buried.

Unfortunately, local folklore has created a story about witches being buried at Loon Lake Cemetery. Mary Jane Terwillegar is said to be one of the witches. Part of that story says Mary Jane was beheaded with an axe by the citizens of the town of Petersburg, Minnesota in 1881. This researcher, a great-grandniece of Mary Jane's, found both of the above records showing Mary Jane's death in Cherokee County, Iowa. Mary Jane's brother, Ben, and his family still lived in Cherokee County in 1880.

Loon Lake Cemetery has been badly vandalized. Mary Jane's tombstone was found on a neighborhood lawn and in turn was taken to the Jackson County courthouse. In 2009, Mary Jane's tombstone is at the Jackson County Historical Society in Lakefield, Minnesota.



Mary Jane I hope you can finally rest in peace.



The above research was done by Janine Eller Porter.





