The Rock Creek Church was started in 1844,when a group of Separate Baptists located in the Southern part of Keokuk County. A cemetery was started on the church grounds and many of the headstones date back to the early 1850's. A study of the headstones reveals the large number of deaths of infants and children and also of young mothers in the 1850 - 1870 period. George C.Talley,who was killed during the Civil War animosities, was a resident of Jackson TWP.He was buried in Rock Creek Cemetery and on his tombstone is the following inscription: George Talley died August 1,1863;aged 29yr.5mo.27da.Died as a martyr to his religious and political opinions,shot down by highway men at South English,Iowa,Keokuk County,while bravely defending the same. Though the Rock Creek Church as an organization has been disolved,the church building is well maintained and occasionally used for funeral services.
The headstones were read by rows from North to South,beginning at the west side and working towards the East.The headstones were also read in sections (one-two-three) as designated in the plat sections.
BELL,JIMMIE L.;son of J.B.&M.C.;10/07/1866;age 1yr6mo10da
BELL,EDDIE S.;son of J.B.&M.C.;08/23/1869;age 1yr8mo28da
BELL,INFANT son of J.B.&M.C.;09/22/1873
ROW 11
BARNES,FLORENCE;dau.of F.J.&D.;04/06/1874;age 17da
NEXT FIVE STONES WITH INITIALS ONLY / NO DATES
STONE;M.M.M.
STONE;J.B.
STONE;M.C.M.
STONE;L.C.M.
STONE;P.J.M.
MILLER,MERILDA MAY;07/24/1894 (no other dates)
DOLE,DANIEL Q.;son of H.&ANNA;03/20/1865;age 2yr6mo21da
ON THE STONE,"Born in the state of Missouri,died in the land of strangers,but surrounded by friends"