I Hunt Dead People

09/08/2026

We're on another dead-people-hunting adventure in Iowa! We're staying in Shell Rock, IA, at a1867 Mill while researching the Lafayette Township cemeteries, the subject of my next book. During our wanderings, we found my great-grandparents' house had been moved from their farm south of Waverly to a main thoroughfare. The older photo was taken in 1913. My great-grandparents, August and Cinda Rilla (not kidding) Stufflebeam Selensky, are with their 1913 Cadillac, and my grandfather Floyd is standing with his sheep. I wonder if his sweater was made from the same sheep.

11/29/2025

What is a family to do when their loved one may or may not have died? Mrs. Fries' family waited for days to bury her, because there was a question whether she was perhaps just in a trance.

Margaret Hohmann Fries The story of the questionable death of Margaret Fries could easily have been featured in an edition of Ripley's Believe It or Not! or have been a case study in yellow journalism. Yellow journalism, a style of newspaper reporting that emphasized sensationalism to attract reader...

11/04/2025

Wedding photos not only show fashion of the day but mark the beginning of a lifetime of joy and naturally some challenges.

Peek into Sherrill, Iowa weddings from 1869–1970 with historic photos capturing brides, grooms, and family traditions in Sherrill, Iowa Cemeteries, Volume II.

10/19/2025

https://ihuntdeadpeople.com/surprising-stories-from-ss-peter-and-paul-cemetery/

Life stories are hidden in the dash between a gravestone's birth and death dates. The soon-to-be-published Sherrill, Iowa Cemeteries, Volume II, tells the tales

10/11/2025

https://ihuntdeadpeople.com/rediscovering-the-lost-found-and-missing/

SS Peter and Paul Cemetery SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery is situated near the bluffs of the Mississippi River in Sherrill, IA. The 175-year-old parish is the centerpiece of the small farm community, steeped with traditions of Catholic immigrants from Germany, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. My new book,....

10/10/2025

Sherrill, Iowa Cemeteries, Volume II, includes history, plot maps, over 500 family photos, gravestones, and sketches of those buried at the SS Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery. It is a genealogist and local historian’s guide to who’s who, family relationships, immigration, and veterans. The book identifies nearly 1100 individuals buried in the cemetery and 4400 people connected to them as parents, spouses, children, and siblings. Order your copy today.

Sherrill, Iowa Cemeteries, Volume II, includes history, plot maps, photos, gravestones, and sketches of those buried at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery. It is a genealogist and local historian’s guide to who’s who, family relationships, immigration, and veterans. The book identifies over 1000 indivi...

09/25/2025

I Hunt Dead People has been quiet socially, but busy researching and writing the soon-to-be-published Sherrill, Iowa, Cemeteries, Volume II. This edition traces ancestors, descendants, and uncovers the stories of those interred at SS Peter and Paul Cemetery in Sherrill, IA.

We were "caught" by Google and now star in the August 2025 Google map for the cemetery.

Watch for new blog posts that preview some of the stories we found.

11/08/2024

Uncover the Secrets of Sherrill, Iowa's Past!

Get ready to dig into your family history! This comprehensive guide includes:

• History and plot maps of 5 cemeteries
• Photos and sketches of gravestones
• Details on nearly 900 individuals buried in Sherrill

Order now and discover who's who, family relationships, immigration stories, and veterans' histories!
https://www.lulu.com/shop/cynthia-selensky-foster/sherrill-iowa-cemeteries-volume-i/paperback/product-84rrwgg.html?q=&page=1&pageSize=4

11/04/2024

Sherrill, Iowa Cemeteries, Volume I, includes history, plot maps, photos, gravestones, and sketches of those buried at the Sherrill United Methodist Church, Sherrill United Church of Christ, Saint Matthew's Lutheran Church, Sherrill Presbyterian Cemetery, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows cemeteries. It is a genealogist and local historian’s guide to who’s who, family relationships, immigration, and veterans. The book identifies nearly 900 individuals buried in the five cemeteries and 2500 people connected to them as parents, spouses, children, and siblings. Order your copy today.

Sherrill, Iowa Cemeteries, Volume I, includes history, plot maps, photos, gravestones, and sketches of those buried at the Sherrill United Methodist Church, Sherrill United Church of Christ, Saint Matthew's Lutheran Church, Sherrill Presbyterian Cemetery, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows cemeter...