"The first grave in the North Maxwell Cemetery is thought to be that of Mrs. Phil Chaffin, buried in 1870. The land for the original part of this cemetery is generally thought to have been donated by George Washington Boitnott, whose land entered in 1853, included the Northwest part of what is now Maxwell. Later additions, south and east of the drive, were purchased by the Town of Maxwell.

One history book published in 1887, records the total number of dead in this cemetery as nine (three names unknown) and at the time, 74 dead (54 names known) in the Old Cemetery, in South Maxwell. Some of these were removed later to the New Maxwell Cemetery, possibly about the time changes were being made due to the railroad coming through south Maxwell.

A city ordinance prohibited any further burials in the south graveyard and in 1886, a committee was appointed to counsel with those with people buried there, relative to having the bodies moved elsewhere.

In 1894, the Ladies of the Cemetery Association petitioned the City Council that the care of the New Cemetery be turned over to the Association. In the late 1970's the cemetery was returned to the custody of the town of Maxwell.

Names and dates on the stones in the two cemeteries recall much of Maxwell's history concerning the planning and effort necessary to establish a town in what was, in 1870, a new and sparsely settled area.

Of the 56 veterans buried in Maxwell, one is a Confederate Soldier; eight G.A. R.; 12 World War I; 10 World War II; two Korean War; one Viet Nam and one of the Regular Army."

Source: Maxwell, Iowa Centennial Book, 1883-1983, Walsworth Publishing, Marceline, MO, USA, page 233.

The cemetery is located in section 22 of Indian Creek Township, Story County, Iowa, on the east side of county highway, S27, heading toward Nevada. The cemetery is on the north side of Maxwell