The Crete News,
Crete, Ne
Re: Dorchester Cemetery/Memorial Day c Jan Stehlik 1999 w/permission to Fred
Dethlefsen to reproduce for the internet and copyrighted.
THE HISTORY OF THE DORCHESTER CEMETERY
As written by Jan Stehlik, Memorial Day
1999.
Flowers standing in Mason jars..Flags lifted by prairie
breezes..families greeting friends and sharing memories...It was
May 30, 1882, the Dorchester Cemetery was officially one week
old, and "appropriate exercises were held in honor of the
departed soldiers." The little town, incorporated just the
previous year, joined towns across the Northern States to observe Memorial
Day with "good speaking and music."
At that time, the Dorchester Cemetery had perhaps fifty graves.
Records show that only one departed soldier lay there, Jefferson
Coates, who had earned a Medal of Honor in the Civil War Battle
at Gettysburg, and who later homesteaded in North Fork Precinct.
THE DORCHESTER STAR reported on May 5,1882, that "Mrs.
Coates has had a fine monument in memory of her deceased husband
erected". In planning for Memorial Day, however, Andrew
Moffitt, president of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.)
post, announced that "a mound would be provided in the
Cemetery to represent the graves of Soldier friends who are
buried elsewhere. Come prepared to take part in the exercises which
will begin prompt at 6 o'clock A. M."
In 1957, Dorchester's city electrician, Wm. Sanburn, wrote several
essays on Dorchester history. His cemetery paper relates:
"The original Dorchester Cemetery was located on a tract of
land....on the north side of what used to be known as North Depot Street,"
somewhere between East Street (Mile Road 1500) and the town.
There are no deed records to pinpoint of this Cemetery".
"We have no record of the number of people who were buried
in this plat, but it must have been quite a few, as there are a
lot of old fashioned markers in the present cemetery. The oldest
legible date is that of F. Irene Townsend, who died in 1871.
There are about 20 markers dated in the 70s. After the town
acquired the present burial ground," wrote Sanburn,
"the bodies were moved from that earlier plat to their
present resting places."
Tombstone dates indicate that more than 30 young children had
died in the Dorchester area before 1882, victims of the high
incidence of infant mortality and contagious diseases at that
time, When diphtheria visited the sod home of George and Harriet
Wade in December, 1878, they selected one marble pillar to mark
the graves of little Anna, Lucia, Sarah, and Herman. The pillar
has been broken, mended, and broken again, perhaps the result of
being reset after the graves were moved.
When THE DORCHESTER STAR reported in May of l882 that "The
Trustees have received the deed for the Dorchester Semitary and
are now ready to make deeds for lots in the same", it wasn't
a transaction of the village trustees, but rather three
representatives of the Dorchester Christian Church - R. L.
Maxfield, A. Gage, and John Jack-who made the purchase of 5 acres
for $150, from Ellen Henderson, the owner of that quarter of
Section 16-8-3.
Later the transaction was corrected to indicate that the cemetery
land was not the property of those three men, but rather, of the
"Deacons and Ex-Officio Trustees of the property of the
Christian Church in Dorchester", who were then John Jack,
William Jones, John Redgate and Paul Bankson. That same spring,
1889, John Jack and two other gentlemen from Dorchester were in
Wilber..."consulting the county clerk regarding the proper
papers to be drawn up to make title to lots in a cemetery good
when issued by a cemetery association which has never been
incorporated nor had the lots officially platted and
recorded," and STAR editor had learned by then to properly
spell "Cemetery".
The next year, the County Deed Books record that John Jack, Paul
Bankson and J. L. Redgate, exofficio trustees of the property of
the Christian Church in Dorchester, having apparently decided how
to transfer such titles, sold Lot 229 in the Dorchester Cemetery
to Wm. L. Bearden for $14. Almost a century later, the marker on
that grave still reads "July 10, 1890 - Nancy S. Bearden, wife
of Wm. L., aged 52 years, 2 months, 29 days. Mother, Rest, Thy
Toil is O'er. We Have Loved You but God loved you more" Six
years later when William died, his grave was marked with a
similar Victorian pillar and sentiment, though the Grecian urns
that topped each marker have long ago been broken and lost. Very
few of the early lots were recorded in these deed books, however.
Throughout the decade of the 1880s, newspaper obituaries also
made reference to another nearby burial site -"The Cemetery
on Moffitt's farm". In some instances, such as for Moffitt's
wife, Ruth Blackburn, it was "the family cemetery on the
home farm near the Blue". Other relatives were interred
there, also. This site was on a pasture hillside, now dotted with
cedar trees, about a mile further northeast, on land presently
owned by Kenneth Roth. In 1891 THE DORCHESTER STAR reported that
"For some years past a number of bodies have been buried in
a private burying ground on Mr. Andrew Moffitt's farm. The entire number,
seventeen, will be removed this week to the cemetery near
town." These graves account for some of the old fashioned
markers" mentioned by Sanburn. In at least one case, in
1884, "Theo Annis...was buried by a large concourse of
friends in the cemetery on Andrew Moffitt's farm", but no
lot number or marker are found for him in today's cemetery.
Memorial Day ceremonies were publicized in THE DORCHESTER STAR
each year after that early beginning in 1882. For many years the
usual procedure was for the Veterans to assemble at the G.A.R.
Hall in the early afternoon, and march to The Opera House, The
Rink, or one of several churches in town, where local citizens would
join them for an "appropriate discourse" by one or more
of the resident pastors, exercises by "The Post" and
musical selections, before organizing the procession to the
cemetery. The parade order included Band, G.A.R. Post, Sons of
Veterans, Women's Relief Corp, Village officers, citizens on
foot, carriages and conveyances. From there they proceeded north
on Washington Avenue to 10th Street, then jogged west a block to
meet teachers and scholars of the public school, then north and
east again, marching to the cemetery.
In 1885 the assembly began at 1 00 p.m. with the "largest
audience ever congregated in town, not more than half of whom
could get into the church". After listening attentively to
the orations, the procession finally formed at 4:00, "There
being something near eighty vehicles, wending its way to the
cemetery northeast of town to pay tribute to the Comrades who are
sleeping their last sleep there." A committee had previously
been appointed to prepare decorations and bouquets. Participants
were advised to bring their choicest flowers "with which to
strew the brave warriors' graves." Some years several young
girls were selected to decorate the military graves.
This 1885 cemetery program included dedicating a monument to the
"unknown" dead, which may have been the "mound"
previously mentioned. It would be two more years before THE
DORCHESTER STAR announced that "A drawing for the proposed
monument to be erected at the cemetery by the Post boys can be
seen at Citizens' Bank. The design is very appropriate."
Later Memorial Day reports included references to "gathering
at the Cenotaph, honoring the dead not buried here and whose
graves are not known." The lot designated for a G.A.R.
memorial on the cemetery map is the same lot where a tall flag
flies and Memorial Day ceremonies focus these many years later,
though any monument, cenotaph, or mound has long since been
removed.
Cemetery design in America underwent several revisions as the
country became established, moved west, and ideals changed. From
the shady church yards of New England to bleak prairie graveyards
on the frontier, from cities for the dead to country parks and
memorial gardens, each style incorporated something of the prevailing
architectural styles, and the social values of the community. In
the late 1880s, when young towns like Dorchester were encouraging
the planting of shade trees. Tree planting efforts extended
to the cemetery as well. When Victorian homes were surrounded by
ornate fences and iron gates, fences and gates appeared, not only
at the perimeter of cemeteries, but also around family plots.
The ostentation that admired Victorian mansions also encouraged
reports of individual cemetery improvements like "John
Panter has had erected at the cemetery one of the finest
monuments in Saline County." When rugged, ponderous
buildings were being erected, massive granite monuments with
parts that looked newly quarried were installed, Newspapers
reported that "Mr. Parker of Lincoln was here delivering
tombstones last Wednesday" or "Mr. Dowden of Lincoln is
in town putting up some monuments for several parties here."
None of the early stones are signed or carry any indication of where
they were manufactured.
There are arched marble headstones, the earliest of government
issue, which were first offered in 1879 for the graves of Union
Soldiers in village cemeteries. In time-worn lettering they tell the
veterans name, rank, and military company. Even these were later
modified to the style of the times, becoming granite blocks, or
bronze plaques, sometimes with additional person information.
As civic improvements came to the young villages, they came to
the cemeteries, too. In 1913 "The Cemetery Association voted
to put in a well at the cemetery and to buy 50 round cedar
hitching posts if the city will set them in cement and paint and
Wire them." When Dorchester's new water works replaced the
town windmill, it was installed at the cemetery, behind the tool
house where one can still find the Dempster pump that used to furnish
a welcome drink for the horses bringing visitors from town and
water for thirsty flowers. Two iron benches once offered a
moment's shady rest for those who walked out from the village to
meditate and remember. One of those benches continues to welcome
folks with a minute to sit, though it is now located on the
sidewalk in front of Dorchester's City office.
In the early years, before there were so many graves, area
farmers used to bid on the right to mow and rake the cemetery
grounds for hay. Itinerant gypsies sometimes camped there,
blocking the road at each end with their wagons, freeing their
horses to graze the roadsides and drink from the water trough by
the windmill.
Each spring it was necessary to clean and beautify the cemetery
grounds for Memorial Day. Newspaper notices advised "Persons
owning or having charge of lots in the cemetery are requested to
clean up the same, at once. By order of Trustees." or
"Those who have friends or relatives buried in the cemetery
should see that their graves are kept properly, especially as
Decoration day is drawing near when great crowds of people will
gather there."
According to Wm. Sanburn, around the turn of the century "a
group of Ladies formed what was known as the Dorchester Cemetery
Association, and took over the task of looking after the
property, hiring the sexton, and raising funds for the operation
and upkeep.
They established an Endowment Fund, then contacted all available
lot owners and relatives of people who were buried in the
Cemetery, for donations to the Fund, investing the receipts and
using the interest for upkeep."
A newspaper notice in March 1913 advised that "The Cemetery
Association will hold their annual meeting at the home of Mrs.
John Jack. Election of officers will be held and other important
business transacted," It appears that the cemetery at that
time was still under the direction of those earlier Trustees, of
whom one had been John Jack, He was buried in the cemetery he helped
secure in 1916, and Jessie, Mrs. Jack, joined him there in 1934.
Sanburn continues "This plan was successful for several
years, but as the older members of the group passed on, others
lost interest and the organization disbanded. Since that time the
Village Board has had charge." Nevertheless, the Association
continued to meet, and to solicit flowers for Memorial Day, A
receipt book at the Saline County Historical Society indicates that
15 ladies each paid their 25 cents dues in 1943, and six more
paid 25 cents for "care of lot", The 1944 entries seem
to be from the last 8 members: Nellie Anthony, Cora August, Celia
Britton, Ethel Lain, Mabel Lain, Emma Lautzenhizer, Josie
Stanton, and Wm. Sanburn's, mother, Effie.
When the 20th Century was brand new, the editor of THE DORCHESTER
STAR suggested that "The cemetery association ought to keep
a register of persons buried in the cemetery. It might be of
value in years to come." Neither he nor the Association
could foresee that the village records would be lost to fire in
l9l3, and the registration of persons buried in the cemetery
might never be completely accurate.
In 1957 Sanburn concluded his essay with "We have been
establishing a new system, whereby we keep a record of the person
being buried, and the position in each lot...We have also
recorded the names, and locations of as many deceased persons as
possible. There are many who have no marker, and no visible evidence
of the grave, so it looks like an endless task. However, by
inquiry of relatives and friends, we have been successful in
establishing records of nearly 1000 names."
That list of names reflects the mixed heritage of the Dorchester
area, which is probably due to the efforts of the Burlington and
Missouri River Railroad to settle their land grants and populate
their "alphabet towns." Some are traditionally German, Czech,
Irish, or English names. Some stones supply additional
information: "Born in Sweden"..."Born in Scotland"..."Died
in Oregon"...Buried in Iowa"... "Born in New
York."
Unlike many cemeteries, in this one there is no elite section, no
paupers' area. There are two "unknowns", however, where
the ground slopes away to the northeast. Cemetery records list
Lot 195 as "World War I Vet" and "Gandy
Dancer." A bronze military medallion stands beside an iron
wheel-shaped marker inscribed "IB of RT," Oral
tradition indicates that both were young men who happened to meet
death accidentally in Dorchester, though not necessarily together.
Their families were unknown, and their names have been forgotten.
When Dorchester's last "Old Soldier," Jeremiah Wilhelm,
was buried in 1942, the number of Civil War veterans resting
there had grown to 49. Two World Wars had drawn young men from
the village and surrounding countryside, returning some of them
in flag draped caskets. The Flu Epidemic of 1918 and 1919 had
taken their toll in the community. The young families who had
been there to build the town and farm the homesteads were now
grandparents made old by hard work and hard times. The young
ladies of the Cemetery Association had become the Aunt Becky's
and Grandma Mary's, living out their widowhood in aging frame
houses scattered through the town.
Memorial Day services were then held in the High School
Auditorium, and citizens piled into shiny coupes or sedans to
"Repair to the Cemetery for Decoration of Soldier's
Graves." At the cemetery, tall, ornate grave markers had
given way to tidy cubes of rose colored granite, Peony bushes
planted previously by loving family members were flourishing. The
American Legion and Auxiliary were urging citizens to "wear
a poppy to remember the dead, aid the war effort, and carry on
for America." There were flowers standing in Mason jars, flags lifted
by prairie breezes, families greeting friends and sharing
memories...
There are folks who will gather there this year, as the 20th
Century draws to a close, with memories that include 1942 and all
the years since. They will walk among the graves and recite
familiar names. Tiny flags will flutter beside the markers of
this century's veterans ...29 from WWI...27 so far from WWII
...18 from more recent wars...And there are additional changes.
Most of the burials in these last 50 years are accurately entered
in the records at the village hall. Newer tombstones are
inscribed with wedding dates, children's names, drawings of
windmills and tractors. Flowers made of silk supplement those in
jars and growing on bushes, Teddy bears smile and banners flutter
from some grave sites.
The Stars and Stripes on stately poles will dance inside the
cemetery fence, each one a donation from the family of a deceased
veteran. This flag display began with a gift from Glenn and Doris
Kemper in 1981, the town's Centennial year. A brick-posted
gateway announces "Dorchester Cemetery" with metal
letters and scrolls overhead, new just last spring in memory of
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Heeren. A new generation of "Sons"
and "Juniors", grandchildren of the 1940's servicemen,
will walk behind the American Legion color guard, joining in the
patriotic salutes. The band will arrive in a yellow school bus,
and "Taps" will echo from somewhere behind the hill.
They don't make hay on the cemetery grounds any more. For 1359
individuals, it is their final earthly resting place. The
irregularly spaced markers of various sizes and shapes present a
care taking challenge, especially for today's riding mowers. The
stately spruce trees that used to sweep the ground beside the
central driveway have been pruned to allow for these modern machines.
Tall pine trees across the front have been trimmed to avoid
contacting overhead wires that carry electricity to neighboring
farms. Behind the granite tombstones of the graves that were
moved from the Moffitt farm over a century ago, stands one
ancient, awkward cedar tree. Flowers will stand in Mason jars,
flags will lift on prairie breezes, families will greet friends
and share memories... and you'll wish that cedar tree could talk.
