Monday, February 07, 2011
Old Settlers Cemetery Protected
Normally, designation is meant to preserve a building's historic appearance in perpetuity. So a cemetery is an unusual designation. In some ways, this is more of an honor than an act of historic preservation. It's hard to imagine someone coming up with a plan to change the area: for example, relocate the graves and put housing there, for example. Still ... such a change could be proposed, and now it would be swiftly turned down.
Those of you with our Lakewood history book will recall that the last photo in the book is of Steve and me standing in this cemetery. The cemetery has lost many, many gravestones over the years. And while Pierce County Parks owns and cares for it in their fashion, there's no cemetery district to preserve and maintain it. Old Settlers Cemetery is like an hourglass whose sands of memory are slowly fading. The gradual loss of history in Lakewood is is why everyone has worked so hard to maintain the Lakewood Historical Society: so that what remains of our heritage can be preserved and interpreted for this and future generations.
The rest of this blog post is a report that historian Steve Dunkelberger put together for the nomination process. I wanted to include it so the names of those in the cemetery can be searched on the Internet. And ... it's interesting. Sorry for the funky look of the document, as I did some cutting and pasting.
The 4.24 acre (originally 5 acre) site contains the graves of
settlers from the area dating back to 1855, when it was established by a
donation of land from Frank and Lena Clark for free burials of
pioneers only and their descendents. About half of the burial sites in the
cemetery are unmarked by grave stones or markers, which have likely been
stolen during the passing decades. The land was formally (with legal deed
transferred filed with Pierce County) donated by the Clarks on Jan. 7, 1881
for $54.
The largest cluster of grave markers can be found on the Northwest
corner of the property, farthest from the site’s border with Washington
Boulevard. Clark was a lawyer in the area when he donated the land used for
the cemetery, although there are currently no known records of any burials
there. It was reportedly an open field cemetery until workers from the WPA
first fenced off the property after complaints that horses and riders knocking
over gravestones in the 1930s. The fence was been repaired and
restored several times during the passing years. The first verifiable burial
at the site (from the date on the stone marker) was July 25, 1855. Many
stones are either missing, unreadable or broken. The most recent known grave
at the site shows Mary Holt, who was buried there in 1965.
Walter again: There's also a report that a Beatrice
Johns was buried on site in 1992. A couple years back, the Lakewood Historical Society has a fascinating program by a woman who buried her father, a descendant of a French trapper and a Native American mother, in the cemetery. She couldn't find anyone to give her permission to bury him in Old Setters, so they just went ahead and did it. I don't recall other particulars, so if anyone does, let me know and I'll amend this blog post)
CheriePeterson conducted a survey of the visible grave sites in the cemetery in
1999, and that information was verified in 2004. That information is available
below and at:
http://www.interment.net/data/us/wa/pierce/oldsettlers/gravelly.htm
??,
Olive May,
no dates, granddaughter of (unreadable), (Lamb on Top of Marker)
??, Ray M., no last name, 1898, d. 1906, Son
Albert, Francis A., b. 1862, d. 1925
Anderson, Robert L., b. 2-16-1897, d. 1-19-1946, Tn. Pvt. 61 Pioneer
Inf.
Andrews, Henry (Corpl), no dates, Co. I 1st U.S. Dragoons
Andrews, Louis Valentine, b. 1862, d. 1960, Brother
Andrews, Rosalie Latour, b. 1864, d. 1946, Mother
Andrews, Thomas Jefferson, d. 1902, Baby
Arneman, Mr., no dates, wooden markers
Arneman, Mrs., no further info
Baker, H., b. 1900, d. 1923
Barnes, Annie G., b. 9-2-1867, d. 11-1900
Barnes, Archie R., b. 1900, d. 1919
Barnes, Charles Arthur, b. 1887, d. 1931, wooden marker
Barnes, Harry, b. 1824, d. 1888
Barnes, Henry, b. 1865, d. 1922
Barnes, Jack Archie, b. 2-18-1933, d. 5-8-1992, Loved by all his
family, Beloved Brother Merchant Seaman
Barnes, Jane, b. 6-1-1856, d. 11-27-1890
Barnes, John George, b. 1857, d. 1927, wooden marker
Barnes, John H., b. 1898, d. 1917
Barnes, Joseph, b. 1853, d. 1928
Barnes, William E., b. 4-21-1891, d. 12-7-1971, WWI,Wa. Cpl. 115
Spruce Sq.
Bates, Elizabeth, no dates, w/o J.S.R.
Bates, J.S.R., no dates, h/o Elizabeth, Co B 32nd Oh Inf.
Baunsgard, Jean M.(Miner), b. 1887, d. 1946, d/o Milo & Maggie,
(ashes of)
Benston, Adam Jr., b. 11-26-1846, d. 10-28-1941
Benston, Adam Sr., b. 11-17-1823, d. 3-25-1912
Benston, Alfred M., b. 1-13-1883, d. 5-10-1910
Benston, Benjamin I., b. 5-4-1886, d. 7-30-1901
Benston, Ella, b. 1-24-1881, d. 2-28-1896, d/o Wm.,Jr. & J., stone
very worn
Benston, Elmer, b. 9-3-1890, d. 9-8-1922
Benston, Harvey, b. 1892, d. 1903, wooden marker
Benston, Harvey, b. 8-27-1892, d. 2-2-1907, stone marker
Benston, Ida A., b. 7-20-1888, d. 10-23-1900
Benston, James, b. 1877, d. 1900, s/o Janet & Adam,Sr.
Benston, Janet, b. 8-21-1835, d. 6-7-1899, w/o Adam,Sr., m/o Janet
& James
Benston, John L., b. 2-6-1874, d. 10-27-1899, Gone But Not Forgotten
Benston, Joseph, b. 9-29-1879, d. 7-22-1910
Benston, Sarah, b. 3-16-1855, d. 7-20-1943
Benston, Walter, b. 1895, d. 1933
Benston, William H., no dates, wooden marker & small homemade
stone marker
Benston, William, b. 1-1-1845, d. 10-13-1899
Bleeker, James A., b. 1884, d. 1940, plaque on a huge rock
Bleeker, Mary Warren, b. 1882, d. 1960, plaque on a huge rock
Bonney, Emma J., d. 10-9-1882, 6y 11m 9d, d/o S.A. & E., lamb on
top
Bonney, George W., d. 2-1-1890, 2y 7m 1d, s/o S.A. & E.
Bonney, Samuel A., b. 1865, d. 1912, h/o E., f/o Emma J. & George
W., grave has both stone and wooden markers
Bottinger, Amandus C., b. 1-3-1854, d. 2-17-1937
Bottinger, Amandus C.,Jr., b. 1884, d. 1926
Bottinger, Anna, b. 3-12-1855, d. 5-21-1924, Mother
Bottinger, William H., b. 10-8-1890 Tacoma, d. 5-13-1919,
Philadelphia, Merchant Marine, very worn wooden marker
Braget, Arthur H., b. 7-20-1913, d. 7-21-1913, Rest in Peace
Braget, Carl Oscar, b. 9-24-1894, d. 10-3-1902
Braget, Edna A., b. 11-23-1911, d. 5-7-1915
Braget, Mrs. J. H., no dates
Brey, Henry, no dates, wooden marker
Burtschie, Cane Philip, b. 1875, d. 1896
Carlson, Frank A., b. 1869, d. 1949, h/o Isabell, Father
Carlson, Isabell, b. 1877, d. 1960, w/o Frank A., Mother
Cronin, Harriet, d. 10-22-1880, 69y, Gone But Not Forgotten
Cronin, Ole Frost, no dates
Dalgish, Ruth Carlson, b. 6-5-1908, d. 3-16-1988, sis/o Ellen
(Weinand)
Daniels, P.C., b. 5-15-1865, d. 8-2-1893
Daniels, Peter, b. 5-26-1837, d. 12-25-1916, h/o Stine
Daniels, Stine (Eisenbeis), b. 8-23-1838, d. 11-3-1895, w/o Peter
Davenport, Dennis, d. 7-27-1901, 74y 3m 1d, Rest in Peace
Edwards, Albert, Jr., b. 8-26-1922, d. 12-22-1981, Pvt USArmy WWII
Edwards, Rosalie, b. 1899, d. 1977, Sister
Eisenbeis, Fredrick C., b. 10-7-1823, d. 3-10-1902, f/o Stine
Faust, Caroline, b. 2-21-1812, d. 10-10-1892, w/o Jacob
Faust, Jacob, b. 12-28-1822, d. 7-5-1900, h/o Caroline
Frisk, Ole, d. 7-25-1855
Frost, Andrew Jackson, b. 1833, d. 1909, In Loving Memory From Their
Descendents 1988
Frost, Andrew, no dates
Frost, Baby Boy, b. 1910, d. 1910
Frost, Gilbert H., b. 11-10-1809, d. 9-28-1884, Settled in Oregon in
1844
Frost, John A., b. 1872, d. 1927
Frost, Mabel (Robb), b. 4-21-1862, d. 5-7-1940, w/o Walter
Frost, Mary Ann (Perry), b. 1846, d. 1918, w/o Walter C.
Frost, Mary T., no dates, d/o A.J. & Mary Ann
Frost, Walter C., b. 3-21-1860, d. 8-7-1926, h/o Mary Ann
Goranson, Axel Nathaniel, b. 1-11-1865, d. 12-30-1905
Greenwell, Sara Elizabeth (Edwards), b. 1853, d. 1932, wooden marker
Gullion, William Y., b. 2-25-1830, d. 4-28-1902, Until the Day Breaks
& the Shadows Flee Away
Hansen, Marvin, b. 1907, d. 1952, (ashes of)
Hansen, Nels P., b. 1864, d. 1949, Father
Hansen, Sadie L., b. 4-1-1894, d. 12-14-1899, d/o N.P & S.
Hansen, Sissel, b. 1864, d. 1939, w/o Nels P.
Henderson, Leroy O., b. 10-19-1920, d. 10-25-1920
Hicklin, Emeline (McAllister), b. 1862, d. 1940, w/o John Hal
Hicklin, John Hal, b. 1863, d. 1932, h/o Emaline
Holden, Frances Meyers, b. 1869, d. 1943
Holden, Freling-Huysen, b. 1844, d. 1927
Holt, Joseph, b. 8-12-1881, Haverfordwest, So. Wales, d. 6-19-1946,
Absent >From the Body, Present With the Lord II Cor. 5:8
Holt, MaryAnn, b. 12-31-1881, Aberdeen Scot, d. 1-24-1965, Our Mother,
Her Voice of Him Did Speake, Now He Giveth My Beloved Sleep. Psalm 127
Hunt, Elmer M., b. 3-19-1881, d. 3-23-1890, Our First Born Darling
Johns, Beatrice B., b. 1896, d. 1992, w/o Orville R., O.O.F.A Lincoln
Court #24
Johns, Nathanial Hamilin, b. 1898, d. 1912, wooden marker
Johns, Orville R., b. 1901, d. 1983, h/o Beatrice B., US Army WWII ID
803
Johnston, H.G., Lieut., no dates, Co. B 32nd Oh Inf.
Johnston, Ida, d. 1889, w/o H.G.
Johnston, N.H., b. 11-1-1833, d. 1-31-1898, Our Father At Rest
Johnston, Warren B., b. 7-18-1859, d. 5-3-1933
Keats, no name, no dates, Co. H 8th Ia Inf.
Keetes, Harriet, b. 5-22-1825, Eng, d. 13-4-1895, w/o John, The Lord
Taketh Pleasure in His People He Will Beautify The Meek With a Salvation
Keetes, John, b. 21-1-1825, Eng, d. 3-4-1892, h/o Harriet, Co. I, 32nd
Ia, Co. B Ia Inf., Oh How We Miss Thee At Home
Kimball, Kate (Sanders), b. 12-26-1858, d. 4-17-1944
Kirkland, Floyd, b. 6-6-1886, d. 4-11-1891, s/o A.P. & L.J.
Lindell, Joseph, b. 8-31-1882, d. 10-4-1900, Rest In Peace
Lindell, Nilla, b. 4-28-1842, Altus, Swe., d. 6-4-1909, She Was A Kind
And Affectionate Wife & A Friend AS Well
Marker, Jessie L., b. 5-18-1903, d. 2-10-1904
Marker, William D., b. 9-7-1905, d. 9-7-1905
Mason, Eleanor (Schrette), b. 1886, d. 1915, wooden marker
McAllister, H. B., b. 1851, d. 1932
McAllister, John W., b. 1876, d. 1935, Father
McAllister, Sophia A., b. 1857, d. 1918
McCarther, Scott, b. 1867, d. 1915
McLeod, Hugh, b. b. Scot, d. 7-3-1891, 60y, 48y res., Pierce Co, Wa.
McMurphy, Anna (Niesen), b. 4-15-1875, d. 7-6-1901, w/o J.H.
Melville, Robert, b. 8-12-1842, d. 1-5-1867
Meyers, Fredrick, b. 1825, d. 1911
Meyers, George A., b. 1872, d. 1945, Father
Meyers, Rosa, b. 1873, d. 1955, Mother, Our Beloved
Middleton, Garm, b. 9-4-1900, d. 10-17-1900, s/o R.P. & L.M.
Miller, H. D. P., d. 1934
Miller, Janet (Benston), b. 3-12-1856, d. 8-25-1936
Miller, John H., b. 3-29-1856, d. 6-23-1913, At Rest
Miller, N. G. Blicher, b. b. 8-19-1843, Denm, d. 4-7-1919, Father
Miller, Nicoline, b. b. 6-11-1846, Denm., d. 11-27-1900
Miner, Maggie R., b. 1882, d. 1947
Miner, Milo J., b. 1858, d. 1937
Morgan, Anna Frost, b. 1871, d. 1963
Murray, Hester A., b. 7-1-1837, d. 12-5-1915, Mother
Murray, Isaiah G., b. 8-9-1835, d. 2-7-1911
Murray, Minnie Irene, b. 4-1-1875, d. 2-12-1911, Daughter
Niesen, Bertha (Young), b. 12-13-1887, d. 11-15-1950, Rest Mother Rest
in Quiet Sleep While Friends in Sorrow Oer Thee Weep
Niesen, Bertha, b. 1-7-1842, d. 9-30-1901, w/o William, Mother
Niesen, Minnie French, b. 3-19-1883, d. 11-10-1941
Niesen, William, b. 9-20-1843, d. 7-4-1900, Rest Father Rest in Quiet
Sleep While Friends in Sorrow Oer Thee Weep
Richmond, J. Carrie, b. 9-18-1880, d. 5-14-1922, Mother
Roland, Owen, Dr., d. 9-13-1884, 60y
Ross, Betty, b. 1928, d. 1933, Daughter
Ross, Raymond, b. 1891, d. 1949, Father
Schenk, Viola (Bottiger), b. 2-2-1916, d. 10-5-1936
Schnitz F. Adolf, b. 1882, d. 1971, Son
Schnitz, A. Christina, b. 1884, d. 1920, Mother
Schnitz, Ama, no dates
Sears, Asa, d. 7-22-1892, 60y
Sexton, Henry W., b. 1895, d. 1901, s/o Wm. J. & Catherine
Shaw, James Madison Windolin, b. 1844, d. 1906, Co. D 9th ME Inf.
Shaw, Rosemary Winnifred, d. 4-13-1896, 4m
Simonsen, Goren, 7-13-1825, d. 3-27-1898
Smith, Annie J., b. 9-8-1880, d. 21y, w/o J.K.
Smith, Baby, no dates, child of J.K. & Annie J.
Swaker, S. D., no dates
Todd, Almira Jane, b. Mar 16, 1856 Marion Co. Oregon, d. Jan 24, 1883
Steilacoom W.T., of inflamation of stomach and liver, Our little boys sleep
near
Washburn, Mary Jane, b. 1-20-1825, d. 2-20-1887, w/o P.S.
Watson, Bertha, b. 1873, d. 1893
Wienand, Caroline Opstad, b. 1869, d. 1950
Wienand, Ellen M., b. 1903, d. 1970, sis/o Ruth (Dalgish)
Wienand, Mark, b. 1896, d. 1966
Wilcox, Perlia Jean Saunder, b. 1847, d. 1916
Williams, David A, b. 10-13-1877, d. 4-16-1888, s/o D.& J.
Williams, Emmie M., b. 5-11-1886, d. 5-4-1888, d/o D.& J.
Wood, Robert, d. 8-10-1896
Wright, Anni, b. 6-24-1795, d. 2-14-1882
Wright, Israel H., b. 2-16-1815, d. 5-10-1887, The Pioneer At Rest
Wright, Thomas, b. 8-26-1795, d. 6-18-1868
Wright, Will, no dates, wooden marker
