Et cetera : Back in time…Evergreen Cemetery

It's always fun to take a step back into our history and remember the things that happened in the community some 100+ years ago. Here's an article about our cemetery.

---

The Vinton Eagle; January 7, 1921

Local Cemetery Beautiful Place

Persons who had occasion to visit Evergreen cemetery during the late summer and fall were impressed with the steps that have been taken by the trustees of the Evergreen Cemetery Association to improve this beautiful resting place of the dead.

Probably the most noticed improvement was the laying of 10,333 square feet of concrete paving in the east portion of the old part of the cemetery grounds. This paving is ten feet wide and forms a half moon. Starting at the well and running east it circles around over the top of the hill and joins with the macadamized roadway again at the intersection south of the pump. The pavement makes a complete circle around the Paul Correll lot, and replaces what was formerly a dirt driveway.

This pavement is but one of the many improvements made in the grounds during the past few years. The improvements are made wholly from the funds derived from the sale of lots.

Evergreen cemetery, as originally laid out in 1853, comprised a small portion of the southwest corner of the present cemetery. Generally, as needed, the limits were extended north and east. In 1913 the trustees were able to purchase what is known as the Stone homestead, consisting of eleven acres. This was platted into about five hundred lots, with ample space reserved for ornamental purposes. More than a mile of driveways were macadamized and hundreds of trees and shrubs have been planted. Ornamental gates were erected at the Ninth & Tenth street entrances, and an ornamental iron fence was erected along the west and south boundary of the new addition. It is the plan to continue this fence along the front boundaries of the grounds.

At the present time more than 200 lots are under perpetual care in Evergreen Cemetery, and the Superintendent Stephen Jewett reports that the fund for this purpose is larger than for any other cemetery in Iowa or Illinois. Perpetual care for the average sized lot is $100, with $50 for a half lot. The law provides that the money so paid in shall be turned over to a trustee appointed for this purpose, who shall invest it in first mortgages on Iowa real estate worth at least double the amount loaned thereon. The present trustee is J. F. Traer. The interest paid on these mortgages is used for the upkeep of the lots. In 1916 but sixty lots were under perpetual care. The fact that its number has been increased to more than 200 in four years shows a desire on the part of the lot owners to have their lots at all times well cared for. In all times people have lavished much care and attention on the burial places of the dead, and with many people it is a labor of love to personally care for their cemetery lot.

However, in time families die out or the survivors move away and eventually the family lot is neglected. It is in such cases as these that the perpetual care fund keeps the lot looking as nice as the surrounding ones. In the new addition to Evergreen cemetery lots are sold only with perpetual care.

Stephen Jewett has been superintendent of Evergreen cemetery during the past seven years, and it is doubtful if any other man could be found who would take as much interest in keeping the grounds in shape as does Mr. Jewett. He personally supervises the work and the work is done as it should be. The result is that Vinton has one of the most beautiful cemeteries to be found in the state.

The following report of the burials in Evergreen cemetery during the year 1920 has been handed to Superintendent Jewett. Total burials during the year, 71 of which 67 were adults, 30 were males and 27 were females. Nine children under two years of age, of which four were girls and five were boys. Five children between the ages of two and sixteen of which two were girls and three were boys.

Of the total burials, 40 died in Vinton, 15 from the surrounding country, two from the county home, and 14 were shipped in. Of those shipped in six were from Iowa, two from Minnesota, three from Kansas, one from North Dakota, one from South Dakota and one from New York. Seven bodies were moved in from country cemeteries.

The burials by months were January 7, February 11, March 5, April 4, May 7, June 6, July 8, August 6, September 6, October 2, November 5, December 5.