Larson Cemetery what it is called today.

      This abandoned Cemetery is East of Altona, Illinois on County Highway 4 and is located in the North East Quarter of Section 15, Township 13 North-Range 4 East, on the Larson Farm.  When the Larson Family purchased the farm in 1892, a corner portion had been set aside for a burial ground and a school, known as the Austin School or District #3.  The School was also used for a Church by the early settlers and the first burial here was in 1842.  Mr. Larson also told us the last burial was in 1884 and there were originally 47 stones.  Tombstones read 1977 by Pam Eagle, Katherine Spencer & Mildred Doubet. This was typed by Kathy Mills and sent to Foxie for processing.

    This cemetery is still there but there are very few tombstones left.  I once lived in this school house in the early 1970's.  I used to go out and try to see the tombstones but I don't remember if I ever took any photos of them then. I wish now I had of.  Since then a daughter has lived in the house and horses have roamed the cemetery.  You can not see very many of the tombstones if any.  They were broken and many of them lying on the ground when I lived there. Also, while being a Girl Scout leader in Altona and doing a history on the town of Altona for a badge for the Troop #2241; we found out that this cemetery was started by the Mormon's.  They had come here to settle.  The Altona Blacktop was or used to be lined with big old Walnut trees and there were Walnut forest all over this township giving it it's name; and they had some kind of disease go through.  The early settler's of Altona, wouldn't let the Mormon's settle here and they settled one mile east of Altona, and before moving on lost many of their children to the disease. They later moved on to what we now know as the city of Nauvoo, IL.

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