IMMANUEL CEMETERY AND CHURCH - GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA |
Memorial Observation of 100th Anniversary Year by Daniel Herbert Miller, M. D. |
Submitted by Dr. Daniel Herbert Miller, M. D. - Tulsa, OK (5-20-1987) |
If those who are "At Rest" here could be aware of the Memorial Service they would be pleased by your presence and would be very happy to know that you cared enough about them to come. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ever since Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden man has been a wanderer over the face of the earth. And everywhere that men wandered, death was sure to follow. And so it is with the Pioneers who settled in the area around this piece of ground that was destined to become "The Immanuel Cemetery." It is located in the S.W. 1/4 of Section 1, Township 6 N, Range 5 E, which is 3 miles north and about 2 1/4 miles east of the Salem Methodist Church corner in Clatonia or about 5 3/4 miles west of Cortland which is in Gage County, Nebraska. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The first burial in Immanuel Cemetery, according to reports, was in 1880 - just 100 years ago. Unfortunately, the name of the person is not known. There is a tombstone in the northeast part of this Cemetery that shows " Friedrich Fricke, Jan.4, 1824 - Dec.9, 1881." His wife Dorothea, is buried beside him. The late Ed Pfeiffer once told me that the Fricke's were his grandparents. There were two burials here in 1882 and in 1884 and from time to time throughout the century, the last one being that of Miss Emma Carsten in February of 1980. There have been 108 known burials here, including the one in 1880, which was not included in the attached list:" Burials in Immanuel Cemetery." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not only did death follow man as he wandered (emigrated) to "The West", but so also did the "Circuit Rider", the Traveling Preacher on horseback. He preached to the Pioneers who had settled along the Clatonia Creek in Clatonia Township. The first religious meetings were held in their homes, some of which were dugouts and log cabins, one of which still stands on the old F. W. Kassing Homestead which is now owned by Ronnie Miller, my great-nephew. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
These early settlers built the third church building in what is now Gage County. It was dedicated on October 8, 1871. It was the forerunner of "The Salem German Methodist Episcopal Church" in Clatonia. This building became too small and was disposed of and a larger one built in 1879. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At that time the members who lived northeast of the Salem Church decided to build their own church building immediately west of the Immanuel Cemetery. It became "The Immanuel German Methodist Episcopal Church" and the building was enlarged twice. The Minister preached in the Salem Church in Clatonia on Sunday mornings and in the Immanuel Church on Sunday afternoons. He traveled by horse and buggy over dirt roads - nineteenth century style. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In 1919 three rural Churches, Immanuel, Kramer and Zion, were disbanded and united to form "The Hallem Methodist Church." The Immanuel Church building has long since disappeared - "Gone With the Wind". | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Records of the Register of Deeds of the Courthouse in Beatrice show that: 1. Frederick J. Scmid obtained this S.W. quarter section of land from the Chicago, Burlington and Qunicy Railroad on April 29, 1886. 2.That he sold this Cemetery ground to "The Clatonia Cemetery Association" for $40.00 on November 17, 1892. (Recorded in Book 53, page 164). 3. And that he sold the land immediately west of this Cemetery to the "Emmanuel German Methodist Episcopal Church" on August 24, 1908 for $1.00 and other considerations. The Trustees were: Arnold Albers, Frank N. Hofstaedt, Charles A. Miller, my father, Anton Oltmans and Henry Pfeiffer. (Recorded in Book 91, page 263). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I wish to thank everyone who helped me gather information about Immanuel Cemetery and Church, especially Clarence Albert, Reed Carsten, Edmund Krauter and Oren Miller. Clarence and Edmund checked the Records at the Courthouse and furnished some of the above information. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Edmund mentioned that the land for this Cemetery was reported to have been given by three Schramm brothers, Charles, Frederick and William. Unfortunately no record of this has been found. They probably gave $40.00 to the Clatonia Cemetery Association, with which this ground was purchased. Reverand William Schramm and family owned the land and lived on it, in Section 13, just one mile south and across the road from this Cemetery. He was one of the founders of German Methodism in Clatonia Township. He and his wife Margarethe are buried in the northeast part of this Cemetery as are also my paternal grandparents, my parents and my two baby sisters. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It seems remarkable how an experience that one has as a youngster may influence one's thoughts and actions many, many years later. The Marsh Cemetery was located two miles east and about 1 1/2 miles north of the Salem Methodist Church in Clatonia - in the field west of the road and north of the Rock Island Railroad track. My sister and family, the Charles C. Haupts, lived about 1/2 mile north of that cemetery. When I was 11 to 14 years old I often walked up the track and through the fields to the Haupt place. I would pass the Marsh Cemetery. It was neglected and every fall the weeds would be two to three times higher than my head. It seemed so sad that nobody cared about those who were buried there and that it had been abandoned. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ben Carsten had mowed the Immanuel Cemetery for many, many years for which he deserved much credit. He had retired from the farm and moved to town. It was distressing to think that maybe in fifty or a hundred years that the Immanuel Cemetery might be abandoned like the Marsh Cemetery had been. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the fall of 1962 I talked to Ben in his home in Clatonia about organizing an "Immanuel Cemetery Association" so that a "Perpetual Care Trust Fund" could be created. He said that this Cemetery had been called "The Clatonia Cemetery". It was probably given that name because it was started in Clatonia Township and the town of Clatonia did not exist then for the Rock Island Railroad had not yet been built through Hallam and Clatonia. I had always heard it referred to as the "Immanuel Cemetery". He stated that the Cemetery about 1/4 mile south of the Salem Methodist Church in Clatonia was called "The Clatonia Cemetery of Clatonia." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ben further said that there was a "Clatonia Cemetery Association" for this cemetery by the Immanuel Church, which was organized on May 3, 1884. F. J. Smith (Schmid) was elected Chairman and John Dahlem as Clerk. Ben thought that the Association had been incorporated. I inquired twice about this at the Office of the Register of Deeds in Beatrice but no record was found. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This Cemetery Association purchased a good, well-bound Record Book for the Secretary. The close relationship between this cemetery and the church is shown by the fact that "Immanuel Church" was written above the "Minutes of the First Meeting of the Clatonia Cemetery Association", which was recorded in the Secretary Book in May 1884. This Book was still in excellent condition in May of 1980. It is now being used by the "Immanuel Cemetery Association" and thus has become the Cemetery Association's Secretary Book. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lots in the Immanuel Cemetery were sold for
$5.00 and lot had a number for eight graves. A person had
to buy a lot to become a member of the Cemetery
Association. Forty-two Pioneer names are listed as
members in the Secretary Book:
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These members died with the passing of time and an active "Clatonia Cemetery Association" ceased to exist. The Minutes of the last Meeting were recorded many years ago - May 4, 1925. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ben passed away a few weeks after I had visited him so I talked to his brother, Fred Carsten, about organizing an "Immanuel Cemetery Association". He suggested that an attorney in Lincoln draw up the incorporation papers. After several letters and on my third trip to Lincoln to see him, I obtained "The Articles of Incorporation of the Immanuel Cemetery Association, Inc.". The attorney had filed them with the Secretary of State on Oct.27, 1966 and they were filed at the Courthouse in Beatrice the next day. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reed Carsten and I were priveleged to attend the first meeting of the Board of Directors, which was held in the Hallam Bank on the evening of November 1, 1966. The Officers elected were: President - Harold Pfeiffer, Pickrell; Vice-President - Melvin Miller, my nephew, Clatonia; Secretary - Homer Schwaninger, Cortland; Treasurer - Bruce Carsten, Clatonia and the Fifth Member - Earl Schmidt, Cortland. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Board of Directors created a "Perpetual Care Trust Fund", which has been a success. The name, "The Clatonia Cemetery Association" was changed to "The Immanuel Cemetery Association, Inc." on the Courthouse Records on January 18, 1967. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The
present Board of Directors was elected on December 4,
1979:
President - Oren Miller, my great-nephew, Clatonia; Vice-President - Charles Schmidt, Cortland; Secretary - Emory Nannen, Hallam; Treasurer - Bruce Carsten, Clatonia and the Fifth Member - Earl Schmidt, Cortland. |
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Members
of these Boards and many others have given of their time,
energy and money to improve and beautify this Cemetery
for which we are all very thankful. Lyle Schmidt donated
the bricks for the gateway and Homer Schwaninger gave the
new fence. The writer (D. H. M.) paid the attorney fee
and gave the granite marker for the entrance to the
Cemetery which bears the inscription:
IMMANUEL CEMETERY 1880 When the first Pioneers arrived in this area there were no roads, no fences, no houses or barns, no wells, no hogs or cattle and no fields of grain. All they could see was the virgin prairie below and the blue skies above. All they had was what they brought with them, along with a great courage and determination, much self-reliance and a profound faith in God. They changed this "Lone Prairie" into a rich agricultural region and left us a wonderful heritage. It is most fitting and proper that we pay tribute to these Pioneers with this Memorial Service on this, the 100th Anniversary Year of "The Immanuel Cemetery", the final resting place for these true Heroes and Heroines of the Prairie! |
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The above Memorial Service was held on Sunday, May 25, 1980 on the Cemetery. Rev. Don Latshaw gave the Devotional Service and the writer (D. H. M.) presented the History of the Cemetery using excerpts from the above. (Typed by D. H. M. on July 21, 1980. Permission is granted to reproduce any part or all of above Historical information. D. H. M.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1880
BURIALS IN IMMANUEL CEMETERY 1980
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On Friday morning, May 23, 1980, Oren Miller and his son Michael (Mike), my great-nephew and great-great-nephew, Evelyn, my wife and I (D.H. Miller) checked every tombstone and marker in Immanuel Cemetery and recorded the names and dates. They are listed above along with some names not found on tombstones but obtained from the Cemetery Association's Secretary Book, which gives Lot and grave numbers and was started in May 1884. Immanuel Cemetery is located 3 miles north and about 2 1/4 miles east of Clatonia, Nebraska or about 5 3/4 miles west of Cortland, Nebraska. Permission is granted to reproduce any or all of the above. July 12, 1980. |