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THE CHANHASSEN PIONEER CEMETERY
There are three cemeteries in Chanhassen:
Minnewashta (aka Leech Cemetery) located on Maple Road & Glendale
road, south of Minnewashta Pky. The oldest recorded _grave here is
that of Henry Aldritt who died in 1860.
St. Huberts Cemetery on West 78th St. The oldest recorded grave
is probably that of Eddie & Rosella Geiser, brother & sister, who died
1876. Guntar Pauli, an infant who died in 1871, may possible be
buried here in an unmarked grave.
The Chanhassen Pioneer Cemetery is, therefore, the oldest cemetery
in Chanhassen with the first recorded burial in 1855 of Nirum Abbott.
In 1861, the Cemetery Association was formed. The price of a lot was
1.00, and labor for preparing a burial site was set at $.75 per day.
A proposed site was selected on land owned by John Murray. How or why
this particular site was selected is unclear. Although it was used
as a cemetery as early as 1855 when Nirum Abbott was buried. The
infant daughter of Arba Cleaveland was buried here as well in 1859.
A deed was obtained by the trustees for 1~ acres of land, and on
27 January 1862 John Murray sold the property to the Cemetery Association
The Cemetery Association was made up of family members who were, or
planed to be buried in the cemetery. It was their responsibility to
keep the Cemetery records, maintain the grounds, and tend to the graves.
The last Association meeting was held in 1982. In 1987, the cemetery
maintenance & records were turned over to the City of Chanhassen as
fewer and fewer descendents remained to maintain the cemetery.
DISCUSS CEMETERY RESTORATION!!!!!!
START TOUR
1. To your left is the grave of Abner Bennet who died in 1863 at the
age of 19, in Hutchinson, MN, probably in the Dakota Conflict. He
was the Great Grandson of Nathan & Betsy Bennett Pioneers, who are'
entured in the Bennet family section immediately behind Abner's grave.
2. To your right is the Kelm family lots.
The oldest Kelm grave is that of Wilhelm, who died in 1884 at the age
of two months from lung fever. The Patriarch of the Kelm family
2.
was Gottfried, b. 1826 Saxony, Germany and his wife Anna B 1830. This
family came to America to Seek religious freedom. Gottfried died 1894
at the age of 68. Wife Anna died 1922 at age 91. Also intured here
are their children, grand children & great grandchildren.
3. Behind KeIrn's
This is the grave of Nirum Abbott, the oldest grave in the cemetery.
Nirum died Dec 1855 at the age of 55 yrs from a stroke. He was elected
in the fall of 1855 as one of the first 3 County Commissioners. He
died before the first meeting. Also intured here are his wife, Fanny,
a son & grandaughter.
4. Behind Kelm's
A large stone engraved ASPDEN, marks the grave of John Thomas Aspden Sr
born 1808 England, died 1872. John is reported to have been "tight"
with his money, thus the "rock." Also buried here are his wife, Margaret,
children, and grandchildren.
The Aspden's marreid into the Maxwell, Wood and Kroening families who
are also buried in this cemetery.
5. Behind Aspden's
Here is the Lyman family section, where Henry Lyman, his wife, and
4 children ages 2 mos to 3yrs who died of typhoid and scarlet fever are
buried. A son and grandson are also buried here. Across the road
is another Lyman section where two sons and their wives are buried, one
who is Arthur B. famous for his contribution to Grimms Alpha.
6. To the right of the Lymans in the next row is the small grave of
Alice Bost, (grave marked with pin~ flowers) who died in 1865 from
whooping cough at age 18 mos. Alice was the daughter of Theodore and
Sophie Bost, who's letters home to Switzerland were made into the
book "A FRONTIER FAMILY IN MINNESOTA" which is often refered in the
Chanhassen Centenniel book. The Bost family moved to Calif. in 1887.
The Bost huuse is still standing in great need of repair off 82nd St.
on Arboretum property.
3.
7. To your left
Here is the grave marker of the Arba Cleaveland family. They too were
members of the Northampton Colony who arrived in 1853. The first
Cleaveland buried here is daughter Carrie Louise Bardwell Cleaveland
born 1858 died Oct 1859. She is believed the 2nd burial in the cemetery.
Arba Cleaveland was elected to the territorial house of representatives
in 1855 as a member of the new Republican Party. He held the post of
vice-president of the State Agricultural Society as well.
On July 4th 1860, the Cleaveland family went to spend the holiday. with
Mrs. Cleaveland's brother-in-law, the Rev Henry Nicols, her sister
Nancy and their children. On July 5th the families went for a picnic
at Lake Calhoun. The two oldest Cleaveland girls and young Henry Nicols Jr
went swimming and stepped over a steep slope into deep water. The two
fathers dashed into the water and sank beneath its surface. At the last
minute, Nancy reached out her hand to her husband, She called back to her
sister to head for shore then sank clutching her husband. Mrs. Cleaveland
wanted to rush in after the others, but two men who came running up held
her back while trying to save the drowning people. The next afternnon
six coffins were placed on the lawn of the Nichols home. '.Thousarids
attended the funeral.
Theodore Bost wrote" So there was Mrs. Cleaveland in a strange town
alone in a hotel with the dead bodies of her husband, her oldest girls,
her sister, brother-in-law, and her nephew, with nobody to console her
except her two little girls ages 7 and 4 yers.
Arba Cleaveland was 41 years old, daughter Emmessette age 12, daughter
Ella age 10. Mrs. Cleaveland sold their farm and belongings and returned
to her Family in Mass.
8. To your left behind the Cleavelands is the Stone family markers.
Eli Stone purchased his land in 1860. He was a pig farmer who served
in the Civil War. Eli was responsible for making out the deed
between the Cemetery Assoc. and John Murray to purchane the cemetery land.
Eli was born 1835 PA, and died at age 73 in 1909. Also buried her are his
2 wives, children & one grandchild. Eli's farm was located where the
Holsack Nursery is today. ,We will pass this on the tour.
9. Continuing on our left is the marker for the George Mayo Powers
5.
12 con't
who arrived here in 1853. As you can see from the marker Joshua was
born in July 1802 in Bristol, Leeds England. His wife Betsy was also
born in Bristol, England October 1801. Joshua died 16 Jan. 1881, and
Betsy died Feb. 23 1876, both in Sibley County, MN.
Their daughter, Harriet Thompson-Powers, 2nd wife of George Powers
is also buried in this lot.
QUESTIONS?????? NO, THEN BACK ON THE BUS!i!!!!
4.
family. Powers Blvd is named for George. He was born 1827 MA & died
1889. He and his family were also part of the Nor.thampton Colony who
arrived 1853. George held many offices in Chanhassen including being
the first town clerk, also being one of the first trustees for the Cem.
Assoc. George was born circa 1827 in Belchertown, MA, he died 1889 at
age 63. Also buried here are his parents, Edmond who died in 1868 at age
75 and his mother Nancy who died 1888 at age 94.
His 1st wife Thelena who died at age 35 glvlng birth to triplets is
also buried here. She died Feb. 1870. One of the triplets, Clarence,
died March 1870. His 'brother Albert died March 1873 from Lung Fever.
Both are also buried here. At the time of Thelena's death, the Powers
had 5 other children. Family & neighbors are recorded to have taken the
babies in to help Mr. Powers. Albert was taken in my the Bost family.
The third triplet, George Jr. is believed to have lived to adulthood.
10. Further up the hill is another Powers family marker.
Buried here is Navy Capt Trent Powers, Great grandson of George and
Thelena powers. He was born Aug. 1930. Trent was a Navy pilot who
was shot down over what was then North Vietnam in 1965, at age 35.
He was one of 2,400 American service people unaccounted for from
the Vietnam War. In Feb 1988 the Pentagon announced that Trent's
remains had been identified. Although Trent lived in Pennsylvania, it
was his wish to be buried in his grandfather, Frank Powers grave. Trent
was layed to rest on 15 April 1988, with full military honors.
11. Behind Powers next to the bushes.
Here is the grave's of Lee and Ruth Bennet Hutton. Ruth was the
great, great, grandaughter of Nathan Bennet, who's grave we passed an
we entered the cemetery. Ruth was born in 1899 and died 1977. She
was the State Womens Auxilary chairman in 1941 at the American Legion
State Convention. She bepame the National President and was awarded
the French Legion of Honor by Pres. Charles DeGaulle for her part in
in the rehabilitation of St Dies, a French town destroyed by Germans.
Ruth and her husband Lee, owned the EXCELSIOR CAFE.
@.
12. The most unique graves in the cemetery belong to Joshua Moore
and his wife Betsy, who were also members of the Northampton Colony
These graves are to the right of Powers a little ways infront of a tree.
Llvi n!jstal
MAY 13, 1942
Because of the accumulation of useless and obsolete material, on motion it was voted that
the Town Clerk destroy all road lists and road tax warrants, all bills allowed and contracts
entered more than 5 years back, application and orders for dance permits over 3 years
back, sealed election returns over 3 years back, and dispose of two Minnesota Statute
books of years 1878 and 1888.
NOVEMBER 11, 1942
On motion it was voted that the Town Clerk pay the insurance on the Town Hall
amounting to $3.30 to the German Mutual Storm Insurance Co.
JANUARY 13, 1943
Town Board met with Messrs. Livingston, Schmitt and Van Sloun, and okayed 34 awards
for agricultural production in 1942.
MARCH 14, 1944
Motion was made to fix up the Town Hall with window screens and proper heating
facilities to conduct the monthly meeting of the board at said Town Hall. Upon vote, the
motion was lost.
SEPTEMBER 13, 1944
Check # 53 issued to E.E. Kraus for $1.00 for burying a dog.
1944 - 1950
Checks were issued to Dr. B. H. Simons and Dr. Seifert for quarantining and releasing a
number of scarlet fever cases.
July 10, 1946
Jacob Van Sloun was paid $1.00 for the use ofa lamp during the primary election.
March 9,1948
Motion was made to black top County Road (17) to Club House at Carver Beach and to
widen road and cut down hill on way to Nelson's Store, including graveling not to exceed
3,500.00. After much discussion, a ballot was taken with the results of35 votes in favor
and 37 votes opposed. Measure (motion) declared defeated.
October 9, 1952
A check for $10.00 was issued to Dr. B. H. Simons for the quarantine and release of a
polio patient.
1953 - 1957
Rent of the Schoolhouse from District 12 was $25.00 annually.
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Elmer and ,~I1ss Vernis Keirn atten.,I' ea the meetIng or the Ro I
The Rovers of Chanhassen town, a; . JOme of lfr. and :\Irs
vers at t Ie .I splendid social organization and their. I in the township on Fri~; H. Asp?en IjInvitedgueststothenumberofabout" ./ TheY~ort a sPlendid ev~ni~:~snlng,;one hundred, were entertained at the. 'tertai ent tile Rove ' ,... en.I h M W . rs llann" pre-
orne of rs. llllam Kelm. at herl 'pared' a \'er)' choice ., I
home west of this village, on Friday I . was carried out to th
p~ogr.lln. w llch,evening, Februnry 25th. and to say that: '- e etter, .......... ~the entertainment afforded the guestswashighlyinterestingandenjoyable,Th~ Hustlers Club. recently organ. I! is indeed putting the matter very mild- "TIll! :\fidnight Charge." a military
ized. held its third meeting at the ly. The Rovers had prepared a splen- drama in four acts. will be presented
home of Mr. and Mrs. Edw. Justen on did. program which was- carried out to by The St. Hubert's Dramatic Club at
Friday, Feb. 25. Those present were: the letter. It was opened at 8 o'clock the school hall in this village, Sunday
Mr; and Mrs. W. Forsaith. Mrs. E. Ja. with a song by the Club. which was ex.; aTening, January 23rd. and Tuesday
lObson and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. P. C3ptiOnail:Y well rendered and this num.. evening, January 25th. The Play Will
J. Reuter and daughter. Mrs. G. John-: ber was followed with the reading of, be elaborately costumed by the Louis
ston and' family, Mrs. S. N. Moses and - the- minutes of the last meeting, atter Kopfmann Costume Co.. of :mnneapo-
faDi.il:Y, Mrs. Swanson. ~r. and Mrs.: which followed conundrums and funny Us and the stage settings will be ade-
Henry Palmer and family. Mr. and - stories. Ral:.tations by Louis Wrase. quate. The play is said to be a very
Mrs. Ed. Holloway, Mr. and Mrs. Carl! John Donlin and Lynn Harrison: duet interesting and extremely entertaining
Steller and family, Mr. and Mrs. Gott.: by Dorothy Aspden and Merril Roers; military drama. and the cast of char.
Steller and family, Mr. and Mrs. Willi ~no solo by Miss Ella KelIn; reading acters is such that we know the playSampsonanddaughter, and Mrs. C. L.t ot the news report by Mrs. Thos. Don. Will be put on right. A writeup ot theSiunpson. Mr. and'Mrs. Fred Zuercherl lin', followed by a debate. Resolved: play and program will appear in this
and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Wll.! TLat the Holstein is a more profitable ' :departInent ne1.t week. The admission
Co% and daughter. The evening was I cow'' for the farmer than the Jersey. ._Prices have been fixed at 50c for re-
spent with program and singing andl EL..ner L!yf,ngstor. and J. F. H:l..'7if:~n ':;e:'\'ed seats. '.hich are on sale at the
mnsic by Mr: Justen. FOllowing thel too&: the affirmative side and Oliver .MlIson and Pauly stores, General ad-program a.: dainty lnncheon, was servedl Stone and Prof. Little the negative. : ~ll1on is 35c. Children will be admit.after which. the guests. departed fo1'l The judges were Mr. Gilman, Julius :!-ed for l/ic.their various homes, to meet againl Jetka and H. L. KelIn and atter hearing ___ ._,March 10th at. the home ot Mr. and! the arguments presented, decided in,
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favor. of the negative side. A recitation I
by Alvin Stange was next on the pro- iMrs. Henry Pa~.__ _ -'"
gram. after which a social hour was
spent. At twelve o'clock. a fine lunch-
eon was served, after which the Club
and their invited guests departed for
their various homes. glad of the fine
h.h. ~ _I~:~~s entert~~n:.~ford~ them.,
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The Rovers Club of Chanhassen -iD.ditheirinvitedgueststothenumberof
abont seventy.five were royally enter"
tained at the hospitable home of Mr.:
and Mrs. H. T.' R. Krause on Friday'
evening, March lOth. The rooms hadbeennicelyarrangedandafinepro-,
gram prepared for the evening's en-
tertainment. opened by an instrumen-
tal solo by Mrs. John A. KeIzer, fol-
lowed by a coon song by Henry and
George Krause. August Mahlke and
Thomas Evans. A recitation by HarryProdahlfollowed, and a reading byMissMaeDonlin, followed by a reci.
tation by Adeline Krause. News items:
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by M.."l!. H. E. Asp den, vocal duet byAgnesMahlkeandAdelineKrause,.
reading by Matt Klfnglehoets, reclt&-.
tfon by Henry Krause, vocal solo by'Miss Evans, recitation by Oliver Stone-
and Matt Kllnglehoets, talk by Prof.:
Boyce of Shakopee on agricnlture and'the program was concluded With a so-lo by Miss Timberlake of
Shakopee..The next meeting will be held at thehomeof :'4r. and 'Mrs. Leonard Roers'near Excelsior, :'rtarch 24th.
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the home talent play "The :\I1dnight
Charge," put on by a strong and well
balanced cast of the members of the
St. Hubert's Dramatic Society at the
school hall last Sunday evening, was a
brilliant and particular success, both
artistically and financially, and a verylargeaudiencegreetedtheproduction
and cheered the amateur thespians to
the echo. In the cast we find the fol.
lOwing well known and capable youngleople: Miss Elizabeth Schneider, Mis~
llzabeth Schroeder, ~liss Eleanor Sin.
rnen, Lawrence Schroeder. Paul Klein.
Emil Paul)', August Sinn en, Martin IRoeser, Ed. Pauly. Roy Sinnen. Henry:Lubbe, Clarence Geil'er. Arthur Pauly, _
Henry Kerher, J08. Klingl(!hoets, Law.
rence Roeser. Elmer Kelm and Henry
Klein, The play is a splendid one and
it proved highly interestinl; from start Itofinish. Every member of the cast is
entitled to a vast amount of credit for
the fine manner in which they por-
trayed the respective roles and many
were of the opinion that it ~'as the fin,
est and most successful home talent
play ever staged aud offered to the
I'public of this community. and we are
glad of the fact ~hat the venture was
such a brilliant financial success. Thel
play abounds in comedy ot a clean an]'
clever nature and it proved popular al
the way. The pIa}' will be presente
again this (Tuesday) evening and w
believe another record audience wi
greet the amateur thespians. '--
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The second performance oftiie'fa..
mous military drama "The MidnightCharge" at .the Catholic school hall onlastTuesdayevening, drew a largeandappreciativeaudience. The localthespiansclearedanicesumofmoneyfromtheirventure, which was the
most pretentious and successful ever
stal'ted in Chanhassen.
OUNTY HERAW' .iJ
ursday, October 30, Iltl5
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An'introduclion
You're trying to remember who you went to elementary
school with, what you and your parents did for en-
tertainment when you were young and some of the great
stories your grandparents told you. Now add to this picture
two people taking notes on your "memories" and you've got
what has been happening for the last four weeks to people in
the Chanhassen area. Fourteen students from Chaska High
School are in the process of recording an oral history of
Chanhassen for the Chanhassen Historical Society. Each
week following there will be a biographical sketch of one of
the people interviewed. This week's sketch is about Elmer
Livingston and his wife who were interviewed by JoAnn
Wiley and Annette ,Gay.
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and Mrs. Elmer Livingston
Elmer Livingston's parents came here from
Massachusetts to homestead. They and their parents were
workers in a textile-mill there and because of the poor pay
and working conditions they decided to leave. They picked
out 160 acres west of Chanhassen; part of which is now the
Arboretum. The original house is still standing and is over
100 years old. '
Elmer tells humorously of the time his 'grandparents
bought a stove in St. Anthony and had to carry it home piece
by piece.
Both Elmer and his wife had two years of high school in
Excelsior and then went off to the world of work. She moved
to Minneapolis to work at a dime-store which was on the
comer where the IDS tower now stands. She made $6 a
week which she found to be plenty to live on. Elmer worked
on the farm-'aDd then managed the Pure on station in Ex.
ceisior which used to be where Wendt's laimdromat is now.
Part of the otlginal building can still be seen.
Elmer met his wife on a deer hunting trip up north. It was
cold and her father Invited Elmer and his friends into the
house for the night. There they met and later married.
Besides working Elmer's father's farm, a part of their
life was the Rover's Club. This club, which consisted of all
the farmers in the area, met frequently during the winter
months. Because of their farm work, they met only once in
the summer-right after the first hay was put up. This
meeting was their annual picnic which was held at the little
school house on Highway 41. During the winter, each
member took a turn hosting the group. They did quite a
variety of things at these gatherings. They always had a
program of some nature. Sometimes they had political'
speakers or the school principal would give a little talk.
They almost always had skits and gariles. No matter what
they did or where they ,,:ere, this club ~ed to have a
good time. .
This is just a brief story of Mr. and Mrs. Livingston. Th~y
now live off Highway 7 near their children and grand-
children. .
We would like to thank them for sharing their
memories" with us. We found it both interesting and fun. .
Remember to look for another sketch next week.
ADnette Gay
JoADn WOey