HISTORY OF PLEASANTON - written by Emma Mark(s) - Part 7

TOO MANY TO LIST

Posted By: Nancee Seifert (email)
Date: 6/17/2014 at 14:01:05

CEMETERIES OF PLEASANTON -
HAMILTON CEMETERY

For one interested in the study of local history, the two cemeteries are
places of interest.

The ground for the Hamilton Cemetery was given by William Hamilton and was a
part of his farm. Though the burial place of many pioneers, at the
beginning of the century it was a desolate, neglected place, then under the
care of A.A. Cozad employed by the (?) to look after it. It was much
improved, even then the appropriation was not sufficient to put it in really
good shape.

Not until in 1919 when the Hamilton Cemetery association was organized was
there sufficient funds or popular interest aroused, so it could be a well
cared for cemetery. After the cemetery association was (?), more money was
secured from the township and for the last few years no membership fees have
been collected. After Mr. Cozad became too elderly to do any work, for a
time no satisfactory care taker could be found. Later Mr. Hart Davis was
employed and for a number of years people from all over the county every
summer have loved to visit this cemetery.

While William Hamiltons grave was one of the early graves, it was not the
first. There are many old moss covered headstones of a much earlier date.
One is there of a Mrs. Acton, a young mother dated 1847 or 1848. That of a
young colored man buried there in the 40s is of a very early date while
others seemingly in the 40s are unreadable. These old graves are in the
southeast corner. The early pioneers there seem to be mostly Hamiltons and
Actons.

Note by Transcriber: Evidently a page of Miss Marks account is missing here
Next page starts "the monument" and then as follows.

The wall years ago crumbled to the ground and was laid flat over the grave.

Before 1930 the known number of graves had reached 950.
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