HISTORY OF PLEASANTON - written by Emma Mark(s); part 8

TOO MANY TO LIST

Posted By: Nancee Seifert (email)
Date: 6/18/2014 at 17:02:19

HISTORY OF PLEASANTON - written by Emma Mark(s); part 8

HAMILTON CEMETERY (con't)

Besides the grave of William Hamilton and wife, who lie in the southeast
section of the cemetery, literally dozens of the graves of pioneers are to
be found some with three or four generations of descendants, if not moved on
buried on these grounds.

On the extreme west against the fence is the lonely grave of Gideon Walker
marked by a white slab. Also near the west fence, not far from Walkers
grave are those of John Keown and wife.

On the southwest corner are John Alden and wife with five of their grown
unmarried children including the grave of their daughter, Eliska, pioneer
teacher. The Alden lot is one of the longest in the county.

Returning to the south side where there are no many Hamiltons and Actons of
an early day, one finds a long row of Corbin graves, under a large oak tree.
One of these is the grave of James Corbin, a soldier in the War of 1812.
Isaac Waldrip and his wife with several of their children are buried very
near. Near the Waldrip lot is the grave of Robert Harrison whose son, Will,
was killed at Pea Ridge. He was the first soldier of the Civil War,
enlisting from Pleasanton, to lose his life. Near these graves is that of
John Hedrick, first soldier of the Civil War to be buried in Pleasanton.
Hedrick was brought back from near Burlington where he died in camp.

The grave of James Alfrey killed (murdered) in 1866 is also near, among the
old graves. Farther to the north, not far from the south gate are the
graves of William Snook and wife. On Decoration Day they are a mass of white
bloom.

In the old part of the cemetery also are the graves of George Morey and wife
who came to the township in 1852 from Nauvoo, Ill.

David Ockerman, a local Methodist minister and his wife are buried not far
from the Snooks graves.

At no great distance from the east fence, back under the shade, are two old
graves that makes one wonder whose they can be. They are marked with marble
slab on which it is stated, "Here rests The Honorable ___________ Potter."
These people, someone recalls, were brought here from New Buda for burial.
But why "The Honorable" no one seems to know. Some believe that the
Honorable Mr. Potter had been in the very early days a member of the state
legislature. (If so, it was before 1853.)

Another couple whose graves have provoked us is that of the Earbs (Miss
Marks tells that the old stones were replaced and that since the Earbs had
come west with two grown daughters, one of whom married a Burrell and
another married a Pickins, and her daughter married a Dr. Nalley, it was
assumed some descendant had replaced the old stones with new ones.)

In the old part near where for years there was a tall Norway spruce are the
graves of James C. Early and his first wife for so many years a merchant in
Pleasanton, respected for his honesty and fair dealing. Besides these
graves are those of Mr. Early's second wife. To Abram Reese, a gardener in
St. Louis before he came to Pleasanton, is due the City Park, the Square of
early days where one time cattle roamed at will and geese flourished on the
abundant smart weed, hissing at every passer-by.