Carroll County IAGenWeb

In 1875, the Arcadia Cemetery had its beginnings on the Adolph Bruggemann farm two miles east of Arcadia in Arcadia Township. Adolph lost his wife Charlotte and buried her on their farm that year. Others ask if they could also use his plot of land for their loved ones. For many years thereafter, it was known as the Bruggemann Cemetery. The name has evolved over the years into “Lutheran Cemetery”, “Town Cemetery”, “Public Cemetery” and now the “Arcadia Cemetery” in Arcadia Township.

Cemetery is divided into a north section and a south section. Each section is divided into 12 Blocks for a total of 24 Blocks. Each block is subdivided into 14 numbered lots and 2 alphabet letter lots. The numbered lots are designed for 2 rows of 4 graves for a total of 8 gravesites. The alphabet lettered lots are smaller and have room for 2 rows of 3 gravesites for a total of 6 gravesites.

Separating each block is a “buggy way” used for a horse-drawn hearse to access the individual lots/gravesites. Since the “buggy way” is no longer used, it is now divided into individual gravesites numbered 1 through 31 to give the cemetery additional spaces. There are also 2 rows of additional plotted individual gravesites in both sections on the east and west end of the cemetery. If a map location refers to “under”, it is located in a “buggy way”. On the cemetery map, it is then assigned to the Block and Lot located above the “buggy way”.

During the 1890’s, the first lots were sold for $10 each as a Family Lot. Many times a family monument was erected in the center of the lot. Footstones or headstones with the first name of the individual marked their actual gravesite. Sometimes the family monument contains all the names of the deceased using all four sides of the monument. Many of the old grave markers have weathered over time and are now difficult to read or have become buried under the sod.