Cemeteries
Oakland cemetery was begun in 1856 when Shuball Coy had the areaplatted. It's the oldest of Clinton's seven cemeteries.
All of them have interesting histories, but some of the improvements theirboards of trustees have said they'll make in the next few years were far beyondthose the founders could have imagined.
Coy didn't file a plat of the cemetery for record until June of 1869 thoughand the original area contained 20 acres. It was called the Lyons citycemetery when it first began.
On May 24, 1895, a non-profit corporation, the Oakland Cemetery association,was formed and took over the cemetery. It increased the area by about 10acres in March of 1896 by adding what is known as the Joyce addition which wasgranted by W. T. Joyce. In 1906, he also built a chapel on the grounds inmemory of his parents.
Current officers are: H. B. Hagge, president; Ernest H. Struve, vicepresident; K. F. Booth, treasurer and C. A. Buchner, secretary. Members ofthe board of directors are H. A. Sino, B. C. Peters, Edward Horst, A. A.Stumbaugh and Frank Schneider.
Benjamin Lake actually was issued the first deed in June of 1857. Before the cemetery was begun, bodies were buried near the site where Our Ladyof Angels academy now stands. By 1910, the cemetery had grown so thatthere were 1,025 lot owners.
St. Boniface Catholic cemetery is second oldest. It was begun in 1861the same year the parish was formed. The original tract was five acres insize, but over the years additions were made until it now totals about nine anda half acres.
It's located just across the road from Oakland cemetery in the vicinity ofEagle Point park. The cemetery boasts a mortuary chapel and has acrucifixion group.
The cemetery was reorganized in 1945 and a modern plan placed intooperation. All lots were marked with permanent markers and such servicesas perpetual care inaugurated.
It's operated under a parish corporation plan as are Calvary and St. Mary'sCatholic cemeteries. The board under this plan is composed of threemembers of the clergy, including the pastor, and two lay men.
At St. Boniface, Rev. L. A. Rohret, the pastor, and two parish members, B. W.Determann and Joseph Brick, meet with two diocesan officials to makedecisions. Diocesan officials, who are also on the board of Calvarycemetery are Bishop Ralph Hayes and Monsignor Martin Cone, both of Davenport.
In 1868, Clinton's largest cemetery, Springdale, was begun. It containsmore than 30 acres. The Cemetery Association of Clinton had the areaplotted and surveyed in July of 1868.
Altogether, three additions were annexed. The first was platted by JohnC. Weston and Caroline F. Weston his wife, in March of 1892. Then theSpringdale Cemetery association came into being and in March of 1896 the secondaddition was added with P. S. Towle, president of the association, filing theplat. W. H. Seaman was secretary.
The third addition was added in 1909 by the association. The oldest knowntombstone bears the date of 1858. This was 10 years before the cemeterywas platted. A receiving vault extends 95 feet into one of the cemetery'sbluffs.
One of the cemetery's highlights is a monument erected by the General N. B.Baker post of the Grand Army of the Republic. It is a granite column andbears the figure of a soldier on its summit. Within the shadows are thegraves of 40 men who fought and died for the blue.
St. Mary's Catholic cemetery began Feb. 1, 1869 with the purchase of a10-acre tract of land on 2nd Ave. Rd. west of Clinton by five parishioners.
They were James King, Patrick Murphy, John Doyle, John Sheppard and JohnColeman. The deed said the cemetery was "for the Catholicparishioners of the city of Clinton."
In 1906, some of the original founders and other men in the parish formed theSt. Mary's Cemetery association. This organization currently directscemetery affairs.
Charles Marcucci is the president now and Louis H. Doyle issecretary-treasurer. Marcucci represents St. Mary's church on the boardwhile Paul F. Kamler is Sacred Heart's trustee. A. C. Nielsen and IreneWilliams, represent St. Patrick's church.
A unique perpetual trust was begun in 1940. Under the plan, thedistrict court appoints a trustee to handle the funds and makeinvestments. Atty. John T. McCarthy is the current trustee.
Investments must be approved by the court and in case of death, the courtappoints a new trustee. The cemetery grounds were improved last year andmore extensive ones have been planned.
Every Memorial Day an annual field day mass is recited in the cemetery by apriest. The mass has become traditional with the cemetery and a largecrowd usually attends.
Calvary Catholic cemetery, owned by St. Irenaeus parish, was begun in 1870with a five-acre tract. From its humble beginning, the area has been builtup and during the past two years some $40,000 has been spent onimprovements. Directors expect to spend almost that much more during thenext few years completing the job.
An addition to the five-acres was added in 1918 and in 1947 an 18-acre tractwas annexed. This raised the total area to 26 acres. It will beincreased more with the addition of 200 more lots this year.
A new receiving vault, which will hold up to 40 bodies, will be completedthis summer. It will eliminate winter burial at Calvary. Work is alsoexpected to begin this year on constructing 4,000 feet of curbing andgutter. As part of this project, 36-foot roads throughout the area will bebuilt. The stone surfaced thoroughfares will receive a blacktop coat afteranother year or two. When the project is complete, the cemetery will boastthree entrances.
Evergreen trees and shrubbery will also be planted this summer. Theywill replace 125 large trees cut down last year. The new trees will beplanted only along roads habited as part of the renovation, and planting on thelots has been prohibited. Chains will replace old gates.
Rev. E. F. Jackson, pastor of St. Irenaeus, and two of his parishioners,Henry Manemann and Fay Campbell, compose the board of trustees along with BishopHayes and Msgr. Cone.
Pine Grove cemetery was started with the purchase of five acres of land bythe Swedish Lutheran church June 4, 1887. The church paid Edward VanTassel %575 for the acreage located at the end of 2nd Ave. Road near St. Mary'scemetery.
From its founding until June of 1925, it was called the Swedishcemetery. That year, Immanuel Lutheran church, formerly known as the FirstSwedish Evangelical Lutheran church, transferred the property to the Pine GroveCemetery association for $1 and other considerations.
Currently, a six-member board of trustees elected by the membership ofImmanuel Lutheran church conducts the affairs of the cemetery.
Trustees are: Paul Larsen, vice president; John N. Shanks,secretary-treasurer; Adrian Lundeen, Earl Swanson, Clifford Swanson and EdgarJorgensen. A president will be elected at the board's next meeting.
Clinton Memorial Park cemetery, began in 1935, is the city's newest. Itbegan as a 10-acre tract, but almost annual additions have boosted it to 30acres.
The cemetery was incorporated during its first year and stockholders areprincipally Clintonians. It is typical of the modern cemetery that hasdeveloped in the U.S. during the past 20 to 30 years, a spokesman said.
One of the most modern masoleums in the U.S. has been erected on itsground. This structure will hold 320 bodies. It contains acolumbarium. The cemetery also has a receiving vault with a capacity for18 bodies.
One of the cemeteries highlights is "Swan Lake." A male and femaleswan swim in this pond during spring and summer months.
SOURCE: Centennial Edition, Clinton Herald, Clinton Iowa, 18 June 1955
