of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 307-308
MUSCATINE CEMETERY. The first burial ground was where the Third Ward school house now stands. Here fifty bodies taken from the waters of the Mississippi were interred. The remains were of victims of the steamboat Dubuque, which exploded its boilers and was destroyed a short distance below Muscatine in 1837. When excavations were making for the school building the bones of the dead were removed.
At a meeting prior to June 27, 1873, a committee was selected to draft articles of incorporation for a cemetery association and at the date last mentioned the committee made its report, which was accepted. On motion of J. A. Bishop, a committee was then appointed to solicit subscriptions to stock, consisting of Mrs. J. S. Horton, Mrs. D. Washburn, Mrs. Thomas Hanna, R. M. Burnett, Henry Molis and G. B. Denison. Land contiguous to the old burial ground was purchased.
The first officials were: R. M. Burnett, president; G. B. Denison, vice president; Henry Jayne, secretary; J. Carskaddan, treasurer.
In the course of years various additions have been made to the cemetery grounds. A vast space westward is being tenanted. In this newer part trees and shrubs have been planted and are growing to generous proportions, beautitying that section and adding color and harmony to many expensive monuments. Here are also mausoleums, which give additional picturesqueness to the general scene. This beautiful city of the dead is reached by the citizens of Muscatine and visitors on the excellent trolley line running to its gates.
GREENWOOD CHAPEL. Sunday afternoon, May 12, 1901, a magnificent cemetery chapel was dedicated, the gift of Peter Musser, in memory of his wife, Tamson Musser, and given the name of Greenwood chapel. In size the structure is 65x35 feet. The material is red pressed brick with ornamental designs of stone at the corners, over the windows and entrance. At the east end is the audience room, designed to seat at least 100. The west part of the building is divided into apartments for sexton, office and tool room and a depository for bodies awaiting burial. Through the center is a broad driveway, arched over in a very artistic manner. The chapel stands just within the entrance, and through the archway many funeral corteges pass.
Later Mr. Musser presented to the cemetery a beautiŁul statue of Hope, classic in its lines and greatly admired by all who notice it. The white marble of the statue and the uplifted arm and upturned face of the figure on the pedestal, combine to make one conscious of the beauty of the elysian fields to which the statue seems beckoning. This handsome piece of sculpture is placed in a prominent position in front of Greenwood chapel.
ST. MARY'S CEMETERY. On Logan street, north of Newell, is St. Mary's cemetery, a beautiful burial spot. The cemetery association was incorporated, September 1, 1876. The first officers were: John Knott, president; Frank Moran, secretary; Rev. P. Laurent, treasurer.
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