CEMETERY:  Oakhill Cemetery, New Hartford, Butler Co., IA
 
This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:
Ken Kothe <kkenk@frontiernet.net>
September 1997

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

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NOTE:  For more information on Butler County, Iowa 
       Please visit the Butler County, IAGenWeb page  
       at http://iagenweb.org/butler/
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THE OAK HILL CEMETERY

        The Oak Hill Cemetery is located in section 28 of Beaver Township. The
land had once belonged to Titus Ensign and his wife. They deeded it to the
cemetery on April 23, 1868.

       In 1877, the trustees of the cemetery deeded a portion of the land located
in the northwest corner of the cemetery back to Titus to be used as family
lots.  Later in 1914 additional land was needed for the cemetery, so an acre
was deeded by Louis B. Ensign and his wife. This lay directly east of the
original site. In 1971 another one and a half acres was purchased from
Henry Ridder, extending the cemetery still farther to the east.

      The Oak Hill Cemetery Association was formed April 26, 1904 by thirteen
ladies who met at the home of Will Mead.  Dues were $1.00 and were used to
beautify the cemetery.  Mr. Mead served as preseident for eleven years.  The
first board of directors were Mead, Schrack, Kitsmiller, Kelly and Essie
Parker.  For the past years the town of New Hartford has assumed the respon-
sibility for the upkeep of the cemetery.

      Mr. Geasan was the first caretaker of the cemetery and was paid $35.00
per month.  Later Joe Knott took over the caretaker duties.  Mr. Will Mead
put in a well and a tank free of charge.

      During Jim Spains last term as Mayor, the association started perpetual
care.  The association also turned over to the city a sum of $7000 which
they had in their fund.

        Memorial Day was a big event in the early days of the cemetery.  The ladies
of the Woman's Relief Corps always covered crosses with fresh flowers to be
placed on the soldier's graves by the children of the community.  There was
always a patriotic program outdoors at the cemetery.

      Walking through the cemetery, one sees the stones of many of the people
whose names are found in the early history of New Hartford.  Near one of the
pine trees on the north side of the cemetery is a tombstone marked "Aunt Susan"
with the information, "Susannah Ensign -- 79 years -- died Feb. 1877".  Beside
it is a bronze marker stating that she was the daugher of a Revolutionary
Soldier.

      John Peckham was the first person buried in the New Hartford Oak Hill
Cemetery.  His burial was in December 1876.  There is a potters field in
section B against the south fence.  Buried here in unmarked graves are
Mrs. Sweitzer, who came to New Hartford with the pioneer Collar farmily, and
a small boy who was found drowned in the West Fork