Hillcrest Cemetery, Idaho, ID Submitted by Penny Casey ****************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ****************************************************************** Hillcrest Cemetery (AKA: County Cemetery, County Burial Plot, Poor Farm Cemetary) Near Grangeville, Idaho County, Idaho Est. November 20, 1937. The legal description is as follows: NW1/4 SE1/4 SEC. 21, T. 30 N.R.3E. B.M. Idaho County, Idaho. Surveyed and platted November 18-20, 1937 by Walter Hovey Hill, Licensed Civil Engineer - C.E. 102). This cemetery is approximately 2 miles east of Grangeville, Idaho on Highway 13, as you head towards the Harpster Grade. The Plat shows it to be 62 ft. wide x 304 ft. in depth. There were 105 original burial sites platted, but only 24 have been used. The original records were found to be in the Idaho County Courthouse, along with the original plat. In September 1990, Betty Litchfield met with the County Commissioners about cleaning up the old cemetery. The following weekend , Idaho County Commissioner Harry Owens, Idaho County Sheriff Randy Baldwin and Grangeville resident Floyd Litchfield cleaned up the cemetery. Harry Owens, Floyd Litchfield and Clara Smith all donated money to help pay for the backhoe work that needed to be done. They also all donated paint for the sign that was donated. A family that has a relative buried there donated the sign. I do not know who this family was, if anyone out there does, please forward it so that we can give them credit and thank them. There were once wooden markers, but they have not survived the yearly burnings of the wheat fields. As of August 12, 1993, the Grangeville Cemetery District took the cemetery into their District and will take care of the upkeep. Mike Bear is the caretaker and doing a fine job. The graves are now all marked with numbers. Most of the burials there were from the County Poor Farm, which was right down the road, but there were also a few other burials. The first burial was in January 1938, the last known in 1943 (still researching). Does anyone out there know why they stopped using it? I have found 8 obituaries showing burials here that I will list following the burials. As I get more from the Idaho County Free Press I will add them. The first 15 burials are along the east side of the fence. There are three graves in the middle and then one more that we are unsure of it's placing. I also am adding a little bit of information on the County Poor Farm. Some of the original research was completed by Clara Smith. There has since been more research done by Betty Farris Litchfield and myself, Penny Bennett Casey. There is a copy of the Plat and records at Nolan Funeral Home in Grangeville, also at the Genealogical Society in SLC , with the Sexton of the Grangeville Cemetery and I will submit a copy to the Genealogy Library in Boise, Idaho. Submitted By: Penny Bennett Casey pennyandrandy@msn.com GRAVE# NAME BURIAL DATE 1 Schworer, Joe (Trapper Joe) Jan. 4, 1938 Born: 1859 2 Schuller, Carl July 5, 1938 3 Bausher, Henry (Bousher) Aug. 26, 1938 4 Hock, Joe Oct. 13, 1938 5 Milton, Jack Oct. 18, 1938 6 Rice, Herbert May 17, 1939 7 Adamson, Jack Aug. 11, 1939 8 Swasey, John Dec. 8, 1939 9 Stewart, George Dec. 18, 1939 10 Baur, James Feb. 13,1940 11 Capwell, George May 15, 1940 12 Gebert, John (Gibbert) May 23, 1940 13 Mulolland (infant) Unknown Orogrande, Idaho 14 Leitch, Allen June 10, 1940 15 Halford, Charles July 9, 1940 16 Mulolland (infant) Aug. 27, 1940 Orogrande, Idaho 17 Schrader, John Unknown 18 Crook, Berk Unknown 19 Gribi, Frederick March 29, 1941 20 Mitchell, David Leonard Sept 30, 1941 middle Potter, James Apr. 2, 1943 middle Gribbe, Ernest (Gribi) March 23, 1943 middle Unknown Unknown OBITUARIES FROM THE IDAHO COUNTY FREE PRESS Joe Schworer Passes Joe Schworer, age 79, for the past 14 years an inmate of the county home, passed away Sunday and funeral services were held from the Ailor Mortuary on Tuesday. Rev. Hubert E. Sias was in charge of the services. Burial was in the new county cemetery on the county farm, this being the first burial in the county plot. (Jan. 4, 1938) John Swasey Funeral Funeral services were held from the Ailor Mortuary Monday for John Swasey, 63, who died at the county home December 7th. Burial was in Hillcrest cemetery. Rev. Jasper Havens officiated at the services. The deceased has a son in San Francisco and two daughters in Hayward, Calif., none of which answered to telegram. (Dec. 8, 1939) Jack Milton Passes Jack Milton, 65, died early Tuesday morning at Dysard Hospital in Grangeville. Funeral services were held Wednesday at the Ailor Mortuary and burial was in Hillcrest cemetery near this city. The Rev. Jasper Havens of the Grangeville Christian Church officiated. Mr. Milton was born in 1873 in Bartlett, Texas and came to Idaho in 1916. He came to Idaho County in 1932, residing in the Riggins district and 10 months ago took up residence in Stites. He is survived by five sisters and two brothers. (Oct. 18, 1938) Joe Hock Joe Hock, 58, passed away Thursday, October 13 at the county hospital following lingering illness. Burial was Sunday in Hillcrest cemetery under direction of the Ailor Mortuary with the Rev. Jasper Havens officiating. Mr. Hock had resided in Cottonwood about 15 years and two years ago took up residence in Grangeville. Only known relative was a niece residing in Billings, Mont., from whom no word was received. (Oct. 12, 1938) George W. Stewart Dies George W. Stewart, 85, a retired farmer, died at the county farm, Monday, December 18 following lingering illness. Services were held at the Hancock Funeral Home Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock. Rev. Jasper Havens, Christian Church minister officiated. Interment was in Hillcrest cemetery. Mr. Stewart is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Martha Taylor, at Alturas, California. No other information regarding the deceased was available. (Dec. 18, 1939) John Gebert Grave side services were held in Hillcrest cemetery for John Gebert, 83, Thursday afternoon at three o'clock. Rev. Jasper Havens, officiated. Arrangements were by the Ailor Mortuary. Mr. Gebert was born in Ohio and had been living at the W.H. Eller home on Rice creek the last four years. He went to the county farm May 22 and died the following day. There are no known relatives. (May 23, 1940) James Potter, Miner, Was Long Resident James Potter, 70, who crossed the plains as a child of nine, traveling in a covered wagon with his parents, died Friday evening, April 2, and was buried on Tuesday at the Hillcrest cemetery, with the Rev. W.O. Benthin reading the funeral service. The Hancock Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. James Potter was born in Borden County, Kansas, the oldest of six children. His folds ended their long trip across the plains by stopping in southern Idaho. Later going on to the coast. But a year afterward, in 1882, they returned to Caldwell, where his parents both died when he was 20. Mr. Potter spent a number of years in the Owyhee country, following the occupation of a prospector. Later he came to the Seven Devils region and spent many years mining there, calling Riggins his home. For the last year he had been living near Grangeville in poor health. His four surviving brothers are Joel of Boise, John of Portland, George in ??na (page ripped), and Arthur in Boise. His only sister is Mattie Thornton of Portland. (April 2, 1943) Ernest Gribbe, 76, Suicide at Cabin Ernest Gribbe, 76, who had mined in the Red River country for 41 years, was found dead in his isolated cabin on March 28, a bullet hole from a .22 special rifle in his temple. Harry Caldwell, a neighbor, discovered the body and reported to Sheriff Bud Taylor who accompanied by Deputy Harold Smith, hiked to the Gribbe cabin on snowshoes from the Caldwell place. Cause of death was pronounced suicide. Three holes were found shot through the cabin door, as if Mr. Gribbe had attempted to summon help after shooting himself. Mr. Gribbe was last seen 12 days before when he visited Caldwell. At that time he complained of not feeling well. Later, Mr. Caldwell went to visit him and found him dead, death apparently having occurred five or six days previously. Mr. Caldwell and Con Nitz helped the officers bring the body out on a sled. Graveside services were held at the Hillcrest cemetery Tuesday morning, the Rev G.W. Lawson officiating, with arrangements by the Ailor Mortuary. Mr. Gribbe was a native of Switzerland, and had no known relatives. Owners and Keepers of the Poor Farm. The Poor Farm was located near the cemetery on the Poor Farm Road, which is still called by name. It is a gravel road to the right, just past the cemetery. The road goes all the way through from Highway 13 to Highway 12 in the center of the town of Mt. Idaho. Please email me if you have more information or corrections. April 16, 1895 John C. Gilbach - owner Oct. 15, 1901 R.H. Rice leases Poor Farm Sept. 15, 1903 Joseph G. Earp - keeper July 18, 1905 John C. Gebach - keeper July 17, 1909 John W. Byers - leases Oct 15, 1921 Walter Rice - keeper July 16, 1923 Frank Cumming - keeper Oct. 15, 1925 George J. Smith - keeper Oct 16, 1929 Frank Cumming - keeper Oct 18, 1933 W.H. Eller - keeper Oct 1935 - 1941 Frank Flint - keeper May 11, 1943 W. H. Eller - keeper May 15, 1945 - County Farm for sale