KOOTENAI COUNTY CEMETERIES Kootenai County, Idaho Submitted for use in the IDGenWeb Project Archives, by James H. Machovec Kootenai County Idaho Coordinator, for the IDGenWeb Project, June 1997 IDGenWeb Project NOTICE In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. This file remains the property of the copyright holder and ownership does not vest in the IDGenWeb Project, nor in the USGenWeb Project. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express written permission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed IDGenWeb Project archivist. For name searches of this index, use the "Find" or "Search" feature of your browser. Documentation of Cemeteries In Kootenai County, Idaho, by James H. Machovec: Cemeteries in Kootenai County, Idaho, in fact most of northern Idaho, have been documented and published over the past fifteen years or so by Alfred E. and Betty J. Shane long time residents of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. Their compilations contained in "Kootenai County Cemeteries Vol. I and Vol. II" dated 1983 are considered one of the major source records for the County. The information contained herein relies in part on this reference and with current research on my part to update and verify their documentation. I have completed an initial update of the documentation of four cemeteries for the Kootenai County IDGenWeb Page. These include the St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery, the Kootenai County Cemetery or Paupers Cemetery, Hope or Bestland Cemetery and Prairie View Cemetery. Reference for this documentation comes from Alfred and Betty Shane's work, St. Thomas Catholic Church records, the English Funeral Home, Coeur d' Alene Press Archives, and just plain walking through and documenting the Cemeteries in question. KOOTENAI COUNTY CEMETERY [Also known as PAUPERS CEMETERY (original name)] Coeur d' Alene Press, 17 Jun 1937 Thursday: Set Aside Ground: The county commissioners today set aside a plot of ground, consisting of 12 acres as a county cemetery. The burial plot is located one-half mile west of the Huetter service station and is located on the north side of the highway. In 1976/77, the Pine Tree 4-H Club, with a grant from the Standard Oil Company of California, completed restoration and research on the Kootenai County Cemetery. Research was completed through English Funeral Home in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho and the names below are the persons listed as buried in this cemetery. This information came from the old Cassedy Funeral Home records now maintained by the English Funeral Home. In 1982/83, Alfred E. and Betty J. Shane of Coeur d' Alene completed their compilation of "Kootenai County Cemeteries Vol. I and Vol. II". The information from the Pine Tree 4-H Club was enhanced and the Shane's Books can be found in most Libraries in the area. To my knowledge, no other updates or reference works have been completed in this area since 1983. It should be noted that, to date, only four plot locations in this cemetery have names attached. These are preceded by an asterisk (*) in the listing below. No official plotting was ever done and only one stone marker exists--belonging to John Edward Davis. The cemetery is no longer in use and the last interment was that of Delbert Lunsford on 22 May 1943. PLEASE NOTE: My documentation is not yet complete. For now I thought it more important to get the names onto the web for reference. Look for more documentation in the near future. ** Names with double asterisk have Obituary listings below NAME BIRTH DEATH * AITTANA, Hubert 23-Dec-11 1-Sep-39 ANDERSON, Martin 12-Jan-42 BAUGHMAN, Edw. Martin 31-Jul-36 ** BECK, Rufus 12-Oct-37 * BEST, Paul 11 Dec 1864 12-May-39 BOCK, Infant 30-Apr-39 BRADFORD, Jane Wiletta 5-Apr-38 BUNTON, Minnie Alice 9-Apr-39 BURKE, Linda Hazel(Baby) 7-Apr-43 * CARPENTER, Ivan 22-Oct-00 2-Jul-40 ** COURTWRIGHT, Isabelle 24-Dec-37 COX, Mary 12-Nov-35 * DAVIS, John Edward 11 Dec 1864 22-Jan-41 GOODWIN, Frank 6-Aug-39 GREIDER, Andrew 8-Jun-38 HANDLEY, Frank 19-Jun-39 HANKING, Thomas 18-Apr-39 HANSON, Frederick 8-Apr-42 HODGE, Katherine 6-Feb-42 HODGE, Thomas 22-Jan-43 ISAMONS, Chester C. 26-Mar-38 JEFFREY, Alice 23-Jul-40 JENKINS, Elmer George 20-Oct-40 JOHNSON, Charles ?? Jun 1941 JOHNSON, David 19-Oct-40 JOHNSON, Henry 15-Jun-37 KAUFMAN, Edward 25-May-40 KINDRED, Andrew A. 18-Jan-38 LANNING, Berhart 15-Apr-42 LEITCH, Alex 6-Nov-38 LOWER, Tinkea 10-Sep-36 LUNSFORD, Delbert 22-May-43 MAGNUSON (MUNSON) John 22-May-42 * MANION, William Henry 18-Mar-37 MATHEWS, Albina (Alvina) 11-Feb-43 McBRIDE, Wm. H. 1-Sep-38 MERCER, Leo 19-Dec-36 MILLER, Conley Lavern 23-May-40 MYERS, William 19-Oct-40 NEWKIRK, James Cornell 29-Nov-38 NICKELSON, John 29-Jul-39 SALYERS, Charles 18-Aug-41 SAMUEL, Toiva 15-Jun-40 SNYDER, James Wesley 17-Mar-38 STANLEY, Mary Loretta 4-Oct-38 STEWART, George 19-Jun-41 * TAISEY, Margaret Ellen 15-Aug-37 WILLIAMS Jr., Robert 8-Apr-39 WRITE, Frank 16-Oct-35 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION To show that the persons buried in this cemetery are "real" I have enclosed a few of the Obituaries from the Coeur d' Alene Press. From time to time, I will add more. Coeur d' Alene Press 16 Aug 1937 Monday: GIRL TOUCHED HIGH VOLTAGE WIRE, KILLED: Fell 50 Feet From Bridge at Post Falls Yesterday Afternoon; Body Recovered By Sheriff's Force While at play on the bridge which crosses the Spokane river at Post Falls yesterday afternoon, Margaret Taisey, 15, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Taisey of St. Maries touched a high tension wire carrying 2200 volts and plunged into the river below, a drop of about fifty feet. It is believed that she died before striking the water. The body was discovered at 5:35 PM, an hour and thirty five minutes after the accident occurred by Deputy Sheriff H. H. Haner and a crew of searchers. Climbed to Top: The girl who until a year ago lived near Post Falls was visiting friends there, it was reported. She and several friends had gone to the bridge where Margaret climbed to the top of the span. While balancing herself, one arm was extended above her head and in the excitement of the feat touched the high tension wire, it was reported. Observers said the girl seemed to stiffen for a brief moment, then plunged forward. Her body struck the side of the bridge and then fell into the water. Officers believe she died from electrical shock. Although the wire was insulated, the fact that she was standing on a steel girder would have a tendancy to establish a contact. It is believed. Witnessed Tragedy: Witnesses of the accident were Ronald Davis, Donald Blanford, Edward and Melvin Anderson, Roy Peterson and Sidney Kennedy. The Sheriff's office was notified immediately after the terrified youngsters had told what happened. The body was found in about thirty feet of water. In addition to her parents, the girl is survived by several brothers and sisters. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday at 2 o-clock in the Community Church at Post Falls with the Rev. Davis Officiating. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery, Coeur d' Alene. The Cassedy Funeral Home is in charge. Coeur d' Alene Press 14 Oct 1937 Thursday RATHDRUM PIONEER IS TAKEN BY DEATH: Rufus Beck, 64 pioneer resident of Rathdrum died last evening at a local hospital. The body is at the Cassedy Funeral Home and funeral arrangements are pending the arrival of a sister, Mrs. O. H. Fuller of Fort Blakely, Wash. Coeur d' Alene Press 29 Dec 1937 Wednesday RITES FOR MATRON WILL BE THRUSDAY: Funeral services for Mrs. Isabel Courtright, who died last Friday will be held tomarrow at 1:30 o-clock from the Cassedy Funeral Home with Rev. F. H. Thompson officiating. Mrs. Courtright, 77 died at the family home, 607 Emma Avenue. She had resided there since July, coming from Wallace. She is survived by her husband Frank Courtright. HOPE or BESTLAND CEMETERY Some of the reference material for the 'Information' section of this listing was found in "Northwest Notebook, Vol. I" by: Elaine Walker. NAME, BIRTH, DEATH, OTHER INFORMATION: BABBITT, John Tracy b. 1836 d. 1914 b. New York m. Lucia Arora Perry in Michigan moved to Idaho in 1892 BABBITT, Lucia Aurora (Perry) b. 1883 d. 1914 m. John Tracy Babbitt BEST, Addie Chirilla d. 6 Mar 1911 b. Algonac, MI. m. Edwin O. Best in Wisconsin BEST, Alexander Hubbard d. ca 1900 b. in Ohio Lived in Big Springs, Adams Co., Wis. & Dunn Co, Wis. Moved to N. Dakota then to Idaho in 1893 BEST, Bennett d. ca. 1910 b. in Wisconsin BEST, Chirilla Ellen (Ring) d. 1904 b. in Maine m. Alexander Hubbard Best BEST, Iva May b. 1888 d.23 May 1893 5 yr old dau. of Charles & Cora Best grand-daughter of Alexander Best & John Tracy Babbitt BEST, John David, age 30, b. Wisconsin to parents: Alexander & Ellen Best, m. Laura Gates, had 1 daughter and 3 sons COOK, Monty b. 1911 d. 1911 2 days son of Paul C. & Ruby (Best) Cook *UNK Grave d. ca. 1900 No info Avail.