Cemetery History of German Presbyterian Church

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	This brief history of the German Presbyterian Church of Avon
	was found with the WPA Graves Registration Project 

	Transcribed by Joy Fisher, sdgenweb@yahoo.com


    In the territorial days, in the year 1880, The Methodist Episcopal Church
of the Tyndall Circuit, purchased 5 acres of land of Henry B. Phoenix and
wife Caroline, for church purposes.

    On April 10, 1889 a plat was procured and recorded by B. E. Wood, County
Surveyor, with all dimensions shown on a map, including roads and fences,
with Lots numbering 266 in all, size and surveyors permanent stakes, or
stones at corner of lots apart of each corner of same, and marked the lots
and streets and alleys by setting good and sufficient stakes at the corners
of the same. This Plat also shows the church old location.

    Eight years later in 1897 the M. E. Church sold this property to the
Christian Reformed Church of Avon, Trusties: Christ Jensen, George Genant,
and Harm Oorlog.

    In 1911 The Christian Reformed Church dissolved,and the Trustees, Christ
Johnson, George Genant and Harm Oorlog, sold these 5 acres to Henry Klock
William P. J. Hagarty and Julius O. Smith, trustees of the Avon Presbyterian
Church.

    In 1913 two years later the English speaking and German Speaking members
separated. The 5 acres including the cemetery became the property of the
German Presbyterian Church, Avon, Bon Homme County, So. Dakota. Ed. 
Christians and George Vilhauer were the first Elders, with Rev. Aug. Kramer
as its first Pastor, as under the George Iowa Presbytery.

Cemetery By-Laws or Regulations

1/ Each Member of the German Presbyterian Church is entitled
     to one Grave, Free of charge.

2/ Each Family where two or more are members of this Church
     is entitled to a whole lot, free of charge.

3/ Non Members are to pay as follows:
             $10.- for a single grave ,
             $15.- for a half grave,
             $25.- for a whole lot,
    the money has to be payed in advance.

Trustees for 1932 are: Jacob Frey-Dick Johnson- M. Bertus
     Lots are- 12ft. long, 16ft wide
     Alleys - 6ft. wide
     Wide Alleys- 12ft wide.

Each Lot: Street and Alley has its number written on concrete
     block, placed on its South West corner.