A Pioneer Cemetery

A Pioneer Cemetery. . In the spring of 1869 a group of settlers from Fayette County, Iowa ventured north to explore and settle in new land that was opening up in the Minnesota Valley. This party was led by Peter F Jacobson, and became known as the Jacobson Colony. They were the first permanent group of pioneers to settle in Lac qui Parle County. A settlement was begun in this area where you are now standing. A townsite for this area was platted by J F Jacobson and William Mills and this embryo town was to be called "WILLIAMSBURG". A store was built and occupied by Chalmers and Donaldson. About a year or so later the town of Lac qui Parle was established in a more advantageous location, about four miles due east of here. It flourished, and Chalmers and Donaldson moved their store to Lac qui Parle causing Williamsburg to diminish, and it ceased to exist. From this vantage point, and looking to the south and south-east, you can envision the area which encompassed the town of "Williamsburg" which was situated on both sides of the river. Other than this cemetery, there are no visible remnants of the town-site of Williamsburg., The Reverend Peter Thompson, an ordained minister, was a member of the Jacobson colony. He conducted services in open groves and settlers cabins, as there were no schools or churches in which to congregate. In 1870, a church congregation was organized. It was named THE LAC QUI PARLE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CONGREGATION. The Reverend Peter Thompson was called to serve as Pastor of this new congregation, which at this time did not have a church wherein they could worship., It soon became apparent that there was a need for a cemetery, so in 1871, the first cemetery was established on a one acre tract of land in this area, in the townsite of Williamsburg. This cemetery, where you are now standing, is located about one mile due east of the present Lac qui Parle Lutheran Church. Through the years this area has been commonly known as Nash's Grove, and is now known as the Lac qui Parle County Park., In 1876, this newly formed congregation built a church one mile west of here, which is the present site of Lac qui Parle Lutheran Church. After they built this new Church, they continued to use this Pioneer Cemetery until 1884, at which time a tract of land was purchased next to the new church for the purpose of a cemetery., Construction of sign organized in 2003 by Adam Miller , Boy Scouts of America troop 322 Dawson, Minnesota , Information compiled by Philip Greseth, Following is a listing of recorded burials in this Pioneer Cemetery. Names in BOLD PRINT have existing gravestones., Name, Year Died, Age , Anderson, Paulina Lovise | 1879 | 2 months , Bolstad, Albert Olaf Nilson | 1883 | 3 years , Bolstad, Joseph Nilson | 1883 | 1 year , Brown, Karen Pedersdatter | 1880 | 3 years , Chorelius, Edevart | 1881 , Christopherson, Hans | 1882 | 65 years , Erickson, Emma Kristine T | 1879 | 2 months , Fornes, Borbro Johnsdatter | 1881 | 28 years , Guldbrandson, Charle Gilbert | 1880 | 7 months , Guldbrandson, Charly Gilbert | 1879 | 1 year, 2 months , Halvorson, Martin | 1877 | 1 year, 6 months , Hanson, Severine Johansdatter | 1880 | 5 years , Haugen, Sam Olson | 1883 | 1 month , Hoyum, Hans Olson | 1881 , Iversdatter, Gurine Josephine | 1881 | 4 years , Iverson, Albert | 1879 | 3 months , Iverson, Andrew | 1879 | 3 months , Jacobson, Henry J F | 1879 | 4 months , Jacobson, John J F | 1879 | 3 years , Jacobson, Maria J F | 1880 | 30 years , Jacobson, Mary | 1880 | 30 years, 5 months , Jacobson, Nanna Josepha A | 1879 | 14 days , Johnson, Christian H | 1882 | 12 years, 7 months , Johnson, John H | 1879 | 7 years , Johnson, Joseph H | 1879 | 5 years , Johnson, Ole | 1877 | 1 year, 6 months, Johnson, Oskar | 1878 | 9 months , Jonason, Sam | 1879 | 8 months , Mortenson, Laura, Emelia | 1879 | 1 year, 6 months , Mortenson, Recard Edevart | 1882 | 16 years , Nash, Arthur C | 1876 | 3 years, 4 months , Nilson, Ellise Mathilde | 1882 | 6 months , Nilson, Ida H | 1878 | 9 months , O______, Joseph E (illegible) | 1880 , Olson, Albert | 1872 | 8 months , Olson, Klara Othilda | 1880 | 1 year, 6 months , Olson, Oscar | 1878 ? , Olson, Tom | 1879 , Skudesnes, Lars Olson | 1881 , Sornson, Ida F | 1879 | 2 years , Stageberg, Ole Torgerson | 1877 | 52 years , Steenson, Albert O | 1882 | 1 year , Steenson, Anders O | 1877 | 11 months , Stemsrud, Hans Arneson | 1882 | 18 years , Stratte, Otto Alfred | 1873 | 7 years , Stratte, Ida Maria Johnsdatter | 1877 | 4 months , Sundby, Amalia Johnsdatter | 1877 | 8 months , Thornby, Bernard J | 1883 | 2 months , Thorson, Martin, P S | 1880 | 2 years , Thorson, Oskar O | 1882 | 1 year , Trelstad, Bergeta Pedersdatter | 1881 , Uthelm, Oliver A O | 1877 | 2 years, 6 months