Lac qui Parle Township near Dawson in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

A Pioneer Cemetery

October 23, 2024

1. A Pioneer Cemetery Marker

Inscription. 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

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

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

October 23, 2024

2. A Pioneer Cemetery Marker

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

Erected 2003

Paid Advertisement

by Adam Miller, Boy Scouts of America troop 322 Dawson, Minnesota.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.

Location. 45° 0.162′ N, 95° 58.354′ W. Marker is near Dawson, Minnesota, in Lac qui Parle County. It is in Lac qui Parle Township. It can be reached from 331st Avenue half a mile north of 230th Street, on the right when traveling north. Located in Lac qui Parle County Park, on the north side of the Lac qui Parle River. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2350 331st Avenue, Dawson MN 56232, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Minnesota and specifically in the Minnesota River Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and on the Great Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Lac Qui Parle Cemetery Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.1 miles away); Fort Renville (approx. 5.1 miles away); Wildlife Along the River (approx. 5.1 miles away); The Dakota (approx. 5.3 miles away); Huggins Cabin (approx. 5.3 miles away); Missionaries at Lac qui Parle (approx. 5.3 miles away); Dakotas at Lac qui Parle (approx. 5.3 miles away); Acculturation & Autonomy (approx. 5.3 miles away).

Also see . . . History | Lac qui Parle County, MN. (Submitted on October 29, 2024.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 29, 2024. This page has been viewed 283 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 29, 2024.