Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-01-30
OWNS LOCKE CEMETERY.
This Property, Valued at More than $500,
Was Decided to Benton County in 1855.

This Property, Valued at More than $500,
Was Decided to Benton County in 1855.
Situated five miles north of Corvallis,
on the top of small hill, and in the
midst OF the most picturesque surround
ings, the Locke, or Mountaia View GEM
etery, has long been considered an ideal
place of sepulchre. The earth is some
four feet deep, underneath which is a
soft sandstone, easily, exsavated, makes
in reality stone tomb for those who are
there laid at rest.
For number of years no one seems to
have known just what was the status of
the cemetery as regards it ownership.
Persons using it for members of their
family have naturally desired to obtain
deeds to the ground they have used, and
this has resulted in survey being made
at the request of Mr.. A. N. Locke, under
the supervision of Professor Shelton of
the college. who found many difficulties
in the way of making plat on uniform
arrangement of streets and lots.
Mr.. Locke, having the perpetuity of
the cemetery in mind, arranged to have
an association formed which could take
title to the property, and give deeds to
those persons whose relatives were in.
tered there, and the values were pro-
posed to be made in harmony with values
in similar cemeteries, which would pro-
duee an amount sufficient to beautify and
adorn the cemetery and make it an at
tractive place to visit.
Among the proposed improvements
was to be running fountain and per-
manent supply of water to be brought
from spring on neighboring hillside
above the elevation of the cemetery. A
small and elegant chapel in which to
hold church services, and, on occasions,
funerals were included in the plan,
streets paved, driveway, shrubbery
and flowers were to be added, and in
general the cemetery made as beautiful
as the $1,000 or $1,000 represented
in the land now used for graves would
supply.
The association was to be formed under
the law which requires seven members
and three trustees, and that the proceeds
of all donated land go 10 the permanent
maintenance of the cemetery. But before
beginning the work of improvement the
records of the county were examined,
with the result that a deed was found,
which donated this cemetery long years
ago, SO that no one can make deeds to the
land. Those who have buried there,
hold by possession. Following is a copy
of the deed:
"This Indenture made and entered
into this, the 21st day of August, A. D.
1856. between A. N. Locke, of Benton
County, in the Territory of Oregon, of
the first part, and the Citizens of Benton
County, aforesaid, of the second part.
Wltnesseth, That the said party of the
first part hereby gives and grants and
conveys unto the party of the second
part, forever, the following lands and
tenements. situated in Benton County,
aforesaid, to-wit: All that portion of
land contained in the burying ground
enclosed by plank fence on the Land
Claim OF the said party of the first part,
which is the same Land Claim on which
said party of the first part now resides,
in said County of Benton, except forty
feet square in the Southwest corner OF
said burying ground, which the said par