Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-11-19
NEGLECTED GRAVEYARD.
Resting Place Of Winners of Aner1-
can Independence Allowed
to Go to Ruin.

The dilapidated old graveyard from
which the dead folks had to emigrate,
according to one of Mark Twain's grimly
humorous sketches, finds it's counterpart
over in Newark in the disgraceful con-
diiton of the burying ground In the rear
of the old First Presbyterian church, in
Broad street, near the Central railroad
of New Jersey. What makes the scanda-
lous neglect of this historic old cemetery
the more glazing is the fact that 1t stares
all people in the face, strangers as well as
others, who come into the city over the
Jersey Central line, says the New York
Sun.
Another thing which underscores the
dismal plight of this forlorn old Gods
acre is the fine bronze tablet which the
Society of Colonial Danes has placed on
the front of the church edifice itself. The
inscription on this tablet proudly invites
attention to the fact that the church is
the Oldest monument in the city.
The church itself is beautiful speci-
men of the late eighteenth century style
and is visited by hundreds of people who
are interested in such matters. 1t is of
stone and, barring accident or the re-
morseless hand of Improvement"
should stand for centuries.
About the front and back of the fence
at the rear of the church the grass is kept
trinity shaver and the lawn Is orna-
mented with attractive dispositions of
flower beds.
Behind that fence is the cemetery, on
which, it would seem, the most care Of
all should be exercised. Revolutionary
soldiers who suffered with Washington
at Valley Forge and fought with him at
Monmouth, Princeton and Trenton are
sleeping there. Inscriptions on the
:ombstones bear the names of many Of
the most honored families in New Jersey.
With all that, it is safe to say there IS
not another burying ground within a
radius of 100 miles of New York that is
in so shocking state of neglect.
Weeds and rank grass have been al
lowed to grow up and die and rot and
grow again and rot again for years.
The paths are barely outlined through
the jungle.
Tom3stones are broken off, lying flat
on their hacks or Keeling in all attitudes
and at all angles. Garbage and rubbish
abound and the center of the cemetery
apparently has been used as place
wherein to burn refuse of all sorts.
This church, to make matters worse, is
one of the wealthiest churches in the
state. For over 100 years, as the inscrip-
ton on the Colonial Danes table sug
gests, it has been landmark and a
venerated monument in Newark.
The original edifice, opposite the site
of the present one, was not only a
church but a refuge from the Indians,
as we'll. It was built in 1869. That
building was destroyed and another
built in its place, about it being the
first burying ground in Newark.
The cornerstone of the present struc-
ture was laid by DR.. Alexander McWhor
ter in 1'S7 on land purchased in 1774.
The revolutionary war stopped the
building project for 13 years. The
church was dedicated in 1871 and the
burying ground in its rear-the one
which has been permitted to drift into
such a condition of shameful neglect
was opened at that time.
The father of Aaron Burr was the
pastor of the church who Immediately
preceded DR.. Alexander McWhorter.
Squire Victim, stock Raiser.
The biggest and most successful stock
raiser in England is" Squire Victim"
who is said to make about 100000 per
year on his cattle. The squire" is a
great lover of pure bred stock and has
some of the best in the world, as is evil
denced by the fact that he takes about
all the prizes al the royal shows. The
esquire" gives considerable personal at
tention to his herds, but would give
more if it were not for another steady
Job he has on his hands. This occupa-