The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-08-19

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"All that tread the globe are but an
handful to the tribes that slumber in
its BOSOM" is an adage the truth of
which is never more striking than
when one gazes upon the relics in an
abandoned cemetery. On North Fifth
street, at the corner of May, lies tract
of about fifteen acres, which the local
Masonic lodge purchased in 1857 for
the purpose of establishing burying
ground The tract lies upon the side of
steep bluff This is a pasture now,
owned by Joseph Schlingermann. How
many loved forms were laid to rest be-
meath. that turf, no one can tell. Grave
stones, on which the inscriptions are
as legible as the day they were carved,
appear here and there, and there are
few lots enclosed with ruined fences.
Numerous graves, however, are mark
ed only by a rise in the ground, and
many others-no human power could
find out how many-are not even des-
ignated thus, the slight, elevations hav-
ing sunk down and been worn smooth
through the lapse of time.
The names and faces of the majority
of those who found their final earthly
repose in these lots have evidently dis
appeared forever not only from the sight
but even from the memory of the liv-
ing world The cattle tramp over the
graves and crop the grass. Garden flow
ers that were once planted by sorrow
ing relatives and friends, are growing
wild, and springing up in clusters in
various parts of the pasture.
Nevertheless, there are old settlers
living in this community, who have a
vivid remembrance of many who are
buried there, L. G. M. Fletcher knew
quite number of these people and Of
ten feels indignant that something is
not done to obviate the disgrace of hav-
ing them buried in cattle yard. The
trouble seems to be that it is nobody IS
duty.
Mr. Fletcher took a walk through
the old cemetery with friend yesterday
morning, and talked very interestingly
of the acquaintance of by-gone days,
the memory of whom was revived as Mr..
Fletcher looked upon this or that fami-
liar object. The brother of DR.. w. w.
Clark is buried here and there is moth
ing to mark the grave. This was a
young man, bright, industrious, full of
! life and enterprise, college graduate
of whom great things were expected;
but consumption cut chort his brief
career. Pie doctor himself has also
passed away. His son, w. w. Clark Jr
has taken up. the practice of law, but
can no more be claimed as a citizen of
aIankato. The remains of the doctors
brother will probably never be found OF
disturbed unless by accident.
Enclosed by a dilapidated wooden
fence, is the grave of Jacob Leibrock
! a laborer, who died in 1865 Mr.. fetch
err knew this man A monument marks
this grave. In the same enclosure is
! The tombstone of Nickolaus and Eliza.
zeth Blatt, who passed away in the sew
entities. Mr.. Fletcher was also acquaint-
ed with this family. The son, Philip
Blatt, is also dead, but Mr.. Fletcher did
not know his burial place.
Farther up on the hillside repose the
remains of little Gertrude Holly, who
died forty years ago at the age of thir.
teen. Mr.. Fletcher remembers her wei
and his tender feelings for her, as he
remembers what lovable child she was
seem to be as strong as if she had dice
only yesterday. The father and moth
er moved after her death down into II
linois, where they died. Mr.. Fletche
has again and again set up the toni
stone over this child's grave, but thu
cattle keep knocking it down. Years
ago, George II. Marsh, who also consid
cred the little girl as one of his pets
enclosed the grave with barb wire
The tree to which the wire was fastened
has grown over the wire in such a wa,
that the metal is imbedded an inch dee
in the bark. But the wire fence j
down.
Two or three soldiers, who were il
Mankato at the time of the execution O
the thirty eight Sioux, and who tool
sick and died, while in the city, are ais
buried in this grave yard, but nothinI
marks the place where they lie. En-