The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1905-07-27

''An act for the incorporation OF be.
nevolont, charitable. scientific or
missionary Eocietles.' approved Mar.
22d, A. D, 1868, adopt tho following
articles OF Association" The entire
paper has the ring OF completeness.
II provided that the name OF the 30.
clety should be Forest Cemetery AS
ISOLATION On tho adoption OF the
charter the following officers we're
elected: President, Rev. J. r. Childs;
yicepregident, Samuel A. Rice; sec.
rotary. James McQuiston; treasurer,
d. w. Lowring; director, w. s.. Edgar
On August Goth, 1860, the Aysocia-
tion purchased OF VIM. 8. Dart TWEEN
~ acres OF land at fifty dollars per
acre, lying north east OF the city. The
land was surveyed, Ienced and laid
out IN lots under the name OF Forest
Cemetery. An average valuation OF
not less than five cents yer square
foot was determined by committee
and day appointed on which lots
were sold to the highest bidder, with
the provision that each sale should
bring not less than the price Of the
assessed valuation. John II. Need
ham, James Sewers and w. 8. Edgar
were appointed a committee to report
suitable rules and regulations. These
rules, with the articles were publish
ed in pamphlet form A majority OF
the projectors OF this new cemetery
are now sleeping in its bosom. In
later years an additional tract OF
land, consisting OF about twenty acres
was added to the original purchase
on the east. The Catholic cemetery
IL now located on part OF the
grounds last purchased.
A house was built for the sexton In
1875.
Many OF the well known pioneers
are buried In this city Of the dead
A. 8. Nichols, who was chairman OF
the board OF county commissioners
from 1874 10 1s4S, lies here. He sli.
peryised the surveying and plating OF
the town OF Oskaloosa. We are told
that no traded q horse for claim OF
several hundred acres just west OF
town, which he afterwards entered
and improved, on a part OF which Iowa
Christian college now stands. Mica
Jan r.. Williams rests here on the
spot which he himself selected under
the restful branches OF a large oak
tree. Mr.. Williams was the first
county clerk and suggested to the
county commissioners the name OF
this city. William Loughrldge, who
for years was the brilliant congress-
man from this district. His wife,
Diploma Loughridge, was the first
burial I'm Forest cemetery. Her
death occurred Nov. 20, 1860, at the
early age OF twenty-five years. A
gentleman who attended the funeral
gpys the ground was verltabIe tangle
81 hazel brush and forest trees at that
time and I'm no sense an inviting spot
ia which 10 lay loved one. Since
then there has been between four and
Ave thousand laid TO rest beneath its
sod The monument Of Brigadier
General Samuel A. Rice is on one OF
the prominent drives. IL is twenty.
three Ieet In height and FIVE feet and
fou rlncbes square at the base. On
inc upper part OF the marble column
Is carved the names OF the eight bat
Ties In which the general engaged IL
was erected by the Twenty.nlnth and
Thirty.third Iowa Infantry. The two
iowa regiments which were in Gen.
cral Rice's brigade. The gallant Of
Icer died Of wounds received at the
battle Of jenkins Ferry. Captain
COnstock, who was severely wounded
IN that engagement, says that as Gen,
nice rode over the field, In the heat
of the contest, on seeing number Of
lis own brave men among the dead
and wounded, he paused for a mo
nent and, digmounting, with tears Of
gympathy shook hands with the
wounded and expressed deep solicit.
tgde for the issue Of the battle. Then
remounting, ne swept onward TO meet
the enemy'g last but desperate and un-
6Uccegsful attack. While riding down
bis left wing, he waB wounded by a
mimic ball which caused HIS death.
The Grand Army Of the Republic
haze grounds on the western slope OF
tho ridge where thirty.hye Of their
rumber have found their last resting
place. Elghty-nIne Of the original
members Of the Post are dead. Many
o. these, however, are buried In lots
with their families, There are twoI
hundred and eighteen members Of the
Pest yet living, The .ntire number
n graves which are annually decorat.
"a by their comrades Is one hundred
and afty-eight. The above grounds
now controlled by the Grand Army
we're purchased by an organization cf
ladies during the war. After the war
had closed and the q. A. r. had been
organized, this plot Of ground was
decided to tho Post here and has been
somewhat enlarged By a donation
from the cemetery association.
Among the dead VIII be found the
names OF John n. Needham. the found |