The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1917-01-27
RUSSELL EXPLAINS
;ss,s;..,ALt OF LOTS
INCITYCEMEFERY:;~
TAKES EXCEPTIONS.
Believes Pioneer" Made Insinuatiou
Against Administration of
Cemetery Affairs.
ADMITS RECORDS FAULTY:
CAUSE OF THE CONFUSION
Says Cemetery Association hcorpor-
ated for "Putting Cemetery Under
Business Management

aLeu luz 3uttAA6 CemoteIy UAue1
Business Management
In regard to story appearing in
the Daily Pioneer, yesterday, where
in E. J. Willitts, former resident Of
Bemidji, upon his return to Bemidji
claimed to have found three persons
buried on his cemetery lot which
holds the body of his departed wife.
| deed to which he claims to have in
his possession, Attorney p J. Rus
sell writes the Pioneer an explana->
| tion, he being the actuary Of the
Greenwood Cemetery association.
Merely Matter of News.
In his communication, Mr.. Russell
seems to take exception to the article
in the Pioneer relative to a statement
which makes Mr.. Willis say in SUBJ.
stance that he is unable to make
head or tail" out of the administra-
tive affairs of the cemetery. 1t was
| farthest from the intent Of the Pio-
| neer to cast any insinuations upon
Mr.. Russell nor any one connected
with the cemetery association. :
Willis Assertions. :.
Mr.. Willis claimed that he pur-
| chased four small lots several years
ago, the four forming the one lot.
He states that three other persons
are buried under his cemetery lot and
has what he claims are the names
and exhibited what he says is his
deed
He stated he was unable to fathom
the administration of the affairs of
the cemetery owing to faulty records
and made no reference to any pres
ent officials in an uncOmplimentary
manner whatever.
Creating Shadow.
The Pioneer does not insinuate
| anything against any member of the
cemetery board nor has it and if rec
ords Of the cemetery have not in
the past been kept as they are said
to have been and admitted, there
by causing confusion to the extent
of three strangers being inferred in
another's lot to which he claims to
hold a deed, and which is asserted,
positively, the Pioneer can't see
where exception could be taken by
any one at present connected with
the board.
Mr. Russell's explanation is here
with presented in full:
january q, 1917.
Editor Bemidji Pioneer:
Referring to your article in yes
terday's issue in regard to the Will
Its cemetery lots, you are advised
that the "GreenwOod Cemetery Asso-
citation" of which the writer is ac-
tuary. was Incorporated in 1911, and
the first internment in the cemetery
under it's management was made
July 20, 1911. Prior to the incor-
poration Of the Cemetery association,
the cemetery records were kept first,
from the organization of the Village
Of Bemidji, by the Village Recorder
until it's incorporation as a city, then
by the city clerk up to 1911.
Shows Lot Sale.
The first reference in regard to
Willis or the Willis lots is in 1903
merely payment made, and the
last reference is in 1908, showing
what now appears to have been one
of the Willis lots sold to another
person. Greenwood Cemetery asso-
citation was incorporated for the pur-
pose Of putting the cemetery under
business management, and prevent
the possibility of mistakes like the
one complained Of.
Present Officers Blameless.
The officers of the association are
blameless, and might we'll ignore the
article were it not for the insinua-
tion contained in the statement that
"he (Willits) cannot make head or
tail out of the administrative affairs
of the cemetery
THANK You" Job.
Their services are rendered gratui-
tous. They all have dead buried
there whose memories are as dear to
them as is the memory of his dead
to Mr.. Willis and they appreciate
the sacredness of rod of ground
in Gods acre" fully as much as Mr..
Willis.
Former Officials Dead.
1t is not the province of the
writer to place the blame 1t would
serve no good purpose. All the viii
lage officials at the time of the sale
to Willis are dead, as is also the city
clerk who inadvertently resold them,
because there was no record of the
prior sale, and no physical evidence
that they were claimed"
Greenwood Cemetery
Association,
BY P. ]. RUSSELL,
Actuary.