CEDARVIEW CEMETERY, MULLEN NEBRASKA

A reprint of a 1901 article, was in the Hooker County Tribune September 1933 in part, follows: “. . . we mentioned the neces-sity for some action on the part of our citizens in providing a cemetery more suitable for the burial of the dead. . . . every burial in the old ground causes argument and adds to the already deplorable situation. . . . the follow-ing is a statement of facts: there is no record of any kind of an association organized by law for the purpose of providing or caring for a cemetery. There has been no title acquired from the state or government for the grounds now used. The ground is used without regard to order or regularity, being unsurveyed and many of the graves are becoming obliterated by drifting sand and will soon be lost. The ground is unsuitable as a location under any circumstances and should be used no longer for that purpose. There is one more and greater reason for taking action, and that is that we who are living owe to our dead friends a decent burial in a ground that can be cared for and where we can at least show memorial respect we owe to them. This matter has been talked of in a way for the last three or four years, but now let us make it a public matter, and for that reason, a meeting of all citizens of Mullen will be held at the school house in Mullen on the 20th day of December, 1901, at 7 o'clock P.M. Come with your wives. -Wilson Hewitt''

Then we find in our files an AD – April 21, 1917 which is 16 years later as follows: “April 21, is designated to begin to plant evergreens, shrubbery, etc., a good number of pines that have been secured from the Government nursery and they will be free. Apply to Mr. Pierce, the Sexton on the date. A meeting will be held at the courthouse afterwards to elect officers and a discussion of plans for the betterment of the Cemetery. W.H. Garrett, Secretary''

The following news item in the Hooker County Tribune the next month May 18, 1917: “During the past several nights many of our town citizens have gathered at the cemetery and done much along the lines of improvement. Much work has been done about the graves and a strip has been burned around the silent city as a means of warding off possible fires set by passing trains. Until this spring our cemetery has been neglected, but now that a good start has been made to give it better care, let us hope the present spirit will continue. The matter of piping water from the mains to that part of town is being talked up, and we would like to see the plan materialize, for it is the right thing to do.''

April 22, 1922, five years later an item in the Tribune reads: “. . . A new iron fence will replace the wire fence along the south side inclosure. Water will be piped in. A tool house will be built for housing hose and tools needed by the Sexton to carry on the work. New officers of the board are: John Kudrna, President; C.C. Campbell, Secretary; H.J. Pierce, Sexton; and Mrs. Pearl Burnett and W.H. Wigent as members.''

The following history is taken from the booklet put out by the Hooker County Genealogical Society and the Cedarview Cemetery Association – 1983.

The legal description: 580' x 167' in NW 1/4 NW 1/4; Section 21, Twp 21N R 32W 6 P.M. Strip 150' wide along west edge of above tract and all Block one (1) Humphrey's Addition to Original town of Mullen, Hooker County.

A.F. Hatch platted and donated a piece of land for a cemetery in the spring of 1904. The first addition was opened in 1928, the second addition in 1960 and a third addition was purchased in 1976.

The first trustees of the Cedarview Associ-ation were: L.H. Brown, C.M. Barnebey, H.J. Lowe, F.S. Albright and J.H. Dodd. The board members in 1988 are: President, Elva Phipps; Vice-President Frank Harding; Sec-retary & Memorials, Shirley Sweet; Treasur-er, Evelyn (Mrs. Dean) Elliott; Sale of Lots J.E. (Butch) Macke; Howard Wright; and Caretakers, Mary Elliott and Allen Smith.

According to available records some of those giving service have been:

In charge of selling lots: Leonard E. Eriksen, John A. Gibson, Jr., Stewart Simon-son, and J.E. Macke.

Grave Diggers: Amos Arends, Archie Palmer, Jubal A. Wright, Harold C. Wright, Eilert Burrious, and John G. Wright.

The Woman's Welfare Club have their special cemetery maintainence account as their part toward upkeep of the cemetery. (The Silent City)

Maud Nelson was awarded a placque posthumously for her untiring efforts to beautify the Cemetery with evergreen trees and flowers.

Mary Alice Elliott did most of the watering in the 1970's. The first water was piped into the cemetery in 1922. The fence was finished in 1964. The roads were paved in 1969. The last water system was finished in 1972.

In 1973 an alphabetical list and card file was begun from existing records and research by Bessie Bradley. A numerical listing of burials and owners of lots was also prepared.

In order to bring the records up to date and correct errors, all new deeds were issued in 1977. The cemetery was surveyed and a map prepared by Cleve Kennedy. Wayne Fitzg-erald made cases for the maps, one to hang in the Village office and one to hang in the cemetery house. Claudia Tompkins printed the names on the maps.

Maintainence of the cemetery had always been a voluntary service. Due to the number of people buried there who had no one to care for their lots, a change was necessary. Thus in 1977, when new deeds were issued, lots were sold with perpetual care or a yearly upkeep fee. This permitted the hiring of persons to do the mowing, trimming and watering.

The Cedarview Cemetery is now very beautiful and one the community has reason to be especially proud of.

Compiled by Claudia Tompkins with Hooker County Genealogical Society.