Burt Cemetery Walk Presentation
Yes, this is a Burt Township Cemetery Walk but I
feel I can give you a better picture of early settlers
coming to Burt Township if I also include the
Portland Township which is the next township east
of Burt. The settlers to the Burt area came from the
southeast, the Plum Creek Twp to Portland Twp to
Burt Township.
Portland first burial 1865, 8 years before any burials
here in 1873.
In the beginning of what we know of the area is that
Paul Tienan’s place was an Indian settlement, and
later in 1855 two brothers Ed & Richard Moll settled
in what is now Gary Huber’s pasture. After the civil
war in 1863 came Thomas Gordon and in 1865
Roswell M. McAllister, and in 1883 Burris & Isabelle
Stone to Portland Township. These early settlers all
settled in Section 21 of Portland township, which is
the same section the Portland Cemetery is in, which
sits up on a knoll, the first burial in 1865 (Paine) that
we have record of.
It was about 10 years later till any more settlers
came to the area after they served their country in
the Civil War.
In 1864, the first settlers start to settle in Burt
Township, those being:
Henry Smith’s father (Henry Smith Buried in
Burt Twp)
Luther Fairbanks –buried in Portland
S.V.R. Mann – buried in Portland
J.H. Grover- buried in Burt
Moses Godden – buried in Burt
1865 – James Marlow – Buried in Burt
- Washington Hudson – relative ? Squaire
Hudson buried in Burt Twp
- George C. Allen – Buried Burt Twp
- John Chapin – Buried Burt Twp
- Clark S. Coffin – Buried Burt Twp.
1866 – J.D. McDonald Homesteaded in Portland
Twp. Buried in Burt in 1890 one of the first burials.
The only settlers I will be talking about are those that
are buried here in the Burt Cemetery even though
there are many others that you may know of that
settled in the area.
In the fall of 1864 Moses Godden came and with his
parents, located in Plum creek Township Sec 6
There was quite a rush for free homesteads in 1865,
but the only one known to stay and build a sod
house to live in was James Marlow (Burt Sec 32).
The parents of C.P. Stow settled on a timber tract
near Union Twp Sec 24
Elijah Hulburt came in March 1867 and
homesteaded Burt Sec 32
Ed Marlow began making his home on Burt Sec 28.
In 1869 Martin Owen came, W.B.Pratt, the
McDonalds were well known by this time and
planted their roots deep. All became well known in
the Burt area.
The Murrays came in the spring of 1870 with John
Murray, Sr., William and David locating on Sec 8 and
later John Murray, Jr. lived on Sec 17
Thomas Hanna located on section 31 then came
John Hutchinson, Fred Schultz, John & Fred
Koepke.
This brings us up to 1881, when the town of Burt
was born, and the first burial was 8 years earlier in
1873.
Those serving as mayors over the years were
George E. Marble, C.W. Schryver, O.H. Graham,
Nels J. Nelson.
1881 shortly after the town was born, the first post
office was in Marble’s Store.
P.M. Barslow was the first postmaster, those
thereafter include L.H. McChesney, George C.
Allen, Frank Mann, R.C. Smith, Mrs. Maude Hanna,
K.J. Smith.
The first building to be erected on the new town site
was a store built by George E. Marble. This is the
old house that sits west of John Chipman, north of
the athletic field. And once stood where the Trios is
now located. When the present building was
erected, in 1885, the original one was moved just
northwest of town. A depot and section house and
the J.D. McDonald lumber office were all built during
the fall of 1881. The following year the J.D.
McDonald residence, C.P. Stow blacksmith shop,
the Henry McDonald residence, and the C.P. Stow’s
hotel or boarding house. The first schoolhouse was
also built in 1882 or 1883.
The Stow hotel was west of the present Elevator
office. It was in this residence that the first child was
born. A daughter, Caroline, born to Mr. & Mrs. C.P.
Stow in June 1882. Caroline married W.T.Trainer.
In 1883 J.D. McDonald started the first hardware
store. 1897 Albert Staehle owned it. There was also
a second hardware store at one time, C.V.Schrader
opened a hardware and plumbing shop which is
located in the brick building located on the south
side of main street, built by him and his brother
Virgil, who operated a garage in the other half of the
building.
Like I said In 1883, J.D. McDonald erected a
building for a hardware store, where the Burt
Savings Bank now stands and occupied the east ½
of the bank building. In 1892 this building became
the Burt State Bank, in 1900 became Burt National
Bank until it closed in 1930.
BANKS
Burt had two banks at one time, not only the Burt
Savings Bank but also the Farmer’s Savings Bank in
1898, which became the First National Bank in 1901
and it also closed in 1930 it was located where the
post office now stands.
None of the bank officers of these to banks from
1892 to 1930 are buried here.
As I said both banks closed in 1930 only for the Burt
Savings Banks to be organized in 1931, Dr. W.T.
Peters, president & Henry A. Thompson, Cashier.
ELEVATORS
Also at one time Burt had two elevators, the Burt
Farmer’s Exchange in 1899. On the board of
directors was Edwin H. Staley, & McDonald.
An elevator on the opposite side of the road was
operated in the early days by Joe Elvidge who sold
out to Western Elevator Company. About 1910
David L. Godden & O.P. McDonald bought out the
business. David Godden, manager. About 1930
they sold out to the Burt Farmers Exchange. In
1933, it was reorganized and became the Burt
Cooperative Elevator and in 1993 merged with 5
other elevators to form Stateline Cooperative.
Burt has had a lumberyard since 1881, when J.D.
McDonald started the business. He died in 1890 and
the next year O.P. McDonald bought a half interest
and in 1895 bought the other half. He operated the
business until his death in 1938, when his nephew
J.G. McDonald, took over the management of the
business, which continued to operate under the firm
name of O.P. McDonald & Company until the firm
was sold to the Burt Cooperative Elevator early in
1953.
CREAMERY
In 1890, a business that meant much to the town
and community for many years was the Burt
Cooperative Creamery, the first directors were Peter
Kriethe, and Clark Coffin. The creamery was
considered one of the best in the country for many
years. Later the Elm Grove Cheese Factory took its
place.
LONG TERM BUSINESSES
1895 - 1958 The Smith Department Store, first L.C.
Smith, C.C. Smith, K.J. Smith. The building stood
where the town hall and library now stands, they
were built in 1961.
J.H. Graham operated an implement business for
many years, buying out J.G. Graham in 1891. He
continued to operate the business until his death in
1942. It was located in the vacant lot east of the
Post Office.
1910 Fred Vogel bought the grocery store & locker
and later handed down to William. It was located in
the building just east of the Quansit on the south
side of Main Street, and later moved across the
street to where Trio’s is.
Jim Christensen, Implement Company located
across from Town Mart.
L.H. Riedel Feed Company was located where
Steve’s Antique Refinishing is.
1906 P.L. Dremmel was chief operator and lineman
of the Burt Telephone company. He built ALL of the
town & rural lines. After he died in 1943, Mrs.
Dremmel was chief operator and Charles Spry the
lineman.
1897 A.N.S. Thompson started a harness business.
In 1923 he built a fine new brick building for his
business. After his death, his son, Henry A.
Thompson continued his business until 1944.
1900 W.A. Chipman bought the furniture store and
funeral parlor later handed it down to his son
Chancy, the furniture was located where Dave’s
Photography is, and funeral parlor to the west.
1901 E.O. Chipman began writing insurance.
1901 Gus Meinzer bought the jewelry store. He built
a fine business and was known over quite a territory
as a fine watch and clock repairman. He conducted
the business until shortly before his death in 1948.
The jewelry store sat west of Karen’s Hair Care.
1911 F. Lee Pratt was the druggist, besides having a
fine pharmacy, complete with a soda fountain, ice
cream & small tables. At one time he even sold
pianos and victrolas. This was located where SLC’s
main office is, which at that time the theater was
next door and later became the Full Gospel Church.
After Mr. Pratt’s death in 1976, Dr. Bahnson bought
the building.
1912 a produce company, W.F.Priebe Co. was
located along the tracks about where the cement
silos of the elevator now stand. It was managed by
W.D. Kearns and he did a fine business.
Burt has had a library since 1923, Esther Hodgson
was librarian for a number of years, followed by Lulu
Hawcott.
DOCTORS
Since a very early day Burt has had one or more
doctors. In 1894 W.T. Peters located here and
served until his death in 1936. In 1913 J.G.
Clapsaddle opened an office.
In 1896 Dentist Danforth Pratt was practicing.
HOTELS
In 1887, the Mayhew Hotel was built on the site now
occupied by Jeff Riels residence.
The Hotel which is now owned by the Larson’s was
first known as “Peck’s Hotel” in 1893. In 1908-1944
M.L. Vinaas was the proprietor renaming it to the
Marvin Hotel.
CEMETERY
In 1873 the early settlers thought this area would be
the ideal spot for the final resting place for their
loved ones. It is surrounded by beautiful evergreens,
which catch the Iowa breezes, the winter snows and
the ever-present wild birds settling in the branches.
This was chosen by the early settlers of Burt as the
final resting place for their loved one. The earliest
gravestone mark the death in 1873 of Patrick
Marlow and four years later his wife. Followed by
family members of the McDonald’s and Stow’s.
A stone that raises curiosity sits in the far east
section, to the north, is a “pauper’s grave” because
no family could be located notifying of his death. The
simple headstone of a 30-year old man, E.G. Goodin
is inscribed: “Poor wandering boy, Gone but not
forgotten”.
The two tall and slender Arbor Vitae stand near the
center of the cemetery as a living memorial to Burt
soldiers, living and dead.
I hope this inspires you to share the memories
handed down to you with your children and
grandchildren, better yet, write it down, so that it may
be passed on from generation to generation.
I myself have traced the Rath lineage back to the
1500’s – my children being the 15 generation.
In closing, I have recorded all of the 41 cemeteries
in Kossuth county and are available, or are in the
process of being released, on the internet.
In this Burt Cemetery I have recorded over 1400
burials along with a couple hundred Biographies and
Obituaries.
Closing
Cemeteries center us. They remind us that we are
not alone, that our hardships are just a part of living
that in not unique to us but universal to all mankind.
Entering a cemetery brings an overwhelming feeling
of love and reverence for life, chilling us to a standstill, taking in all the markers for all those interred,
recognizing that each person had a family and was
loved enough to be remembered in the permanence
of stone.
The shapes, sizes and designs of gravestones from
over a century have changed with the times. The
earliest stones, of soft marble, are weathered and
often undecipherable. Some have an epitaph and
may have a carving of clasped hands or of a Tree Of
Life. More durable granite monuments began
appearing in the 1900’s. The more ornate ones may
have a Bible or elaborate ornamentations. Often, a
lamb or a dove sits atop the smaller headstones of
infants and children’s.
Gravestones provide a sketchy history of the
township. They mark the final assembly of township
residents, spanning generations. They memorialize
lives and families, love, faith and finally, death.
They say that many residents served their country in
the armed forces. There are veterans of the Civil
War. There are the stones of infants’ and children’s
graves. Some plots contain multiple graves of
children from a single family. The stones say that
many adults died young. Most likely, epidemics of
infectious disease caused early death. Doctors were
often unavailable and medicines nonexistent.
Parents lost children, children lost parents. The
gravesites of these first settlers on this Iowa prairie
land are now largely unremembered. The memories
of live and personalities are now lost to the passage
of time.
It is difficult to imagine this early life on these vast
prairies. The settlement of these lands must have
held much promise and hope. Moving into a virgin
tract of land and building a new life must have been
rewarding and exciting. But there also were the
hardships, losses and heartaches, and the cemetery
chronicles this more difficult side of pioneer life.
As you walk through this cemetery, you realize these
common folk are heroes too…their toil and sacrifice
helped build and feed a growing nation. Stop and
survey the rows of headstones, you are standing on
hallowed ground, surrounding you are indeed the
graves of many heroes great and small, young and
old. They represent Burt, Iowa, and their contribution
to the building of America.
May God Bless Them All!
Compiled and Presented by
Letty Hurlburt
at the Burt Quasiquecentennial Celebration
July 2006
Notes on the following pages…
George E. Marble is not buried here but contributed a lot to the growth of Burt in the
early days. Any information would be helpful.
1855 Ed & Dick Moll first settler in Gary Huber’s pasture (2 ½ East of Burt)
1863 Thomas Gordon Homesteaded on Paul Tienan’s building site
1865 Roswell M. McAllister Sec 21
1864 Settlers arrived Henry A. Smith
Luther Fairbanks – son Luther Fairbanks buried in Burt Twp
Rod Jain – Jains’ are buried in Portland
S.V.R. Mann – Portland Twp – buried Portland
Jahu H. Grover – 1861 fought at Gettysburg, Bull Run, Potomac
John Brown – no grave
Moses Godden – Son, Jake lived to be 104
Albert Wheeler – no grave
Lewie M. Owen Homesteaded Portland Twp – buried Burt Twp
Israel C. Schryver – Homesteaded Union 11 – buried burt Twp
1865 – James Marlow – Burt Twp, Sec 32 (buried in burt twp
Washington Hudson – Squaire Hudson buried in Burt Twp
Lon Wilson
John Wilson
Hiram Norton
George C. Allen – buried Burt Twp
John Chapin – buried Burt Twp
Clark S. Coffin – Buried Burt Twp
1866 – J.D. McDonald Homesteaded in Portland Twp. – Buried Burt 1890 one of the
first burials
1867 – Elijah Hurlburt Burt Twp – Sec 32 – Buried Burt Twp
Ed Marlow – Burt Twp – Sec 28 – Buried Burt Twp
Hugh McDonald – Burt Twp – Sec 8 – Buried Burt Twp
Fred Ringsdorf – Homesteaded Portland 22 also Blacksmith & owns 4 residents
- Buried Burt Twp
1868 – Jesse D. Davison Sec 12 – Buried Burt Twp
1869 – Elijah Caulkins – buried ??
Martin Owen – Buried Burt Twp
John Reibhoff – buried ??
W.B. Pratt – Buried in Burt Twp
Ellis McWhorter – Buried Portand Twp
1870’s – John Murray, Sr. – Buried Burt Twp
- Wm Murray – Buried Burt Twp
-Thomas Hanna Sec 6 – Union – Buried Burt Twp
- Wm Peck Homesteaded – Buried Burt Twp
John Hutchinson – Burt Twp – Sec 31 & Sec 8 – Buried Burt Twp
Jacob Markla
Peter Kriethe – Buried Burt Twp
Fred Schultz – Buried Burt Twp
John & Fred Koepke Union 3 & Burt 33 – Fred Buried Burt Twp
The Mcdonald’s – Buried Burt Twp
J.B. Hofius
Herman Dau – Buried Burt Twp
Ernest Krueger – Buried Burt Twp
Early 1880’s – Mrs. Meinzer – Buried Burt Twp
F.A. Wood – don’t know where buried
William A. Chipman – Buried Burt Twp
- Stephen Sharp – Homesteaded – Buried burt Twp
1881-Burt was founded and only had a Depot,
Stow’s Blacksmith Shop
Marble’s Store,
J.D. McDonald Lumberyard
Burt was named after a conductor on the NW railway.
1882
- C.P. Stow (Buried Burt) built the hotel – now the Patrick McGuire residence
- Richard S. Anderson (Buried Burt) Blacksmith & Threshing Business
- August C. Bahling (Buried Burt) Homesteaded Sec 27
- Schoolhouse Built – Charles L. Dittmer, Treas. (Buried Burt)
- Burt Township Organized – John Murray, Sr. Trustee (Buried Burt)
- John W. Meinzer Homesteaded Portland 18 (Buried Burt)
- Martin A. Owen Homesteaded Portland 4 (Buried Burt)
- Henry Sewick – Homesteaded Burt 13 (Buried Burt)
- B.F. Sroufe – Homesteaded near Burt (Buried Burt)
Comfort P. Stow 1848-1925 (Buried Burt)
Came to Burt as a Blacksmith and erected the first Hotel in 1882
His daughter, Caroline, was the first baby born in Burt
1883 – J.D. McDonald (Buried Burt) built hardware store where Burt Savings bank now
stands.
- Adelbert Blanchard (Buried Burt) was the Burt township assessor
- Joseph Elvidge (Buried Burt) owned one of the Elevators
- Wolcott B. Pratt – Homesteaded in the Burt Area
- Roy E. Clemons - Buttermaker
1884 – George N. Patterson Homesteaded Burt Sec 12
1886 – Lewis C. Smith – Settled in Burt and founded the Smith Bros. Dept. Store
for 65 years.
1887 – Wm H. Shaeffer – Blacksmith
- Alex W. Sigsbee had a threshing business
1889 – Fred Koepke – Burt Salem German Methodist Episcopal church trustee.
- Walter Smith – Homesteaded Portland 15
1890 – Burt cooperative Creamery incorporated-George Koestler, President
- Roy E. Clemons was the Butter Maker in the 1880’s
- S.C. Cottrell was a Painter
- Elmer Hodgson was a Carpenter
- William H. Schwiertert – Homesteaded Portland 30
1891 – Jacob H. Graham owns implement business succeeded J.G. Graham
- O.P. McDonald bought lumberyard from Mrs. J.D. McDonald
- O.P.McDonald also dealt in coal & cement
1892 – Kossuth Lodge in Burt; I.O.O.F. Lodge in Burt
- George Koestler owns 480 A. Portland Twp.
1893 – Richard F. Hawcott Homesteaded Burt Twp – Sec 14
- Wm Peck is running the Hotel he built
1894 – Anders Anderson Immigrated from Denmark
- W.T. Peters, M.D. – Physician
- Charles Schryver – Blacksmith & Burt City Mayor
1895 – Eli Volentine Homesteaded Burt 10
- Horace A. Whitehill – Stone Mason & Plasterer
makes cement block and ornamental cement piers
1896 – Godden & McDonald Elevator (Oliver P. McDonald)
- Danforth W. Pratt – Dentist
1897 – 1901 William E. McDonald – Hardware & Lumberyard Business
- Albert Staehle purchased hardware store from A.H. Nafus
- Mark Stoddard - Carpenter
1898 – Benona V. Daniels – Harness maker.
- Perneety C. Jackson Methodist Church SS Superintendent
1899 – Edward C. Bierstedt Homesteaded Sec 16
- Charles L. Dittmer Homesteaded Sec 33
- Wm A. Stoutenburt – Homesteaded near Burt
1900 – William a. Chipman bought furniture store and undertaking business from
William Stockwell.
1901 – Charles Becker Homesteaded Sec 11 had a threshing business
- Elmer O. Chipman is selling real estate and insurance
- William E. McDonald, Sheriff 1901-1906
- Mel J. Mann Livery Business (1901-1909)
- August (Gus) H. Meinzer Jewelry Business Owner & Optician
- Lewis C. Smith, vice-President of First National Bank
1902 – Chancy B. Chipman was in the furniture & undertaking business with his father,
William.
1904 – David L. Godden – Creamery & Butter Business
1906 – Peter L. Dremmel operated Burt Telephone
- Walter D. Kearns manager (1906-1913) of W.F. Priebe’s Poultry Business
1908 – Richard F. Hawcott, Township Assessor
and School Board President
- William E. McDonald dealer in Implements with Mr. Pettibone
- Martin L. Vinaas landlord of Peck Hotel
1909 – F.Lee Pratt – Owns drugstore and is a Pharmacist
He also headed up the WPA for paving the streets of Burt
1910 – D.L. Godden & O.P. McDonald bought elevator from Western Elev. Co.
(previously owned by Joe Elvidge)
1911 – Robert E. Stewart – Purchased restaurant from C.P. Stow
1912 – Richard C. Smith – Dealer in Motorcycles
- Sidney H. Aten – Presbyterian Pastor
1913 – J.G. Clapsaddle - Physician
1915 – Lewie M. Owen dealer in Autos & Real Estate
1909 – Rebekah Lodge Member
Mary J. Kearns
1912 – Rev. Sidney H. Aten – Presbyterian Minister 1912-1936
1913 – J.G. Clapsaddle, M.D. – Physician
1915 – Mel J. Mann Automobile Dealer & Real Estate
1923 – George W. Patterson – Served in the Iowa Legislature