Jireh Cemetery History
JIREH CEMETERY HISTORY
By C. W. Pfeifer, 1931
At a meeting of the association called for Nov. 29, 1930 (duly recorded later), it was found that no minutes save the one of June 11, 1921, had been kept. The writer records the following from memory:
In the summer of 19 (1909 or 1910) at the death of Mr. Harlan, the Jireh Land Company by it’s Board of Directors, appointed a committee of three (myself and two others whose names I do not remember) to select a site for a cemetery. After viewing two or three possible locations the present site was selected on the land belonging to Mr. George Dalzell, accepting his generous offer to donate five acres for this purpose. No acting organization having been effected for some time several burials following that of Mr. Harlan’s were made before any plotting of the ground was done.
An organization was finally formed and steps taken to have the site deeded and fenced. Several subscribed sums of money ($110.00 as I remember) to purchase fencing, said donations to receive credit on a lot in the cemetery. This was probably in about the summer of 1915 as the deed was executed in that year. Posts were also donated as was the work and the fence built probably this same year.
I suggested a plot used in a cemetery at Salamonia, Ind. to the plotting committee of which I think Mr. George Grant was a member. This plan was accepted and Mr. Wright Hess was employed to draw the plot in print. The ground was plotted according to this print and stones placed at the corners of all lots excepting the northeast corner in which several graves were already irregularly located.
Up to the present the following are remembered as having served as officers of the Association: L.R. Townsend Mrs. Ella Ortner, Geo. H. Grant, William Whelan Jr., C.W. Pfiefer.
Prices of lots were decided upon either by the Directors of the Association at one time but at this writing, no record of this is found.
By C.W. Pfiefer, 1931
June 11, 1921
Meeting of those interested in the Jireh Cemetery Association. Moved by Crawford that Mr. Norris be appointed Chairman and Geo. H. Grant temporary secretary.
Report of treasurer shows $64. 75 on hand and is accepted.
Election of Officers: Mr. Norris, Geo. Grant, Melvin Crawford were elected Trustees.
Moved and supported that all future stones be set to face the east. Carried. Moved and supported that Secretary correspond with all parties having stones set facing the west to see if they will consider turning them to face the east.
Moved and supported that Trustees see and a suitable building be built and a set of tools be purchased. Carried. (Copied verbatim)
July 26, 1929
A meeting was called to be held at Jireh Cemetery of all interested but the attendance was so small that
No business was done. The Chairman was asked to call a meeting some time in November.
A gathering was held on July 25 to make better markings at the corner of each lot in cemetery and on the 26 a few of those interested finished marking the S.E. ¼ of the Jireh Cemetery
Geo. H. Grant, Secy. (Copied verbatim)
Note: This remarking was done using bricks on end at each corner of all lots.
C. W. Pfiefer
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Minutes of the organization meeting of the Jireh Cemetery Association, the following persons to wit: J.M. Norris, C.W. Pfiefer, Geo. H. Grant, Melvin Crawford, Walter Scott, Enos Lee, L.M. Lee, Judson P. Watson, Kenneth Rood, L.P> Cox, Lee S. Wright and Mrs. Lee Wright, met at the Congregational Church at Keeline, Wyoming, at one o'clock P.M. on the 29th day of November, 1930 pursuant to a call published in The Lusk Herald, posted in various prominent places, and given under general call over the Keeline Telephone System.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, J.M. Norris was elected temporary chairman, and Judson P. Watson acted as temporary secretary.
Motion made, seconded and carried that hereafter a permanent record to be kept of the proceedings of the cemetery association and of the burials.
On motion that we proceed ti the election of officers, J.M. Norris was nominated as President, and on the putting of the vote, he was declared elected. Moved by C.F. Pfiefer, seconded by L.M. Lee, that officers consist of president, secretary and treasurer. Carried.
C.W. Pfiefer was nominated as secretary and on the putting of the vote was declared elected.
William Crawford nominated and duly elected as treasurer.
Moved, seconded and voted that the Board of Directors consist of the three officers who have the power to fill any vacancies until the following meeting.
Moved, seconded and carried that the last Saturday in November each year to be the time for the annual meeting.
It was moved by C.W. Pfiefer, seconded by Walter Scott that the association be incorporated , and after much discussion it was so voted.
Suggested Articles of Incorporation were presented, discussed and necessary changes made to confirm the vote of the meeting and were duly noted