Burial practices in early Sandoval Township were simple by necessity. Coffins were made from materials at hand - - sometimes a hewn out log or a simple box made from boards but together with wooden pegs. Absence of granite or marble in this area made it necessary to utilize fieldstones as grave markers. Weather and vandals long ago destroyed most of these monuments and the inscriptions are illegible on the few that survived. Early burials were usually on the family farm or in the neighborhood family cemetery such as the Deadmond and McClelland-Andreck graveyards, which were, first used about 1840. The highest point in the vicinity was usually chosen as the site for burials.
Settlers began arriving at the current location of the village shortly after the coming of the railroads was announced in 1851. Those working on the construction were transitory, many without families. Few public improvements were recognized from 1855 to 1859 when the village operated under that auspices of a private corporation chartered in 1859 by the state legislature, but civic progress was slow due to a lack of funds. The need for a village cemetery apparently did not top the list of priorities for the local officials.
In 1862 the minutes, of the village board of trustees, record the appointment of a committee to investigate possible sites for a local burying ground and on November 10, it was reported that James Price, who owned and operated a nursery a little east of where the zinc smelter later stood, had offered to sell four acres at the approximate current location of the north cemetery. Agreement could not, however, be reached and the committee continued the search during 1863.
The minutes of the board meeting of September 28, 1863, noted that $2.00 was paid for the opening of a grave for a Miss Mann but failed to indicate the location of the interment.
The Centralia Sentinel of February 25, 1864 contained a letter from a Sandoval citizen decrying the snail-like pace of the trustees in acquiring property for a graveyard. This complaint must have jolted the recalcitrant village “fathers”, for at the March 15, 1864 meeting, the Village agreed to purchase 3 acres from Price for $100.00.
On May 2, Frank Ens and Chris Leonard were awarded a contract to erect a fence around the grounds, and on July 8, the village accepted the completed fence as fulfillment of that contract. Shortly after the purchase of the property, Mr. Price, who moved to Odin to operate a lumberyard, sold the remainder of his property to Charles Kennicott, who used it as a nursery. The Kennicott family was nationally known for their work in horticulture.
Asked to “Lay out” the cemetery, Mr. Kennicott deferred to the county surveyor, who completed the plat for a fee of $26.00 and on November 12, 1864 it was recorded at the county seat. Lots were to be sold at $5.00 each and this would provide 4 burials. A row of grave sites on the western edge was set aside for “strangers or others who did not own lots".
Other events or actions recorded in the minute books of the meeting of the village trustees follow: April 27, 1865 a bill of $20.76 was allowed to cover costs of erecting gates at the cemetery. August 5, 1865 bids were accepted for the hay mown in the cemetery.
September 3, 1866 Joseph Breitz was appointed sexton.
November 7, 1866 payment was allowed for the following:
A brush hook … $1.56
One newt …....... $1.00
Three shovels … $4.80
One lock hasp … $.95
October 25, 1868
Bids were accepted for the erection of a tool house.
October 24, 1870
A contract was let to Henry Kern to build a bridge over prairie creek on the road leading from town to the cemetery.
November 7, 1870
Mr. Robinson was ordered to repair the graveyard
fence to the condition it was prior to his burning it.
February 6, 1871
Road to the cemetery was ordered improved.
1877
Joseph Pierce was appointed sexton.
When the village trustees could not reach an agreement with S.D. Shackleford on the sales price of acreage adjoining the cemetery.
They purchased three acres from Gen. James S. Martin on the south side of cemetery road.
Again in 1906, it became apparent that additional space would be required, and the village board purchased four acres on the west side of the southern section of the cemetery from William C. McClelland.
This section was laid out and plotted in 1907.
On September 1, 1912, bids were let for the construction of the south-side tool house.
1911
The charge for digging a grave was increased
to $4.00.
1912
It was established that the cemetery monies were to be kept separate and not mingled with general funds.
1932
A special committee was appointed to oversee the generous legacy from Dr. Allen E. Wilson, a former resident with the interest to be used for
perpetual care of the graveyard.
It was about this time that the Sandoval Cemetery Association was established. Miss Rena Bellamy assumed the leadership for many years, followed by Mrs. William (Lola) Resch and Mrs. David (Alice) Hanks. Mrs. Charles (Adele) Hildebrand and Anna Peters are remembered as ardent cemetery supporters.
Among the village employees, some of whom were appointed as sextons who had responsibilities at the cemetery included: M.C. Joyce, John Pulver, A.S. Kindel, Robert Dixon, Sam Just, and George Husmann.
1993
Mayor Gary Deadmond appointed LaRelza Troutt as Chairman of the Council Cemetery Committee.
Under her leadership many improvements at the cemetery have been realized.
A gift from the Sandoval community Development Corporation made the erection of new gates possible. The village graveled the roadways and has provided for mowing the cemetery. Fund raising socials and dinners have been held raising funds for the cemetery. Much of this money came from the raffling of quilts made by the senior ladies at the General Martin Building.
Buried in the Sandoval village cemetery as
of December 31, 1996:
33 Civil war veterans
4 Spanish-American war veterans
31 World War I veterans
43 World War II veterans
4 Korean veterans
13 who served in the military during peacetime.
1997
An imposing monument memorializing veterans from the Sandoval Community was dedicated memorial day, .
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Information published by Dr. George Ross
Marion County Historian