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Gothland Cemetery
Prairie Township, Union County, South Dakota

T95N R50W Sec 1
Lat: 43° 04' 35"N, Lon: 96° 41' 16"W

Contributed by Brian Hass, Jul 11, 2002 [brian_m_hass@hotmail.com]. Total records = 130.

Gothland Cemetery can be reached by traveling four miles east from Beresford along South Dakota's Highway 46 and then traveling a quarter of a mile south along Union County's 476 Avenue. The cemetery is on the west side of the road, opposite from the farm place located at 29748 476 Avenue.

Gothland Cemetery is located west of where the church once stood. It is approximately one acre in size, measuring 53.7 yards in width and 121 yards in length. The land was donated by Duane Deane and Eddison Stark in 1891. The cemetery was organized that same year. Annual business meetings were held and arrangements were made for property maintenance.

During the summer of 1891, the Congregational Church of Gothland was built on this land. The cost of construction was four hundred sixty eight dollars and thirty cents. The first church service was held on November 29, 1891; and, Rev. William S. Washburn was the first minister to preach at the church. The dedication was held in June of 1892.

As more people got cars and wanted to attend church service on Sunday mornings, the Gothland church organization was dissolved. People then became members of other churches in the towns. In October of 1931, the Gothland church was sold for three hundred dollars and moved away; and, the money was given to the cemetery association.

The large cottonwood tree at the center of the church yard was left in place and was later regarded as a landmark. It was believed to have been planted in 1891. The tree's base had grown to a diameter of twenty-three feet wide by 1989. It was still standing during the 2002 visit.

Gothland Cemetery has a perpetual care plan. The cemetery is under the guidance of the Gothland Cemetery Association, which is based in Beresford, SD. The association is responsible for selling burial plots and for accepting donations for the cemetery.

The survey of Gothland Cemetery was conducted by Brian M. Hass on November 4, 2001. During this survey, information of genealogical interest was transcribed from all visible grave marker inscriptions. A printout of this transcribed data was compared against burial and WPA records; and, differences between the transcriptions and the records were noted and circled on the printout. Information on potentially unmarked graves was also noted. The cemetery was revisited by Brian Hass on December 16, 2001 for the purpose of determining whether or not the discrepencies were the result of errors in the transcriptions; and, any necessary corrections to the 2001 data were made at that time. Rubbings of worn inscriptions on three worn grave markers were also obtained during the revisit. The cemetery was revisited again on January 7 and July 10 of 2002 for the purpose of gathering additional information.

Information was gathered from the following sources:

1) 2001 Gothland Cemetery Survey Notes by Brian Hass. This is a collection of hand-printed survey data and notes collected during visits to Gothland Cemetery in 2001. The data includes names; dates and places of birth, marriage, and death; and, other data obtained from grave marker inscriptions. Special care was taken to insure that all names were transcribed accurately from the markers. This document includes corrections.

2) Gothland Cemetery listing of graves, WPA Graves Registration Project, Oct 1940. The listing contains names, grave locations, dates of death, ages at death, genders, veteran status, and comments.

3) Gothland burial records. This document lists names, burial dates, and block and lot numbers. When the record keepers changed over the years, death dates were listed instead of burial dates in the same column.

4) "Gothland Cemetery," page 79 of the Beresford Centennial book, Beresford_100_Years, published 1983 by the "Beresford Republic" and the "Lennox Independent." This contains some historical information on the cemetery.

5) "Gothland Church," page 71 of the Beresford Centennial book, Beresford_100_Years, published 1983 by the "Beresford Republic" and the "Lennox Independent." This contains some historical information on the church and cemetery.

6) Gothland Cemetery history, 1989. This history of the cemetery was written for the South Dakota state centennial.

7) "History of the Gothland Church 1891-1913"

8) South_Dakota_Atlas_and_Gazetteer (first edition), page 71, published 1997 by DeLorme. 9) Centennial_Atlas-_An_Atlas_of_Distinction, published by Centennial Atlas in Watertown, South Dakota.

The following three people were among those originally buried at Gothland Cemetery. Eleanor and John Charles Smoots were buried there in 1925 and 1930 respectively; and, Fay Hiscox DeRemer was buried there in 1930. According to the notes in the burial records, the bodies of these three individuals were removed from the cemetery. The body of Eleanor Smoots was moved to Rapid City, SD; and, the body of Fay DeRemer was moved to Alcester, SD.

- Brian Hass

Borup, Peter William, b. 28 Sep 1903, d. 4 Mar 1904, depiction of lamb, inscription is worn, given name from burial and WPA records.
Branson, Claude L., d. 6 Mar 1893, age 1y 5m 5d, "Son of N. J. and M. O. Branson"
Cornish, Andrew S., b. 1849, d. 1896, "Father"
Cornish, Ferris R., b. 26 Jan 1895, d. 26 Oct 1895, "Dau. of Mr. and Mrs. D. P. Cornish"
Cornish, James W., b. 1877, d. 1935
Cornish, Margaret, b. 1854, d. 1932, "Mother"
Crowley, Francis, b. 2 Jul 1856, d. 30 Nov 1935, s/w M. Belle Crowley
Crowley, Helen, b. 11 Mar 1903, d. 30 Jan 1990, s/w Roy Crowley, nickname listed as Chord
Crowley, M. Belle, b. 24 Nov 1861, d. 30 Jan 1938, s/w Francis Crowley
Crowley, Roy, b. 2 Dec 1890, d. 12 Jun 1955, s/w Helen "Chord" Crowley
DeRemer, Beth, no dates, probably unmarked, buried 7 Oct 1919, data from burial records, blk. 13, lot 4
DeRemer, Mary, no dates, probably unmarked, buried 23 May 1923, data from burial records, blk. 13, lot 4
Dean, Charles John, d. 1930, age 16, probably unmarked, data from WPA records, blk. 15, lot 4, grv. 4
Dean, Edward H., d. 1929, age 73, probably unmarked, data from WPA records, blk. 14, lot 2, grv. 5
Dean, Eleanor, d. 1925, age 14, probably unmarked, data from WPA records, blk. 15, lot 4, grv. 3
Dean, Infant, no dates, age 1d, probably unmarked, data from WPA records, blk. 15, lot 2, grv. 2
Deane, Charles W., b. 2 Mar 1852, d. 15 Nov 1937
Deane, Claude D., b. 1898, d. 1979
Deane, Duane H., b. 1866, d. 1922, "Father"
Deane, Effie M., b. 1865, d. 1952, "Mother"
Deane, Emma J., b. 17 Mar 1852, d. 18 Feb 1929
Deane, Florence M., b. 29 Jun 1860, d. 9 Jun 1922
Deane, Fred J., b. 5 Jul 1861, d. 29 Nov 1914
Deane, Henry, d. 15 Dec 1892, age 61y 8m 11d
Deane, Infant, d. 10 Oct 1889, "Daughter of F. J. and F. M. Deane"
Deane, Jency Joan, b. 1901, d. 1930, "Mother"
Deane, Lucille L., b. 17 Jan 1925, d. 16 Nov 1997, s/w Duane Wiles Deane
Deane, Mary, d. 9 Jun 1900, age 76y 9m 21d
Deane, Maude, b. 13 Mar 1892, age 16y 7m 16d, "Beloved Dau. of C. W. and E. J. Deane"
Deane, Mildred L., b. 1903, d. 1990
Durland, Catherine, b. 10 Jan 1810, d. 19 May 1895, age 85y 4m 9d, "Wife of Samuel C. Durland"
Forbes, Alfred C., b. 1852, d. 1927, "Father," s/w Lydia J. Forbes
Forbes, Lydia J., b. 1845, d. 1911, "Mother," s/w Alfred C. Forbes
Fuller, Charles D., b. 7 Dec 1850, d. 13 Mar 1917, s/w Sarah E. Fuller
Fuller, Denis, no dates, probably unmarked, data from burial records, blk. 15, lot 1
Fuller, Sarah E., b. 7 Apr 1850, d. 5 Mar 1902, s/w Charles D. Fuller
Fuller, Vernette A., d. 19 Aug 1880, age 1y 5m 9d
Gardner, Byron H., b. 1862, d. 1948
Gardner, David, b. 24 Jun 1824, d. 6 Feb 1909, "Father," s/w Kezia Gardner
Gardner, F. Ross, d. 6 Apr 1893, age 4m 2d, "Son of B. H. and Fannie S. Gardner," s/w Fannie S. Garder
Gardner, Fannie S., b. 7 Jun 1867, Aurora Ill, d. 19 Dec 1892, age 25y 6m 12d, s/w F. Ross Gardner
Gardner, Kezia, b. 2 May 1835, d. 15 Sep 1924, "Mother,""His Wife," s/w David Gardner
Gifford, Ernest, no dates, probably unmarked, records list as Oscar Gifford's baby, buried Aug 1900, data from burial records, blk. 2, lot 4
Holdsworth, Rebecca M., d. 28 Feb 1899, age 75y 17d, "Wife of Henry Holdsworth"
Hoover, Edward, b. 1856, d. 1929
Houser, Andrew, b. 1831, d. 1925, s/w Martha Ann Houser
Houser, Jessie F., b. 23 Oct 1862, d. 22 Nov 1881, s/w Joannah Houser
Houser, Joannah, b. 6 Jul 1866, d. 17 Aug 1881, s/w Jessie F. Houser
Houser, Martha Ann, b. 1836, d. 1912, "Wife of Andrew Houser," s/w Andrew Houser
Ison, Charles W., b. 1864, d. 1943, "Father"
Ison, Lawrance A., b. 25 Jul 1902, d. 21 May 1904, "Son of C. W. and S. A. Ison"
Ison, Susan A., b. 1866, d. 1941, "Mother"
Jackson, Robert Clark, b. 1872, d. 1939
Jackson, Starrie, b. 30 Sep 1900, d. 23 Feb 1901, "Son of L. M. and R. C. Jackson"
Jensen, Leo G., b. 1 Jan 1920, d. 23 Dec 1982, "PFC US Army World War II," s/w Lorraine E. Jensen
Jones, Arther, b. 1 Sep 1893, d. 2 Aug 1894, "Son of J. W. and Effa B. Jones," s/w Effa B. Jones
Jones, Clarissa A., b. 1861, d. 1939, "Mother," s/w Henry C. Jones
Jones, Edna, d. 1894, age 1d, probably unmarked, buried 2 Aug 1894, data from burial and WPA records, blk. 12, lot 2, grv. 5
Jones, Effa B., b. 18 Jun 1864, d. 21 Dec 1894, "Wife of J. W. Jones," s/w Arther Jones
Jones, Eliza C., b. 3 Apr 1826, d. 20 Jan 1903, "Mother," s/w John S. Jones
Jones, Henry C., b. 1854, d. 1927, "Father," s/w Clarissa A. Jones
Jones, John S., b. 17 Feb 1821, d. 24 Jun 1904, "Father," s/w Eliza C. Jones
Kimberly, Fern E., b. 8 Aug 1893, d. 27 Apr 1984
Kimberly, Finch G., b. 9 Mar 1892, d. 28 Nov 1960, "Iowa Pvt Co A 313 Engineers World War I"
Larson, Infant, no dates, probably unmarked, records list as Peter Larson's baby, data from burial records, blk. 6, lot 4
Larson, Infant, no dates, probably unmarked, records list as Peter Larson's baby, data from burial records, blk. 6, lot 4
Littlechild,, b. 17 Apr 1900, d. 17 Apr 1900, "Dau. of C. and F. I. Littlechild"
Luken, Eva, b. 1869, d. 1913, "Wife of Charles Luken"
Merrick, Blanche L., b. 1900, d. 1988, s/w Hugh E. Merrick, m. 20 Dec 1924
Merrick, Hugh E., b. 1894, d. 1969, s/w Blanche L. Merrick, m. 20 Dec 1924
Merrick, Keith E., b. 1932, d. 1990, nickname listed as Swede
Merrick, Kevin A., b. 28 Apr 1958, d. 31 Dec 1983, "Son and Brother"
Meyer, Amy E., b. 1903, d. 1993, s/w Martin G. Meyer, m. 5 Aug 1925
Meyer, Martin G., b. 1902, d. 1992, s/w Amy E. Meyer, m. 5 Aug 1925
Miles, Jennie E., b. 1 Jun 1884, d. 21 Oct 1907, "Dau of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel P. Miles," s/w Samuel H. Miles
Miles, Samuel H., b. 26 Mar 1883, d. 1 Feb 1905, "Son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel P. Miles," s/w Jennie E. Miles
Nelson, Harrold, d. 1939, age 1d, probably unmarked, data from WPA records, blk. 11, lot 3, grv. 6
Newbold, Esther, no dates, probably unmarked, buried 22 Aug 1915, data from burial and WPA records, blk. 6, lot 4, grv. 3 or 4
Newbold, Jerald, no dates, probably unmarked, buried 23 Jul 1916, data from burial and WPA records, blk. 6, lot 4, grv. 3 or 4
Noble, Lincoln, b. 1867, d. 1940, s/w Zada B. Noble
Noble, Zada B., b. 1872, d. 1972, s/w Lincoln Noble
Pansie, Grace Tinling, b. 5 Oct 1868, d. 4 Jul 1926, "Mother"
Pansie, Russell, b. 20 Oct 1894, d. 5 May 1950, "South Dakota Cy US Navy World War I"
Pansie, William, b. 28 Apr 1864, d. 18 Nov 1935, "Father"
Robinson, George P., d. 1939, "Co. C 17 Wis Inf.," DOD obtained from WPA records
Robinson, Mrs, d. 1907, age 56, probably unmarked, buried 4 Nov 1907, WPA records list as Mrs. George Robinson, burial records list as Mrs. George Roberson, data from burial and WPA records, blk. 8, lot 2, grv. 1
Shortreed, Evangeline, b. 21 Jul 1848, d. 29 Nov 1891, age 43y 4m 8d, "Wife of William Shortreed"
Shortreed, William, b. 22 Sep 1842, d. 26 Dec 1916, "Pvt Co C 27 Iowa Inf. Civil War"
Sipher,, no dates, probably unmarked, buried 19 Sep 1891, data from burial records, blk. 8, lot 2
Smith, Ira H., b. 29 Nov 1820, d. 5 Jun 1901, s/w Jane Smith
Smith, Jane, b. 26 Jun 1813, d. 26 Feb 1910, s/w Ira H. Smith
Spire, Benjamin W., b. 1863, d. 1941, "Father"
Spire, Clarence B., b. 1898, d. 1967, "Son"
Spire, Rachel Cora, b. 1871, d. 1931, "Mother"
Stark, Florence E., d. 18 Aug 1895, age 8y 2m 7d, "Dau. of Wm. A. and Mary E. Stark"
Stark, Myrtle A., d. 10 Mar 1883, age 1y 6d, "Dau of E? A. and E. A. Stark"
Swanson, Elma J., b. 27 Jun 1867, d. 18 Jul 1910, "Wife of S. H. Swanson"
Swanson, Harold Soran, b. 12 Feb 1892, d. 28 Dec 1962
Swanson, Hazel Clair, b. 13 Sep 1891, d. 23 Mar 1918, "Wife of H. S. Swanson"
Swanson, Jasmine Crawford, b. 9 Apr 1898, d. 30 Nov 1949, "Wife of H. S. Swanson"
Swanson, Robert Delos, b. 15 Jul 1910, d. 5 Oct 1910, "Son of S. H. and E. J. Swanson"
Swanson, Sarah Willey, b. 14 Nov 1863, d. 9 Oct 1917, s/w James Willey
Swanson, Soran H., b. 4 May 1862, d. 2 Apr 1954, "Husband of E. J. Swanson"
Swanson, W. Claire, b. 25 Aug 1898, d. 7 Jan 1899, "Son of S. H. and E. J. Swanson"
Sypher, Amanda, d. 18 Sep 1891, age 61y, "Wife of I. Sypher," marker broken in half.
Tinling, J. S., d. 15 Dec 1892, age 58y 8m 8d
Tinling, Mary A., b. 9 Jul 1837, d. 12 Oct 1919, "Wife of Thomas W. Tinling"
Tinling, Thomas W., d. 12 Jul 1894, age 62y 7m 12d
Walker, Fidelia A., b. 9 Apr 1809, d. 7 Dec 1900
Walker,, no dates, probably unmarked, records list as Joe Walker's baby, data from burial records, blk. 8 (n 1/2), lot 1
Wells, Ben, no dates, probably unmarked, data from burial records, blk. 6, lot 4
Wells, Ella, b. 18 Apr 1854, d. 29 May 1923, "Mother"
Wells, Flora, b. 23 Sep 1882, d. 24 Apr 1910, "Daughter of H. C. and E. Wells"
Wells, Henry C., b. 30 Oct 1848, d. 12 Nov 1933, "Father"
Wells, Howard, b. 1891, d. 1961, s/w Minnie Wells
Wells, Isabelle, b. 1915, d. 1986, s/w Keith "Bob" Wells
Wells, Keith, b. 1916, d. 2000, nickname listed as Bob, s/w Isabelle Wells
Wells, Melvia, d. 19 Feb 1889, age 1y 1m 16d, "Dau. of H. C. and E. Wells"
Wells, Minnie, b. 1893, d. 1988, s/w Howard Wells
Westling, Carl O., b. 9 Sep 1908, d. 5 May 1915
Willey, Elmer C., d. 12 Sep 1890, age 7m 18d, "Son of J. and S. Willey"
Willey, James, b. 1843, d. 1911, s/w Sarah Willey Swanson
Willey, Mary Myrtle, b. 18 Apr 1891, d. 20 May 1895
Willey, Sarah, d. 1917, age 54, probably unmarked, data from WPA records, blk. 2, lot 4, grv. 2
Willey, Turner, no dates, probably unmarked, buried 15 Dec 1928, data from burial records, blk 2, lot 4
Willey, Violet, b. 20 Sep 1903, d. 19 Feb 1904
Williams, Amanda E., b. 1843, d. 1913
Williams, George J., b. 1874, d. 1955, "Father"
Williams, Glen U., b. 10 May 1908, d. 20 Jun 1909
Williams, Kathrine, b. 1883, d. 1960, "Mother"