DAY 6 – June 17, 2013 – Rochester, Chatfield, Bucksnort, North Prairie Cemetery, Rushford Lutheran Cemetery, Highland Prairie Cemetery, Highland Cemetery, Scheie Cemetery, Rochester

Today was a cemetery day in Fillmore County. These cemeteries were all within a short distance of each other in the part of Minnesota where many Norwegians first came before branching out to other parts of the state. I was able to find many family members but since I had not written down everyone and where they eternally lay, I am sure I probably missed a few along the way. Interesting note about these particular cemeteries is that most were near the local church and were quite small…comparatively speaking.

Chatfield is a small town in both Fillmore and Olmstead counties and is the place where an Iverson cousin was a police officer. Not much to see but it was a nice little place.

Bucksnort is the location where the electrical plant used the waters from the original mill pond to generate electricity for many of the farms around the area. Customers were able to enjoy the convenience of electricity years before most other farms had current. Today, there is a small waterfall and observers can still see the markings of the original dam site.

North Prairie Cemetery is where Marcia’s grandparents are buried: Andrew and Tomine.

Rushford Lutheran Cemetery supposedly had at least ten individuals from the Isberg family but I was unable to find even one of them. L  Nels Jacobson was found as was Elwood Iverson.

Highland Prairie was where things got interesting. Some cousins, who had not been there in decades, met us here and we found my Civil War gg-grandfather along with his wife and brother and some of his children and their descendants. Most of my photos had to be snapped from a crouching position and as I was thinking about how many more of these squats I could do, I fell and rolled slightly down the hill. I was laughing so hard that I could not even get back up. I guess one could say that I brought a little joy to the deceased. J

This cemetery also had a little chapel, a memorial to the original settlers in this area, and a stone crown with a pulpit that was built by one of my ancestors. The cousins pointed out that there was a huge sinkhole down in back so we went to check it out and it now has benches, a stage, and a small building. A place for local theater? Maybe sunrise services? We don’t really know for sure.

Highland Prairie Chapel

Amusing the deceased

Cousins: Geri, Judy, Charlene, Cheryl

Stone Crown with pulpit

Leaving this cemetery and the cousins, we drove down the road about five miles to Highland. Here found the Jenssons, the Glennas, as well as the remaining Olsons among others.

Last stop was Scheie. When we arrived there was a woman leaving the church and she asked us if we were coming in. She wanted us to visit the inside and asked that we just shut the door when we left. This church was a very typical Norwegian church with a typical “church basement”, plenty of tables and a kitchen. The upstairs “church” part had beautiful stained glass windows, Norwegian language everywhere with accompanying paintings. The cemetery was just outside and it was here that I found the Petersons, Hendersons, Hendricksons, Hollands, and Faas. I would guess that at least half of this old cemetery contained family members.

Inside of Scheie Church

Back to Rochester, dinner made by Marcia’s son, and The Voice.