The Cemetery Association deem it proper, on this occasion, to make a brief statement of their organization and of their subsequent proceedings, in order that a distinct understanding of the whole matter may be had, and that unfounded impressions, if entertained, may be corrected.
It is hardly necessary to remark that previously to the commencement of this enterprise, the want of a new, more commodious, and more tasteful place of burial for the dead, further removed from the immediate vicinity of the village was greatly felt. The old burying ground had served its day and generation, and fulfilled its mission. It is true that many lingering memories cluster around its enclosure. There, many of "the rude fathers of the hamlet sleep." But these interesting and we may say even sacred reminiscences could not serve to shut out entirely the fact, that in the growth of our town it had become too near the houses of any of our citizen, to near for the purity of the atmosphere, and too near for the purity of our veins of water which feed the neighboring wells, running as they do, over a superficial bed of limestone.
Not only was it too near the village, but its dimensions were too contracted to admit of its being used, for any length of time for the purpose which it was originally intended.
The lots themselves, too, although suitable to the circumstances and the time in which they were laid out, were too small and many of them too inaccessible to admit of that growing taste for embellishment with trees, shrubs and flowers, which marks the spirit of our time, and which is so evident a token of refinement in feeling; seeking, as it does, to transform the cold, angular, barren and gloomy spot of earth, into a graceful lawn which shall be a place of cheerful, pleasant and even attractive resort.
The depth of the soil, moreover, in the old burying ground is such that many of the graves cannot be sunk over 2 feet and a half without blasting the rock, and many are the bodies in that graveyard now, which are not covered with earth over twenty inches, and this within the corporate limits of the village of Marion.
These reasons, more or less known by our citizens, gave rise to the call on all sides for efficient steps to be taken for the purchase of ground for a new cemetery. Our public papers urged, too, the fact that great attention was paid to new and spacious cemeteries in other villages not larger than our own. And that a decent pride or respect for our own village should lead us not to be behind our neighbors, or behind the age in which we live.
The consequence of all this was that repeated attempts were made within the last few years to procure grounds at a convenient distance, for a new city of the dead. Nothing practical was done however until last year.
On the 3d day of July, 1857, a preliminary meeting was held by the citizens of Marion who were desirous that an effort should be made for the immediate purchase of lands. Fourteen gentlemen entered into articles of association, held their meeting for the election of officers on the 26th of that month, and when their proceedings were recorded in the recorders office of the county, on the 12th day of August following, they became a body corporate under the general cemetery law of the state.
To the original number of members were shortly afterwards added five more, so that the present number is nineteen.
This comprehended all of the enterprising citizens of our village, that could be found to willing to undertake, practically, and with something more than idle declamation, the self denying, and in many quarters the thankless task of preparing a cemetery. The association, thus incorporated, were desirious of purchasing land immediately for this purpose. As a corporation, they had no means, no resources. The law contemplates both donations and loans, the latter not to exceed ten thousand dollars.
Of donations, the corporation has received none. For the purchase of land, therefore, it was necessary to borrow money to meet the fist payments, and to give obligations for the deferred payments. It was also necessary to borrow money for the payment of labor required to be performed in order to clear up the land and put it in condition to sell the lots. For these purposes, some two thousand dollars have been borrowed, on the notes of the association, and the deferred payments on the land amount to some $2,500 more. Not far from $700 have been expended for labor alone, and $200 for surveying.
The whole amount of land within the Cemetery enclosure is about 17½ acres. About 2¾ acres of this were sold to the Catholic congregation, for their exclusive use as a cemetery. Also, an arrangement was made with the township of Marion, of the following nature: In as much as the whole people of the township were, in a measure, as much interested as the associated corporation, as it was a public enterprise and of no more benefit to the members than to every other citizen, and as the law allowed the purchase of five acres by the Trustees of the township, it was considered right that the public should bear a portion of the preliminary burden, and should become interested to the amount of $500. This would enable the Trustees of the township to set apart such a portion as they might see proper for the use of the poor, as required by law, and retain the remainder for sale. As the portion selected by them occupied a central position in the cemetery, it was acknowledged by them to be proper that the whole grounds should be subject to those reasonable regulations and laws which are common to all cemeteries and which would produce unity in its supervision. The township, in this manner, assists in the enterprise, furnishes a portion of ground for the use for the poor, and retains another portion for future sale.
It may be the impression, and doubtless it has been the thought of some, that too much land has been purchased. In reference to this it may be remarked, that it is impossible to select a suitable piece of ground, within a convenient distance of the town, which shall contain enough land in one contiguous body. Any selection of a proper site must necessarily comprehend much waste land, if any regard whatever be paid to the symmetry of its form.
It must be remembered that we are purchasing land, not alone for the use of the present generation, but in part at least for posterity. They at least will thank us, if there should be found some now who think that our ideas are too extensive and magnificent. Fifty years hence these grounds will be considered limited. It has been the common fault, the result we may add of a common delusion, incident to the frailty of human feeling, to anticipate that the advancing army, pressing on to the grave, will, it may be, march forward henceforth, with unbroken ranks and straggling columns, rather than with the accelerated and augmented tide that derives impetus from increased population. Deceive not yourselves with the thought that the dead will not multiply. The common experience respecting all graveyards, even of the one in our own village, and of all cemeteries, is, that in a few short years more land is wanted for the accumulating nation of the dead. More land, where the mute remains shall be safe from the vandalism of so called public improvements, which not infrequently lay their iron track directly through our most venerable graveyards, and carelessly throw aside the dust of those whose memory has passed away. The belief and the judgement of our association is, that we have not too much land, especially when we consider that our cemetery is designed to accommodate a larger scope of country, and a wider circle of those who shall need a final resting place from the toils of life.
Nor are those portions properly regarded as waste which are unfit for burial. The groves that will spring up, the flowers and shrubs that will be cultivated in these parts of the grounds will but minister to a rational regard and respect for the memory of those who are gone. They will contribute to give variety, interest, even though a mournful interest, to the passing loiterer, whose feelings may be softened and subdued by the rustle of the trees or the delicacy of the flowers, while he muses upon the mutations and uncertainties of life, the past, the present and the future, secure from the intrusions of a busy, a heedless, a selfish world.
As to the amount of progress that has been made in advancing this enterprise, we may properly refer to the grounds that are before you. The whole is in its incipient stage, and yet already the winding avenues, streets, and walks may almost lead you "in wandering mazes lost." Already the hillocks, scattered here and there denote that some that were but recently in our midst and warm with life, have been laid here in their narrow house. But a short distance from us lies one, who, as an old citizen, was active and energetic in whatever would contribute to the improvement of our village. He is gone from the active scenes of life, and all that remains of Thomas Henderson lies upon the brow of Prospect Hill. Yonder, upon the Mound, reposes what was earthly of other fathers of the village. Benjamin Williams, William Bain, James Williams, Curtis Allen, were names are familiar in the village annals. And the marble already marks, or shortly will, the name of Walters, of Reed, of Stokes, of Lindsey, of Davis, of Jameson, of Minerva Williams, of Laura Patten, of Julia Bain, of Harshberger, of Cooper, and of many who had not reached mature age. Nor will it detract from the pleasures of imagination, to suppose that their forms rest more serenely beneath those neatly shorn lawns, and springing evergreens of Sunny Side and Terrace Bank. Your walk among them will show what has already been done, in the very infancy of our enterprise.
To return a moment to the nature of our organization. We have no stock, requiring dividends; we disdain the idea of speculating in matters of so sacred a nature as those pertaining to the mansions of the dead. The receipts are applied to the payment of loans of money for the first advances, as before stated, and to the debts incurred for necessary labor, to fit the grounds for sale. We have already devoted, and we anticipate in the future to devote much time, thought, care, to an enterprise in which every citizen is really as much interested as we are. We have so far been careful to avoid the occasion of a charge of unworthy motives, and private ends. In privileges we have placed ourselves on a level with every other citizen. We have bought our lots, (so far as any have bought them,) at the same prices and in the same manner as others have and the privilege of purchasing. And when we make them on the faith of men not unknown in the community, and of whose responsibility and honor all are capable of judging.
Of that class of chronic grumblers and fault finders, whose natural proclivity is to complain of every new idea and every new enterprise, and who are therefore incurable, we have nothing to say but to express the hope that when they reach their final home on earth, they may rest in peace.
To any responsible class of men who think they can carry on an enterprise of this kind with more wisdom and energy, we will gladly assign all our title and interest. In the meantime we ask the cooperation of those who desire to advance the interests of our town, village and community.