Our History
A Living Legacy
Cemeteries are more than resting places — they are repositories of heritage, sacrifice, and remembrance. The Beatrice Cemetery Association continues its mission of preserving these sacred grounds so future generations may understand and appreciate the city’s history.
The Beatrice Cemetery Association was legally formed on March 1, 1869, following meetings in 1868 to establish a cemetery for the growing City of Beatrice. The Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing and maintaining dignified and beautiful burial grounds for the community.
Today, the Association oversees a cemetery that has grown to include three sections.
- Beatrice Cemetery
- Evergreen Home Cemetery
- Memorial Park Cemetery
Early History
Although the cemetery was formally established in 1869, some burials predate the founding of Beatrice in 1857. Graves dated as early as 1852 remain a mystery. It is believed that some individuals may have died while passing through the area and were buried locally, or that remains were later relocated from earlier burial sites.
In 1906, remains were moved from Beatrice’s first cemetery near Indian Creek (between Beatrice and Glenover) to the present Beatrice Cemetery. Horace Wickman, whose parents were buried there, strongly supported the relocation. Unfortunately, his parents’ remains were never located, and it is believed they may have been lost in flooding.
Expansion and Development
- April 22, 1887 – 80 acres purchased from the Hugh Cross Estate for $7,039, forming Evergreen Home Cemetery.
- The first interment at Evergreen was John Noyes Cooke, son of C.E. Cooke.
- April 4, 1920 – 20 acres purchased from the Louie Warner Estate for Memorial Park Cemetery.
- July 1, 1931 – Memorial Park opened for burials.
- June 22, 1937 – Approximately 17 acres at the east end of Evergreen were sold, explaining missing block numbers.
- 1983 – Construction began on a new entrance to Evergreen Home and Memorial Park Cemeteries, replacing the original late-1800s gate built for horse-and-buggy access.
Notable Monuments and Memorials
Masonic Monument (1891)
Erected by Beatrice Lodge #26 A.F. & A.M., this eight-foot Georgia marble monument bears inscriptions including:
- “Dedicated to Our Deceased Brethren”
- “Faith,” “Hope,” and “Charity”
It remains one of the largest and most distinctive monuments in the cemetery.
Fireman’s Monument (1907)
Built by Charles Neidhart and unveiled June 9, 1907, this 17-foot, 4-inch monument honors volunteer firefighters. Funds were raised by the fire department. The dedication message praised the bravery and selflessness of volunteer firemen.
Kilpatrick Mausoleum (1911)
The largest mausoleum in the cemetery, constructed of stone and concrete. On October 13, 1911, seven members of the Kilpatrick family were moved there from a ranch cemetery west of Beatrice.
Veteran’s Memorial (1968)
Erected by Speidell Monuments, Inc.and funded by local veterans’ organizations, this monument commemorates the 100th anniversary of Memorial Day. It honors community members who served their country and remains the site of annual Memorial Day services.
Special veteran sections include:
- Spanish-American War veterans
- Civil War veterans (Block 36 at Evergreen Home Cemetery)
Gifts and Memorials
- 1962 – A Vermont gray granite memorial stone honoring Mary Fuller and Lulu Hager was dedicated, funded through a bequest from Mary Fuller.
Preservation
The Beatrice Cemetery contains many notable burials, including:
- The city’s first librarian
- The first probation officer
- 52 Civil War veterans
Some markers, particularly older ones, were permanently damaged. Compounding this loss, records prior to 1891 were destroyed in a fire, making it difficult to identify some burials or notify descendants.
Cemeteries are invaluable to historians and genealogists. When markers are lost or destroyed, pieces of community history may disappear forever.
