The Spring Valley Cemetery
Section 21, Longwood, Wisconsin
This grave yard was often referred to as
the "Loggers' Cemetery" and contains many unmarked graves of transient
workers who earned winter wages at the nearby camps. We are not
aware of any records which remain for the Spring Valley Cemetery.
However, there is a clue in the Longwood "Emmanuel Lutheran Church History."
Between 1896 and 1900 the church purchased two acres of land from Mrs.
Julius Sorenson to be used as a cemetery, near Popple River, about 1
1/2 miles east of the present church where there were some graves established.
This was apparently done because the original acre where the church
presently sits had a clause that forbade burials there. By various
ingenious means they over came that clause and moved one of the bodies
to the present site, and later the others. This all seems to have happened
prior to 1914 birth of Lula Mae Stewart, the author of "Follow
the River". The Spring Valley School which was attended by
Lula Stewart, was in section 10 so there might be other graves
near there as well.
The "church/cemetery" I am referring to
is in section 21 (Chandler land) and may have been left on subsequent
maps by the previous mapmakers. Just west of the present church
site, two acres were purchased in 1900 from Charles Randal which contained
a house. The house was used for church services until the present church
was dedicated in 1911. There probably were some tombstones present when
the mapmaker did his work. Consequently, the Spring Valley Cemetery
may actually be located at the present day church and cemetery site,
but I cannot say that with 100% Certainty.
Researched by
Sharon Short.
Related Links
Logger's Cemetery
Early Longwood Plat
Maps
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