It's been a good 8 years since this experience happened but it is still as exciting today as it was then.
Holst Missing Headstones
One of the neatest experiences I have ever had in doing genealogical research was in the discovery of Ernst and Mareven's headstones at Belvidere Union Cemetery. I have been frequenting that Cemetery for well over a decade now and always wondered why Johann and his family were there and other children for Ernst and Mareven...but where were they?? According to old records at the Goodhue County Historical Society, the pair had been buried in the German Methodist Cemetery. After some time I found that they were buried in Belvidere Union Cemetery. After several more years, a friend of mine and I were able to locate the couple that had the original plot map for the cemetery. In looking at that map, we discovered that there were several graves missing on the outside of the fence of the cemetery. That area is densely wooded now and covered with several feet of old leaves and other undergrowth. The couple with the plot map were able to go up to the cemetery and stake out the plot where Ernst and Mareven should be. And guess what...underneath three feet of debris and dirt...there were their headstones...side by side. My friend and I had the opportunity to go up and see the headstones and take pictures. It was incredible! The marble used for headstones looked like they had just been carved yesterday instead of over a hundred years ago! It was an experience I'll never forget and definitely an important piece to the Holst family puzzle.
Martha J. Berryman
Holst Missing Headstones
One of the neatest experiences I have ever had in doing genealogical research was in the discovery of Ernst and Mareven's headstones at Belvidere Union Cemetery. I have been frequenting that Cemetery for well over a decade now and always wondered why Johann and his family were there and other children for Ernst and Mareven...but where were they?? According to old records at the Goodhue County Historical Society, the pair had been buried in the German Methodist Cemetery. After some time I found that they were buried in Belvidere Union Cemetery. After several more years, a friend of mine and I were able to locate the couple that had the original plot map for the cemetery. In looking at that map, we discovered that there were several graves missing on the outside of the fence of the cemetery. That area is densely wooded now and covered with several feet of old leaves and other undergrowth. The couple with the plot map were able to go up to the cemetery and stake out the plot where Ernst and Mareven should be. And guess what...underneath three feet of debris and dirt...there were their headstones...side by side. My friend and I had the opportunity to go up and see the headstones and take pictures. It was incredible! The marble used for headstones looked like they had just been carved yesterday instead of over a hundred years ago! It was an experience I'll never forget and definitely an important piece to the Holst family puzzle.
Martha J. Berryman
It's been a good 8 years since this experience happened but it is still as exciting today as it was then.
Holst Missing Headstones
One of the neatest experiences I have ever had in doing genealogical research was in the discovery of Ernst and Mareven's headstones at Belvidere Union Cemetery. I have been frequenting that Cemetery for well over a decade now and always wondered why Johann and his family were there and other children for Ernst and Mareven...but where were they?? According to old records at the Goodhue County Historical Society, the pair had been buried in the German Methodist Cemetery. After some time I found that they were buried in Belvidere Union Cemetery. After several more years, a friend of mine and I were able to locate the couple that had the original plot map for the cemetery. In looking at that map, we discovered that there were several graves missing on the outside of the fence of the cemetery. That area is densely wooded now and covered with several feet of old leaves and other undergrowth. The couple with the plot map were able to go up to the cemetery and stake out the plot where Ernst and Mareven should be. And guess what...underneath three feet of debris and dirt...there were their headstones...side by side. My friend and I had the opportunity to go up and see the headstones and take pictures. It was incredible! The marble used for headstones looked like they had just been carved yesterday instead of over a hundred years ago! It was an experience I'll never forget and definitely an important piece to the Holst family puzzle.
Martha J. Berryman
Holst Missing Headstones
One of the neatest experiences I have ever had in doing genealogical research was in the discovery of Ernst and Mareven's headstones at Belvidere Union Cemetery. I have been frequenting that Cemetery for well over a decade now and always wondered why Johann and his family were there and other children for Ernst and Mareven...but where were they?? According to old records at the Goodhue County Historical Society, the pair had been buried in the German Methodist Cemetery. After some time I found that they were buried in Belvidere Union Cemetery. After several more years, a friend of mine and I were able to locate the couple that had the original plot map for the cemetery. In looking at that map, we discovered that there were several graves missing on the outside of the fence of the cemetery. That area is densely wooded now and covered with several feet of old leaves and other undergrowth. The couple with the plot map were able to go up to the cemetery and stake out the plot where Ernst and Mareven should be. And guess what...underneath three feet of debris and dirt...there were their headstones...side by side. My friend and I had the opportunity to go up and see the headstones and take pictures. It was incredible! The marble used for headstones looked like they had just been carved yesterday instead of over a hundred years ago! It was an experience I'll never forget and definitely an important piece to the Holst family puzzle.
Martha J. Berryman
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