My favorite cemetery is Clifton Cemetery, Johnson, Nemaha County, Nebraska (40.43325 N 95.95675 W). Find A Grave Cemetery ID: 100495 .
Just inside the cemetery gate is a large native boulder. On the boulder is an old brass plaque with the inscription: "This site donated to Clifton Cemetery Association by Julius Gilbert and wife. May 23, 1868."
Julius and his wife Ann were my great-great-grandparents. Not only did Julius and Ann donate 4 acres of land for the cemetery, they also donated the land directly north of the cemetery all the way to the county road. Julius then purchased this excess 6 acres back from the Cemetery Association so that the Association would have operating capital. With the purchase, he also granted an easement for permanent cemetery access.
I grew up on the Gilbert family farm which surrounds Clifton. For the duration of our teenage years, my brother and I mowed and trimmed the cemetery as needed, and made sure it was in top form for Memorial Day.
It was during this time that I started making connections between the names on the head stones. Figuring out how these people all fit together into family groups.
Now I am studying it further, learning how the people in my little cemetery are connected to the people in other cemeteries.

My favorite cemetery is Clifton Cemetery, Johnson, Nemaha County, Nebraska (40.43325 N 95.95675 W). Find A Grave Cemetery ID: 100495 .
Just inside the cemetery gate is a large native boulder. On the boulder is an old brass plaque with the inscription: "This site donated to Clifton Cemetery Association by Julius Gilbert and wife. May 23, 1868."
Julius and his wife Ann were my great-great-grandparents. Not only did Julius and Ann donate 4 acres of land for the cemetery, they also donated the land directly north of the cemetery all the way to the county road. Julius then purchased this excess 6 acres back from the Cemetery Association so that the Association would have operating capital. With the purchase, he also granted an easement for permanent cemetery access.
I grew up on the Gilbert family farm which surrounds Clifton. For the duration of our teenage years, my brother and I mowed and trimmed the cemetery as needed, and made sure it was in top form for Memorial Day.
It was during this time that I started making connections between the names on the head stones. Figuring out how these people all fit together into family groups.
Now I am studying it further, learning how the people in my little cemetery are connected to the people in other cemeteries.