The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Having walked among many cemeteries, it's hard not to look at the stones and wonder about the lives of the people buried under the stones, the woman who died at 30 or the multiple children in the family plot, or even the ones without a stone and just a plan maker marking their spot.
On Saturday, August 13, 2005, several dozen people took a trip back into time during the La Harpe Historical and Genealogical Society's first Cemetery Walk. Set in the historic La Harpe Cemetery with it's wonderful old trees, wildlife, and atmosphere, they began their journey. Here they had the chance to hear about the lives of several of the cemetery's permanent residents.
People have been asking, "What is a Cemetery walk?" It is a walk from tombstone to tombstone where people, often in period dress, talk about the person buried there or talk as the person themselves. It gives a peek into the lives of the people who lived in our town and how daily life was.
One of the people visited on Saturday was Benjamin F. Johnson. He is well known for donating land to the school, but we were told by Ben himself, the rest of his life story and more intimate things that most people don't know. Kenny Nudd, of Nauvoo, was B.F. Johnson. Several other prominent people and others more obscure were featured.
How is this information gathered? Well, most people who are doing the cemetery walk as speakers, have a love of history, genealogy or both. Many old newspapers, history books, family items, personal family research requests, living relatives, and other records are scoured to come up with a personal history.
We have had many interesting people that have lived in this community and we think this is a great way to honor them. Many of them have no living relatives left in the area to do so themselves.
Mary Davier, founder of Mary Davier Hospital was portrayed by Jayne Eckhardt
Lois Bradshaw spoke on the life of Hezikah Lincoln, cousin of President Abraham Lincoln