‘Tales from Pioneers & Soldiers Cemetery’ Archives
One Family’s Tale: A Gift for Music and Civic Leadership
Chloe Adens, Harriet Morgan Jones, Katie and William Smith, and Lafayette Mason 247th in the series Tales from Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery... By SUE HUNTER WEIR Members of American Legion Post One who spent the day getting the Cemetery in good shape for the Memorial Day Program. Amazing friends and supporters of the Cemetery. PHOTO: American Legion Post One Chloe Adens* was the first of four generations of her family to be buried in the Cemetery, and hers was the first recorded burial of an African American in what was referred to at the time as Layman’s Cemetery. She was born in Delaware County, Pennsylvania sometime around 1803. In 1790, Pennsylvania passed a law that stated that the child of an enslaved mother was either a free person of color or, in some cases, was an indentured servant until they reached the age of 28. Whether Mrs. Adens began life as a free person of color or as an indentured servant is not known. She arrived in Minnesota [...]
An End to a Family Line
246th in the series Tales from Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery... By SUE HUNTER WEIR Asa Clark BrownWar of 1812 John “Jack” FermanKorean War-era Veteran John RobischonSpanish-American War Veteran Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial CemeteryMemorial Day CeremonyMay 25th 10:00 AMProgram honoring the more than 200 veterans buried in the Cemetery.PROGRAM:Seward Community Concert BandJROTC from Minnesota Transitions SchoolAmerican Legion Post OneBoy Scout Troop #1Speaker: Carissa McCollorCarissa McCollor is a US Army veteran, with both Active Duty and National Guard experience. She currently works for the City of Roseville as an outreach contact for people experiencing homelessness; this work often involves veterans. She is a member of American Legion Post 1 and VFW Post 7555 and volunteers with many veteran-related entities including: The Mission Continues, Team Rubicon, Every Third Saturday.If you are able, bring a lawn chair.Parking is limited in the Cemetery but [...]
Agnes Frier: Unwanted? Or Family Couldn’t be Found?
245th in a series from Tales from Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery... By SUE HUTNTER WEIR Agnes Frier’s story has been a challenge to research. She was one of the 250 adults (only eight of them women) buried in the cemetery whose remains were unclaimed by family or friends and became the property of the county coroner. He, in turn, was required by law to turn them over to the University’s Anatomy Department to be studied by medical students. When Agnes died in 1915, very few people, primarily for religious reasons, donated their bodies for research. Agnes died in Anoka State Hospital on September 5, 1915. She was born in Germany around 1860 and emigrated with her husband Joseph in 1887. Their oldest son, Sam, was born in New York in August 1887. They had five more children: Mollie was born in Pennsylvania, Alma was born in Illinois, Daisy in Minnesota, George and Frank were born in Wisconsin. Agnes’ death certificate listed her occupation as “gypsy,” which [...]
