Characteristic of all human settlements, it was inevitable that deaths would occur among the growing population. Accidents, sickness, childbirth, and even suicide took its toll on these dedicated settlers. In those early years, their beloved departed family members were interred in isolated family plots on their own land. But, as the years went by, it became very evident that this practice could not continue. Someone or some group had to come forward and address this difficult problem. It was obvious that those families who had suffered the most became the leaders in this movement.

In those early years this community was known as Pleasant Valley. These pioneers had erected a sod one-room building one half mile south of the present village of Page. (Refer to Susue Reed Hayne’s memoirs in the 1983 Page History Book, page 1) In this primitive structure, the community regularly came together for schooling, non-denominational church services, weddings and funerals. This “soddie” was built in the fall of 1883 and was used until the fall of 1890.The wood frame school building in Page, built in 1891, replaced it. It was not until the 1890, after the railroad had come through, that plans were made to relocate the hub of the community to the present location of Page.

No records remain today of the earliest attempts to create a cemetery for the Pleasant Valley and Page community. The records that do remain, point to the fact that in 1892 there was a movement underway to begin a cemetery.

In 1892, a cemetery board was organized and it consisted of J.L. Harper, W.C. Edward, C. L. Wood, George E. Hunter and Robert Gray. (See appendix B) This board made a “deal” with W. H. Ord for three acres of land to be purchased from W. H. Ord one-half mile east of Page. The first step was to hire a surveyor to plot out the proposed new cemetery. H.E. Thompson was commissioned by the new board to conduct the surveying.

<< PREVIOUS I NEXT >>