06/27/2026
125 years ago today, on June 27, 1901, a group of Clay County pioneers met at the Plymouth Congregational Church of Kragnes, and organized what became known as the “Oak Mound Cemetery Association.” The church later took the name of the cemetery and was renamed “Oak Mound Congregational Church” some years later.
The following 14 persons made up the charter membership of the association: Alfred Olson, H. Jacob Nelson, J. Thomas Gee, Louis P. Simondson, Rev. Donald G. Colp, Alexander K. Johnson, Michael Higgins, Charles A. Swanson, Edmond F. Parker, Nels P. Nelson, Martin Anderson, Martin W. Gee, Gustave K. Gunderson, and Nels Larson.
The election of officers took place that day and the first officers were Alfred Olson, President; H. Jacob Nelson, Vice President; J. T. “Tom” Gee, Secretary; and Louis P. Simondson, Treasurer.
Many of the decisions which were necessary to get the cemetery started were made by these pioneers as they met during the year 1901, and all but six of these men were eventually buried in the cemetery.
Interesting to note is that the entire current executive board of the cemetery association is descended from or related to at least one of the charter members, and many descendants of the charter members still belong to the association.
Pictured here are the meeting minutes from that organizational meeting on June 27, 1901, and some of the charter members, all of whom are labeled.
