05/29/2025
HISTORY OF MEMORIAL HILL CEMETERY
The history of Memorial Hill Cemetery dates back almost to the time of the opening of the Cherokee Strip, September 16, 1893, when so many people made the run into these parts to secure the free homes that the Government was offering.
Among these pioneers was James Benningfield who made the run on a buckskin pony and laid claim to the N.W ¼ Section 7, Township 25, Range 15, West, six miles northeast of Waynoka. He then returned to Kansas and brought his family and father, Daniel T, Benningfield, back to this newly acquired land.
Daniel T. Benningfield then laid claim to the S. W.¼ of Section 7, Township 25, Range 15 West, which joined his son on the south.
Around these were settled other pioneers; some of whom were E. Eggleston, known as Lack Eggleston, George Bixler, Oliver Kelsey known as Had Kelsey, Herman Ferguson, George W. Ferguson, J.P.Dun, George Ferguson, G.W.Napper, known as Mack Napper, Charles Napper, Miles Hall, Chris Olson, Fredrick Hamel, William. Schmolcke, Joe Gooch, Jessie Shimer, James E. Frye and. others.
These early pioneers had the betterment of their community at heart and as soon as possible organized the Bethel School District and erected a school building, which was also used as a community center for years. Under its roof, entertainment, Sunday School, church, and funerals were conducted.
But all too soon, sickness came into this little community, then death. The first to be taken by the "Grim Reaper" was Mrs. Miles Hall, March 5, 1895. She was the daughter of Daniel T. Benningfield and sister to James. No place yet had been designated for a cemetery. The father said, he thought the southeast corner of his farm would be suitable place for a cemetery and church and he would like for his daughter to be laid to rest there. She thus became the first one placed there. Mrs. Mac Napper, the daughter of J. P. Dunn was the second June 19. 1895 and Mrs. Chris Olson the third in 1895.
These pioneers had a dream of a community church to be built there so a portion of land was measured off for the church and cemetery. A row of trees planted around it and a grove of trees planted on the east side, but as there was no church organization to sponsor it, the dream church was never built.
The death and burial of Mrs. Hall brought to the minds of these pioneers the need of some permanent organization to sponsor and care for the cemetery.
On May 31, 1895, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge number 32 at Waynoka, Oklahoma Territory was instituted, and disposition granted with the following names as charter members: George Bixler, E.Eggleston, J.B.Graves, S.C.Hanan, V.H. Johnson, James McGurn, Wm. Miller, G.M.Napper and W.H.Olmatead. James Benningfield, Oliver Kelsey and others soon joined.
Since several of the charter members lived. in the vicinity of this cemetery, they suggested to the lodge that it take the responsibility of it, and when the offer was made, they readily recommended the acceptance of this plat of ground for a cemetery and church.
On the 24th day of May 1897, Daniel T Benningfield gave to the I.0.0.F. Lodge Mo. 32 of Waynoka. Oklahoma Territory for cemetery and church the following described tract of land; commencing at the southeast corner of the southwest ¼ Section 7, Township 25, Range 15 West and running thense north on half section line 34 rods, thense west 32 rods, thense south 34 rods to section line, thense east to place of beginning, containing six (6) acres and 128 square rods, more or less.
Then on the 5th day of June 1897, by the consent of the doner, Daniel T. Benningfield, the word “church” was stricken from the document and tract designated for cemetery purposes only. The witnesses to this agreement were E. Eggleston and Lew Armstrong.
The tract of land was then surveyed, and plat made, and the document recorded in Book D.R.1. page 188, June 14, 1897, with the register of deeds, who was then J.M. Moor.
The county surveyor at this time was Thodore Benefiel, who did the surveying. He was very exacting and with the aid of Jack Eggleston, Mack Napper, Chris Olson, Herman Ferguson and others, each lot was surveyed with perfect accuracy by a surveyors compass end stakes set at each corner. Later bricks were sunk to replace the stakes. A team of horses and a walking plow were used to mark the line around the plat. In order to make a perfectly straight line, Jack Eggleston walked between the two horses and led them. He walked straight to the stakes set at each corner. Mack Napper operated the plow. In this way a. perfectly straight furrow was plowed from corner to corner around the plat.
The name chosen for the cemetery at this time was "Pleasant Hill but it was soon changed to I.O.O.F. Cemetery because of its nearness to the Bethel School House and the fact that so many funerals were held there, it was known to many as the Bethel Cemetery.
When the early settlers laid claim to a homestead, before they were given a clear title to the land, they were required by the Government to live on it a certain length of time and to improve it. However, they were granted the right to sell their claim to it, or relinquishment, as it was called.
Daniel T. Benningfield sold his relinquishment of this S.W.¼ Section 7, Township 25, Range 15 west to a Mr. Hardy. Thus Daniel T. Benningfield never obtained a title to the land which made his grant to the I.o.o.F. Lodge null and void. Mr. Hardy, in turn sold his right to M. E. Whipple. Whipple lived on the land the required length of time, improved it and secured a title from the Government.
In order to make their title valid, the I.O.O.F. Lodge no. 32 of Waynoka purchased this cemetery tract of land from M. E. Whipple, August 24, 1905. Mr. A.R. Phillips notarized this transaction. This deed was recorded August 28, 1905.
Mr. Oliver Kelsey, who lived just across the road south of this cemetery, took care of the cemetery books during the pioneer days.
As long as the early settlers lived in this vicinity, the cemetery was well cared for. After they were gone, it fell into a state of dire neglect. In 1912, the Sunday School at Bethel became active again as a union Sunday School.
The neglected condition of the cemetery weighed heavily on the hearts of the people that had loved ones there. The Sunday School appointed Alma Curtis and Maude Bixler to contact the officers of the I.o.o.F. Lodge to see what could be done. This they did and called their attention to the fact that the cemetery was in bad condition. The fence next to the highway was broken down and a number of graves were being lost, for want of markers. They told them, the Sunday School would sponsor either of these needs if the Lodge would do the other.
The Lodge chose the fence and agreed to furnish the wire and posts if the men of the neighborhood would do the work. So, the I.o.o.F. Lodge furnished the woven wire and posts for a fence next to the highway and the men of the neighborhood donated the labor. The Sunday School bought markers for the unmarked graves and sponsored clean-up-days. Eighty-four markers were bought from the undertaker.
J. B. Kepner and Mrs. Curtis and Mrs. Bixler saw they were placed at the proper graves. Thus, in the fall of 1927, all graves about to be lost were marked and a good fence erected on the south side with gates at the three entrances. At the center entrance was a high post at each side of the gate with the letters I.O.O.F. Cemetery high overhead.
The people responded wonderfully to the clean-up-days for a while, but with coming of the automobile which made it possible for people to go farther and attend the services of their choice, the Sunday School finally disbanded in 1937. The interest in the cemetery again became slack.
When the Rose Valley Neighborhood Progress Club was organized in the spring of 1951, they chose the I.O.O.F. Cemetery as one of their projects. Then with the free labor so graciously given and with what the I.O O.F. Lodge would contribute, the cemetery was again well kept for better than five years.
When the Pioneer Club became inactive, the cemetery was again a. problem. The City of Waynoka has a well-kept cemetery near it with a full-time caretaker. The I.O.O.F. Cemetery is five and a half miles away.
Most of the pioneer members of the lodge are gone and so few of the present members are interested in the upkeep of the I.o.o.F. Cemetery that the lodge decided that they would give it to the community in which it was located provided the community would organize an association legally authorized to accept it.
Accordingly on September 6, 1957, at 8 PM, enough interested people braved a very stormy night to attend a meeting at the Rose Valley School house for the purpose of organizing an association to receive the cemetery and. To handle any and all business pertaining to it.
The following officers were elected and empowered to incorporate the association and draw up a set of By-Laws by which it would be governed.
President-Harrison Olson, First Vice President-Mrs. Maude Bixler, Second Vice President-Fred Schmolcke. (Elected at adoption of the By-Laws.)
Secretary -Mrs. Estol Hobson, Treasurer-- Dean Bixler. A board of trustees were also elected consisting of the following: Miles Olson, Leon Hanan, Mrs. Raymond Buckland, Lester Hinderliter and Everett Buckland.
Donations were taken to defray the expense of incorporating the association and several pledges of one hundred dollars ($100.00) each were made by persons toward establishing a permanent fund for the
perpetual upkeep.
The incorporation was completed, and the charter was granted September 10, 1957, and the transfer of deed was made October 5, 1957. The name chosen for the cemetery by the association was “Memorial Hill” Cemetery. The new name and deed were duly recorded with the Register of Deeds, October 7, 1957.
The constitution and By-Laws of the Memorial Hill Cemetery Association were accepted at a called meeting Monday night October 28, 1957, and the second Vice President elected.
The By-laws called for the Secord Vice President and specified two special funds, a maintenance fund and a perpetual fund. The maintenance fund for present needs and the perpetual fund to be invested with a government insured company add only the income from it can be used.
In this, it is hoped that in time, the income from it will take care of the expense of a full-time caretaker.
All donations from previous lot owners, unless otherwise designated, go into the perpetual fund, also 50% from the sale or new lots.
This history was compiled and written February 1982 by a pioneer sister of Mrs. James Benningfield.
(Maude O. Bixler)
