Minden Cemetery
Encyclopedia
The Minden Cemetery, located in Minden
, the seat of Webster Parish
in northwestern Louisiana
, United States, has graves dating from 1843, seven years after the founding of the city in 1836. Some of the oldest marked graves date back to the era of the American Civil War
, but most are 20th century interments.
In 1864, the bodies of twenty-one Confederate
soldiers who died of wounds suffered at the Battle of Mansfield
were buried in unmarked graves in the cemetery. In 1936, an obelisk was placed at the site of the graves. Individual markers were placed near the obelisk in 2008 to honor the soldiers.
The last surviving Confederate widow in Minden, storekeeper Alberta Glass (August 25, 1845-January 8, 1937), is interred at Minden Cemetery.
In 2003, the Minden Cemetery Association began conducting an annual "Ghost Walk" to raise money for cemetery upkeep. The event features citizens dressed in period costume portraying some of those interred at the cemetery.
Prominent local citizens interred at Minden Cemetery include two U.S. representatives, four state representatives, a state senator from the 1950s, and twelve mayors who served since 1910. The tombstones of all of these persons are pictured in their Wikipedia articles, accordingly:
Mayors
Others
Minden, Louisiana
Minden is a city in the American state of Louisiana. It serves as the parish seat of Webster Parish and is located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish. The population, which has been stable since 1960, was 13,027 at the 2000 census...
, the seat of Webster Parish
Webster Parish, Louisiana
Webster Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is Minden. In 2010, its population was 41,207....
in northwestern Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States, has graves dating from 1843, seven years after the founding of the city in 1836. Some of the oldest marked graves date back to the era of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, but most are 20th century interments.
Location
Part of the graveyard is located south of Bayou Avenue not far from the downtown district. A larger section is bordered by Bayou Avenue on the west, Goodwill Street on the south and Rephart Street on the north and east. Rephart Street follows the easternmost part of the newer portion of the cemetery adjacent to the main artery of traffic, Pine Street. There is a traffic light at the intersection of Pine and Goodwill at one of several entrances to the cemetery.History
According to the cemetery website, historical accounts differ on when interments began at the cemetery. Many older grave markers were destroyed in a tornado on May 1, 1933. The first grave, the re-interment of a Mrs. Mary A. Smith on April 22, 1840, is unmarked, having been among the monuments toppled in the tornado. Two other early graves are those of Sarah Emily Pennell on September 13, 1843, and Samuel B. Harper on October 12, 1859. In 1854, the cemetery owners, Colonel and Mrs. John Langdon Lewis, deeded the property to the city of Minden. As of 2009, gravemarkers still existed dating back to 1843.In 1864, the bodies of twenty-one Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
soldiers who died of wounds suffered at the Battle of Mansfield
Battle of Mansfield
The Battle of Mansfield, also known as the Battle of Sabine Crossroads, occurred on April 8, 1864, in De Soto Parish, Louisiana. Confederate forces commanded by Richard Taylor attacked a Union army commanded by Nathaniel Banks a few miles outside the town of Mansfield, near Sabine Crossroads...
were buried in unmarked graves in the cemetery. In 1936, an obelisk was placed at the site of the graves. Individual markers were placed near the obelisk in 2008 to honor the soldiers.
The last surviving Confederate widow in Minden, storekeeper Alberta Glass (August 25, 1845-January 8, 1937), is interred at Minden Cemetery.
In 2003, the Minden Cemetery Association began conducting an annual "Ghost Walk" to raise money for cemetery upkeep. The event features citizens dressed in period costume portraying some of those interred at the cemetery.
Notable burials
Prominent local citizens interred at Minden Cemetery include two U.S. representatives, four state representatives, a state senator from the 1950s, and twelve mayors who served since 1910. The tombstones of all of these persons are pictured in their Wikipedia articles, accordingly:
Mayors
- Abner Drake TurnerAbner Drake TurnerAbner Drake Turner was a banker who served three two-year terms from 1910-1916 as the mayor of Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana....
(1877–1953), mayor of Minden from 1910 to 1916 - W. Matt LoweW. Matt LoweWilliam Matt Lowe, known as W. Matt Lowe was a merchant and public official in the city of Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana. During World War I and its aftermath, Lowe served two terms from 1916-1920 as mayor of Minden...
, mayor of Minden from 1916 to 1920 - J. Berry Sandefur (1868–1954), mayor of Minden from 1920 to 1922
- Connell FortConnell FortConnell Fort was a businessman and newspaperman who served as the Democratic mayor of the small city of Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in north Louisiana, from 1922 to 1926 and again from 1932 to 1934....
, mayor of Minden from 1922–1926 and 1932–1934 - Henry L. BridgesHenry L. BridgesHenry L. Bridges, Sr. , was a businessman who served from 1928 to 1932 and again from 1934 to 1936 as the mayor of the small city of Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana....
, mayor of Minden from 1928–1932 and 1934–1936 - David William ThomasDavid William ThomasDavid William Thomas, Sr. , was a Welsh-American "Renaissance man", journalist, university professor and attorney who served from 1936—1940]] as mayor of the small city of Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana.-Early years and education:A native of Cardiff, Wales,...
, mayor of Minden from 1936 to 1940 - John Calhoun BrownJohn Calhoun BrownJohn Calhoun Brown was a merchant who served from 1942 to 1944 as the Mayor Pro Tem of Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana, when the elected mayor, Floyd D...
(1879–1964), interim mayor of Minden from 1942 to 1944 - J. Frank ColbertJ. Frank ColbertJefferson Franklin Colbert, known as J. Frank Colbert , was a Democratic politician who served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1920–1925 and from 1944-1946 as the mayor of the small city of Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana.-Background:Colbert was born in...
, mayor of Minden from 1944 to 1946 and state representative - John T. DavidJohn T. DavidJohn Thomas David, Sr. was the Democratic mayor of the small city of Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana, from 1946-1955...
, mayor of Minden from 1946 to 1955 - Jasper GoodwillJasper GoodwillJasper Goodwill served from 1955 to 1958 as the Democratic mayor of the small city of Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana...
, mayor of Minden from 1955 to 1958 - Frank T. NormanFrank T. NormanFrancis Toadvin Norman, known as Frank T. Norman , was a Democratic mayor of the small city of Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana, from 1958-1966. From 1952-1958, Norman had served on the Minden City Council as the then public safety commissioner under the since disbanded...
, mayor of Minden from 1958 to 1966 - Jack BattonJack BattonJack Batton was a small businessman who served as the Democratic mayor of the small city of Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana, for a single term from 1978–1982.-Early years:...
, mayor of Minden from 1978 to 1982, city council member (1946–1962 and 1966–1978)
Others
- Harmon Caldwell DrewHarmon Caldwell DrewHarmon Caldwell Drew was a lawyer from Minden, Louisiana, who served prior to 1945 as the district attorney of Bossier and Webster parishes and then as a judge of both the district and the state appeal courts. His political career ended with his defeat by future Governor Robert F. Kennon...
, district attorney, district and circuit court judge - R. Harmon Drew, Sr.R. Harmon Drew, Sr.Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. was a fourth generation judge and a former Democratic state representative who was descended from pioneer families of Webster Parish in north Louisiana...
, city judge, state representative from 1972-1978 - Richard Cleveland DrewRichard Cleveland DrewRichard Cleveland Drew, Sr. , also known as R. C. Drew, was a judge of the state district and circuit courts, based in Minden in northwestern Louisiana. The Drew family was among the original 19th century settlers of the future Webster Parish, of which Minden is the parish seat...
, district judge from 1882–1900; 1904–1911, and circuit court judge from 1911 to 1913 - Thomas Wafer FullerThomas Wafer FullerThomas Wafer Fuller was an educator and newspaperman from Minden, Louisiana,who served as a Democrat in the Louisiana State Senate from 1896 to 1900....
, state senator from 1896-1900 and Webster Parish school superintendent from 1908-1920 - E.D. GleasonE.D. GleasonErnest Dewey Gleason, known as E. D. Gleason , was a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the Evergreen Community near Minden in Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana. Gleason served from 1952 until his death at the end of his second term...
, state representative - Mary Smith GleasonMary Smith GleasonMary Smith Gleason was an interim Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Webster Parish, who served from 1959–1960, after the death in office of her husband, E.D. Gleason.Mrs...
, interim state representative (tombstone included in E.D. Gleason article) - Fred HaynesFred HaynesFreddie Lynn "Fred" Haynes was an American football player for the Louisiana State University Tigers from 1966–1968, having climaxed his three-season career by successfully quarterbacking both the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans and the Peach Bowl in Atlanta in calendar year 1968...
, LSU TigersLSU TigersThe LSU Tigers are the athletic teams of Louisiana State University. They participate in the NCAA's Division I, in the Southeastern Conference. It fields teams in 14 varsity sports . Its official team nickname is the Fighting Tigers and the school mascot is Mike the Tiger...
football star - O.H. Haynes, Jr., Webster Parish sheriff from 1964 to 1980
- Herman "Wimpy" JonesHerman "Wimpy" JonesHerman "Wimpy" Jones was a businessman who served as a Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate from Bossier and Webster parishes for a single term from 1956 to 1960...
, state senator from 1956 to 1960 - J. Frank McInnisJ. Frank McInnisJesse Frank McInnis, known as J. Frank McInnis , was a judge of his state's Second Circuit Court of Appeal from Minden, Louisiana. In 1952, McInnis succeeded Robert F. Kennon of Minden, in the circuit judgeship which Kennon vacated to become governor of Louisiana...
, district and circuit judge from 1930 to 1953 - Leland G. MimsLeland G. MimsLeland Garland Mims was a Minden, Louisiana, businessman and civic leader who served as a member of the Webster Parish Police Jury from 1953–1976 and as president of the body from 1956-1973...
, long-term president of Webster Parish Police Jury - John N. SandlinJohn N. SandlinJohn Nicholas Sandlin, Sr. , of Minden, Louisiana, represented his state's Fourth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives from 1921 to 1937. In 1936, rather than seeking a ninth term in the House, Sandlin, upon the request of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt,...
, U.S. representative - Ada Jack Carver SnellAda Jack Carver SnellAda Jack Carver Snell was an American short story writer originally from the historic city of Natchitoches, Louisiana.-Background:...
, short story writer - Jimmy UptonJimmy UptonJames Saunders "Jimmy" Upton was a college and high school track star from Minden, Louisiana, who was inducted into the University of Louisiana at Monroe Hall of Fame. In 1971, Upton was a United States Track and Field Federation All-American hurdler...
, track and field athlete - John T. WatkinsJohn T. WatkinsJohn Thomas Watkins was a Democratic U.S. representative from northwestern Louisiana who served from 1905-1921...
, U.S. representative - H. O. WestH. O. WestHerman O. West, known as H. O. West , was the co-founder and later owner of a chain of thirty-three department stores in mostly north Louisiana and southern Arkansas...
, businessman
See also
- Gardens of Memory CemeteryGardens of Memory Cemetery (Minden, Louisiana)Other cemeteries named "Gardens of Memory" are located in Muncie, and Marion, Indiana, and Houston County, Alabama. There is an Erath Gardens of Memory in Stephenville in Erath County, Texas, an Oakhaven Gardens of Memory in Gibson County, Tennessee, a Resthaven Gardens of Memory in Baton Rouge,...