Mount Hope

Mount Hope Cemetery

Mount Hope is the oldest cemetery in Afton. It was dedicated the same year the village was platted, in 1855. It was officially assigned five acres; land donated by the Haskell and Getchell families, but the cemetery never grew beyong one half acre. Though there are some graves with larger monuments and fences, most markers are scattered throughout a wooded area. Borings done in 2000 by archeology people revealed as many as 60 burials with no markers. Sadly, upon my visit to this historical cemetery, thoughts entered my head of it being "Mount Lost". I was saddened to see that many markers were shattered stones, resting against the base of a tree in a last effort to save them. Who knows if this is even where the actual burial site is. It is such a shame that there is so little respect for the former founders of out little town, that they are nothing more than a stone in a pile of leaves...

As I mentioned, many of the markers in this cemetery are scattered and broken, from both mother nature and neglect. For this reason, a majority of them are unidentifiable, having only a small set of initials to begin with. I have listed most of them without the name, unless it is one that can be identified. They all deserve to be shown though, so I have pictures of all the visible markers in the cemetery. I have, however, been able to obtain an old record of burials in this cemetery. Unfortunately I would have a hard time matching them to the pictures I have taken. I have a link below of this list. Any further information I can obtain will be posted right away.

Babcock

included in the Babcock plot are: Bank Babcock, Bennie Babcock, and Benjamin Babcock

Benjamin Babcock served as a physician in Afton for about 10 years, and is buried alongside his two young children.

Berry

included in the Berry plot are: Charles, David, Henry, and Elizabeth Berry

Charles and Henry Berry are the oldest marked burials in Mount Hope Cemetery. They both died in 1854.

Cushing, Charles

Charles Cushing is one of four Civil War veterans buried here. He also owned Afton's second hotel and what is now known as the Afton House Inn.

Getchell, Charles and Electa

Electa Getchell helped her husband to plat Afton and gave it its name. It is named after Robert Burns' poem of 1789 "Afton Water". Her and her husband moved to Afton about 1850 from New England. Charles owned the Getchell sawmill in Afton, which he ended up closing in 1861 when he became a quartermaster (he ran the army supply store) in the Civil War.

Guernsey

There are many scattered broken stones in this plot. Known for sure to be buried here are: Bertha C. Guernsey, Edward H. Guernsey, George A. Guernsey, Josephine E. Guernsey, and Rolla A. Guernsey. There are a lot more stones in this plot, most unreadable.

McDonald, Edith O.

This young girl's plot is marked by a simple rock with her name carved into it. It is located amongst trees and brush, set further back from the rest of the marked burials. A death year of 185_ is barely readable.

Mitchell, Alpheus

Despite many attempts to research this individual, I have not been able to find out anything on who he is or his background.

Ott, Joseph H.F.

Owen, William J.

Despite many attempts to research this individual, I have not been able to find out anything on who he is or his background.

Palmer, Ann

Palmer, Goldy

Goldy was the son of J. and Ann Palmer. At the time of his death he was 3 years, 5 months, and 13 days old.

Paterson

This large monument bears no other names other than "Paterson". It is believed that there are several family members buried here, though any names or dates are unknown.

Putnam, Myron L.

Myron was the son of Rev. Simon Putnam. They both served in the Civil War, Myron being only 16 at the time served as a musician. He died shortly after his discharge.

Putnam, Rev. Simon

Simon Putnam organized Afton's first congregational church on June 24, 1858. It was ten years later that the church was completed in 1868. His parsonage still stands in Afton today, and is fondly known as the "Little Red House". He served as chaplain in the Civil War. His son Myron also served in the Civil War. Like his son, Simon died shortly after his discharge from the war.

Stouffer, Amanda, George & John

George, Amanda, and John Stouffer were siblings who all died within 3 weeks of each other. They died of "putrid sore throat".

Tierney, Patrick

Patrick Tierney was instrumental in getting Mount Hope placed on the 10 Most Endangered Historic Properties of 2002 through the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota. He served on Afton's City Council, and the city thought it fit to bury him here. He is the first person to be buried in Mount Hope since 1892.

VanVleck, Isaac, Willy H., and MOTHER

Wemple, C.A.
Despite many attempts to research this individual, I have not been able to find out anything on who he is or his background. There are no dates on the stone.

email me with questions at: valleycem@yahoo.com