Towles Cemetery
In 1883 several small children of Dr. J. G. Towles, on whose land the cemetery is platted, died. He buried them in this corner of his land. In 1885 Jacob and Adelia Towles deeded the one acre of land for the cemetery for the sum of $3.00. Dr. "Jake" Towles was a medical doctor who lived one-half mile south of the cemetery. He also operated a post office in his home.The Towles Cemetery, located four miles south of Oldham in Wayne township, had been abandoned since the 1920's. A fence, badly in need of repair, surrounded the rank weed and brush growth marked with an occasional askewed tombstone.
In 1999 reconstructive work was initiated on the Towles Cemetery which consisted of fence, tree, and weed removal, grubbing out of shrubs, and spraying for weeds. Seven days in 2000 were used for general maintenance and major tree removal. During this time the majority of the headstones were displaced from their original locations. Dirt was transported in and leveled. In November, 2001 the reconstruction was completed. All the headstones were replaced in their original locations and stones that were damaged were repaired
When the reconstruction was completed a booklet documenting all aspects of the cemetery was presented to the Smith-Zimmermann Museum at Madison, SD for its archives.
NAME |
BIRTH |
DEATH |
OTHER INFORMATION |
Adkins, Elizabeth A. |
30
Dec. 1813 |
25
May 1897 |
|
Adkins, Joseph |
6
Oct. 1878 |
8
Mar. 1898 |
Son of L.B. Adkins |
Adkins, Marion |
19
Aug. 1839 |
19
Sept. 1900 |
|
| Anderson, Nellie | 1858 |
1902 |
Mother |
Belknap, Sarah R. |
l810 |
1892 |
|
Bronson, Bryon |
3
June 1849 |
10 Aug. 1920 |
Civil
War Veteran |
Bronson, Kattie |
1854 |
6
Oct. 1882 |
Wife of B.A. Bronson |
Carpenter, Lydia A. |
1812 |
1886 |
|
Davis, Archie |
1875 |
1895 |
Son of J.A. & N. Davis |
Davis, Cora E. |
Nov.
1872 |
9
Apr. 1889 |
Dau. of J. A. Davis |
Davis, Mother** |
|
|
Mother |
Gossey, Robert |
1800 |
16
May 1888 |
|
Halverson, Cornelius* |
23
Feb. 1904 |
11
Mar. 1904 |
Infant Son of Lars & Helen |
Haskins, Roscoe |
1
Jan. 1888 |
9
Nov. 1888 |
Removed to Oldham Cemetery |
Hills, Caroline M. |
24
Jan. 1831 |
22
Dec. 1889 |
Wife of W.W. Hills |
Hills, Ward W. |
27
Jan. 1825 |
4
July 1903 |
Civil War Veteran |
Johnson, Guy C. |
17
June 1907 |
9
Jan. 1908 |
Infant |
Johnson, Myron F. |
22
Jan. 1895 |
21
May 1899 |
|
Johnson, Sherman |
21
Sept. 1890 |
11
May 1905 |
|
Johnson, Soneva |
2
July 1836 |
19
Oct. 1909 |
|
Johnston, John H. |
1
Feb. 1874 |
11
June 1883 |
Son of W.A. & J.M. |
Kennedy, Della I. |
19
Oct. 1892 |
23
July 1895 |
|
Kennedy, Ray* |
29
Nov. 1888 |
25
May 1889 |
|
Kennedy, William H. |
31
May 1856 |
20
Mar. 1909 |
|
Lembcke, Lula |
|
|
Daughter of Fred & Maude |
Lembcke,* ** |
|
|
Child of Fred & Maude |
Lembcke, Minnie C. |
27
Nov. 1878 |
13 Nov. 1897 |
Daughter of J. & W. |
Levee, Earl |
30
Apr. 1888 |
15 Nov. 1888 |
Twin of Pearl |
Masiker, George E. |
4
Apr. 1855 |
18
Sept. 1897 |
|
Masiker, Lida |
20
June 1890 |
30
July 1890 |
Infant Daughter of George |
McDermott, Eliza |
18
Apr. 1842 |
13
Jan. 1897 |
|
McKinney, Goldiene* |
1911 |
1911 |
Infant child of Thomas |
McKinney, Myrtle* |
1904 |
1904 |
Infant
child of Thomas |
Richardson, Baby |
1
Feb. 1890 |
12
Feb. 1890 |
Infant son of H. J. |
Salmon, Nancy |
18
Mar. 1804 |
18 Oct. 1890 |
Sister-in-law of M. Adkins |
Smith, Evelyn |
20
Dec. 1888 |
30
Aug. 1889 |
|
Smith, John P. |
18
Dec. 1851 |
10 Aug. 1891 |
Killed by a horse |
Towles, several |
|
|
Children of Dr. Jacob |