and was known as a circuit rider, preaching at Spring Green, Lone Rock, Sandusky and other points. His circuit was 60 miles in length; traveling on horseback he made each appointment every two weeks. Rev. Haskins, was in fact, the first person to live in what later became the village of Excelsior and erected a saw mill but the village was not platted until 1867, though a post office was established there in 1857. On the marker for Mrs. Haskins the date of her death is given as 1885.

 Alden H. Avery was but 47 years of age when he died September 1, 1879. He was a mill owner, belonged to the Odd Fellow lodge and was well known in that section of the county in the Excelsior area. The mill property which he purchased in 1870, was located not far from the cemetery. It took on the name of Avery's mill. First built in 1855 by Alonzo Carson, it was sold to Avery & Langdon, and became the property of Mr. Avery as above stated. This property was a saw mill but Mr. Avery erected a grist mill in 1871. It had two run of buhrs. Following the death of Mr. Avery the property became owned by others. Samuel Yeager operated a chair factory there at one time. An interesting item in connection with the mill property was that Mr. Avery or one of the other owners put a high price on logs being rafted through the mill pond. These rafts came from upstream and were rafted down Knapps Creek from Excelsior to the Wisconsin river to be assembled in a large raft and floated down the river to mills on the Mississippi. Rafters objected to the high price charged by the mill owners so they got the state legislature to declare the creek open for navigation from its mouth as far up stream as Excelsior, also making into law the price that could be charged for rafts. If the law has never been repealed Knapps Creek is still open for navigation. All signs of the mill have long vanished. It was on the road that now starts at the Haskins cemetery, going southwest from county highway F connecting with highway W located on the Alva Miller farm, we believe.

 On the lot in the cemetery with Mr. Avery are a son John, who died at the age of 11, and a daughter Julia, who passed away in 1860. We could find no mention of Mrs. Avery upon the stone though we learned from marking for the son that her initials were "S. C."

 Close to the fence on the east side of the burying ground are the graves of members of the E. J. Langdon family. His first wife, Eleanor, is here buried. She died April 13 1873, at the age of 20 years. He remarried and, Cynthia, his second wife, passed away Sept. 27, 1879, at the age of 21 years and 19 days. A son, Guy, died in 1878 at the age of one year. Mr. Langdon was clerk of the courts at one time and resided in Richland Center. He is buried in the Richland Center cemetery by the side of his third wife.

 A tragic death by fire snuffed out the lives of Lillie May McKinney and her brother Charles M., children of Amanda and J. M. McKinney. Lillie May was two years and 13 days old when death came; Charles was three years and five months of age. Their deaths took place on December 15, 1869. The father had gone to Excelsior and the mother to the home of John McKinney close by on an errand, leaving the children alone. During her brief absence the lad and lassie scattered coals from the fireplace, the house caught fire and the children perished in the blaze. A double tombstone marks their burying place in the Haskins cemetery. It is now broken and cannot be read as 87 years have passed since the tragic event. Time and the elements have just about destroyed the carvings on the stone. We were in the cemetery in 1939 and then copied the inscriptions upon the marker.

 This covers the older, or south part of the burying ground. A burial has not been made in this part of the cemetery for a number of years.

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 Across the highway is the new part of the cemetery. It is not "new" as time goes. Some of the earliest settlers are here buried. We see such names as these upon the stones: Hathaway, Brown, Powers, Cox, Hysell, Adams, Faulkner, Pound, Dyer, Howell, Weldy, Meeker, Miller and McMillen.

 J. P. Gobin and his wife Mary, were no doubt early settlers of the area surrounding the cemetery. He was born in 1845 and passed on in 1926. Mrs. Gobin was born, so her marker says; in 1848 and passed on in 1939. Russell Gobin was born in 1842 and his death took place in 1916.
 On the marker for Frank Jones is this verse:
   "We cannot tell who next may
       fall beneath the chastening rod,
    One must be first but let us
       all prepare to meet our God."

 Joseph Cox, born in 1824 and died in 1914, is here by the side of his wife, Amanda. Mr. Cox was a Civil War veteran, a member of Co. D 92nd Regt. Ohio Volunteers. Hayes Keepers of Co. I, 12th Wisconsin is here. He went into the service on December 14, 1861, giving his address as Richland Center, and was mustered out July 16, 1865.

 B. F. Washburn, who had much to do with the village of Excelsior in an early day, is buried in this graveyard as is his wife Maria J.  Mr. Washburn was born in 1840 and passed on in 1910 while his wife, born in 1846, lived until 1928. Mr. Washburn was born in Illinois, came with his parents to Grant county in 1857. In 1864 he enlisted in Co. I, 17th Wisconsin Volunteers and served until being mustered out. He returned to Grant county and was, in 1865, married to Maria J. Hawkins. In 1869 he bought lots in Excelsior and later purchased a large amount of farm land, being at one time the largest real estate owner in Richwood township. He conducted a mercantile business at Excelsior for some time, interested in the mills, owned a wagon shop, and served as postmaster of Excelsior for several years. He also served in the state legislature.

 Samuel Noble, born in 1830, in Ohio, is here in the Haskins cemetery as is his wife Maranda, who was born in Ohio in 1840. Her maiden name was Maranda Ackley. They came to Richwood in May 1864. He owned at one time an interest in the Excelsior mills. He served as town treasurer of Richwood for ten years. Mr. Noble died in 1911 and his wife passed on in 1920.

 Joseph J. Taylor, World War veteran, buried here, was a private in the army, and his marker indicates that he served in an Iowa unit. He passed on February 15, 1918. Another World War veteran, John William McKinney, was, so his marker says, Sp. 3, 509 Quartermaster Co. He was born on November 9, 1934, and died April 8, 1957.

 Still another World War soldier in this burying ground is Hartzel Alderman, a Sgt. in Co. K, 128th Inft. Division. Hartzel was born in 1889 and died in 1919. A stone marked "Father" and one marked "Mother" are on the same lot. The father, Robert, was born in 1858 and died in 1934. Florence, the mother, was born in 1857 and died in 1939.
 William H. Powers has a flag on his grave and two guns crossed are carved upon his tombstone. Wm. was a World War II veteran who died in service in 1944. On the same lot is his mother, Mildred, and her name appears upon the monument. She died in 1948. When her son was to be brought back for burial, she then a resident of a Pacific coast state, made plans to attend the burial and in due time started for Wisconsin by auto. On the way here she was the victim of an auto accident which took her life. Her body was brought back and she and her son were laid to rest on the same day at the same time in 1948. The stone that marks their burial spot reads:
    

 J. W. Garner, is one of the "Boys in Blue" to be buried here and by his side is his wife, Mary. Mr. Garner was born in the Hoosier state, January 10, 1840, and in 1861 enlisted in an Indiana regiment, took part in 37 battles, taken prisoner at Johnsonville, Tenn. He was never wounded but of the 109 men in his company when he first enlisted, only nine lived to come home. In 1866 he married Mary Endicott and later they came to Wisconsin.

 Moses Weldy, born in 1843, and died in 1921, is buried here by the side of his wife, Amanda, who was born in 1842. Enoch Harvey and his wife, Harriett, are among those who found rest here. Enoch was born in 1842 and died in 1922. Mrs. Harvey was born in 1854 and passed on in 1911. W. J. Owens, born in 1842 and died in 1910, is here, as is his wife Eliza, born in 1913. A flag on the grave indicates that Mr. Owens was a Civil War veteran.

 John Faulkner, another Civil War veteran, is in this graveyard. He was a member of Co. A 22nd Wisconsin Infantry. When he entered service he gave his residence as the town of Richwood.

 Buried here is John S. McKinney and some of the members of his family. Mr. McKinney was one of the early comers to Richland county, born in Grant county on September 1, 1837, he came with his parents to Richland county in 1842, when he was five years old, when there were less than 20 white settlers in the county. In 1862 he married Maria Parish, bought a piece of land about a mile cast of Excelsior, built a log house. Later a frame house was erected. Mr. McKinney died on March 14, 1927. He was a good carpenter, built many of the houses still standing in Excelsior is well as the school house there. There were ten children in the family, only one, we believe, still lives. Mr. McKinney also conducted a furniture store and was called upon from time to time to make coffins. He also was a pioneer undertaker and many of the people in the Haskins cemetery were furnished coffins made by him in his carpenter shop. No doubt he assisted in providing undertaking service to many of those who passed away in the early days.

 A granddaughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Miles Randall, live upon the old farm. Mrs. McKinney, the wife, who shared the joys and sorrows of the pioneer days with her husband, was born in 1841 and passed into the land beyond the sunset in 1920.

S. F.

Page 149

Tales The Tombstones Tell - Republican Observer - July 31, 1958

 Charles DeVoe donated the land for the cemetery and in 1852 it was surveyed by Joseph Irish. The first burial was the body of Mrs. George Reed, who passed on July 18, 1851, before the cemetery was surveyed. Her given name was Almina, and she was born in 1831.
 There are many names upon the markers and monuments such as: Warner, Thompson, Bloedow, Vest, Stroschine, Bates, Fells, Hole, Wilson, Knapp, Nichols, Blackman, Rabine, Van Deusen, Carter, McNurlin and Marden.
 Many graves have no markers or monuments and there are a few of the older ones that cannot be read.
 There are more names Nee, Pellett, Ingmire, Hapgood, Parduhn, Draheim, Lee, Wood, Waddell, Frankenhoff, Schuerman, Dunn, Poorman, Nelson, Barnett, Hicks, Masters, Post, Heinz, Fitzgerald, and Kilby.

 Jacob Kuykendall born in 1848, and his wife Nellie, are here. He died in 1930 and she in 1929. William Snyder, it says upon his marker, was born in New York in 1836; came to Sextonville in the early 50s, died at his home near Loyd, April 29, 1907, aged 70 years, six months and five days. His wife, the former Elizabeth Warner, was born in Indiana in 1848, married to William Snyder, March 4, 1865, died at her home near Loyd, December 22, 1907, at the age of 59 years, two months and 22 days. On the stone it says:
   "Waiting for the loved ones who linger."

 H. H. Brittian, one of the early settlers of the Sextonville area, was a member of the U. S. Marine Corps. He died on April 14, 1896, at the age of 73. His wife, Esther, was the widow of A. J. Reed, who died in 1865. She married A. J. Reed in 1846 at Ottawa, Illinois, and they settled near Sextonville in 1849 and she passed away near Gotham June 8, 1907.
 Albert Ghastin, another of the old settlers, was born in 1829, and came to Wisconsin in 1845, settled near Sextonville in 1851, moved to Richland Center in 1882 where he died March 15, 1906. His wife, the former Eliza Coleman, was born in 1834 and died in 1927. Albert A. Ghastin, born in 1853 and died in 1925, is also buried here as is his wife Mary, who was born in 1857. He was a son of Albert Ghastin who was for many years, a well known veterinary surgeon. 

 Page 150

 There is a marker here for Harvey Warner, born in 1822 and died in 1883; one for Mary Warner, born in 1825 and one for Martha Warner, born in 1846.
 John Kuykendall and his wife, Jennie, have a monument. He was a Civil War veteran, born in 1844 and died in 1910. Mrs. Kuykendall passed on September 3, 1887, at the age of 39. On her marker is this:
   "We have no mother now
    That faithful heart is stilled,
    The voice forever hushed,
    The lips forever chilled.
    We have no mother now,
    She sleeps beneath the sod;
    Her weary heart's at rest,
    Her spirit is with God."
 There is a home made marker which reads:
     M. Manley
        60

 A veteran of the War of 1812 found rest in this cemetery. He was Roland Bush, born in Massachusetts March 12, 1793, came to Richland County in 1850 and died March 23, 1886. A flag marks his grave. His wife Harriet, is by his side. She was born in 1796, and came with her family to Wisconsin in 1850, passing on in 1885.
 "Weep not as you stand around my grave." It says upon the marker for Hugh Clinton who died April 20, 1885, at the age of 30.
 Eleanor Bailey, wife of Dr. A. Bailey, was only 37 years old when she passed away June 23, 1877.
 The Boyd family have several markers. Some members of the family are not here. Peter Boyd, born in 1819 and died in 1891, Mary Stevens, his wife, born in 1821, and died in 1892; James Henry Boyd, 1822-1911; Catherine DeVoe, his wife 1824-1897; Florence Boyd, 1854-1895; Charles Boyd, 1845-1858, all appear to be here. Adeline Boyd, wife of L. W. Cole, was born in 1843 and died in 1880, is buried at Republican City, Nebraska; Frank Boyd, born in 1860 and died in 1912, is buried at Gooding, Idaho; and Ellen Boyd, wife of Franklin Bush, is buried at Augusta, Wis. She was born in 1843. All this information concerning the family was gathered from the inscriptions upon the monuments and markers. Also on the marker for George Hoskins, who was born in New York in 1827, married in 1850 to Adeline Cole, kin of the Boyds, died in 1903. Adeline came to Sextonville in 1855 and died in Oconomowoc March 8, 1916.
  "A Gem for His Kingdom" is carved upon her marker.
 There is a stone here for John Collins, born in 1859 and died in 1951. Mr. Collins was an old hand at making sorghum and in season kept the pans boiling down at the county farm. He was also caretaker at the court house for some years. His wife, Eva, is buried on the same lot. She was born in 1859 and died in 1943.
 Charlotte, wife of W. H. Atwood, died April 15, 1864, at the age of 46 years, 8 months and 2 days. On her monument are these words:
   "Slighted on Earth but accepted in Heaven."
 Her husband had those words placed upon the marker.
 They resided on Bear Creek and moved to Sextonville where he operated a blacksmith shop. Following Mrs. Atwood's death he moved down near Eagle Corners where he died and was buried in the Basswood cemetery.
 Sylvano Bailey and his wife Lydia, were among the early born to come into the Sextonville area. He was born in 1804 and she in 1806. Mr. Bailey owned land a half mile south of Sextonville and the rock ledge is on what was known as Bailey's Bluff.
 Dr. William Telfair and his wife Sarah, are here among the friends of long, long ago. Dr. Telfair was a native of Scotland, born April 2, 1791; educated in the city of Edinburg and came to the United States when he was 25 years of age; spent some 40 years as a practicing physician at Cairo in the Catskill Mountains of New York. He came to Richland county in 1855 and lived at Sextonville until his death on  . . .