Note: I got the idea for this article after posting a sepia image of tombstones from an old cemetery in the rural country not far from where I live. Some were curious as to the age and such of them, and I recalled there being a story behind this cemetery and two children buried here.
"O bury me not on the lone prairie... Where the wild coyote will howl o'er me... Where the buffalo roams the prairie sea ... O bury me not on the lone prairie"! ......."It makes no difference, so I've been told.. Where the body lies, when life grows cold.. But grant, I pray, one wish to me.. O bury me not on the lone prairie"
This reminded me of the old western/cowboy song of which I posted two verses of above. I discovered this old graveyard while out driving in the country last winter. It was first started in 1873 by Irish settlers in what was then Dakota Territory. The historical marker at the graveyard gave the following sad story called The Foster Family Tragedy. 
After emigrating from County Donegal, Ireland, Robert and Lillie Foster settled into a little sod house about 3 miles northwest of this cemetery in 1872. Six of their 9 children shared the small primitive home. Within months, 2 of them perished in a savage storm. The winter morning of January 7, 1873 was unusually warm as Robert Jr. 14, and Sara 12 left their sod home lightly dressed, to go check on fox traps 1/2 mile north of their home. While they were out a ferocious blizzard overtook them without warning. Blinded and disorientated from the fury of the storm the two children wandered almost two miles searching for their home. Finally they wandered upon an old and abandoned sod shanty where they sought shelter. The blizzard continued to blast the area for almost three days. For weeks the grieving family searched in vain for the children. According to Foster family legend, neighbor Catherine Leao told her husband Daniel of her dream where they would be found. On March 15th he immediately located their frozen bodies. The children were first buried on the family farm and then moved here to Bethel Cemetery shortly after.
I'm sure there are many, many sad and tragic stories very similar to this that remain untold. This is just one small example of the hardships settlers to this area faced after moving here in search of a better life. Next time I complain of being cold while sitting inside my home with it's modern furnace, I hope I think back to this story and try to imagine surviving a South Dakota winter while living in a sod house!
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Comments: 32
I have found graves from back in the 1700's...The children's graves just break my heart,they died so very young.
It's amazing,the old house is still there.His sister went out there a couple yrs ago and saw it,even brought back a couple peices of wood from the house.Their Grandmother was 93 when she passed away 30 yrs ago.
Hmmm...Guess I should have emailed this,huh?....Oh what the heck..lol
Thanks for sharing!
When talking with friends and relatives in UK, I always give credit to the men, women and children who paved the way across our great nation with so little to help and guide them on their way. The United States of America is a big beautiful country and the weather is, at times, hard to contend with as opposed to some other countries, especially during those times.
Once, when I lived in New Jersey, our house and those around us were built on former farmland property. Next door to our house was a very small cemetery surrounded by an ol' stone wall and tall graceful trees which belonged to the people that developed and farmed the land. Although I'd always felt comfortable visiting cemeteries to pay my respects, the idea of living next door to one did not cross my mind. However, this peaceful spot on an upwards slope was just that, peaceful, calming and pleasant. I even tied a double hammock between two trees next to the wall on our side of the land. Once a year, a large number of descendents, men, women, and their children, from the original family gathered with picnics for a quiet and joyful day of keeping in shape this lovely little cemetery.
Thank you, Dan, for your well written and told story.
History Herstory
kindness and thoughtfulnees for those people. I know
it was hard for people back in those days. I've known
of many stories, true stories such as this one Dan. I do
thank you so much my dear friend for,' Bury Me Not, On
The Lone Prairie' this will stay with me forever.
~Barbara~
The inscription read "Abner Wood, soldier of the Revolution".
I never researched who he was, but often took a ride to the woods to sit by the stones and ponder the times when he was alive and of the time he was laid to rest in this peaceful hilltop, now overgrown with forest. People like Mr Wood are what reminds me of what it took to make this (what once was) a free country.