Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery, originally known as Minneapolis Cemetery or Layman’s Cemetery, stands as the city’s oldest burial ground, a silent witness to the lives and times of early Minneapolis residents. Established in 1858, this historical site, located in a bustling urban area, offers a unique glimpse into the past, narrating stories of pioneers, immigrants, and soldiers who shaped the city’s foundational years. While its name evokes images of military valor, the cemetery’s significance lies more deeply in its role as the final resting place for the everyday individuals who built Minneapolis.
From Layman’s Land to Minneapolis Cemetery
The story begins with farmers Martin and Elizabeth Layman, who arrived in Minneapolis in 1853. Like many venturing westward, the Laymans journeyed from New York, making a stop in Peoria County, Illinois, before settling in what is now South Minneapolis, near the corner of Cedar Avenue and Lake Street. Their entry into the cemetery business appears to have been almost accidental. Shortly after their arrival, a Baptist pastor approached them with a request to bury his infant son, Carlton Cressey, on their land. This simple act marked the inception of what would become Minneapolis Cemetery.
Officially opened in 1858, the Minneapolis Cemetery quickly expanded from its initial plot to ten acres by 1860. The Laymans’ farm and the adjacent cemetery both flourished, leading to the construction of a grand family residence across Cedar Street from the cemetery entrance. Affectionately known as Layman’s Cemetery, it grew to encompass twenty-seven acres, eventually holding the remains of approximately 27,000 individuals by the time it reached its capacity.
Alt text: A serene view of aged grave markers at Pioneer and Soldiers Cemetery, Minneapolis, illustrating the cemetery’s historical depth and peaceful atmosphere.
The Transition to Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery
The year 1886 brought profound changes with the deaths of both Martin and Elizabeth Layman. Tragedy struck again soon after when their house was destroyed by fire. Although burials continued at the cemetery, the level of upkeep began to decline. By 1919, the cemetery was full, prompting the City of Minneapolis to close it to any new interments. In the subsequent years, around 7,000 bodies were disinterred and relocated elsewhere, altering the landscape and history of the site.
In 1928, the City of Minneapolis formally assumed ownership of the grounds and renamed it The Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery. Following persistent appeals, exceptions were made, allowing for new burials within existing family plots on a case-by-case basis, preserving family legacies within this historic ground.
Pioneers More Than Soldiers: Uncovering the Buried Histories
Despite its name, the “Pioneers” designation in the cemetery’s title is arguably more fitting than “Soldiers.” While the cemetery does honor veterans, their numbers are relatively modest. Approximately 190 veterans have been identified within its grounds, including one from World War I, at least two from the War of 1812, twenty-one from the Spanish-American War, and the majority from the Civil War. Around twenty-five of these veterans are interred in a designated military section, while the rest are scattered throughout the cemetery. Among them is Civil War veteran Oscar Vaughn, who served in the 16th United States Colored Infantry, highlighting the presence of African Americans, possibly numbering in the hundreds, within Pioneers and Soldiers.
The vast majority of those buried here were early Minneapolis residents, the pioneers who built the city, many of whom were immigrants of modest means. The headstones, some inscribed in Swedish and German, reflect the diverse origins of these early settlers. Notably absent are grand monuments and the names of famous figures. The cemetery’s character is defined by its simplicity, with most headstones standing under five feet tall. Time and weather have taken their toll, leaving many markers tilted, broken, missing, or crudely repaired, adding to the poignant atmosphere of the site.
Alt text: Detailed shot of timeworn headstones at Minneapolis Pioneer and Soldiers Cemetery, emphasizing the age and weathering of the stone markers.
Whispers from the Past: Stories Etched in Stone (and Lost to Time)
Old cemeteries often serve as poignant archives of past hardships – revealing stories of epidemics, industrial accidents, and high rates of child mortality. However, at Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery, these narratives are often obscured. Many of the marble headstones have been eroded and rendered illegible by time and the elements, leaving many stories untold.
Fortunately, historian Susan Weir’s 2003 article in Hennepin History magazine shed light on some of these forgotten lives, drawing from the cemetery’s paper records. Her research unearthed touching and tragic stories: August Smith and Ole Shay, victims of the devastating Washburn A Mill explosion of 1878; Harry Hayward, infamously hanged for orchestrating the murder of Kitty Ging in 1894; Anna Clark, a widowed mother who tragically took her own life on her husband’s grave in 1909, after burying eight of her sixteen children. The cemetery also holds the remains of twenty-five infants from the Cody Hospital, a notorious “baby farm,” who perished in 1908 and 1909, revealing darker chapters in the city’s social history.
Weir’s statistical analysis further painted a stark picture of life in early Minneapolis. Over half of the burials were children under ten years old. The majority of deaths were attributed to communicable diseases, now largely preventable. Approximately 800 individuals died from accidents, with over a hundred from railroad-related incidents, and another 150 by suicide. Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery quietly testifies to a time when life in Minneapolis was significantly shorter, more challenging, and far less certain than today.
A Place of Reflection in Modern Minneapolis
The last known burial at Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery occurred in 1999. Despite its location amidst a busy, high-traffic urban neighborhood, the cemetery grounds offer a sense of tranquility and peace. The low headstones, numerous unmarked graves, and mature trees create an open, park-like ambiance, inviting quiet reflection. Recognized for its historical and cultural significance, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. Today, the Friends of Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery actively maintain a searchable online database of burials, ensuring that the stories of those interred are not entirely lost to time and offering a valuable resource for genealogical research and historical understanding. This cemetery remains a vital link to Minneapolis’s past, a place where the echoes of pioneers and, yes, soldiers, resonate still.
