A historic cemetery, containing the remains of many people who lived in Nauvoo when it was in the height of its glory in the late 1830s and 1840s, is being restored.
Known as the Pioneer Saints' Cemetery, the property was recently acquired from the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, according to Elder Loren C. Dunn of the First Quorum of the Seventy.Elder Dunn, who as president of the North America Central Area heads Nauvoo Restoration Inc., said the cemetery is being restored in connection with this year's sesquicentennial of the founding of Nauvoo.
"In the work of restoration, we are trying not to upset the natural beauty of the setting," Elder Dunn said. "We have fenced the cemetery with a pole fence to make it as close as possible to its original appearance. We want to preserve the feeling and spirit of old Nauvoo."
Under the restoration program, visible gravestones will be set upright and kept from deteriorating.
A small parking lot will be installed near the cemetery, located just outside the east city limit. At the entrance, a small monument or statue will be erected. Elder Dunn said the nature of the monument is still being planned.
He said information is currently limited as to who was buried in the cemetery, although it is known that the grave of Edward Partridge, first bishop in the Church, is there. Also, he said the grave of King Follett may be in the cemetery. It was in connection with Follett's death that Joseph Smith taught much of the doctrine about exaltation and the three degrees of glory.
James L. Kimball Jr., a historian at the Church Historical Department, said it is uncertain how much land the cemetery occupied, but he estimated it to be about 40 acres. The property was purchased from William Marks, president of the Nauvoo Stake.
The exact number of graves is unknown. "After the Mormons left there, it still would have been used by the people in Nauvoo, although we don't think it was ever filled up," Kimball said. "We don't know the names of everybody who was buried there. Many of the residents would have buried their dead on their own property."
Kimball said when the saints first settled the area, people had been living there since the early 1820s, and a plot had been designated as a cemetery.
When the Mormon people platted the city, they found that one of the planned streets ran almost through the middle of the existing cemetery. Graves were then moved to the site on the outskirts of the city, now known as the Pioneer Saints Cemetery, Kimball said.
(ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)
Information wanted
Nauvoo Restoration officers are seeking additional information about people who may be buried in the cemetery. The information might come from diaries or other historical sources. Information is particularly needed about the location of graves, they said. Anyone with information may call Elder Loren C. Dunn at at (801) 240-5413.
