HISTORY OF G.A.R. CEMETERY
Compiled by Sandra A. Ray

On April 8, 1890, Peter Labedie, a member of the Confederated Peoria, Laskaskia, Wea and Piankashaw tribes, received a patent from the United States government for 200 acres of land. He reserved four acres of his allotment for "A Miami and Peoria Church." Because of a mistake in the land description, the patent was canceled and not actually granted until September 8, 1890.

This land, as was true with all allotments to Indians of this area, could not be sold nor was it subject to levy, taxation, or forfeiture for a period of 25 years from the date of allotment. However, the Confederated Peoria tribe of which Peter Labedie was a member, could have restrictions removed by special request.

In an article in the Miami Record dated November 24, 1899, the commander of the J.B. McPherson Post No. 11 of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was quoted as saying:

"We have this year bought 36 acres of land and had it surveyed for our city and surrounding county. We have reserved a plot for the use of the members of our post and their families and all ex-Union soldiers can secure a lot in the reserve."

Since the wounds of the Civil War had not been forgotten, it is not surprising that the same commander, a former deputy marshall for the United States courts in Miami, Indian Territory, and a staunch Yankee, should also be quoted in the same edition adding: "And while we cannot take our late foes into the post and thus give them a lot in the reserve, the post has taken the necessary action to allow all ex- Confederates to purchase lots in the reserve so that when our beautiful and impressive memorial services are held on each 30th May, their graves may not be neglected and that this tie may have a tendency to bind their children and ours together and strengthen loyalty to our government."

The land the post purchased was from Emily Ensworth, a daughter of Peter and Amelia Labedie. Peter Labedie had died in 1895, and apparently the original allotment had been divided among his heirs. Not included in this transaction were the four acres that had been set aside for a church. Of interest to note, is that on March 13, 1913, the United States of America granted to the trustees of the J.B. McPherson Post, four acres of land. This four acres carries the same legal description as the land that had been set apart by Labedie for the Miami and Peoria Church site.

The post's holdings in 1913, included 40 acres of land. A mortgage held for $400.00 on the four acres by the post was released on June 14, 1917. On October 10, 1917, the post sold the four acres to F.R. Millner and C.J. Fribley for $1,000 after they had established a funeral home of the same name in Miami. Two years later this firm sold the acreage to the Mitchell-Fleming Undertaking Company who had since acquired the Millner-Fribley Funeral Home. However, the Mitchell-Fleming Company did not remain in business long as the tract was transferred to partner Martin C. Fleming in 1923. A little later, the tract was then purchased by Virgil Cooper and given to the City of Miami to be added to the existing 36 acres given to the city by the GAR in 1910. The four-acre tract is today known as the Cooper Addition.

Transfer of the 36 acres to the City in 1910 by the Post was due to the ranks of soldiers thinning to the point where they were concerned for the future of the cemetery. The post appealed to the City of Miami to take over the ownership of the cemetery on the condition that it would pay $250.00 each for the remaining thirteen GAR veterans' burials. In 1926 when the contract with the GAR veterans was reaffirmed by the City, only eleven of the veterans were living.

It was believed that a son of Peter and Amelia Labedie was the first burial in the cemetery which would be a reasonable assumption since they were the original owners. If this is the case, he rests in an unmarked grave as no record has been found to verify this information. The Ottawa County Historical Society has since received information that the first grave opened in the cemetery was for the six weeks old child of Jesse and Laura Dragoo and who is shown in a family photograph taken in 1895. This information cannot be verified due to a fire in the late twenties or early thirties that destroyed many early burial records. The earliest marked grave is that of Atha Josephine Cardin, born in 1872 and who died in 1892. This would mean that she was buried soon after the McPherson Post acquired the Labedie land and therefore could have been the first burial.

Another early marker is that of a one year old child, Irene Isabel Thaxton, who died in 1897 and whose father once operated a ferry across the Neosho River.

Other events in the history of the cemetery include the observance of Memorial Day each year. In 1901, the Miami Record carried a special news story stating that decoration of the graves was to be done by children of the town. There was to be a band and everybody was to meet at the GAR Hall and go in procession to the cemetery. Miami was invited to make it a day they could look back to "remembering that on May 30, 1901, no grave in our cemetery was forgotten or neglected."

Mindful that a few old Rebels might be in town and hesitant to participate in the GAR ceremonies, the paper said "and especially are our friends who fought on the other side during the dark days of the rebellion invited to come and participate with us in this festival of the dead."

The observance of Memorial Day has never faltered and the cemetery staff of today, actually works from one Memorial Day to the next to keep the grounds in good condition. In addition, the cemetery staff works during the Memorial Day weekend to provide information and service to the hundreds of persons who visit to pay respect to loved ones and friends buried here.

In 1978, it was estimated that there were approximately 16,000 people buried in the cemetery though several rested in unmarked graves. In 1963, only 36 grave spaces remained unfilled in the charity (pauper) section that covered approximately eight acres, or one-tenth of all GAR property. This was designated as City land on burial records. Since October 27, 1966, these types of burials are now made at a cemetery located at the former Ottawa County poor farm. Information concerning these burials can be obtained from the Ottawa County barn located at 801 H Street NW or by calling (918) 542-3231.

A perpetual care fund was established in 1942 with a donation of $5,000. The interest from this fund helps to maintain the cemetery as do the fees charged for setting stones.

In 1948, Sunday funerals were discontinued except in cases of disease or epidemic because of labor costs and the additional burden to ministers.

In 1966, an $8,000 ornamental fence was installed on the half mile cemetery front plus a quarter mile at the south end. Previously, the cemetery had been surrounded by a stone and hedge fence. At that time, Lewis Arnett was acting sexton and K.C. Jeffries held the position of commissioner of parks and streets.

Fifteen British flyers who were in the RAF and died while in training at the Spartan School during World War II, are interred in the cemetery.

In 1956, the City of Miami officially combined the cemetery and park boards with George Francis acting as director until his retirement. The position of supervisor of parks and recreation is currently held by Mike Johnson. Daniel Welch serves as superintendent of the cemetery.

In February 1983, a regulation requiring concrete or steel burial vaults instead of wooden crypts was approved thus lessening the need for much repair to the cemetery since graves with wooden crypts were estimated to sink several inches after a rain and to sink twelve times during the first seven years of burial. Before 1983, cemetery crews were kept busy repairing at least 250 graves after a rain.

In 1945, a beautiful Italian white marble baby statue, forty inches in height, was obtained through members of the cemetery board to enhance the beauty of Babyland Circle.

1981 marked the year that the old stone cemetery office building was demolished and a new office for the cemetery as well as the parks and recreation department, was built west of the old structure by department employees.

In 1995, in order to upgrade cemetery services and records, especially with the growing number of families involved in genealogy research, work began on processing individual interment cards, barely legible old handwritten record books, and cross referencing of records to enhance accessibility and accuracy by putting all available information on computer. Also in 1995, employee Sandra Ray started recording the age and date of birth of those interred.

A ground-breaking ceremony was held in 1999 for a new above ground mausoleum consisting of space for 96 crypts and 48 niches. It was constructed from polished granite, steel reinforcements with granite roofing and a five foot surrounding sidewalk featuring a sculpted Hands of Prayer mural. The measurements are approximately 16' wide, 10' high and 50' in length. It is located in the Garden of Faith section and is the only city owned facility of its kind in Northeastern Oklahoma. Future plans include the building of another mausoleum with a chapel connecting the two buildings.

A ramp built by cemetery personnel in 2000 made the office handicap accessible and is in compliance with all ADA regulations.

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