Fountain Cemetery
Bushnell, Brookings County, South Dakota
Fountain has been known as the forgotten cemetery - always overgrown and difficult to access. We began restoration in 2025 and by the end of the summer 2026, the cemetery had a complete overhaul. Wild lilacs were removed, headstones identified, dead trees removed and new trees planted. Most importantly, the cemetery arch was restored. There is always more work to be done, so donations are always welcome.
History
The land was deeded to the Fountain Cemetery Association by Oscar and Cornelia Gilbert and Palmyria Stevens (1887). The land is located in the NE corner of the NE 1/4 of Section 2 in Aurora Township. The Fountain townsite was one mile south and one mile west of the cemetery and three miles NW of Bushnell. It is recorded that there are 70 burials (68 confirmed) in Fountain Cemetery. Of the 154 plots available, 24 have been allocated.
Souls of Fountain
No pain, no grief, no anxious fear can reach the peaceful sleepers here.
Plot 12:
Grave 5: Anne M Jenson (d. 06/13/1891)
Dode, Jun 13 1891 Alder 18 aar
Dutch Translation: Died, June 13, 1891, aged 18 years
Plot 12:
Grave 5: Anne M Jenson (d. 06/13/1891)
Dode, Jun 13 1891 Alder 18 aar
Dutch Translation: Died, June 13, 1891, aged 18 years
Plot 31:
Grave 1: Anna (Annie) Pederson (d. 05/16/1902)
Grave 1: Louise Pederson (1887 - 05/16/1902)
Grave 2: Mads Christian Pederson (12/29/1842 - 04/22/1918)
Grave 3: Johanna "Mrs. Mads" Pederson (07/05/1847 - 11/12/1932)
Arrived to NY, Farming
Plot 32:
Grave 1: Niels Christian Nielsen - husband of Jacobine Nielsen, arrived from Denmark 1892
Grave 2: Jacobine Nielsen (10/8/1866 - 12/4/1903)
"Mother" Wife of Niels C. Nielson
Grave 4: George (Baby) Nielson (d. 11/14/1903)
Grave 5: Anne Nielson (1891 - 1895)
Born in Denmark "Asleep in Jesus"
One surviving child - Agnes
Plot 35:
Grave 5: Angus mcMillan (06/23/1801 - 10/29/1884)
"Kind Father" b. in NY, m. Abi Eliza Newton (1837 (D. 05/11/1852)
Children: Milton (1838), William (1840), Lewis (1842), Albert (1844), Isaac (1848), Sarah (1852)
Plot 61:
Grave 5: Robert McBride (03/10/1883 - 04/17/1884) (Babie)
Babie: 1 yr 1 Mo 7 Ds
Marker is leaning on McBride headstone
Plot 62:
Grave 1: Danar V. 'Dane' Hamlin (d. 03/21/1880)
Grave 2: Allen W. Hamlin (03/06/1880 - 03/20/1880)
Grave 3: Emma Ida Hamlin (04/06/1887 - 05/08/1887)
"No pain, no grief, no anxious fear
Can reach the peaceful sleepers here.
Plot 63:
Grave 1: G.W. Blaisdell (1831 - Mar 27, 1900)
Grave 5: Mina Kettels (05/14/1891 - 02/09/1892)
Geo. W. Blaisdell - Married Maranda Skinner (b. 1833) on January 1, 1873
Children: George M (1874 & Charles F. (1876)
Mina Kettels:
"She is not gone
But gone before"
Plot 75:
Grave 1: Elie Chamberlin (d. 1884)
Grave 2: Harriet M Chamberlin (04/27/1841 - 02/07/1884)
Eli Chamberlin Married Harriet in March 1863
Children: Mary A Lawrence, Merton Foster Chamberlin, William Edward Chamberlin
Harriet: Parents: David (1803-1863) and Mary Ann Bliss (m. 1830). Farmers of West Fairlee, VT
Plot 83:
Grave 1: Alexander Stevens (07/20/1818 - 11/29/1882)
Grave 2: Palmyra Beth 'Myra' (Davis) Stevens (July 1827 - 1903)
Alexander: Noted as accidental death. He was the oldest of his family.
The birth date is from the cemetery records: brother William Henry Stevens who was born 09/14/1820. His youngest brother, Charles M Stevens was born July 13, 1823
Palmyra: Donated the land for Fountain Cemetery in 1887 along with Cornelia and Oscar Gilbert
Married to Alexander Stevens: Children: William Henry (1849), Julia Ann Mary (1860), Susan Adelaide (1862)
Plot 85:
Grave 1: Jeremiah S Powell (03/30/1818 - 09/15/1886)
Grave 2: Mae (or Mary) Powell (1864 - 1884)
Grave 5: Blanche Farrest (d. 1886)
Jeremiah: Married to Marie Sally Park (1840 to 1842) m.(Vermont)
Married to Phebe A Salmons (1813 - 1853) m 1842 (Vermont)
Children: Emma (1843), Arthur (1847)
Married Susan Duncan (1825-1868) m. 1853 (New York)
Children: George (1857)NY, Julia (1858)NY, William (1861)WI, Mary (1864)WI, Fred (1868)
1884 - Moved to Brookings, Co., South Dakota
Mae Powell: (Mary?). JS Powell may have put his name on the headstone as the father, but it is illegible.
Blanche Farrest: Daughter of CM & SJ Farrest, age 9 mos.
Plot 90:
Grave 5: Pvt. Charles William Davis (1844 - 08/06/1914)
Veteran of the Civil War. Company H Reg 44 Wis. Infantry with his father, Henry H. Davis.
Plot 91:
Grave 2: Alexander Warwick Davis (11/17/1848 - 12/14/1926)
Grave 3: Caroline "Carrie" (McMclary) Davis (9/1850 - 2/1919)
Veteran of the Civil War (note age). Married Caroline McClary in 1872 in Wisconsin.
Children:
Mary Susan Alsip (1874-1938)
James Vernon (1876-1876)
George Oliver (1877-1964)
Maybell Etta Brelsford (1880-1952)
Albert Ray (1890-1908)
Sadie Ruth Hansen (1893-1961)
Plot 91:
Grave 4: Albert Ray Davis (04/11/1890-01/05/1908)
Grave 5: Hannah (Ford Shafer) Davis
Grave 6: Henry H. Davis (05/13/1814-11/29/1865)
Albert: Child of Alexander and Caroline Davis
Hannah Davis: Married to Henry H. Davis. Parents of Alexander Warwick Davis.
Henry: (Civil War Veteran): Pvt, Co H Regiment 44 Wis Infantry. Died in service in Tennessee of pneumonia. He was originally buried in Tennessee but his family requested his body be brought back to South Dakota to be buried in Fountain Cemetery. Son of Daniel and Sara (Albright) Davis.
Hannah and Henry's Children:
Sara Elizabeth (1842-1843)
Charles William (1844-1913)
Alexander Warwick (1848-1926)
John Wesley (1852-1855)
Plot 93:
Grave 1: Benjamin Burtrand "Bennie" Billings (3/29/1858-11/10/1894)
Grave 2: Mary Billings (d. 03/27/1897)
Grave 3: Relta E. (Blaisdell) Billings (1863-08/15/1888)
RPB and SVE: Children of Relta and Benjamin
Grave 5: James Wesley Billings (d. 06/29/1895)
Metal Marker for Billings daughter born 1873 and died 1886)
Benjamin: Born in Wisconsin to Sophronus and Sara Billings. Married to Relta August 16,1879
Mary: No additional information
Relta: Married at 16, one child: Edith May, died at the age of 25
Daughter born
Plot 94:
Grave 1: Vernie Elston (1887-1889)
Grave 2: R. Paul 'Harold' Elston d. 1904
R. Paul 'Harold': Infant son of R.W. & E.A. Elston
"He died on earth to bloom in Heaven"
Plot 96:
Grave 1: Anna Hayden
No information available
Plot 112:
Grave 2: Walton N. Spaulding (08/28/1881 - 03/11/1901)
Son of Walton Selwin and Eliza Arminda (Clouse) Spaulding.
Brother of Harvey E. Spaulding who died in a well cave-in.
Plot 113:
Grave 1: James Weeks
Born in England
Plot 114:
Grave 1: Willis A. Stanley (02/25/1872 - 04/12/1890)
Willis: Died at 18 years, 1 mo, 18days
'Tis hard to break the tender cord
When love has bound the heart
'Tis hard, so hard, to speak the words
We must forever part'
Plot 114:
Grave 2: Susan Elizabeth (Taurman) Stanley (1843-05/13/1905)
Grave 3: Charles Clifford Stanley (Feb 1844 - Apr 1929)
Charles: Civil War Veteran: Cpl. CoA 7th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry aka Charles Stevens
Children of Charles and Susan:
Julius Clifford (1869), James Robert (1870), Willis (1872), Adelbert (1876), Jennie Victoria (1877), Nathan (1877), Clennie Marion (1879), Stella Elizabeth (1882), Clifford Charles (1884), Minnie (1886) - twins - Emily Nellie (1886)
Plot 114:
Grave 4: Roy Repolgle (1897-01-13-1924)
Grave 5: Minnie E. (Stanley) Messer (11/08/1876 - 1914)
Roy: Son of Jennie Stanley and William E. Replogle
Draft registration for WW1: refused due to hump back
Temp headstone placed no longer exists
Minnie: (Daughter of Charles and Susan Stanley)
Married Martin Messer, Married Jon Stratton on 04/06/1911.
Daughter - Rubie Messer b. 1907
Plot 117:
Grave 1: Pauline (Koldowski) Miland (04/16/1866 - 06/17/1890)
Grave 3: Ewald Kaldowski (07/09/1859 - 11/21/1885)
Pauline: Married Theodore Johnathon Miland
Son: Ottomar Ludwig Miland
Ewald: Hamburg passenger list, ship named India
Kaldowsky v. Kaldowski
Plot 119:
Grave 5: George Brunell (Oct 1859 - 4 Dec 1884)
No additional information.
Plot 129:
Grave 2: Jennie Victoria (Stanley) Schrader (11/08/1876 - 04/06/1934)
Cause of death: Carcinoma of the Uterus
Son: Roy Repolgle
Plot 139:
Grave 1: Anna P (Barnes) Curtice (05/11/1829 - 01/30/1892)
Grave 2: Alonzo E. Curtice (about 1829 - 01/29/1892)
Anna: In Per 1880 census, Anna and Alonzo are living with their son John and his wife Mary and their children Earle J., Lena, and Earnest. Per her headstone, she lived 63 years, 7 months and 19 days. Previously lived in MI with children Collins, John W, and Mary (as well as Menzo not sure of birth location)
Alonzo: Civil War Veteran: Union, Private, 4th Regiment, Michigan Calvary.
Blacksmith
Plot 149:
Grave 1: Blanch Bennett (Mar 20 1897 - Sep 11 1898
Grave 1: Baby Rufener (d. 1898)
Grave 2: Flora Judd (02/7/1901 - 02/07/1901)
Grave 2: Francis Klimes (01/24/1915 - 02/08/1915)
Grave 4: Frederick Rufener (01/12/1842 - 03/27/1919)
Grave 5: Elizabeth (Rufener) BAllinger (1865? - 1897)
Blanche: 1 year old, Daughter of H. & A. Bennett
Baby Rufener: Grandchild of Frederick Rufener (assumed)
Flora: Father: Frank Emerson Judd, Mother: Charolotte Rufener
Francis: Father: James Klimes, Mother: Minnie Judd
Frederick: Son of Fred Rufener Sr. and Elizabeth Wyss
Born in Berne, Switzerland, arrived 1854
Married Mary Leanard in Fondulac, WI 1866
Elizabeth: No headstone
Father: Frederick Rufener Jr.
Sibling: Charlotte Judd
Plot 153:
Grave 5: Henry Theudas Vaughn (b. 1849 - 04/28/1919)
Henry: Born to Margaret Shaffer Vaughn. His grandfather was Feit Schaeffer and his grandmother was Christine Tucker. His father died before his birth. His mother died prior to 1855.
Newsclipping: A report was brought from Bushnell Monday that an old gentleman by the name of Henry Vaughn was run over by the power section car in that village and killed that morning. The old man was quite deaf and it is presumed he did not hear the approach of the car being run by the section crew (Brookings Register, May 01, 1919)
Souls without Marked Lots
John Engel (d. 1910)
William Foley (1868-1947)
Robert (Baby) Hamilton (d. 1904)
Baby Girl Loomis (d. 1912)
3 unreadable markers
Statistics:
65 Souls
5 Civil War Veterans
20 children died before the age of 1
4 died before the age of 5
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