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Hope Cemetery (Bestland Cemetery)
Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho

Gilbert & N 8th St, Coeur d'Alene ID

Lat: 47° 42' 15"N, Lon: 116° 46' 23"W

Contributed by Maggie Rail, Nov 08, 2004, last edited Jul 07, 2006 [mrail@asisna.com] Total records = 9.

To reach it drive east in Coeur d'Alene to 8th, turn north onto 8th, when you come to Gilbert keep going one more half block and you will run into the cemetery. It is in a culdesac between homes at the end of the road.

The Best family arrived in Idaho from Wisconsin in 1893, about the time of the gold rush. This cemetery is on what was the Best Homestead. It is now located in the middle of a residential neighborhood.

This small cemetery is owned by Ronald L. Best. Although he is the sole caretaker for his family's cemetery, the weeds often are in charge. Eight headstones are visible upon entering the cemetery. There is a sign at the entrance that says it is an historic site. 1893-1914.

Note: Ron Best has now passed away. (Oct 03, 1925, d. May 21, 2005) The ownership is not known since that time.

It is said that it was once called the Bestland Cemetery. A sign is over the entrance made by a Boy's Scout group calling it the Hope Cemetery. I do not know why the name was changed.

It is in terrible condition. Weeds grow very high, and brush so thick, one cannot walk through parts of it. I may have missed a few markers, but I did my best. If anyone knows of a burial here I would be happy to add the information.

I walked this cemetery on Nov 07, 2004. I walked this using my digital camera and have a digital photo of each marker.

- Maggie Rail

Babbitt, John Tracy, b. 1836 NY, d. 1911, h/o Lucia Arora Perry, came to Idaho in 1892, English FH marker
Babbitt, Lucia Aurora, b. 1883, d. 1914, w/o John Tracy Babbitt, English FH
Best, Chirilla Addie, b. 1863 Algonac, MI, d. 6 Mar 1911, w/o Edwin O. Best
Best, Alexander Hubbard, b. Ohio, d. 1900, came to Idaho in 1893, FH marker
Best, Bennett, b. WI, d. ca.1910, no marker *
Best, Chirilla Ellen (Ring), d. 1904, w/o Alexander Hubbard Best, English FH marker
Best, Iva May, b. 1888, d. 23 May 1893, age 5yr, d/o Charles & Cora Best, English FH marker
Best, John David, no dates, age 30, (b. Wisconsin, s/o Alexander & Ellen Best, h/o Laura Gates), English FH chapel marker
Cook, Monty, b. 1911, d. 1911, 2 days, s/o Paul C. & Ruby (Best) Cook, English FH

Supposed to be at least one more buried here, but I do not have the name.