Old German Methodist Cemetery

GPS Coordinates: 47.165984, -117.390612
PLSS Coordinates: Sec. 09 T19N R43E
Location: Rosalia, Whitman County
Record count: 6

Ownership: Whitman County Assessor Database shows this plot of land as being owned by Gelhaus Family Trust, and being described as, "Cemetery - Exempt".

Directions:

Identification of this cemetery was originally provided to Interment.net by Richard Morgan on December 30, 2000 (see original page here). However, Richard's location of this cemetery suggests it's located along US-195, close to where the present day, "Horn School Rest Area" is located. However, no other historical information has been found suggesting there was a cemetery there. Richard states the cemetery is located within Sec. 34 T20N R43E, which would include the rest area.

Our own research suggests it may actually be located at the GPS coordinates provided above, within Sec. 09 T19N R43E. The 1965 USGS Map for Malden, WA, shows a "Cem" located along the east side of Old Thornton Hwy about 3.4 miles north of the town center of Thornton. On Google Maps Satellite view, it appears as a fenced-in square about 200 feet from the road. It fits Richard's description as being fenced-in, and with an overgrown lilac bush.

Background:

Richard Morgan's original description of this cemetery...

Located on the highway between Rosalia and Thornton is the old cemetery that was established by the first German Methodist Episcopal Church in Whitman County. Eighty acres of land were originally obtained from the Northern Pacific Railway by (Miss) Barbara Horlacher in 1885. On Sep 2, 1891 she deeded about two acres for a church-yard and cemetery to Fred Widman, Jacob Blank and Christ Imhoff, trustees of the First Methodist Church. A small church building was erected, which was also used for school purposes.

On Nov 1, 1891 Barbara Horlacher passed away. She was one of the first to be buried in the cemetery. The old tombstone still stands, along with one for Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bauxan who also were early day pioneers. There are several unmarked graves. As far as is known there was a Mrs. Miller buried here, a Miss Martha Widman, and several infants. The old tombstones are partly hidden by an old lilac bush that has withstood the test of time.

On Jul 20, 1904 the churchyard including the cemetery was sold to Jacob Blank. On Jun 04, 1936 heirs of the estate of Jacob Blank deeded the old cemetery to Lena Blank, who is the present owner. --- by Lena Blank.

The has been cleaned up and fenced in, unknown how many stones are intact or moved. At my last sight, which may have been around 1980 there were about four or five stones in the area. I assume the old church building is the same one that is in our barn lot, used for storage. Lena Blank and her sister Lizzie have passed a number of years ago, both were ladies of the finest, as they use to say.

- Richard Morgan

Burial Records

• Tombstone Transcription, by Richard Morgan, 1980, (6 records)

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