Developing Town: Generations of Weavers care for cemetery
Sep 5, 2017Sources: The Trailblazer, History of the Development of Southeastern Idaho; It Was “Right Over there,” by Richard P. Dunkley, D.D.S., 1989; Whitney Centennial – 1889-1989 – Whitney’s First 100 Years. Judging from local historians the land known as the Whitney Cemetery was either donated or purchased from the farmer living closest to it, Alfred Alder. The earliest marked grave is that of Marie Benson who died March 6, 1890. The cemetery records do not begin listings until 1922, so research in that area is limited.AdvertisementJoseph Dunkley purchased land from Alder in 1914, and Joseph donated the land for the first road to the cemetery and later, traded and sold additional land for $250, for the road used at this time.The community of Whitney was the natural extension of the settlers in Franklin as they spread out and accumulated more acreage for their families and animals. As early as 1869 cabins were being built on their claims. Pioneer life was harsh and deaths must have occurred before the burial of Marie Benson. As was the custom, family plots close to homes were customary.There is the account of two young men who died at the hands of outlaws as they were attempting to investigate the illicit actions. United States officers employed Orson Sharp and sent him to this area of northern Cache Valley to run down the cattle thieves. The Trailblazer notes “he was killed by a member of the gang as he traveled with them along the Portneuf River. It seems that he got in with the band somehow and had planned to get some evidence against them, but they got him first; his body was never found. Hen Holt was also treated in the same manner, but was buried in the vicinity of Preston.”Gilbert E. Weaver moved from Millville, Utah, to Whitney in 1888 and became Whitney’s first sexton. The job of sexton has stayed in the Weaver family ever since then. Quoting Marcus Weaver, who performed the service for many years, “There has been a Weaver digging graves since 1888, when my grandfather, Gilbert E. ... (The Preston Citizen)
