This family burial plot was indicated on the ODOT Cemetery survey of 1978. The location indicated by ODOT corresponds to the D.L.C. of Robert Elder.

The following information is transcribed from the WPA Linn County Cemetery Survey, researched & prepared by Leslie L. Haskin on 1/4/1939:

[The following information regarding Elder family burials was included as a supplementary page to Haskin's WPA survey of Savage Butte/Bunker Hill Cemetery, located nearby]:

South, and slightly west of the Savage Butte Cemetery and at a distance of between one half and three fourths of a mile there are two unmarked graves. These graves are situated upon a low Indian mound not far from the banks of the Calapooia River. The exact names of these persons is not know except that they are a mother and daughter by the name of Elder. The mother was first buried there and local tradition, well supported, gives the following account of the facts-

Mr. Robert Elder arrived in this country at a very early date (185?). He left his family and went out to seek a good location. Finding good untaken land in Linn County he staked out a claim, 640 acres, as was allowed to a married man. The land which he chose was in Linn County on the Calapooia River including parts of Sections 8 and 17 in Tp. 13 S Range 3 west. He then returned to bring on his family but before they reached his claim his wife died. Nevertheless he continued on his way taking her body with him and buried her on the new claim so that he could say that he had a wife on the place and so hold the entire tract. At a later date a daughter was buried beside her mother. [NB: BLM database indicates the mother's name was Catherine.]

Mr. Elder married a second time and some of his descendents by this second wife still live in the neighborhood.

[end of WPA survey text]

Elder D.L.C. was located at 13S, 3W, Sections 7, 8, 17, 18. D.L.C. Volume 12, by J. Miles & R. Milligan, shows two burials on this D.L.C.:

Elder, Catherine Brown, b. ca 1820, d. 1 June 1852
Elder, Alvina/Alvira, b. ca 1843, d. 1850-1860

Link to a Topozone Map (use your BACK key to return here...)

Return to Linn County Cemeteries

Home

References used to prepare these cemetery pages are provided.
Lisa L. Jones prepared and is solely responsible for the content of these pages. 
Copyright 2001.