Superior cemetery established in 1883

Every settlement on the Plains had several requirements. The establishment of a post office, securing, if possible, a location on a railroad, schools, churches and places of commerce. One often overlooked necessity was a resting place for deceased members of the community.

Early homesteaders often buried their deceased family members on the family farmland as new towns were slow to develop.

Superior was no exception to this practice. William Loudon arrived in the Republican River valley in 1871. He first visited the valley area on the Kansas side of the river. He turned his attention to the fertile land north of the river in Nebraska. Nuckolls County was organized on June 21, 1871, under a tree at Oak Grove. Loudon returned to Illinois to purchase cattle.

Austin Collett, the foreman of the Union Pacific Railroad car shops in Omaha, and George Brown, a friend, dispatched a representative to southern Nuckolls County to select a half section of land (320 acres) for each of them. The two selected sites for which they paid $400 apiece. These two half sections would become the original north and south sites of the original town of Superior. Collett also purchased a quarter section just east of Superior.

Loudon filed on a quarter section of land adjacent. His friend , Louis Crabill, filed on another quarter section.

Loudon built a dugout in the first bottom of the river. It was the first dwelling in Superior. The first winter was rough. A fire started by a careless neighbor burned their hay crop. The resulting fire consumed the grass for miles around. Loudon brought loads of corn from Beatrice to feed his slowly diminishing herd of cattle. By the time spring arrived in 1972, he needed to replenish his herd.

Loudon’s uncle, Andy Bainter, arrived in the fledgling community. He was a carpenter and was soon at work building a substantial log cabin which would play a pivotal role in early Superior history. As a testament to his ability, the cabin still survives to this day, 150 years later, on the grounds of the Nuckolls County Museum. The cabin served as a home for Loudon and his family. It also served as the site of the first post office in Superior.

Louis Crabill was joined by his brother, William, and his family. William built a large log cabin. He then built the first school in Superior, a log room, located behind his house. One of the first students was Robert Loudon, who was William Loudon’s younger brother.

The trials and tribulations of the early settlers were numerous. Nature was one of the most unrelenting enemie. Praire fires destroyed stacks of hay. Storms were ferocius and deadly. Lightning could ignite prairie fires while ice and snow were killers.

The Easter storm of 1873 was one such event.

Easter Sunday, April 13, 1873, began with rain. The rain turned into a heavy wet snow. The temperature dropped, the wind increased. The storm raged on for two more days. Loudon harbored 14 people at his log house. He kept a light burning in the window so travelers could seek haven from the storm. His cattle, with the exception of six, survived the storm. His brother, Robert, was tending to the cattle after the storm passed through.

In March, 1874, Loudon purchased Collett’s west quarter section of land for $1,440. This was the site he chose to lay out the original town of Superior. Despite drought and a devastating grasshopper invasion, Loudon persisted with his plans for the town.

Loudon was joined by his parents, Robert and Mary, and his brother, Robert.

Robert died at the age of 17 in 1873 from one of the many fevers prevalent at the time. His coffin was made by William Schmeling. He was buried south of the Republican River as Superior had no cemetery.

Superior continued to grow. Loudon was a driving force. He established the first newspaper and was instrumental in attracting the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad to serve Superior.

The need for a cemetery grew apparent as the town grew. In February, 1882, the Superior Evergreen Cemetery was established. The Hans Brodstone estate sold a portion of their quarter section to the Village of Superior for $150. The original cemetery lies to the east of Highway 14.

The first interment in the cemetery was George Truax, aged 15. He was buried in section six, lot 1. Hans Brodstone died in 1881. He was subsequently reburied in the new cemetery in 1882. Robert Loudon’s remains were interred at the same time. He is the only Loudon buried in Superior. No marker graces the grave site of one of Superior’s earliest settlers.

A proposal was made to build a chapel at the cemetery in 1891 The chapel was completed in 1916. The chapel has been renovated in recent ywears and is still in use.

The Ladies Evergreen Cemetery Association was formed in May, 1910. The care and operation of the cemetery was turned over to the association by the Village of Superior. The association was disbanded in 1989. The care and maintenance of the cemetery was returned to the City of Superior Parks Department.

The east cemetery was the location of the only mausoleum erected at the site. The Kesterson family erected the edifice. Several members of the prominent business family were entombed in the structure. It was located near the highway, north of the entrance road. The structure was not maintained and fell into disrepair. The Cemetery Association removed the structuire at an unknown date.The occupants were buried at the grave site though no marker was erected. The location is section 5, lot 7.

The peony plantings at the cemetery were begun in the fall of 1911,, so they would bloom near Memoral Day. The tradition continues to this day.

The Ladies Evergreen Cemetery Association requested the acquisition of additional land as the original cemetery site was running out of lots.

The Superior city council purchased 10 acres of land, the same size a the original cemetery. The newly purchased land lay on the west side of Highway 14.

A new fence was installed at the west cemetery in 1929.

For more than 140 years, Evergreen Cemetery has been the final resting place for many of the residents of Superior and the surrounding areas. It holds the distinction of being one of the few cemeteries split by a major highway.

The cemetery weaves the story of life and death in Superior over the decades. It is also a place of peaceful respite for those seeking solace and solitude with those who paved the way for future generations.