Greenmount Cemetery has a history closely associated with that of Salem Church and South Quincy. The story of one could not be told without including some words about the other two. The fact is Greenmount Cemetery belongs not solely to Salem Church but also to South Quincy and indeed to the whole city and surrounding communities. It is the sacred spot for thousands of families from all walks of life and from every religious persuasion who have laid their loved ones to rest.
In April 1845, John Christoph Jung who was born in Ossweil, Wuerteenberg, Germany in 1819, became the pastor of the “Bergkirche”, as the first German church in Quincy was called. Around Easter time of 1848 Rev. Jung founded Salem’s congregation and served the church from 1848-1852. The congregation met in his home at 725 Maine and later in the Congregational Church building on the northwest corner of 5th and Jersey, where now we find the Quincy Herald-Whig. Under his leadership, the congregation started their first church building in May of 1848. It was a small brick building located on the northeast corner of Ninth and State Streets. The Salem Church building is still at this location today.
From these beginnings the Green Mound Cemetery was founded. The congregation tried in 1856 and in 1866 to acquire land for a cemetery, but the arrangements could not be made. The congregation tried a third time, in the spring of 1875, under the leadership of Rev. Simon Kuhlenhoelter. On June 8, 1875 Salem Congregation decided to buy a tract of land on South 12th Street, just outside of the city limits, for the purpose of providing a burial ground. This land is just east of South Park, on one of the highest and driest points near the city limits.
Minister’s Circle
When the first plans were made for the layout of Green Mound Cemetery, a circle area was formed to be the center or the heart of the cemetery grounds. This is Circle 3 and it is centered between Blocks 1, 2 4, and 5.
In the very center of this circle is an area referred to as the Minister’s Circle. This area has been reserved for ministers who have served the Evangelical and Reformed Churches and more recently the United Church of Christ and their families.
As of January 2001, there are six ministers interred in this area and four infants.
The first infant to be buried in this area was: Robert Leemhuis who died on September 26, 1916 at the age of seven months. He was the infant son of Rev. and Mrs. Henry J. Leemhuis. Rev. Leemhuis was pastor of Salem Church from October 1911 to February 1934.
Additional interments are:
Tristan Arthur Petzoldt who died on July 5, 1938. He was the infant son of Rev. and Mrs. A. S. Petzoldt. Rev. Petzoldt was the pastor of the St. Peter’s Evangelical church from l937, 1940. This church was located at 13th and Payson Avenue in Quincy.
Paul Schwantes who died on February 4, 1944 and Elsa Schwantes who died on November 21, 1944 are the infant children of Rev. and Mrs. Charles Schwantes. Rev. Schwantes was the pastor of the St. Paul Evangelical and Reformed church from 1939 to 1945. The church was located at 927 Monroe Street in Quincy.
Rev. C. Simon Kuhlenhoelter
Simon Kuhlenhoelter was born in Oberwuesten, Amt Schoetmar, Lippe-Detmold, Germany on 9 April 1820. He came to America in 1852. His first wife was Minnie Miller and his second wife was Laura Meyers. By his first wife, one child survived infancy, Mrs. John (Minnie) Nolan. There were three children from the second marriage: Laura, Clara and Ada.
Pastor Kuhlenhoelter was one of the first graduates of the Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Church in Marthasville, MO.
On June 6, 1860, the Rev. Simon Kuhlenhoelter of Cumberland, Indiana was unanimously elected to be Pastor of the Salem Evangelical and Reformed Church in Quincy. At that time, the church had only 47 voting members. (Only the male heads of families could vote). He assumed his pastorate in Quincy in August of 1860.
Rev. Kuhlenhoelter was instrumental in the growth of the congregation. In 1862, a parsonage was erected; in 1863 a 20-foot addition was built to the church; in 1864 the church was furnished with a pipe organ. In 1868 the church property was enlarged by the purchase of the adjoining lot on State Street.
On June 8, 1875, under the leadership of Rev. Kuhlenhoelter, the Salem congregation decided to buy a tract of land on South 12th Street, just outside the city limits, for the purpose of providing a burial ground for its members. This was the beginning of what was to become the Greenmount Cemetery.
An increasing number of immigrants came after the Civil War, especially from Westphalia and Lippe-Detmold in Germany. Rev. Kuhlenhoelter did not neglect this opportunity to enlarge the congregation. The church membership grew to such an extent that there was a need for a larger church building.
On June 25, 1876, the corner stone for the new church was laid. The new church was dedicated on September 23, 1877. This church building is still one of the most beautiful houses of worship in Quincy. It can seat l,500 people. The steeple, which has three bells, is 228 1/2 feet in height and is a masterpiece of architecture. This structure was the work of Mr. C. D. Behrensmeyer, contractor, whose watchful eyes insured excellency of material and workmanship.
Pastor Kuhlenhoelter suffered a paralytic stroke during the early church service on Christmas Day, 1881. He passed away on January 1, 1882 and was laid to rest in the Ministers’ Circle at Greenmount Cemetery on January 5, 1882.
Simon Kuhlenhoelter was the first minister to be buried in the circle area. Other members of the Kuhlenhoelter family are also buried in this area.
The following information was taken from the family stone:
KUHLENHOELTER, Pastor Simon C. 9 April 1820 – 1 Jan 1882
KUHLENHOELTER, S. Wilhelmina 10 Feb 1822 – 16 Nov 1865
KUHLENHOELTER, F. P. Simon 21-Sep 1863 – 1 Jul 1864
KUHLENHOELTER, M. Ada H. 16 April 1878 – 30 July 1880
KUHLENHOELTER, Maria A. 6 Feb 1861 – 16 Nov 1865
Rev. Carl Adolph Theophil Mysch
The Rev. C. A. Mysch, 82 a retired Evangelical and Reformed Church minister, died in his home, 409 North 13th Street, Quincy, on Tuesday morning at 4:55. (23 November 1943) He had been ailing for eight weeks.
The Rev. Mr. Mysch was born in Germany, February 16, 1861, a son of Rev. Bernhardt and Julianne Lenk Mysch, and came to America when eight weeks old. He was married to Martha Haack on November 23, 1888. The Rev. Mr. Mysch has served in the Wisconsin, Missouri and Illinois districts and retired eleven years ago. He was a member of Salem Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Quincy Ministerial Association.
Surviving are the widow, two sons, Herbert Mysch of Saratoga Springs, New York; and Cplt. Paul Mysch in the South Pacific; and four daughters, Mrs. Arthur Mittelberg of Fowler, Illinois, Mrs. A. F. Lang of Decatur, Illinois, Miss Lucia Mysch of Quincy and Mrs. Oscar Schafale of Marion, Illinois; 10 grandchildren; two great grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Hedwig Mysch of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and Mrs. Emma Weidemann of Kansas City; and a brother, Emil Mysch of Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
Carl Adolph Theophil Mysch was born in Scholowsky, Germany, a little village in the northern part of the country. He was the son of August B. Mysch who was born 26 November 1824, and the grandson of Daniel Mysch who was born 28 June 1879.
Carl came to America with his parents in the spring of 1870. They landed in New York after an ocean voyage of four weeks. The family then traveled by immigrant train to Quincy, Illinois and then crossed into Missouri and headed for Kansas City, Missouri. Not being accustomed to this climate, three of the children died in less than three weeks. According to a doctor’s advice, the family moved to the country. Later the family moved to Westport and then back to Kansas City.
In 1885 Carl had finished his study and was assigned to the Wisconsin District. He was called to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to be ordained. In 1888 he was married and lived in a little house in Richfield for 10 years. The family then moved to Cecil, Wisconsin, then on to Marinette, Wisconsin, then to northern Missouri. He then received a call from the South Illinois District and took charge of the congregation in Fowler, Illinois. Next he accepted a call from the Marion, Illinois congregation and remained there for six years. Next he answered a call to the Old Peoples House and Orphanage at Bensenville, Illinois to fill the vacancy of housefather. After a short time he next took charge of a church near Edwardsville, Illinois and stayed for eleven years. After 46 years in the ministry the couple moved to Quincy, Illinois to be by their children.
Martha E. Haack Mysch died on March 13, 1956 at the age of 90 years. She was laid to rest beside her husband on March 17, 1956.
Rev. James R. Bruder
The Rev. James R. Bruder, 32, who died Wednesday May 8, 1963 in Granite City, had been pastor of Zion United Church of Christ at Hamburg, Iowa and St. Paul Untied Church of Christ at Imogene, Iowa the last three years.
He was ordained in Salem Evangelical Church June 19, 1960. His widow is the former Joyce Spilker of Quincy. He had been in ill health for some time, but had been active in the Iowa churches until recently. He preached his last sermon Easter Sunday at Hamburg.
A son of Mr. and Mrs. James F. Bruder of Granite City, Mr. Bruder was born April 12, 1931 in Chicago. He attended Sacred Heart grade school in Granite City and was a graduate of Granite City High school. After serving four years in the Navy, he enrolled at Western Illinois University, where he graduated with honors. He was selected as a member of Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. He graduated from Eden Theological seminary in June 1960.
In 1955 he was married at Salem Church to Miss Spilker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Spilker of Quincy. Surviving besides the widow are a son, James William, age 2; his parents, and a grandmother, Mrs. Bertha Allen of Evansville, Indiana.
James Ray Bruder was the son of James F. and Claire (Allen) Bruder.
He married Joyce Marilyn Spilker on 20 August 1955. She is the daughter of William and Ethel (Schmidt) Spilker.
Mr. Bruder was the father of one son, now William James Bruder Winn, born 21 August 1961.
Mr. Bruder served four years in the United States Navy during the Korean conflict as a sonar man.
Funeral services for Rev. Bruder where held on May 11, 1963 with burial on the family lot in Block F. Lot #168. In October of 1987, Rev. Bruder was moved to the Ministers’ Circle.
Rev. Donald Schmidt
The Rev. Don Schmidt, 51, of New Canton, Ohio, formerly of Quincy, died Wednesday (January 5, l972) at 5:00 p.m. in Community Hospital in Salem, Ohio.
Mr. Schmidt was Association Minister of the Eastern Ohio Association of the United Church of Christ and had served as Assistant Conference Minister of the Minnesota Conference of the church. He was ordained December 26, 1954, in Salem Evangelical and Reformed Church in Quincy by the Rev. R. M. Schroedel.
Mr. Schmidt was born November 24, l920, in Des Moines, Iowa, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert B. Schmidt and moved to Quincy in 1921. He graduated from Quincy Senior High School in 1939 and entered Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis in 1951. He served in the Navy during World War II and before entering the ministry was employed by State Theater and operated Don’s Teen Town. He was also Youth Director at Salem for three years.
He married Erma A. Richardson January 19, 1940. He served as student pastor of the Ursa-Fowler charge in Adams County from 1951 until his ordination and continued as full-time pastor of Zion Church in Ursa and St. Paul in Fowler following his ordination. A new church was constructed in Ursa and an educational building in Fowler during his pastorate.
While serving the Ursa and Fowler pastorates, Mr. Schmidt was instrumental in purchasing the lodge home north of Ursa from Mr. and Mrs. Russell Shriver of Ursa for a year-round church campground. The project, originally undertaken by eight county churches, became the Ursa Retreat House. It was later sponsored by the Adams County Council of Churches. The project received support of the Moorman Foundation and has served groups of all ages in the entire community.
In 1957, Mr. Schmidt accepted a call to the pastorate of St. Paul Evangelical and Reformed Church in Duluth, Minnesota, where there was a need for a new church building. He became Assistant Conference Minister of the United Church of Christ in Minnesota in 1965.
Surviving are the widow; his mother, Mrs. Herbert Schmidt of Good Samaritan Home; four sons, Jan, Kim, Curt and Mark; a daughter, Lynn; and a brother, Russell Schmidt of Quincy.
Arrangements were handled by Zehender-Robinson-Stormer Funeral Home.
Mr. Schmidt was on the Board of Homeland Ministries, Associate Conference Minister of Eastern Ohio Association of the United Church of Christ and Assistant Conference Minister of the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ. He served the Duluth, Minnesota Peace Church for nine years and the Ursa, Fowler and Meyer churches for six years.
Mr. Schmidt was a Past Grand Orator and Past Grand Chaplain of Masonic Lodges in the state of Minnesota and Knight Commander Court of Honor of the Minneapolis Consistory. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Minneapolis, Minneapolis Consistory, Shrine of Duluth, Minnesota, Royal Arch Masons of Duluth and Duluth Commandery.
He was also a member of the Duluth Council of Royal and Select Masters, Pomona Grange of Ohio and Big Brothers.
Rev. Don Schmidt was the third minister to be interred in the Ministers’ Circle on January 10, 1972.
Other family members buried wih Rev. Schmidt are his wife: Erma A. Richardson Schmidt Harland born Sept 19, 1918 and died March 2, 2001 and two of their sons: Kim Schmdit born Nov. 10, 1948 and died Jan. 23, 1988 and Mark Schmidt born April 17, 1952 and died July 12, 1998.
Rev. Erich G. Bizer
The Rev. Erich G. Bizer, 94, a resident of Good Samaritan Home, formerly of 2212 Brookmeade, died Tuesday afternoon, February 20, 1990 in the home.
Mr. Bizer was born on August 29,1895 in Sigourney, Iowa, a son of the Rev. Konrad and Gottlibena Schaefer Bizer. He married Elsie L. Fruechte on August 29, 1918 in Eiteen, Minnesota. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 1988. She died January 4, 1989 at the age of 96 years. Her funeral services was held on Jan. 6, 1889 with burial in the Ministers’ Circle.
After graduating in 1914 from Elmhurst College, Mr. Bizer attended Eden Seminary, graduating in 1917. On June 21, 1917, he was ordained at New Albin, Iowa, in a ceremony conducted by his father. His first congregation was at San Antonio, Texas, where he remained a year. In 1918, the Bizers went to Lake Zurich, and he spent three years at a church there before being named minister of Salem church near Lena. In 1931, the Bizers moved to Zion Church in Hubbard, Iowa. His final full-time pastorate was at St. Peter Church in Frankford starting in 1943. The Bizers retired in 1962 and moved to Quincy.
While in Quincy, he served as interim and assistant pastor for several area congregations. Among them were churches in Fort Madison and Kakoki, Iowa, Salem Evangelical and First Union Congregational Church in Quincy, Mendon Congregation Church, Bluff Hall, Payson and Bethany Church at Tioga. He was honored in 1977 for 60 years of meritorious service by the Illinois Conference, United Church of Christ, at a reception at Trinity United Church of Christ.
Mr. Bizer was a member of Trinity Church, where he also supplied as pastor and taught adult Sunday school classes for many years.
Survivors include three sons, Dr. Raymond Bizer, of St. Charles, Missouri, Robert Bizer of Quincy and the Rev. Arnold Bizer of Alhambra; six grandchildren, Dr. John Bizer of Maple Park, Donald Bizer of Litchfield, Maine, David Bizer of New Braunfels, Texas, Douglas Bizer of Pittsburgh, Barbara Bizer of Collinsville and Cami Bizer of Alhambra; two great-grandchildren; two step great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Bizer was also preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters. Services were conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, February 24, 1990, in Trinity Church by the Rev. Robert Jacobs and the Rev. William Foose. Services were handled by the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.
Rev. Reinhard Schroedel
The Rev. Reinhard M. Schroedel, 85, of the Samaritan Bethany Nursing Home in Rochester, Minnesota, formerly of Quincy, died at 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 17, 1993 in the nursing home.
The Rev. Schroedel was born February 12, 1908, in Hoyleton, Illinois, a son of Max and Anna Schroedel. He married Frances L. Newsom July 19, 1934. She survives.
He was educated at Elmhurst College and at the Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves, Missouri.
The Rev. Schroedel served in churches in Montrose, Colorado, Marthaville, Missouri and Ferguson, Missouri before moving to Quincy in 1946. He was minister of Salem Evangelical United Church of Christ and was instrumental in the establishing Good Samaritan Home. In 1956, he moved to St. Stephens United Church of Christ in St. Louis, where he served until his retirement.
Survivors also include a son, Rev. Carl Schroedel of Rochester, Minnesota; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Rev. Schroedel was preceded in death by a daughter, Margot and eight brothers and sisters.
Services were conducted at 1:30 p.m. Monday in the Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home by the Rev. Rob Hartmann.
Memorials were made to the Salem Heritage Fund or the St. Stephens United Church of Christ in St. Louis.
Rev. Schroedel received his BA Degree from Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado. While in Quincy, Rev. Schroedel was prominent in religious, civic, educational and music activities. He was a leader in the efforts for the Good Samaritan Home. He was president of the Quincy Council of Churches and the Quincy Ministerial Association and chaplain in the Quincy Lions Club. Following his retirement from St. Stephen’s Church, he and his wife made their home in Hialeah, Florida.
Mrs. Frances L. Newsom Schroedel was born Feb. 14, 1907 and died August 17, 1998. She was laid to rest next to her husband.
Storm of 1902
On Sunday evening, October 12, 1902 between 6 and 7 o’clock, a terrible storm swept through the southern and eastern parts of Quincy and Adams County, almost destroying Greenmount Cemetery. The storm was first referred to as a hurricane, but later newspaper accounts talked of cyclonic winds.
Greenmount Cemetery suffered extensive damage. No part of the cemetery escaped the fury of the violent winds. Of the hundreds of soft maples, cottonwoods, birches, oaks, pines, etc – at least 500 of them in all that made Greenmount one of the most attractive cemeteries in this area – none escaped either total or partial destruction. It will take a hundred years to replace some of the grand oaks that were destroyed. The ground throughout the cemetery was covered with twisted tree trunks and branches. It was almost impossible to walk ten yards in a straight line before the path was obstructed. Scores of tombstones were overturned, but not a single stone could be found broken. Flowers placed on the graves by loving family members were scattered over the grounds. Hanging in the broken trees were a piece of matting, a child’s dress, materials from houses, fences and barns to the west and many other things.
The Rev. J. C. Kramer, whose Salem congregation is largely from the southern section of Quincy, was out bright and early the day after the storm, visiting the unfortunates and doing all he could to care for them. The damage to Greenmount Cemetery touched the pastor’s heart. The destruction to the beautiful grounds, in which he has laid to final rest so many of his people, affected him deeply.
The white Italian marble, “Peace”, possibly the finest example of the sculptor’s art in the city, was not damaged. It stands on a pedestal over the grave of Michael von Kukemezey, a major of the Hungarian army, who died here in 1888.
The column nine feet in height that stood on a pedestal over the grave of Rev. Simon Kuhlenhoelter, pastor of Salem church, who died in 1882 , was blown over by the winds. The monument and the stone coping around the lot cost Salem congregation $ 3,000. The monument can be replaced at a small cost and with no damage.