Show Unmarked graves braves are identified stones set tsy i u y La LaVon Von W Wall Vail WallAs As a result of an intensive community effort on the part parr of citizens of Jensen a long lived dream is about to become a reality reports Doug Chew chairman of the Jensen Cemetery Committee MR l CHEW said the Jensen Cemetery is an old cemetery having been used for the first time in 1892 when Stewart and his wife Parna early pioneers in the area designated about five acres upon the hill within their farm for a cemetery This plot was to be used for burial purposes without charge to any person Their intent was to provide a place for all persons whether the families could pay or not The first burial in this cemetery was the Stewarts Stewart's daughter This five acres served this purpose for 82 years a bleak dry area that seemed adverse to every kind of vegetation tion except weeds The reason no water available for irrigation Then as a result of the Ashley Valley Water system piped water was brought to the Jensen community in 1974 Immediately the lat late Curt Dudley and Mrs Blanche Wilkins approached the Uintah County Commissioners for help in piping water to the cemetery The com commissioners missioners agreed upon condition that the area be deeded to Uintah County as a county cemetery This was accomplished and a pipeline project was completed in 1975 The work was done by Uintah County digging the line and volunteer help laying the pipe On May 23 1974 A. A DeMar Dudley called a public meeting for election of officers to a committee for Cor the purpose of beautifying and improving the cemetery Mr Dudley was elected Chairman with Doug Chew Blanche manche Wilkins Ross Hoss Snow and Joe Haslem elected members for Cor a five man committee Under this committee committee committee com com- the fences were repaired around the cemetery that now had about graves Mr Chew cleared the area east of the cemetery of greasewood and weeds and moved a fence Cence to tomake tomake tomake make a larger parking area In July 1975 A A. DeMar Dudley resigned for health reasons and Doug Chew was made chairman of the committee com com- Merrill Merritt Snow was elected as the fifth committee member SOON SOUN UINTAH County purchased another five and one half haIr acres just wet west t of the cemetery from Vincent Brothers The land was cleared of brush and weeds by Adair Brimhall who furnished his equipment and labor free of charge Fencing materials were purchased and the area was fenced by persons providing help voluntarily Mr Ewell Edwards Gene Janes and Leo Snow furnished equipment and dug a water line into the new section Doug Chew and Joe Haslem laid the line and covered it On August 30 1975 Mr Ewell Edwards Commander of Jensen American Legion Post and members sponsored a barbecue and auction that r raised funds for improvement and beautification This W was lS a huge success and a check for was presented on September September Sep Sep- lember 11 1975 to Mrs Blanche manche Wilkins treasurer for the Cemetery Committee Another successful project was carried out when letters were written to people who had left the area but who had relatives buried burled in the Cemetery Here again volunteer services were given by Ila Ua Cowan who wrote the letters Through this project many people made contributions contributions contributions con con- to the effort Mrs Guy Stewart also solicited contributions from citizens in inthe inthe inthe the Neola area where she has a home When contacted Monday Mrs Wilkins reports that contributions are still coming in from interested people MRS MilS WILKINS reports that one problem encountered in the beautification project was the fact that approximately 50 or more graves were unmarked Some boasted only old weathered wooden headboards on which no inscription could be read Some nothing at all For years this has been of oC special interest to Mrs Wilkins and she and Mrs Eleanor Chew began research to learn the identity of oC the graves This work was carried out over a period of years Many many persons were contacted to get information in information in- in formation concerning the identity of these graves As a result all were identified except except ex ex- ept a very few Cew Inscription plates were obtained from Vernal Mortuary at cost and with voluntary labor concrete blocks were made for Cor these theme plates making a permanent marker These Thee markers are nearly completely installed at present Mr Chew commented that much has been accomplished because so many people have made such large contributions of ol lime time labor and money However much remains to be bedone bedone bedone done Including grass landscaping landscaping land land- and wrought iron arch type entrance way Mr Chew invites interested persons wishing to lo help with contributions con cone or labor to contact the Jensen Cemetery Committee Com or 1529 15 |