Mellette County, South Dakota
Vital Records - Cemeteries & Gravestones
Butte Cemetery
Butte Cemetery
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Information was transcribed and posted from the book "Both Feet in the Grave", published in 1991
with permission from the author, Juanita Koskan.
Location:
Section 6, Township 41N, Range 32W - Corn Creek Township
History:
Butte Cemetery was organized about 1880 by Spotted Hawk and was Episcopalian in
denomination.
Cemetery Butte, as it was known in the area, is located on a high butte overlooking the
Corn Creek.
There was no evidence of gravesites on top of the butte however the store manager at Corn
Creek and a local farmer said there had been burials on top as well as a couple of burials near the base on the west side of the butte.
The Mellette County History book indicates that some of the burials were made in trunks and/or boxes and left on top of the ground.
Carl Johnson, SPA Grave Surveyor, remarked in 1941, "There is no upkeep as most of the relatives at this time are moved or dead. The appearance is poor, there is no fence, and no markers on any graves and no one ever visits unless it's for curiosity, or to find old relics."
with permission from the author, Juanita Koskan.
Location:
Section 6, Township 41N, Range 32W - Corn Creek Township
History:
Butte Cemetery was organized about 1880 by Spotted Hawk and was Episcopalian in
denomination.
Cemetery Butte, as it was known in the area, is located on a high butte overlooking the
Corn Creek.
There was no evidence of gravesites on top of the butte however the store manager at Corn
Creek and a local farmer said there had been burials on top as well as a couple of burials near the base on the west side of the butte.
The Mellette County History book indicates that some of the burials were made in trunks and/or boxes and left on top of the ground.
Carl Johnson, SPA Grave Surveyor, remarked in 1941, "There is no upkeep as most of the relatives at this time are moved or dead. The appearance is poor, there is no fence, and no markers on any graves and no one ever visits unless it's for curiosity, or to find old relics."
(transcribed, with permission, from the Mellette County 1911-1961 book published August 15, 1961 by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
There is an old Indian Burial ground several miles north and east of Norris. It is located on top of a high, rocky butte. Evidently, there were no graves dug and no caskets used. Instead, the bodies were placed in trunks which were placed on top of the ground, the lids closed, and rocks piled on top of them. In 1920 there were still a number of trunks still containing skeletons, mostly intact though the lids were all open. There were various articles -spoons, small bowls, some beaded articles, etc. One grave had no trunk but a wooden frame was set a few inches into the ground and extending about a foot above. This frame held three skeletons of different sizes, presumably that of a man, woman and child, perhaps a whole family had perished at one time.
At present nothing remains but a few piles of rock.
There is an old Indian Burial ground several miles north and east of Norris. It is located on top of a high, rocky butte. Evidently, there were no graves dug and no caskets used. Instead, the bodies were placed in trunks which were placed on top of the ground, the lids closed, and rocks piled on top of them. In 1920 there were still a number of trunks still containing skeletons, mostly intact though the lids were all open. There were various articles -spoons, small bowls, some beaded articles, etc. One grave had no trunk but a wooden frame was set a few inches into the ground and extending about a foot above. This frame held three skeletons of different sizes, presumably that of a man, woman and child, perhaps a whole family had perished at one time.
At present nothing remains but a few piles of rock.
Photo from "Mellette County 1911-1961" book
Cemetery Butte in 1913
Cemetery Butte in 1913
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