We had a gig at the very fun Bavarian Blast in New Ulm in July of 2021. Naturally, I had to visit the local graveyards. Fortunate for me, three of the largest ones in the area are in very close proximity with one another.
St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery, New Ulm Catholic Cemetery, and New Ulm City Cemetery all share the same area, and abut against each other. Most of the graves I photographed were in the City Cemetery. That’s where you find the graves of local “royalty” including August Schell, the founder of August Schell Brewing Co., and Whoopee John Wilfahrt, the Polka King.
Quick facts: St. Paul’s has 3,600+ graves dating to 1854, N.U. Catholic has 5,900+ dating to 1862, and the City Cemetery has 6,900+ dating to 1856.
The tree trunk markers are from a life insurance company called Woodmen of the World, which formed during the American Civil War and is still in business. The City Cemetery had the highest number of Woodmen markers I’ve seen in one place.
There’s a lot of history in New Ulm, and the cemetery is full of stories. Including this mostly unknown one. John J. Laudon served in the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry during the Civil war, fought in the Battle of Prairie Grove, and lived to be 102 years old.
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