Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

This is a continuation of Block 3 of St. John's Cemetery. This part includes three more of the 12 unmarked graves in Block 3 – John Monahan, Alice DeGree and Crescentia Weimals.

John Monahan: John Monahan was born in September of 1853 in Ireland. The 1900 census states that he immigrated in 1883 and was living in Superior Township, Eddy County, N.D. and owned their own farmhouse. Living with him was his wife Catherine and six children; Rose, Susie and Lizzie, all born in Ireland, Kathryn, born in Ohio, and Edward and Mary born in North Dakota. His wife Catherine (born in May of 1854 in Ireland) died on Jan. 5, 1904. She was laid to rest in St. John's Cemetery and there is a marker. In the 1910 census, John and five of his children and one servant were still living in Superior Township, Eddy County, N.D. In the 1925 census, John had moved to New Rockford, N.D. and was living with his daughters, Rose and Kathryn. According to his death certificate, John was born in 1853 in Ireland to John and Rose (McGlinchy) Monahan. His occupation was listed as a farmer. He died on July 7, 1926 in the city of New Rockford, N.D. where he had resided for the previous three years. He was buried in St. John's Catholic Cemetery beside his wife on July 9, 1926. There is no marker. His obituary from the July 1926 New Rockford Transcript reads as follows: Pioneer resident of Eddy County passed peacefully to his reward last week – John Monahan answers call to the great beyond Wednesday – Infirmities of old age causes death as one of earliest residents of county – end of well spent life came peacefully – funeral services conducted at St. John's Catholic Church last Friday morning. Another of the pioneer residents has passed to the reward which awaits the faithful toiler in the vineyard in the person of John Monahan, whose death occurred at his home in this city last Wednesday night, death being caused by the infirmities due to old age. Burial services were conducted by Rev. Father Fay at St. John's Catholic Church at 10 o'clock last Friday morning, the edifice being filled with the sorrowing friends and pioneer neighbors of this esteemed resident. The pallbearers were old time friends of the deceased: William Steinbach Sr., Valentine Fertig, Patrick Boyle, Patrick Byron and Martin and Stephen Walsh, and the remains were consigned to their last resting place in the Calvary (St. John's) cemetery north of this city.

Deceased leaves to mourn his passing away five daughters, one son and two grandchildren; Rose, Elizabeth and Kathryn Monahan of this city; Edward J. of Warwick, N.D.; Mrs. M.E. Kremer of Sykeston, N.D. and Mrs. J. F. Byron of this city (New Rockford).

John Monahan was a native of Ireland and settled in Eddy County in the early eighties. He was actively engaged in farming south of this city until three years ago, when he moved to this city (New Rockford, N.D.) and has made his home with his daughters here since that time. His health began to fail about two years ago, although he did not complain as he had no suffering and it was only the last three weeks that he was in bed. He retained his mental faculties until the end, and was conscious of all that went on about him until the end.

Deceased was highly esteemed by all those having the pleasure of his acquaintance, both old and young. In the early days of pioneering when neighbors were few and far between, the Monahan home was a pleasant gathering place for the community, with a sincere welcome to those in need and a sympathetic word and kindly help in the time of trouble. The many pioneers sincerely regret the passing away of this estimable resident of Eddy County and extend to his sorrowing children their heartfelt sympathy in their hour of deep sorrow.

Alice DeGree 1925: Alice Mary (Burke) DeGree was born on Aug. 23, 1893 in Arthur, Cass County, N.D. to Lawrence Henry and Sarah Anna (Cooney) Burke. In the 1900 and 1910 censuses, Alice was living with her parents, Lawrence and Sarah and four sibling brothers: Thomas, John, Elmer and Arthur; and sister Margaret in the township of Erie, Cass County, N.D. Her dad's occupation was listed as general farm laborer. In the 1920 census, Alice was living with her parents and one brother, Arthur, in the city of New Rockford, N.D. Alice's occupation was listed as a telephone operator. Alice married Fred James DeGree on Jan. 3, 1923. Her death certificate states she died on Jan. 2, 1925 in the city of New Rockford, N.D. where she had resided for 11 years. She was buried in St. John's (Calvary) Cemetery in New Rockford, N.D. She does have a marker. Her obituary from the January 1925 New Rockford Transcript reads as follows: Beloved resident of city passed away on New Year – Mrs. Fred DeGree victim of dread disease Tuberculosis after short illness – Funeral held Monday at Catholic Church – Deceased leaves husband, Parents and four brothers to mourn her departure. Mrs. Fred DeGree died last Thursday night from tuberculosis with which she had been ill for some seven weeks, death occurring during the hours while she slept, the Angel of Death coming peacefully. Funeral services were conducted at the St. John's Catholic Church Monday morning, the edifice being crowded to the doors by the sorrowing friends of the deceased, the funeral services being conducted by Father Fay assisted by Father Corcoran of Enderlin and Father Hart. The floral offerings were many and beautiful attesting the high esteem of the community for the one who had taken the journey to that realm from which no traveler returns. The remains were interned in the Calvary (St. John's) cemetery north of this city. She leaves to mourn her departure besides her husband, her aged parents, Mr. and Mrs. L.H. Burke, four brothers, Elmer, John Thomas and Arthur, and a large concourse of warm friends. To the immediate relatives the sincere sympathy of the community is extended in their hour of deep sorrow.

Crescentia Weimals: Crescentia Cecelia Weimals was born April 19, 1898 to John and Anna Marie Weimals in New Rockford Township, Eddy County, N.D. The spelling of Weimals was either Weimals or Wiemals. In the 1900 census, she was living with her parents (John and Anna Marie) and six siblings: Clement, Leo, Alfonsus, Ludwina, Veronica and Clothilda. She was two years old. In the 1920 census, she was living with her parents in New Rockford Township, Eddy County, N.D. and seven siblings, Philip having been added to the family. She was 13 years old and attending school. In the 1920 census, she was living in the city of New Rockford, N.D. with three siblings, Ludwina, Leo and Clothilda. Leo was working as a plumber. Crescentia married Harold R. Ruffridge on Aug. 21, 1922 in Hennepin County, Minn. Her death certificate states she died on Nov. 20, 1927 at the age of 29 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minn. She is buried in St. John's Catholic Cemetery. She has no marker. Her obituary from the Dec. 2, 1927 New Rockford Transcript reads as follows: Former resident of this city died in Minneapolis – Funeral services over remains of Mrs. Harold R. Ruffridge held here last Saturday – Death occurred from septic poisoning – large concourse of sorrowing friends attend last sad rites over remains.

Funeral services over the remains of Mrs. Harold Ruffridge, whose death from septic poisoning occurred at her home in Minneapolis at 6:20 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, were held at St. John's Catholic Church in this city Saturday morning at nine o'clock, Rev. Cullen officiating. A large concourse of sorrowing friends of the deceased and her immediate family attended the last sad rites and the funeral procession to Calvary (St. John's) cemetery was a long one. Crescentia Cecelia Weimals was born in this city on April 10, 1899, and was therefore 28 years of age at the time of her death. Her girlhood days were all spent in this city, and on Aug. 22, 1922, she was united in marriage to Harold R. Ruffridge, the young couple leaving for Minneapolis soon after their marriage and have made their home there ever since. Her final illness was of short duration and death was very unexpected. She leaves to mourn her departure besides her husband, three sisters, Ludwina and Clothilda of San Francisco, and Mrs. W.P. Bowen of Lindsey, Calif.; three brothers also survive, Clement C. of Hazelton, N.D., Leo of Racine, Wisc., and Philip of Billings, Mont., all of whom were present at the last sad rites over the mortal remains of their beloved sister.

During her many years of residence in this city previous to leaving for Minneapolis, deceased was a popular member of the younger circle and she leaves a large concourse of friends who sincerely mourn her departure to the unknown shore in the bloom of her young womanhood. To the young husband bereft and to her brothers and sisters the sincere sympathy of the community is extended in their hour of deep sorrow.