Heller Cemetery

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Heller Cemetery (1868)
on Road M between Roads 5 & 6 south side

NW corner S2 T22N R4E, Bismarck Twp.
Located south of Wisner; associated with the Lutheran Church which was built about 2 1/2 miles east of the cemetery.

Cemetery notes and/or description:
On 14 June, 1882, before Christ Schwanke and S. S. Krake, Justice of the Peace for Cuming County, a warranty deed filed from G. A. (Gustav Adolph) Heller, his wife, A.B.C. (Adrienna Blanche Clara) (Von Drefson) Heller and Gustav's brother, Emiel Heller to Wilhelm Ehrenfried Frederich Heller, father of Gustav and Emiel Heller. The warranty deed established one half (1/2) acre in the Northwest corner of the North East one quarter (1/4) of Section Two (2), Township Twenty-two (22), Range Four (4) East described further as real estate used as a cemetery for the sum of Five dollars ($5.00).

Wilhelm E. F. Heller donated this land for the establishment of a Lutheran church and cemetery. Dates reveal Frederich Michael Heller, brother of Wilhelm E.F. Heller and uncle to Gustav and Emiel Heller, was already buried on this property given Frederich's passing in 1868. Further information claims Frederich Michael Heller carried some earth from Dodge County, Wisconsin, when the Heller family migrated to Nebraska. His wishes, at his death, was for the Wisconsin earth to be placed on the top of his grave. Knowing the earth would disappear given the Nebraska winds, Frederich directed the grave and Wisconsin earth be covered with concrete.

Earlier settlers in the county claimed Wilhelm E. F. Heller farmed and raised numerous sheep. Not being of strong Lutheran faith, Mr. Heller rarely attended church. Questioned about his numerous absences, Mr. Heller would use the caring of his sheep as an excuse. After the land was donated but before the church became reality, church members were in sharp disagreements. A vote was taken concluding since Mr. Heller missed services often, maybe the building of their church should be closer especially for those people who attend. Wilhelm E. F. Heller died before St. John's Lutheran Church was actually built. This church is built approximately 2 1/2 miles east of the donated land and current cemetery.

Descendents of early settlers claim more Heller family members were buried in this cemetery. They also claim, some family members were moved and reburied in the Wisner City Cemetery. To date, this point has not been proven.

-information from Cuming County Nebraska Historical Society