Fairview Cemetery is at the top of Oakland Avenue in Council Bluffs. The address is 308 Lafayette Avenue, Council Bluffs, IA, 51503. It was originally called the “Old Burying Grounds” because many Indians are buried here along with about 300 Mormons. The stones reflect the names of some of Council Bluffs’ most prominent early citizens.
Near the entrance to Fairview Cemetery, lying at opposite ends of Lafayette Street are the Lincoln Monument and the Ruth Anne Dodge Memorial. The Lincoln Monument was erected in 1911 on the spot where Abraham Lincoln stood in 1859 and chose Omaha as the eastern terminus of the Transcontinental Railway. The Ruth Anne Dodge Memorial is commonly called the “Black Angel.” It was commissioned as a memorial to General Grenville M. Dodge‘s wife. The bronze statue was created by sculptor Daniel Chester French, who is known for”The Seated Lincoln” in Washington, DC.
Below taken from “History of Pottawattamie County” of 1907
Few cities have more beautiful spots for the repose of their departed friends than Council Bluffs. Nature had already clothed them with native trees, making them, in reality, parks, while the grass was sprinkled with beautiful wild flowers.
Fairview is rightly named, as its crest rises to a height of two hundred and fifty feet, commanding a view second only to that obtained from Fairmount Park, and sloping down each way forms delightful ravines. The first settlers were quick to observe this and immediately appropriated it, while yet it belonged to the government. Later, when a title was obtained, a company was formed, the ground surveyed and platted. Then beautiful and costly monuments began to appear.
It seems that even here there is an aristocracy. In sight of the massive granite and marble monuments of the wealthy departed are hundreds of modest graves, where just as loving hands have adorned them according to their means, and undoubtedly their occupants rest as peacefully as the others. it seems to be natural for people to select hills on which to bury their dead. The first burial place found in the vicinity of Council Bluffs was on a high bluff near the Mynster Spring, where were the bones of hundreds of people supposed to be of Indians, of all ages and all mixed together and covered only to a depth of from one to two feet. The next was established after the advent of the white man, where the Pierce Street school now stands [in 1907]. This was also an Indian burying ground and established after the mission was started among them, as shown by the Christian emblems found in the graves when the remains were removed. What is now Fairview was next and was started by the Mormons. The ground at that time belonged the government and was appropriated by whoever saw fit, as before stated. Later, a few bodies were buried around the little frame church that stood on Pierce Street in the rear of the Ogden House, but these were soon removed many years ago. Fairview, being the oldest and nearest, has yet the greatest number of graves, especially of the old settlers.
At the norther part, on the highest point is the soldier’s burial place, in the center of which is the Kinsman monument, surrounded by the graves of his comrades. [Note: The large marble obelisk is surrounded by the graves of several Civil War soldiers and is “guarded” by four Civil War cannon (all disarmed).] This part is especially intended for such as had no lots of their own, and many soldiers are buried on their family lots. Among these are Dr. Henry Osborn, surgeon, Major Lyman, Dr. Alex Shoemaker, Harmon Shoemaker, Colonel Addison Cochran and many others. Some years ago, an attempt was made to enjoin the burial of more bodies here, claiming it would contaminate the water of the city, but since establishing the water works this objection is removed.
For information about this cemetery or pictures of headstones, please email the PCGS for assistance.
Fairview Cemetery at Find a Grave and Iowa Gravestone Project.