Lake Minnetonka (MN) Chapter members invested over 100 hours during June-September to restore grave markers at Shorewood’s historic Woodside Cemetery. Woodside is the resting place of approximately 120 veterans, including soldiers from the Civil War, World Wars I & II, Vietnam and other conflicts. The cemetery also includes the gravesites of numerous pioneer families who settled the area in the 1800s.
Chapter volunteers completed edging all veterans’ gravestones and cleaning those markers that were badly discolored. The gravestones of pioneers buried before 1910 were also edged and cleaned. In total, 110+ Woodside markers were restored.
Notable historical discoveries regarding the people buried here include:
• George W. Gideon (1844-1862) – Gideon was an 18-year-old soldier in Capt. Richard Strout’s Company B of the Ninth Minnesota Regiment. He was killed on September 3, 1862 in the U.S. Dakota War.
• Frank M. Worth (1840-1927) – Worth was a soldier in the 23d Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. He is a veteran of the Battle of Gettysburg.
• J.W. (Joshua) Howe (1845-1904) – Howe enlisted in Company F of the 11th Minnesota Regiment on November 11, 1864. His company earned the nickname “The Buffers” by guarding an important 30-mile stretch of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad used to move Union Army troops and supplies.
During their last work day in 2021, chapter members identified additional markers needing attention so they will be back at Woodside at least one more day in the spring. The chapter expects to identify another historic cemetery to restore next year as part of DAR’s state-wide effort to preserve history through cemetery renewal.
Kris Sittler and Barbara Schneider cleaning historic marker at Woodside.
Photo courtesy of Jason Jenkins, Sun Sailor.
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