Olivia Cemetery

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker at Olivia Cemetery has to say, and it's a story worth hearing all the way to the end. Sometime in 1892, a reverend by the name of Carl J. E.

Haterius made his way down from Galesburg, Illinois, with a vision in his pocket and land on his mind. He acquired a piece of ground in Calhoun County, and his intention was clear: he wanted to build a community, a real one, for Swedish settlers looking to put down roots in Texas soil. Now, a man with a vision usually has someone standing beside him.

Reverend Haterius named the settlement for his wife. He called it Olivia. The following year, 1893, the townsite was laid out proper.

And when they drew those lines, they set aside a piece of ground for a burial yard, connected to the Swedish Lutheran Eden Church. A church, a town, a cemetery. The pieces of a community, all together.

Swedes and non-Swedes alike contributed to the early development of Olivia. The community cemetery stands as a reminder of those contributions, all those people who showed up and built something. Now, the marker will tell you the earliest marked grave belongs to Anna Bernardino Wilson, who died in 1902.

And that's what the marker says. But then the marker catches itself. A correction is right there in the inscription, set down for anyone who reads it: the oldest marked grave in the Olivia Cemetery is actually that of Christina B.

Cavallin, who died in 1897. Five years earlier than the first answer. That's the thing about cemeteries.

They keep the record, quiet and patient, until somebody finally looks close enough to read it right.

What the marker says

In 1892, the Rev. Carl J. E. Haterius of Galesburg, Illinois, acquired land at this site with the intention of establishing a community for Swedish settlers. He named the settlement for his wife, Olivia. When the townsite was laid out in 1893, land was set aside for this burial ground in association with the Swedish Lutheran Eden Church. The earliest marked grave is that of Anna Bernardino Wilson, who died in 1902. Swedes and non-Swedes together contributed to the early development of Olivia, and the community cemetery serves as a reminder of their contributions. (1986) Correction: The oldest marked grave in the Olivia Cemetery is that of Christina B. Cavallin, who died in 1897.