Alfred Foster who later deeded it to Ramsey Township originally owned the cemetery. It was established prior to 1860, platted in 1861, but the first known burials were those of Richard and Jane Porter who were buried there in 1852-1854 respectively. Burials were evidently made when it was open prairie as no roads lead to this area. One soldier, Charles Pitman. Company C of Minnesota Mounted Rangers is known to be buried there. The last burial in Ramsey Cemetery was that of John C. Bowers who was buried there in 1879 and who was later moved to Oakwood Cemetery in Anoka. The cemetery was abandoned in l905.
Cornelius Pitman was one of the original settlers of Ramsey. He served as one of the first supervisors of Ramsey in 1885, when Ramsey Township was organized. Records show that as early as March of 1864 Mr. Pitman was interested in improving the area, a receipt shows he received $20.00 for furnishing the lumber and for building a bridge on section line 20. He had been a member of a New England colony that made the first settlement in Ramsey Township in 1850.
The first burials at this site were in 1852 and 1854 for Richard and Jane Porter. It is said this ground was broken for the graves of settlers passing through these northern woods. Some members of the clan apparently, were stricken with fever, died and as was the practice of the time, buried along the way.
Richard and Jane Porter came to Ramsey from St. Anthony Trading Post in the spring of 1852. They lived in a log house with Mr. & Mrs. William Payne. Mrs. Payne and Jane were sisters.
"One day some Indians came to the cabin while the two women were alone. They were sure some white men had taken some ponies, which belonged to them. They crowded into the Porter cabin talking angrily. Jane Porter hid her small daughter behind the door just as they came into the room; she kept stepping back in the direction of the wood box, telling them the ponies were grassing on the far side of the hill. Finally one Indian stepped up and drew a long knife to Jane's throat; she quickly drew a stick from the wood box! The Indians must have admired her bravery for she succeeded in driving them from the cabin; By that time the missing ponies came into view so the lndians left with the ponies! Jane's sister, Mrs. Payne, had fainted dead away!" (City of Ramsey, MN History Book 1974.)
The cemetery has been neglected and vandalized for many years. As reported in the Anoka Union Newspaper November 21,1975, Mrs. James, co-chairwoman of the Bicentennial Committee removed the headstones from the cemetery and took them to Councilwoman Beverly Oliphant's. Councilwoman Oliphant refused to take possession of the stones and Mrs. James took them home. Shortly after the mayor was notified, the sheriff arrived at Mrs. Oliphant's home and the councilwoman avoided the potential for a lawsuit for robbing a cemetery. What happened to the stolen stones has yet to be determined.
As a result of neglect, the cemetery had become overgrown with vegetation. In 1995, the cemetery was restored to the condition you see it today and an American flag was raised, by a group of Boy Scouts. The project was lead by a fellow Geocacher ( j_and_silentbob ) to earn his Eagle scout award.
In 2001, Charles Pitman was honored by the National guard, for his service during the Indian War and a was given a grave stone and gun salute.
There are 14 known graves in this cemetery. Also, in an interview by a Mrs. Wilson before passing away in 1975, she told a story of 12-15 Native Americans, who converted to Christianity and were buried in unmarked graves.
The entrance to the cemetery is to the North and is an unmarked gravel driveway.
The no trespassing signs are for the neighboring businesses that surround the cemetery. There's no need to worry about trespassing while visiting this cache, if you enter through the driveway.