For central Minnesota burial customs, St. Cloud’s North Star Cemetery is the city’s oldest at the same location, established in 1864 by the Watab Lodge, the Order of Masons. At the time, the original 20-acre site was several miles southwest of downtown in rural St. Cloud Township. The nearby hills, tree-clustered pockets, and rolling terrain provided an ideal setting away from the commotion of city life. Plots during these years could be purchased for around $.25. Early tombstones in North Star often used limestone due its ease of engraving and esthetic value. Some even included Christian figures. Technology improvements by the end of the nineteenth century enabled firms to use granite for tombstones. Granite was a harder substance than limestone to work and shape but offered improved durability. The abundance of local granite, and fabricators to complete the job, offered multiple options for families and their loved ones. Many of St. Cloud’s notable nineteenth residents were buried in North Star. John L. and Harriet Wilson were interred there, both playing an instrumental role in establishing St. Cloud during the mid-1850’s. Jacob Brower, who spearheaded the establishment of the Itasca State Park, and his wife Armina were another such couple. Several McKelvy relatives have plots as well, the family prominent in legal circles, politics, and community affairs. Nancy Wilson Allen, an early mid-nineteenth century photographer, also has a gravesite. Waite Park’s namesake, Henry Chester, can be can be found here too. --- https://www.facebook.com/StearnsHistoryMuseum/posts/stearns-county-spotlight-st-clouds-north-star-cemeteryfor-central-minnesota-buri/10157729763890502/