It's difficult to envision now, 130 years later, a May morning when some 2,000 people would assemble where the then-booming coal mining towns of Lucas and Cleveland joined, then led by a brass band march to Fry Hill Cemetery, high above Cleveland, to observe Memorial Day.
Fry Hill, called after Shadrack Fry, a Welsh miner who died at 24 during 1880 of a lung complaint and was among the first buried there, is a quiet place today that offers spectacular views over the White Breast valley.
On that May morning, Civil War veterans, members of Grigsby Foster Post No. 320, Grand Army of the Republic, followed the band in loose formation --- then the members of various lodges that by now have faded into obscurity: the Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor, The Improved Order of Red Men (despite its name open only to whites until 1934) and the United Ancient Order of Druids, consisting primarily of Welsh miners.
Other music was provided by the Sunday School choirs of the Lucas Presbyterian, RLDS and Cleveland Congregational churches. The principal speaker was Elder Henry A. Stebbins, an honored Civil War veteran and renowned minister of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now Community of Christ), then headquartered in Lamoni.
The following brief report on the Memorial Day service is taken from Cleveland news items published in The Chariton Herald of June 6, 1880:
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Last Thursday was a general holiday and all the principal societies of Lucas and Cleveland at an early hour prepared to turn out with members of the G.A.R. to celebrate the annual decoration day. At about 9 o'clock, Mr. (Thomas) Starkey, (G.A.R.) post commander, started from the Miner's hall, Cleveland, at the head of a body consisting of the Congregational Sunday school, bearing a motto with inscription, "English Sabbath School, Jesus Is Lord."
The Lucas and Cleveland brass band, a number of Druids, Knights of Labor and Redmen marched in line to Lucas to join the schools and societies from Lucas. The procession then marched to the Cleveland graveyard (Fry Hill Cemetery).
The order of the G.A.R. led a train of half a mile or more with the national emblems and mottoes and banners indicative of their creeds and sentiments floating in the breeze.
In the graveyard, a monument was erected on the top of which was perched a golden eagle and over which waved the stars and stripes. Around the monument gathered some two thousand people.
A divine service was held, singing "Another Year Has Come," by the Zion's Hope Sunday School choir and the beautiful piece from Echo, "Let Them Rest," was well sung by the Presbyterian Sunday School choir. Suitable prayer and thanksgiving to God was offered and a charming piece from the Echo was sung by the joined choirs.
Then an appropriate oration was made by Lieutenant H.A. Stebbins. Dr. Davison represented the Redmen, and E.B. Morgan, represented the Zion's Hope Sunday School. The benediction was read by Commander Starkey, and three volleys of musketry were fired which closed the exercises.
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