History of the Clark Fork Cemetery: 

GENESIS OF A CEMETERY

The current Clarksfork Cemetery often elicits a quizzical query from the first time visitors such as "Why would anyone place a cemetery on a mountainside?"

The answer is involved but not long.

It seems when Gordon Daugharty was Deputy Sheriff for the Clarksfork area over 100 years ago, he was informed that there was a body hanging from a tree up on Middle Mountain. Gathering some tools and his stepson, Charlie Proctor, he went to investigate the rumor. He found the cadaver suspended from the tree, apparently for sometime as it was quite putrefied. Gordon and Charlie did not want to touch the body. After digging a pit large enough to hold the rigid body the pair cut the rope, dropping the corpse into its final resting place.

Gordon returned to Clarksfork where he convinced enough citizens that the place where this body was interned would make a better graveyard than the one the town was using west of town.

During the early years of the last century the wagon road to the west of town was often impassable, particularly when the Spring freshet of the Clarksfork River submerged the route.

Obviously, the site on Middle Mountain would be more readily accessible.

It was, therefore, agreed by the citizenry of the town to move the town burial site.

Gordon and Charlie were paid $3.00 for the burial services.

Such is the Genesis of Clarksfork Cemetery.

SECTION FOUR: THERE IS A WOODEN PLAQUE ON A TREE THAT MARKS THE RESTING PLACE OF:

NELSON SMITH, AGE 29

1871 TO MARCH 5TH, 1900

The Daily Bulletin, April 28, 1939

"It remained for an obscure lumberjack by the name of Smith, killed by a tree, who had no relatives and who personally offered no objections, to have the distinction of being the first to find his last resting place among the many that sleep there now."

May 7, 1938

George E. Whitcomb, Jr., a minor, whose estate and person is under guardianship of Mrs. Minnie Dencer, of Clarksfork, County of Bonner, State of Idaho, party of the first part, and Village of Clarksfork, for and in consideration of the sum of one ($1.00) dollar, quit claim 3.04 acres of land to the Village of Clarksfork for a public cemetery.

The old Greenwood Cemetery is still in existence and cared for by Nathan Widgren.

Gratitude and thanks to Dale (Nick) Daugharty for all of his help and information.