All About the German Valley Rural Cemetery Association

The German Valley Rural Cemetery Association was established on October 7, 1865, by a volunteer board of trustees, including John, Jacob, Morris, and Theodore Naughright, Philip Weise, Obadiah LaTourette, Eliphalet C. Willet, Sam Klotz, and E.S. Bearenz. The association's well-preserved minutes, written in calligraphy-like cursive, document its establishment and are stored in a tiny white chapel built in 1880, which now serves as a meeting house for the current board of trustees.

Originally known as the Naughright Cemetery, the German Valley Rural Cemetery was initially a private burial ground containing the graves of 60 people, all belonging to or connected to the Naughright family. The cemetery, located on Coleman Road, spans nearly 10 acres and contains between 1,500 and 1,600 plots. It is open to anyone and is nondenominational.

The cemetery's history is deeply intertwined with the German and Dutch heritage of the early settlers, who were primarily Lutheran and Protestant. The district was settled between 1740 and 1760 by Germans seeking refuge from famine and war. In July 1918, the name was changed to Long Valley due to anti-German sentiment during World War I.

The cemetery contains the graves of approximately 20 Civil War veterans, as well as veterans from the Spanish American War, World Wars I and II, and the Vietnam and Korean wars. One of the most notable individuals buried there is Louis Richard Schoenheit, a Civil War veteran and entrepreneur who was an apparent pallbearer at President Abraham Lincoln's funeral.

The cemetery has evolved over time, with monuments changing from limestone obelisks to granite formations. The cultural shift towards cremations as a less expensive option has also affected burials. Despite these changes, the cemetery remains well-maintained and continues to honor its historical significance.