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VALLEY CENTER CEMETERY
DEEPWATER, MO.
(FORMALLY KNOWN AS THE GERMAN VALLEY CEMETERY)
The cemetery is located 1/8 mile west of highway 13 on the Henry-St. Clair County line, then 1/2 mile south. It was first known as the German Valley Cemetery. The first grave was in 1886. The name was changed to Valley Cemetery during the 1st World War. Many other local residents have been buried here; however I have only listed deceased Knierim's.
Rev. John Knierim of New Knoxville, Ohio and his wife Nancy and family arrived here having services the 1st and the 3rd Sundays and near Montrose on the 2nd and the 4th Sundays.
In May 1881, Rev. Knierim purchased the farm (now owned in 1997, by Martha Neuenschwander, wife of Clayton), where he built his home in which he and his family lived until his death, January 3rd, 1912. It was from this farm that he gave one acre of land for the German Valley (now known as the Valley Center) Cemetery.
The first grave was that of Lissette Kiesel, June 28th, 1886. The tall tombstone near the center on the north side marks the grave of James Luginbill. He was with his brother Eli and family in Kansas where he taught school for several years. When he came to Missouri, he taught at German Valley 3 years. He also taught at the Park Grove School. One evening he was in Osceola and rode the Frisco Freight Train to Lowry City when he was ready to come home. The train slowed down and as Jim stepped off he tripped on the platform and fell under the train and was cut in two. This happened November 12, 1899,
Knierim's Buried at German Valley Cemetery