HERE
THEY
SLEEP Narrative
HOPEWELL - BENDER CEMETERY
Catalogued May 24, 1975 by H. A. Dieter. The location can be doubly
described as being accessible from two well known directions. However,
the focal point lies in section 32, Town of Forest. One, take County
Trunk G north of U.S. 14 at Bosstown. Follow G 7.6 miles to
Hopewell Ridge and cemetery which is west of G as it turns to the right
into the valley leading northward to Wis. 56. Secondly, turn
south on G two miles east of Viola on Wis. 56. Hopewell lies 2.3 miles
south of 56. Turn right near the top of Hopewell Ridge on a town road
leading past the cemetery. The first known burial here was in 1895 as
compared to the very earliest burial at Bender in 1851. It is again a
matter of the old and the new. The last burial at Bender was that
of Mrs. Jennie M. Bender, 1879 - 1968, and completes all burials
of that generation. The old part, as it is referred to, lies about 80
rods north of new Hopewell. It is no longer accessible from the main
road, which was changed from the old road once leading to the church
then standing nearby. A temporary field road leads to a cattle lane
sloping eastward past the cemetery. The grounds are presently being
cared for. At least one-half of the monuments are of the old slab
variety and are fast becoming eroded and illegible.