LaBelle Cemetery History
The story of LaBelle Cemetery is deeply intertwined with Oconomowoc’s early beginnings and the vision of community-minded citizens. On May 9, 1851, twelve founding members of Oconomowoc’s civic life gathered at the local Methodist Church and established what became the Oconomowoc Cemetery Association. Their names still echo in local memory: Samuel Dodge, George W. Pugh, A.L. Cofelt, E. Hurlburt, Edwin Edgerton, George E. Conant, E.G. Little, John S. Rockwell, I.W. James, W.W. Collins, D. Tatleff, and E.P. Colton. At that meeting, John Rockwell was named Chairman and Samuel Dodge secretary, while six trustees were elected and annual May meetings were set in motion.
Before the Association existed, Oconomowoc’s first burial grounds lay north of E. Wisconsin Avenue, east of Walnut Street—on property once known as the “Henschel place,” bordered by the Oconomowoc River and Fowler Lake. As the town grew, that site could no longer accommodate new burials, and by 1864 the Association resolved to relocate. In the winter of that year, state legislator Joel R. Carpenter introduced a bill authorizing the removal of all remains from the original cemetery to a new location. The measure passed, and the Association selected the current grounds for what was renamed La Belle Cemetery.
When the transition occurred, lot owners in the old cemetery were offered equivalent lots in LaBelle, and remains were respectfully reinterred there. The grounds of LaBelle rest on land portions originally owned or donated by early settlers such as Charles B. Sheldon—ensuring the new site would sustain the city’s future generations.
Over time, LaBelle became home to Oconomowoc’s settlers, newcomers from across America and abroad, and seasonal residents drawn to Lake Country. Many built grand lakeside homes, embraced the cultural life of the region, and chose LaBelle as their final resting place—its mausoleums and headstones reflecting diverse stories, faiths, and legacies.
LaBelle also honors countless veterans. Over 90 known Civil War soldiers are buried on its grounds, and tradition holds that the last surviving Civil War veteran of Waukesha County was interred here in 1942. From the earliest conflicts to modern service, LaBelle remains a place of tribute and gratitude.
In 2005, LaBelle was at the center of a major restoration effort after several construction projects in the area caused sediment and runoff to wash into the cemetery. The courts ordered a cleanup and imposed a remedial plan to protect its integrity and preserve the dignity of the grounds.
Today, while many centuries have passed since those founding days, LaBelle Cemetery carries forward its mission: to provide a beautiful, respectful, and enduring place of remembrance. The stewardship laid down by early citizens still guides today’s Board, Sexton, and staff, reminding us that preserving history and caring for the present go hand in hand.
Before the Association existed, Oconomowoc’s first burial grounds lay north of E. Wisconsin Avenue, east of Walnut Street—on property once known as the “Henschel place,” bordered by the Oconomowoc River and Fowler Lake. As the town grew, that site could no longer accommodate new burials, and by 1864 the Association resolved to relocate. In the winter of that year, state legislator Joel R. Carpenter introduced a bill authorizing the removal of all remains from the original cemetery to a new location. The measure passed, and the Association selected the current grounds for what was renamed La Belle Cemetery.
When the transition occurred, lot owners in the old cemetery were offered equivalent lots in LaBelle, and remains were respectfully reinterred there. The grounds of LaBelle rest on land portions originally owned or donated by early settlers such as Charles B. Sheldon—ensuring the new site would sustain the city’s future generations.
Over time, LaBelle became home to Oconomowoc’s settlers, newcomers from across America and abroad, and seasonal residents drawn to Lake Country. Many built grand lakeside homes, embraced the cultural life of the region, and chose LaBelle as their final resting place—its mausoleums and headstones reflecting diverse stories, faiths, and legacies.
LaBelle also honors countless veterans. Over 90 known Civil War soldiers are buried on its grounds, and tradition holds that the last surviving Civil War veteran of Waukesha County was interred here in 1942. From the earliest conflicts to modern service, LaBelle remains a place of tribute and gratitude.
In 2005, LaBelle was at the center of a major restoration effort after several construction projects in the area caused sediment and runoff to wash into the cemetery. The courts ordered a cleanup and imposed a remedial plan to protect its integrity and preserve the dignity of the grounds.
Today, while many centuries have passed since those founding days, LaBelle Cemetery carries forward its mission: to provide a beautiful, respectful, and enduring place of remembrance. The stewardship laid down by early citizens still guides today’s Board, Sexton, and staff, reminding us that preserving history and caring for the present go hand in hand.
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