Finding Maud and the Crowd in Glenwood Cemetery
Glenwood Cemetery is located at 711 Glenwood Avenue in Mankato, Minnesota. In Discover Deep Valley: A Guide to Maud Hart Lovelace’s Mankato, Julie Schrader provides a beautifully detailed map of where some characters in our beloved books are buried. But my brain isn’t great with maps, so – during a recent visit with my pal Barb Fecteau – I wrote these directions, which are my version of the “Take an egg and break it” cookbook that Tib gave to Betsy. Barb and I also made videos of our visits to various characters’ gravesites. We hope you find our guide helpful!
—Jennifer Davis-Kay, BTS Advisory Council member
From Discover Deep Valley: A Guide to Maud Hart Lovelace’s Mankato
by Julie Schrader. Used with permission.
Section 4
Note: Section 4 in the cemetery corresponds to Section C on Julie Schrader’s map.
Maud Hart Lovelace (1892–1980) ✧ Character name: Betsy Ray
Plan to pay your respects to Maud first. When you reach the cemetery, drive through the front gate. You can’t go straight. Veer left (not the hard left), follow the road, and turn right when you can. You’re looking for section 4 (on your right), where Maud is buried.
Maud left Mankato in 1910, but it was always her wish to be buried in her beloved hometown.
With both a gravestone and a tall monument, our Maud is pretty easy to spot from the road! This stone monument was erected in 1999 by the Maud Hart Lovelace Society. The heading reads, “Beloved author of the Deep Valley Betsy-Tacy stories, other children’s books and adult historical novels,” and the titles of her books are engraved on the front and back.
Because of Maud, how many lifelong friendships have formed between people who never would have met otherwise? It’s nearly impossible to put into words what she has meant so much to so many of us – but Barb and I do our best in this video.
Jabez Lloyd (1891–1969) ✧ Character name: Cab Edwards
To find Cab, walk past Maud (toward Glenwood Avenue) and slightly veer right. You’ll see the large “Lloyd” family stone.
Cab’s marker (flush with the ground) can be found right near there.
Grace Lloyd (1898–1970) ✧ Character name: Jean Edwards
Jean’s marker is next to Cab’s.
I reflect on the friendship between Cab and Betsy, share something I learned about real-life counterparts Jab and Grace – oh, and weep quite a bit – in this video.
Frank W. Hunt (1856–1928) and Nellie Hunt (1854–1937) ✧ Character names: Mr. and Mrs. Root (Winona I’s father and mother)
Winona’s parents are also fairly easy to find, as the Hunt family has a large monument. They are to the left of Maud (as you face her), just slightly farther back from the road. Barb thanks the Hunts for raising such a fun daughter in this video.
Carl Gerlich Hoerr (1890–1937) ✧ Character name: Phil Brandish (sorta)
Carl is one of the fellows on whom Maud based Phil Brandish. Start at the Hunt monument and head toward the flag at the edge of the hill, over Glenwood Avenue. The Hoerrs have a big monument; Carl’s marker (flush with the ground) is second from left in that row. Barb and I discuss some thoughts about Phil in this video.
General James Heaton Baker (1829–1913) ✧ Character name: Judge Hodges
General Baker is better known to us as Grandpa Webster’s pal Judge Hodges. Fun fact: General Baker is the real-life father of E. Lloyd Harrington! The General was 60 when his son was born.
Section 3
Note: Section A in Julie Schrader’s book corresponds to Section 1 and Section 3 in the cemetery. The two sections are not physically separated.
Clarence “Mike” Parker (1890–1917) ✧ Character name: Tony Markham
In his wonderfully lazy, efficient way, Tony makes it easy for us to find him: He’s right next to the Section 3 sign.
Barb and I give Tony some love in this video.
Kate Robb (1856–1912) ✧ Character name: Miss Jessie Cobb
Use Tony as a reference to find Miss Cobb. Start at Mike Parker’s grave and face the houses in the cemetery (Maud will be behind you). Walk 27 paces, stop between the big Brooks and Vee stones, and turn left. Walk 18 paces; Miss Cobb will be on your right.
Barb reflects on what Miss Cobb meant to her in this video.
Marguerite Marsh Wilcox (1890–1925) ✧ Character name: Emily Webster
You can also use Mike Parker’s grave to find Emily Webster in Section 1. From Mike’s grave, walk 125 steps along the road (heading in the direction of Maud), staying to the right. Stop at the One Way sign and the big Fox stone, and walk 100 steps toward Glenwood Avenue. You’ll see Marguerite’s ledger stone near the large Marsh monument.
I share some tearful thoughts about Emily in this video.
John Marsh (1826–1915) and Sarah Marsh (1832–1904) ✧ Character names: Grandpa Cyrus Webster and Emily Clarke Webster (Emily’s grandmother)
Emily’s grandparents are buried right near her.
Section 12
Note: Section 12 corresponds to Section G in Julie Schrader’s book.
Henry Christian Gerlach (1859–1924) and Wilhelmina Irasek Gerlach (1863–1947) ✧ Character names: Mr. and Mrs. Mueller (Tib’s parents)
Look for the Section 12 sign. About six feet to the right, you’ll find Mrs. Muller. I pay my respects to Tib’s mom in this video.
About another four feet to the right and a few paces back, you’ll find Mr. Muller. Ah, he gets a bad rap, which I reflect on in this video.
Other Deep Valley folks buried in Glenwood Cemetery:
Mary Pitcher (1840–1926) ✧ Character name: Grandma Slade (Section 1)
Fanny Pitcher (1872–1948) ✧ Character name: Miss Raymond, the music teacher (Section 1)
George T. Fox (1885–1912) ✧ Character name: Jerry (Section 1)
Note: Jerry is the first boy who carries Julia’s books. In real life, he was the brother of Tom Fox (Tom Slade).
James Ray Tinkcom (1821–1908) ✧ Character name: Mr. Meecham (Section 3)
Ferdinand Heinze (1848–1907) ✧ Character name: Mr. Heinz (of Heinz’s Restaurant) (Section 3)
Oscar W. Schmidt (1865–1935) ✧ Harness and saddle maker the girls visit in Downtown (Section 3)
William B. Torrey (1831–1904) ✧ Husband of Mrs. Chubbock (Section 3)
Henry Clay Gerlach (1893–1954) ✧ Character name: Freddie Mueller (Tib’s brother) (Section 3)
Eleanor Wood Lippert (1889–1967 ✧ Character name: Dorothy Drew (Section 12)