Walter's Chapel is located north of Carlisle in Totten township. Prior to 1873, this area was a part of Prairie County.
At one point community activity must have centered here. A school stood on the plot that is now the new section of the cemetery. Where the church building now stands was a Baptist Church, with its second floor housing the Masonic Hall. Nearby was a Methodist Church building, probably opposite the Baptist Church on the current parking area in front of the cemetery. The current building is occasionally used for funeral services; and on the first Sunday in May each year for services in connection with "Decoration Day". For continuing upkeep, Walter's Chapel Cemetery organization has set up a perpetual care fund, with elected officers.
This item was too interesting to leave out. Referring to the monument for J.L. "Jake" Bogard. This lengthy inscription is on the marker and family members relate the following story.
"O, God! May thy judgment prove severe upon those that shot the beloved one who lies here. J.L. Bogard was waylaied and shot on the 8th of December 1863". Aged: 43 years.
Jake Bogard was a Confederate who made the decision to remain at home. Confederate troops were passing through on their way to meet the federal troops for a prisoner exchange. They stopped at the Bogard home for a meal. A lavish feast was put before them. Jake then engaged a prisoner in a conversation that got out of hand. Jake was so infuriated he spat in the man's face. The prisoner, unable to defend himself, replied to the insult, "I'll remember you." The military party eventually left.
On December 8, 1863, Jake had been to Brownsville. The prisoner hid himself and his weapon until Jake's return. Jake was shot and tied onto his horse. The horse was then given the road.
The next morning the family was alarmed to see Jake's horse at the gate. They found Jake shot dead. They had no idea who to suspect. Jake's wife had him buried at Walter's Chapel and this large monument erected.
Later, the stone was found to have crudely carved into it an inscription to the fact that J.L. Bogard would not have been murdered had he not spat in a man's face. The story goes on about the murderer but space confines the tale to this synopsis.
