Potter's Field

Potter’s Fields of Oakland Cemetery: A Reflection of History and Humanity

Written by Erika Barrett

The Potter’s Fields of Oakland Cemetery in Keokuk, Iowa, are silent witnesses to the stories of those often forgotten by history. These burial grounds, also known as common or paupers' graves, were used to inter individuals who could not afford a burial, whose identities were unknown, or who were marginalized by society. In Oakland Cemetery, three distinct Potter’s Fields serve as somber reminders of a broader national tradition of providing burial for the poor, the unknown, and the unclaimed.

Origins and Purpose of Potter’s Fields

The term "potter's field" has its roots in the Bible, where a field called Akeldama, or "field of blood," was purchased with the money Judas Iscariot received for betraying Jesus. This land was used to bury strangers, criminals, and the impoverished, forever linking potter’s fields to those on the fringes of society. Early potter's fields were often unmarked, unceremonious sites incorporated into existing graveyards or public grounds. Today, localities determine eligibility for potter’s field burials, typically based on income and the absence of family to claim the deceased.

Notable Events in Keokuk’s Potter’s Fields

Potter’s Fields in Oakland Cemetery were utilized during some of the most challenging times in Keokuk’s history. During the Civil War, the fields became the final resting place for many soldiers and unclaimed patients from the Keokuk General Hospital. Records from 1882 show 646 interments, with numbers increasing during the 1890s. Many of these burials included soldiers whose graves were later identified and transferred to the National Cemetery, ensuring their service was honored with a proper resting place. For instance, in 1895, Belknap Circle, Ladies of the G.A.R., paid out of their funds to relocate 17 soldiers from the potter’s field to the National Cemetery.

The fields also served as burial sites during public health crises, such as the smallpox outbreak in December 1881. The first recorded victim, Henry Hubman, was interred in Potter’s Field at night, illustrating the urgency and isolation associated with disease outbreaks. As the epidemic continued, more victims found their final resting place in the Potter’s Fields, highlighting the fields' role in handling public health crises.

Controversies and National Implications

Keokuk's Potter’s Fields also played a controversial role in the history of medical education in the late 19th century. In 1887, a report surfaced that St. Louis medical colleges were losing cadavers to cities like Keokuk, where bodies from local paupers' graves were allegedly sent for dissection. The competition for bodies intensified, with St. Louis colleges complaining that an "illegitimate trade in body snatching from potter's field" was being conducted, depriving them of much-needed cadavers. This controversy underscored the desperate conditions within medical education at the time and illustrated how Potter’s fields served as a resource—albeit a contested one—for advancing scientific knowledge.

Legacy and Impact on the Community

The Potter’s Fields of Oakland Cemetery represent a unique historical narrative of Keokuk and the nation. They remind us of the societal responsibilities toward the marginalized and unclaimed, whether they were soldiers who fought in the Civil War, victims of infectious diseases, or the impoverished whose families could not provide a burial. These fields served as a communal response to death, ensuring that even those without means or identity were laid to rest with dignity, reflecting a broader commitment to humanity’s most basic needs.

Today, the Potter’s Fields of Oakland Cemetery stands as burial grounds and historical sites that tell the story of a community’s care for its most vulnerable members. Their presence in Keokuk’s landscape reminds us of the city’s historical significance and its ongoing connection to national struggles with poverty, public health, and the ethical considerations of science.

Sources:

• “City Gave National Cemetery To Government During Civil War,” Daily Gate City, May 27, 1957.

• “Help Locate the Graves,” Constitution Democrat, December 16, 1890.

• “To Remove the Remains,” Constitution Democrat, December 6, 1890.

• “The Small Pox,” Keokuk Constitution, December 31, 1881.

• “Bodies for Dissection,” Daily Gate City, November 19, 1887.