Augustus B Clark, New Hope Cemetery

New Hope Cemetery – Wetmore, Colorado

Augustus B Clark

Died June 25, 1886

Aged 47 Years

His epitaph inscription reads “Faith points to hope above the skies. Where virtuous freindship never dies.”

This saying means that faith is a way to bridge this life to the next. It lends to the thought that we can see that this life, though short, could lead to another. Beyond that, it’s giving hope to the unseen, and allowing our beliefs to hope for more than what we see. Wishing that hope is more than just promises, it’s eternal promises from the unseen, and belief that there is a heaven above that you can walk with friends again.

At least this is what I think it means. This poem is by an unknown writer and is used to memorialize gravestones, obituaries, and funeral booklets.

I did note that this grave was facing West. Most of the graves in this cemetery are. Perhaps the graves are facing the outstanding view of the mountains. Could be to face the road as to greet those people coming to visit them. There are some cemeteries that only allow for graves to face one direction, simply for aestetics. I did see a few stones that faced East in this cemetery, toes to the east and head to the west, so away from visitors coming through the gate.

Either way, the views of the mountains are one of the best I’ve seen in a cemetery, that’s a good enough reason!

*Disclaimer, I’m not a historian, scholar or writer. Ask my high school teachers, they’ll confirm that. I do my best to find information and I’m always open to edits and corrections when needed. I have a love for cemeteries and ghost towns. Cemeteries are full of stories, sometimes I can find them, sometimes I can’t!