The graves of Neti Pearl and Guy Will are the oldest known in the cemetery. In 1891, there was a sweeping epidemic of diphtheria. Neti and Guy were the first of many victims in the Pleasant Home pioneer community. After their deaths, with more children quickly following, Nathan and Almira Beecham dedicated an acre of their land for the burial of these children. The cedar tree you see between their graves was planted by Nathan in their honor and has stood watching over Neti and Guy for over 100 years.
Excerpt from the book Pleasant Home by Voris Herman Mayfield:
"It was on a warm spring morning in May of 1891 that Nathan and Almira Beecham placed their youngest child in a small grave near the southeast corner of the 160-acre farm, which they homesteaded in 1889. Only five members of the family were in attendance as the three-year-old, Nita Pearl, had expired due to the dreaded diphtheria epidemic that confronted the pioneers that year. In just a few days, their next youngest child, Guy William, died from the same illness.
The services were conducted in a small building purchased by Nathan and moved to the site from Reno City. It was purchased for use as a temporary school and church until permanent facilities could be organized by the pioneers. Nathan had concluded that the southeast acre of his farm was the logical site for the location of a school. He named it "Pleasant Home." They placed the remains of their children near the northwest corner of the acre, and Nathan planted a cedar tree in their memory near their graves."