Earl Leaf has researched the poorfarm cemetery in Chisago County, Minn. (MPR Photo/Chris Julin)

My interest in poorfarms began while working on a cemetery transcribing project in Chisago County, Minn. While scanning public records in the government center, I noticed that there were quite a few instances of burials at the poorfarm in Sunrise Township. I discovered that not only was there no longer evidence of the existence of the poorfarm, but there was nothing that indicated the presence of a burial ground.

My research brought out the fact that at least 24 or 25 persons were buried at one end of the poorfarm property. The county provided no permanent markers on the grave sites, nor any signs indicating the presence of a cemetery.

That, plus the fact that the land was eventually sold and resold as farm land, was enough to make me want to know more about the cemetery and the people buried there. I have tried to find out as much about the residents as possible from death certificates, census reports, newspapers, etc., so that they will be remembered in some way, even if their final resting place is ignored.