// Founding Families

Guarded by Southeastern Minnesota's bluffs and lush farmland, Homer Ridge is one of the OLDEST cemeteries in Winona County. Located just outside of Homer, Minnesota, this cemetery was believed to be founded in 1856, with the death of an infant of Peter Van Cleve. 

“We don't own our history, we simply preserve it for the next generation"

The cemetery was officially established (in writing) in 1870 by the Van Cleve family, who deeded 1.5 acres of land to be set aside and used as a burial ground. There are marked and unmarked graves within the cemetery, and it is thought that there may be as many as 200 individuals laid to rest there.  The last burial in the cemetery was a Mrs. Mary Danielson of Homer, in July of 1950.

// Concerned citizens

A group of concerned citizens made up of descendants of those buried in the cemetery and local residents banded together in 2006 and formed the Friends of Homer Ridge Cemetery. The mission of the organization was to preserve and restore the cemetery and make it accessible to descendants wanting to visit the burial location as there was no longer an active cemetery association. The Friends group recently undertook the process of reestablishing the Homer Ridge Cemetery Association, which is now once again active.

Searching for your ancestors? Or have history to share about the cemetery?