German American settlers from near Wisner, Nebraska, including Gustav Leseberg, Henry Meyer, and brothers John E., G. Henry, and Ernest F. Albers, began settling this area in the early 1900s. These families were part of a broader migration of German Americans moving south in search of affordable land and new agricultural opportunities. They were later joined by additional immigrants from the region around Bremen, Germany, forming a close-knit ethnic and cultural community.

As the settlement grew, residents placed a strong emphasis on education and faith. By 1909, the community established Keenan School, which served local families, and began holding Lutheran worship services. These early services eventually led to the formal organization of St. Paul Lutheran Church, which became a central institution for both religious life and community gathering in the area.

In 1916, Anna Marie Kuhlman died during childbirth, a tragedy that deeply affected the community. In response, Gustav Leseberg donated land for her burial, establishing the cemetery at this site. Her gravestone, inscribed in the German language, is the only known marker in the cemetery bearing a German inscription and serves as a poignant reminder of the settlers’ cultural heritage and ties to their homeland.