As we begin our Memorial Day weekend, and attention is focused on the graves of our family members, we should look around. We have been blessed with two beautiful and remarkably historic Cemeteries. St. Francis Catholic Cemetery. Located about 3/8 of a mile east of St. Paul, the cemetery was started by Father John Schoenmakers in about 1868. But the cemetery includes graves that were relocated from the original old mission cemetery that date back to 1852. In 1871, as the town of Osage Mission was growing rapidly, Father Schoenmakers urged settlers to move their family graves from the older graveyard to St. Francis. The original mission cemetery was located in the east part of the existing Miles Field football field, and the residential neighborhood just east of there. [1] Hope Cemetery. As harsh as it sounds today, Protestant settlers were not allowed to be buried in St. Francis Cemetery. For a few years, non-Catholic settlers were buried in small cemeteries scattered around the area or at family homes. In 1874, Hope Cemetery was established one mile north of St. Francis Catholic Church. Over time, many graves were relocated from smaller graveyards or home plots. Like St. Francis, Hope tombstones represent many stories from the early Kansas frontier and the Civil War period. [2] Click for links to cemetery information: 1. St. Francis Parish Cemetery, St. Paul, Neosho County Kansas, 1852~2008, Viola Anne Gouvion. This 670+ page book is a local treasure for historians, geologists or general family information. In addition to cemetery records, the book contains some history of the original mission cemetery; the transition to St. Francis Catholic Cemetery; and some general information about our church and parish. It it available from the Osage Mission - Neosho County Museum in St. Paul.
2. Hope Cemetery Records, August 1869 — August 2000, Osage Mission, now St. Paul, Neosho County, Kansas, Compiled by George M. Paine. The Hope records are now a multi-volume set that covers some history beyond 2000. There is also an addendum that includes cemetery maps. The Hope Cemetery books should be available from the Osage Mission - Neosho County Museum in St. Paul. 3. There is an interesting connection to President Lincoln in each of these cemeteries. Comments are closed.
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Thoughts 'n ThingsSome 'Thoughts' and short articles about past and present-day St. Paul and the Southern Kansas - 4 State Region. Archives
December 2023
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