Foster Cemetery

Butler County, Kansas

Foster-Parker Cemetery

The Foster-Parker Cemetery is named after two early Chelsea area residents. They were George Parker and Charles Foster. In some places it is called the Foster Cemetery, and in others, the Parker Cemetery.

Charles Foster was a homesteader on his farm in 1874. The cemetery was about five miles south of Chelsea in section 29, township 25, range 6, and was in the southwest quarter. It would have been on the Emporia and El Dorado road of 1861. This would later be old Highway 13 and after that, Highway 177, before it was moved to the east during construction of the new lake.

The first known burial was for George Parker, Jr., in 1871, or three years before Charles Foster received his homestead, and nine years before the cemetery charter. The last known burial was for Mary O. Ripley, which was in 1944. The only person buried in there who had a birth date before 1800, was Joseph Marcum, who was born September 19, 1974.

There has been no reason given for the Chelsea Cemetery and this one being so close together, as they were only about five miles apart. Maybe they thought that five miles was too far to go for burials. There is no evidence of any rift between the two neighborhoods. In fact Phineas Osborn was active in both communities and he was buried in the Foster Cemetery, even though he could look out his north window and see the Chelsea Cemetery just a few yards away. He probably chose the Foster Cemetery as it was in the family, and he was married Charles Fosters sister. It was known locally by the name, Foster Cemetery, but three Parkers signed the charter and only one Foster, and that was Charles. Perhaps numbers won out. Charles Foster owned the ground and apparently donated the land.

This place is now covered by the new lake water. In 1979, all of the graves and stones were moved by the Corps of Engineers, to the Economy Cemetery, which is located about 12 miles south of Chelsea Cemetery, in Prospect township, in section 29, T25.

The original Parker Cemetery Charter was filed in Topeka on November 11, 1880. It follows:

Know all men by these presents, That we, Ranson Osborn, E. Cooper, George Parker, I. C. Kimball, R. H. Williams, L. D. Ripley and Charles Foster has associated ourselves together for the purpose of laying out and maintaining a cemetery on the following described land to wit; beginning at the N. E. corner of the S. W. ¼ of section 29, Township 25, Range 6, and running west va 11 degrees; 45 ft. E of 28 ft. to a stake at the E corner of said cemetery; thence west 189 feet to a stake; thence south on a va of 15 degrees, E. 303-1/2 feet to a stake; thence on a va 15 degrees, c, 56 R., 198 feet to a stake.

Thence north on same va, 230 feet to the place of beginning of the cemetery grounds concerning the survey, 1.17 acres, and declare the following article for our corporation.

1st. That the corporation shall be known as the Parker Cemetery Association.

2nd. The purpose and object of this association shall be to purchase land, lay out a cemetery, and sell lots therein and convey title thereto.

3rd. That the place of business shall be in Prospect Township, Butler County, Kansas, El Dorado Post Office.

4th. That this corporation shall exist for the term of ninety-nine years.

5th. That the business of this corporation shall be hereafter by and through directors and Charles Foster. Ezekiel Cooper and George Parker of El Dorado, Kansas shall be the directors for the first year.

6th. That there shall be no capital stock.

In Testimony thereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 24 day of July, 1880.

Signed: George Parker, I. C. Kimball, Charles Foster, R. H. Williams, E. Cooper, Jesse Paker, Ranson Carter, John W. Parker, and L. D. Ripley

According to the charter this instrument was good for 99 years, and that would make it expire in 1979, the year it was moved to Economy, so apparently this charter is no longer in force.

Source: Chelsea, written by Donald L. Milbourn, pages 482 & 483