Jackson County, Kansas History of Carmel Cemetery

JACKSON COUNTY, KANSAS

Carmel Cemetery

BURIAL SPOT REVEALS SOME EARLY NAMES

For a long time I have wanted to know the history of the little burial ground on Mrs. Chas. Knouft’s farm. At Grange not long ago, Mrs. Knouft kindly offered to get the names on the tomb stone and here they are: Mr. Alexander Allen, born 1829, died 1873; Mrs. C. Rayfield, born 1822, died 1872; Mrs. James Horn, born 1833, died 1883. Thee cemetery is on a rocky slope in a pasture not far from Carmel school house, was fenced or at least some lots by a barbed wire fence, which is all but rusted out. She suggested I call Mr. W, S. Brown of 517 Colorado, Holton, and he very kindly gave to me the following: W. A. Allen owned the farm and gave the land and it was known as the Carmel Cemetery. The Mr. Allen who lived there was elected county treasurer in 1874 and moved to Holton. Mr. Brown knew everyone buried there and was present at nearly all burials. In an early day there was a most violent epidemic of smallpox in this locality. One pleasant, happy Friday at school, ending with a spelling match, was the last day for the well loved Fredrick sisters. As they left their schoolmates that Friday evening it was the last time they ever saw them. They became ill of the dread disease and died. As always, burial was at midnight so no one could in any manner contact the awful disease, and Mr. Brown recalls watching from his home, seeing the flickering lantern light in the blackness of the night at the cemetery where neighbors laid away the sisters. There seems to be several unmarked graves there, but this bit of early history is to most of us in our busy life, unknown. But the grave has no victory. They rest far from modern strife and maddening haste awaiting the resurrection. -- Mrs. A. S. Hay’s Liberty letter.

Transcribed by Verlin Wichman from an unknown Jackson County, Kansas newspaper clipping believed to be written in the 1940’s

NAME

BIRTH DATE

DEATH DATE

Allen, Alexander 1829 1873

Horn, James Mrs. 1833 1883

Rayfield, C. Mrs. 1822 1872

History

Submitted by Sue & Verlin Wichman

THE CARMEL CEMETERY

There is not too much known about the old cemetery located in the Carmel community, but feel something should be written to preserve its memory. Many thanks to Harold Knouft and his mother, Edna, for the use of the original warranty deed and charter that I have had copies made from. The papers are dated 1887, but the date of its first becoming a burial place is not known. It was located approximately four hundred feet southeast of the Carmel School site near the top of the hill.

Eight men appeared before the Justice of the Peace, G.R. Sharp, in Holton, Kansas on April 28, 1887 to start legal proceedings for the establishment of a permanent burial place. Those eight men pursuing legal action to obtain an abstract and deed for two acres of ground and an access road in from the Southeast corner of the schoolyard were as follows: Daniel Hunter, Liberty L. Dick, Hunter, Liberty L. Dick, John Abel, H.M. Bailey, Charles G. Dick, William S. Brown, W.S. Dick, William S. Brown, W.S. Dick and Jim Dick. Mr. E.B. Allen was the Secretary of State at this time and Mr. A. Cavanaugh his assistant. The names appearing on the charter were trustees Daniel Hunter, L.L. Dick and John Abel. The other men served as board members. The warranty deed made between William A. Allen and wife Mary E. Allen, owners of the land and trustees was dated June 5, and notarized on June 18, 1887 by John S. Hopkins, a notary public.

There were, no doubt, graves there prior to 1872, but the only record available if the names and dates copied from the tombstones by Mr. Charles Knouft and given to Mrs. Albert Hay. Mrs. Hay’s article about the cemetery appeared in the Holton Recorder, probably some time in the 1940’s. It lists Mrs. C. Rayfield buried there in 1872 at the age of 50. She probably was either the wife of mother of Charles Rayfield, a resident of the district and was the carpenter in charge of building the first Carmel schoolhouse. It was erected on the original Carmel site in 1873, replacing the Black log cabin schoolhouse that was lost by fire. Mr. Alexander Allen was buried there in 1873 and died at the age of 44. He was probably a son or brother of the landowner, William A. Allen. Bill Dick told me that his great-grandmother, Mrs. Jerusha Dick, was buried there in 1871 and was later moved to the Holton Cemetery. He does not know the date of removal, but thinks it was around 1910.

Mrs. Rayfield and Mr. Allen could have succumbed to smallpox since their deaths were closely followed buy the Frederick sisters that Mrs. Hay has written about in the clipping. I was told by Loren Porterfield that his grandmother, Mrs. Milten (McAllister) Porterfield, walked home from school that Friday evening with the two sisters, but did not contract the usually fatal disease. Mrs. Porterfield grew up on the farm across the road south of the Bob Vanderlinde’s, so evidently the Frederick family lived in that direction. It certainly must have been sad time for the families who lost loved ones to the smallpox germ, but a happy time for those who were exposed but lived to tell about it.

Mrs. James Horn, who died in 1883 at the age of fifty, could have been the Alice Horn who was a substitute teacher at Carmel in 1882. I remember Joe Dick saying that there were Popes buried there, but had been moved. The community had several Pope families, in the early days and were related to the Dick’s in some way. How many persons were buried there in marked and unmarked graves is not known. I do not know why the cemetery ceased to be a burial place so soon after its charter and deed was recorded. Perhaps there are records someplace that could answer this question, but the chances of anyone living today knowing the answer is very slim.

I walked by the old cemetery during my final three years in Carmel School. It was considerably closer going in by the Knouft House and following the lane back west which brought me on the south side of the cemetery. I, being around nine years old, wasn’t too enthralled with cemeteries and must admit that at first went by it as fast as my short legs would carry me. I was fearful that a ghost or ghoul might pop out from behind a tree and grab me, also, that I might pick up a smallpox germ if I happened too close. I wish now that I could have conquered those boyhood fears and tarried long enough to at least walk through and inspect the tombstones. I do remember one real tall stone near the southwest corner to a few smaller ones close by, all with depressions, no doubt, caused by the removal of the coffins. This was in the early forties and the fence around the area, which was about the size of an average family garden, was in dire need of repair. Since it was a two acre piece of ground the cemetery evidently was located in the southwest corner.

I am sure that to the early settlers it was an ideal spot with good drainage and a nice view of the peaceful Elk Valley. The building of the new Carmel schoolhouse in 1873 and the LR and W train running close by certainly would have made it a very desirable spot. I can see the reason for those eight men of the fast growing Carmel community to make legal plans for the final resting place of their dead. However, plans that were made during the horse and buggy days could quickly change with the coming of the automobile, making distance less of a problem. This not only affected small cemeteries, but also brought an end to railroads, small towns and schools. Time, of course, does not stand still and progress marches on whether it be good or bad.

Sometime in the late forties or early fifties a letter was received by library community circle of which my mother was a member for over fifty years. I can remember her talking about it, but don’t know who it was from. I do recall it was from California and requesting the club to take the responsibility of restoring and the upkeep of the cemetery. There was no action taken by the club at this time, due, I’m sure to the work and expense needed for its restoration. Evidently that person still knew of a person or persons still buried there.

Today it would be very difficult to pinpoint its exact location, so like the old Carmel school site it is History to be remembered in our minds and jotted down on paper for historical purposes. We will probably never know when the first person was laid to rest there, what his or her name might have been or why it was picked as a burial site. Hopefully, they were all removed before the bulldozer destroyed their once quiet and peaceful resting place removing all traces of their final home.

I know of nothing further to write concerning the History of the Carmel Cemetery. I have enjoyed writing this and feel it should be added the History of the Carmel School and hope that someday more information might be found to answer the question concerning its abandonment.

Hopefully, those who receive a copy of this will preserve it and hand it down to the next generation of former Carmel community relatives and friends.

Bill Wilson
June 5, 1993