Crosses everywhere

St. Fidelis Cemetery
Victoria, KS



This picture barely shows the vast number of crosses in this catholic cemetery. When I stepped out of the car it almost took my breath away. There is much craftmanship and beauty in this small rural cemetery. There are some I will feature individually in future blogs.



The newer burials are in the back portion of the cemetery so from the roadside you see all of these ornate crosses and other unique headstones. I had a hard time taking a cemetery walk. I wanted to run to each one so that I had time to see them all.

Sad Cemetery Walk

Union Pacific RR Cemetery
Victoria, KS
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This was a sad cemetery walk. All buried here died of murder or sickness.
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This cemetery was established to bury the bodies of 6 railroad workers massacred by the Cheyenne Indians in August 1867.
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P. S. Ashley, foreman from Wisconsin
Thomas Carney from Iowa
Charles Watson from Canada
John Harrington from Kansas City
Pat Rafferty from Kansas City
Hugh McDonaugh from Denver
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In the summer of 1873 four Seth siblings were laid to rest here. The stone erected in 2008 tells their sad family story of how they contracted typhoid fever while traveling to join the Victoria Colony. Their mother was laid to rest in St. Louis and these four died after arriving to Victoria. They were survived by the father and 3 brothers.
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Margaret, 27

William, 25

Thomas, 18

Jane, 16

Johnny

I had a great trip and saw some new cemeteries. I'll post updates later this week. Here is a sweet headstone from the Russell City Cemetery.

Road trip...more cemeteries

We like to take [short] road trips and see the sites. Some people call these staycations but you should visit what your state has to offer. Of course I always research the areas to add a few cemeteries to our list of stops. And this trip is no different. I do have a quest on this trip and will blog about the results when I return.

Any mail today?

I guess the folks buried at the County Cemetery in Saline County still get mail. This is a rural area cemetery no longer in use so I was puzzled to why there is a mailbox mounted on a post. Since there is a large sign with the history I'm not sure what could have been housed in it.

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Cemetery Chapel

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Most of my previous posts have featured a headstone. Today I'm showing you the chapel located on the grounds of Sterling Community Cemetery. This cemetery offers an afternoon of discovery with its victorian headstones, family mausoleums, box/chest tombs and other beautiful monuments - all located here in South Central Kansas - a somewhat rural area.

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The chapel was completed in 1935 using stone and cement blocks from cemetery lot curbing, along with other materials donated by Sterling Township & City. There is a military section, baby area and Potter's Field. Next to the chapel is a cemetery map and directory. The directory is located within the wooden box. Both sides have a lot map.

It was a wonderful place to escape the heat and sit quietly.

Petland

Located within Penwell Gabel Cemetery is a section called Petland. I have a few more pictures on my Picasa site.

Creepy Critter

This one is a little creepier than my other cemetery critters. Click on the label to see my other encounters while taking a cemetery walk.

Odd Find?

I'm not sure what to make of this grave. Any ideas?

Gypsum Hill Cemetery

Oldest Grave Photo

This is the oldest grave photo I have. It is my husbands GG Uncle, Robert Shultz. Family records state he died May 2, 1895 in Lakin County, KS. No cemetery name was recorded. I hope to go to Lakin and see if I can find his grave.

I wondered when the photo was taken and asked Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, for help. I'll let you know what she reports.

Lamb

The lamb symbolizes innocence and is usually found on the grave of an infant or child. This is the largest lamb I have found on a grave.

Austin Young

Died September 19, 1888

2 years, 6 months & 10 days

Buried: Abilene Cemetery

Willie

Willie G. Barngrover

Pleasant Valley Cemetery

Other information located at findagrave.com
died November 18, 1895
son of F. M. & L. S.
aged 13 years and 2 days