Indian Cemetery at Nieman Road & 59th Terrace in Shawnee, Johnson County, Kansas Transcribed and submitted by Maureen Reed [mreed@sky.net] 17 July 2000; additional information provided by Gail Chamberlin, September 2001 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- KSGENWEB INTERNET GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY COPYRIGHT NOTICE: In keeping with the KSGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Transcribers note: This cemetery is terribly deteriorated. I'm not sure who owns the lands but I was told at the Johnson County Museum that the land is owned by the Kansas State Historical Society. If anyone knows differently, please inform the webmaster [merope@radix.net]. The grass is cut but the stones have all been severely worn down. I found them very difficult to read so you will see many question marks and blanks in my enumeration. It is also obvious from the slight mounds of ground that there are many more graves there than there are markers. Apparently those markers have been lost. Personally, I find this to be a shameful condition, especially considering that buried in this cemetery is one of the most important Native American contributors to Johnson County history, that being Capt. Joseph Parks. ADDENDUM/ERRATA: Gail Chamberlin, who researched a history of Indian Cemetery writes: "Last fall (Nov. 2000) I wrote a paper about this cemetery for a college class. I did a considerable amount of research including reading many different articles in old newspapers. I found that through the years the headstones are continuing to disappear (some really horrible things have taken place.) Among the newspaper articles there were a couple other headstones listed that no longer remain at the site...The following additional headstone information was found in The Kansas City Star in a column named "In a House of Yesterday" written circa 1939. Jesse Harvey of Harveysburgh b. 26d of 11th month 1801 d. 12d of 5th month 1848 Chouteau, William d. 2-7-1868 aged 7y Son of Benjamin Chouteau History of the cemetery, provided by Gail Chamberlin: "Approximately 14 pieces of headstones are embedded in a concrete slab. They are (supposedly) from the Shawnee Quaker Mission Cemetery which was located about 1 1/2 miles to the east on 61st & Hadley (near the current day DAR marker.) The headstones (no bodies) were moved because they were disappearing (according to one of the articles I read people were using them in their house foundations and as stepping stones in their yards.) Harvey, Mendenhall, Kirby (Hadley), Margaret Painter, William Baldwin, Walter Ernest Allen, and Levender Jessup were definitely buried at the Quaker Mission. Some of these were employees and teachers or their children." -------------------------------- Julia Ann, wife of Chs Bluejacket. Died July 11, 1870. Aged 50 years. Robert Bluejacket. Born April 1, 1840. Died March 25, 1858. Julia Ann, dau. of C. & J. A. Bluejacket. Died Feb 2, 1865. (more but illegible - appears to be a poem) Asemath (?) C. Kirby. Dec. 11 Month 1855. William, son of Isaac Baldwin. Died Aug 27, 1869. Aged 41 yrs & 1 mo. Margaret F., wife of David Painter. Died 2nd Mo 17th 186(2)? Aged 49 years. Charles Donelson. Aged 5 years. Walter Ernest, son of C. W. & E. K. Allen. Died 3rd Month 12th 1875. Aged 1 yr 4 mo's & 3d's. J. A. B. (possibly the footmarker for Julia Ann Bluejacket? Not located near her headstone, though.) Evender (?) Jessup. Died 5th Mo 31st Dy 1876. (name missing) Died 11th Mo 1855. Aged 18y 10m 21d. H. M. Mendenhall. Died 15th of 6th Mo 18__ (this part of stone missing). Aged 27 (21?) yr. (More but illegible) R. Mendenhall. (The rest of the stone is missing.) C. P. Asenath G., wife of B. Kirby and dau of J. A. & M. Madley. _____come(?) Died Oct 21, 1863. Aged 1y, 8m, 16d. "Most blest ___________" James S., son of M. P. & E(?) Randall (Kandall?) Died Aug 12, 1865. Aged 1 years. Sallie, dau of W. H. & J. Booth. Died Jan 11, 1865. Son of W. H. & J. Booth. Jan(?) 5, 1860. Aged 2 yr (verse illegible) Robert, son of D. & A(?) Bluejacket. Born July 7, 1862. Died Nov 22, 1866. Chas. Silverheels. Born Sep 20, 1844. Died Apr 5, 1864. Joseph Parks. Died Apr 3, 1859(3?) Aged 65 yrs. Catharine, wife of Joseph Parks. Died Oct 14, 1858. Aged 58 y. ________ Nancy, daughter of J. & C. Parks. Born Sept 15, 1831. Aged 6 yrs.