Welcome to Parsons Public Library Oakwood Cemetery Directory

OAKWOOD FACTS
OAKWOOD CEMETERY OPENED JUNE 1, 1872. THE ORIGINAL TRACT OF 20 ACRES WAS GIVEN TO THE CITY OF PARSONS BY THE PARSONS TOWN COMPANY FOR USE AS A PUBLIC CEMETERY.
CEMETERY HAS 15,000-20,000 BURIALS.
366 UNION SOLDIERS FROM CIVIL WAR
4 CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS FROM CIVIL WAR
1 CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT (CIVIL WAR) – W.W. CRANSTON. 100+ FORMER SLAVES/EXODUSTERS (BLACK CITIZENS WHO ARRIVED IN PAR- SONS FROM 1879-1881
2 BENDER VICTIMS FROM 1872 MURDERS
1000+ POTTERS’ FIELD (UNMARKED GRAVES) BURIALS
1 FORMER KANSAS GOVERNOR/U.S. SENATOR – CLYDE REED SR.
G.A.R.CIRCLES
ORIGINAL PART OF CEMETERY (WEST SIDE OF CEMETERY) CONTAINS TWO G.A.R. CIRCLES WHERE ALMOST 200 UNION SOLDIERS AND SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR VETERANS ARE BURIED. CONSTRUCTED IN STAGES BETWEEN 1886 AND 1911, CIRCLES INCLUDE A 28′ HIGH ROTUNDA WITH EAGLE AT THE TOP, 4 LIFE SIZE CIVIL WAR SOLDIER BRONZE STATUES, AND 2 CIVIL WAR CANNONS. GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC (G.A.R.) ANTIETAM POST NO. 64 WAS ORGA- NIZED IN PARSONS JUNE 2 1882. IN MAY OF 1886 THEY PURCHASED THE LOTS FOR THE CIRCLE NUMBER 2. CIRCLE NUMBER 1 WAS CREATED WITH THE PUR- CHASE OF MORE LOTS IN 1889. BETWEEN 1905-1911 MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE WITH THE HELP OF A COUNTYWIDE TAX SPECIFICALLY FOR THE G.A.R. SECTION AT OAKWOOD CEMETERY.
ADDITIONS
COFFEY’S ADDITON (EAST SIDE OF CEMETERY) WAS A 20 ACRE TRACT PUR- CHASED MAY 19,1904 FOR $225 AN ACRE FROM MAURICE COFFEY.
MAXWELL MEMORIAL PUBLIC MAUSOLEUM/CHAPEL BUILT IN 1924 AT A COST OF $8000 IN COFFEY’S ADDITION.
COFFEY’S ADDITION HAS AN AMERICAN LEGION BURIAL GROUND FOR WORLD WAR I AND II VETERANS. THIS LAND WAS ACQUIRED BY THE LEGION IN OCTO- BER OF 1928.
A 10 1/2 ACRE TRACT OF LAND EAST OF THE COFFEY’S ADDITION WAS PUR- CHASED BY THE CITY IN FEBRUARY OF 1988 FOR CEMETERY EXPANSION.

                                                                                           OAKWOOD TIMELINE

JUNE 1, 1872 – ORIGINAL SECTION OF CEMETERY OPENED.

MAY 1886 – ANTIETAM POST #64 PURCHASED LOTS FOR CIRCLE #2.

1889 – LOTS FOR CIRCLE #1 PURCHASED.

1898-2 EIGHT INCH COLUMBIAD CANNONS GIFTED FROM THE WAR DEPART- MENT FOR CIRCLE #1.

1904 – COFFEY’S ADDITION PURCHASED DOUBLING CEMETERY SIZE.

1905 – BOTH G.A.R. CIRCLES ENCLOSED WITH CUT SANDSTONE, COPING, AND CAPSTONES.

1905 – CONCRETE ROTUNDA IN CIRCLE #1 STANDING 28 FEET HIGH CONSTRUCT- ED.

1907 – CONCRETE ABUTMENTS ADDED TO CIRCLE #2.

1911 – BRONZE SOLDIERS STATUES ADDED TO CIRCLE #2.

1911 – ARCHED CAST IRON ENTRYWAY TO OAKWOOD DONATED TO OAKWOOD BY D.A.R.

1913 – CAST IRON ARCHWAY ADDED TO CIRCLE #2.

1924 – MAXWELL MEMORIAL PUBLIC MAUSOLEUM / CHAPEL BUILT IN COFFEY’S ADDITION AT A COST OF $8000.

1928 – LOTS ACQUIRED BY AMERICAN LEGION FOR WORLD WAR I AND WORLD WAR II BURIALS.

1931 – PERPETUAL CARE SECTION ESTABLISHED IN LOTS 13,14,25 AND 26 IN COF- FEY’S ADDITION.

1941 – THE LAST LIVING CIVIL WAR VETERAN IN LABETTE COUNTY (PETER HO- GAN) DIED AND WAS BURIED IN G.A.R. CIRCLE #1.

1988 – CITY PURCHASED 10 1/2 ACRES EAST OF COFFEY’S ADDITION FOR EXPAN- SION.

Oakwood Cemetery

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