ELMWOOD CEMETERY, History of

MARCELINE TOWNSHIP, LINN COUNTY, MISSOURI

In 1870, years before Marceline was founded, a group of young settlers in southeast Linn County met in the newly constructed Taylor schoolhouse to arrange a place of burial.  The prevailing custom in those days among sparsely settled communities was to bury the dead near the home.  But these young settlers wanted something more.  Many were newly married, some single, a few with young families they had brought with them to the new land.  Erastus Taylor, my great grandfather, donated an acre of his property.  Along with my other great grandfather Josiah Phillips, charter members included D.P. Beebe, Christian Braggan, D.D. Burch, Curtis Graves, William S. Hayden, Ed Herriman, M. Herriman, Hiram Long, Frank Rensimer, Jacob Rensimer, Cephas Kathan and Jacob Minich.

The location for the cemetery was a good one, taken from the east side of the Taylor farm, well drained yet not too high and dry for trees to flourish.  American elms, chosen for their beauty, hardiness and availability, were planted along the drives in the cemetery, hence the name Elmwood Cemetery.

Lots were drawn for plots, with the first choice going to Josiah Phillips.  The first grave in Elmwood was for the little daughter of Hiram Long.  

In the nineteenth century, ‘Decoration Day’ in Elmwood Cemetery was quite the big deal.  The G.A.R. marched with fife and drum and flying colors at the head of a parade of people bearing flowers and flags for the graves.  Once the graves were decorated the people gathered around the mound that was for the unknown war dead.  The band played, people sang, sometimes there was a patriotic speaker.  At the end of the day, the bugler sounded taps.

Elmwood was well-kept for many years.  Families had dear ones there.  Every lot was neat with heirloom roses and prized peonies.  But over time families moved away and the pioneers died one by one.  The Santa Fe Railroad came, grazing the corner of Elmwood and Marceline sprang up only two miles away.  Soon there was a city cemetery and then a Catholic cemetery and over time Elmwood fell into utter neglect.

In 1950 one determined woman, Thelma Green (Mrs. Russell Green), rallied a few local descendents to resurrect the Elmwood Cemetery Association.  Meetings were held, hundreds of letters were sent out, and phone calls made.  When donations began to arrive, the association established a trust fund for perpetual care.  Over a period of several months, volunteer manual labor reclaimed the cemetery from its wild state.  Fallen trees were cleared, brush burned, and grass seed sown.  The fences were repaired, stones straightened and reset.  As descendents saw that care was assured, there was a renewed interest in marking graves with permanent stones. 

In May 1951 a Memorial Day program much like those 60 years previous was held.  The stately elms were gone, the G.A.R. wasn’t there, nor any drums and fifes.  But the American Legion placed flags on the soldiers’ graves, songs were sung and taps was played.

In the following years Elmwood Cemetery has been well served by a continuously active association of local descendents.

Compiled by:  Chris Taylor Ankeney

Secretary Treasurer

Elmwood Cemetery Association

You may contact Chris Ankeney at: homefarm64658@yahoo.com  The above "From:" address may be forged.