Jamesburg Park Cemetery, Wichita, Kansas

Jamesburg Park Cemetery, also known as Jamesburg Cemetery, sits on the edge of the Jamesburg Park subdivision in west Wichita. The cemetery is one of a few nearby reminders of the briefly flourishing settlement on Wichita’s early outskirts called Jamesburg.

Jamesburg Park Cemetery entrance. Photo taken October 30, 2022.

Jamesburg had a post office, a school, and a few shops supported by a tight-knit community, but the railroad caused a population boom in Wichita, and the town of Jamesburg was annexed by the city of Wichita in 1880 before it had a chance to grow any further. Despite the annexation, the cemetery that became known as Jamesburg Park Cemetery was “out in the country” for nearly 100 years.

The vanished town of Jamesburg was named after a man named James Morgan, a local businessman and opportunist. It may have originally been intended to be called Morgan City, based on a couple of news articles that announced the development of the town.

Eight miles west of Wichita was the location of a settlement that would be named Jamesburg, not Morgan City. The Weekly Eagle, Wichita, Kansas, Feb 27, 1873

Morgan City platted in 1873, just before the plat is filed with the county. The Weekly Eagle, Wichita, Kansas, Mar 13, 1873

Jamesburg (sometimes spelled “Jamesburgh”) was first laid out in 1872. This plat was filed with the county in 1873, making Jamesburg (not Morgan City) official.

History suggests that the first burial occurred on this land as early as 1875, and while there are no official documented burials dating back that far, there is documentation of individuals dying in Jamesburg before 1880 whose final resting spots are unknown.

Martin Busselmer had a funeral at Jamesburg in 1877, but there’s no record of where he was buried. The Wichita Weekly Beacon, Wichita, Kansas, Jan 31, 1877

James Longwell of Scotland died in Jamesburg, but there’s no record of where he was buried. The Wichita Weekly Beacon
Wichita, Kansas, Apr 30, 1879

Another theory is that the cemetery was originally intended as a private cemetery for the Kessler family. Abraham Kessler, a former Confederate solider, claimed 160 acres and built a home at the corner of what is now Tyler and West 21st Street. When his family members began to die, a cemetery was established at another corner of his property.

An 1882 map of Delano Township over a current map of Wichita shows Jamesburg cemetery on the corner of Abraham Kessler’s property, opposite of the residence. Map and overlay courtesy of Dave Rumsey Map Collection.

At least 15 of the first 20 burials here have some familial relationship to Abraham Kessler. The first known burials in this cemetery were the infant grandchildren of Abraham. Click to view a spreadsheet of the known burials here from 1880-1889.

Carl Craig, grandson of Abraham Kessler, died in 1880 and is the first person known to be buried at this cemetery. Photo taken October 30, 2022.

Buddie Craig, also a grandson of Abraham Kessler, died in 1882 and was the second known person to be buried here. Photo taken October 30, 2022.

Abraham Kessler died in 1885 and was the third known person to be buried here. Photo taken October 30, 2022.

Albert Siever, grandson of Abraham Kessler, died in 1888 and was the fourth known person to be buried here. Photo taken October 30, 2022.

Abraham’s wife Mary (nee Paynter) was the fifth known person to be buried here. She’s buried right beside Abraham.

Mary’s stone matches Abraham’s. Photo taken October 30, 2022.

Charles Muma, the five-year-old son of Charles and Sarah Muma, was the first non-family member known to be buried here. The Muma’s lived across the road from the Kessler’s, and were probably close friends of the family.

The Kessler residence in relation to the Muma residence. The families lived very close to one another. Map courtesy of Dave Rumsey Map Collection.

Little Charlie Muma died in a fire. According to news articles from the time, he got some matches and accidentally started a fire in the hay loft. The fire grew too quickly for him to escape on his own, or for anyone else to save him. His mother suffered serious injuries trying to save him, and the news reported that she had to watch him “slowly roasting to death.”

George Muma died in 1891 and was the fifth known burial at Jamesburg Park Cemetery. Photo taken October 30, 2022.

“A terrible fatality.” The Wichita Beacon, Wichita, Kansas, Apr 20, 1891

Members of the Kessler family may have been the neighbors that recovered the charred bones from the building. The Wichita Star, Wichita, Kansas, Apr 25, 1891

Lots are no longer for sale at Jamesburg Cemetery, but there are still one to two interments per year in previously purchased lots.

Other Resources

Ancestry Local Research Tree

Jamesburg Park Cemetery, Find a Grave

Sedgwick County Plat Maps