Wichita’s First Gravestone Dealer: Christian Kimmerle

German immigrant Christian Kimmerle established Wichita’s first gravestone business in 1875 under the name Wichita Marble Works. Christian and his wife Pauline were among the first to settle in Wichita, and both left behind a lasting legacy.

Christian Kimmerle was a member of the International Order of Oddfellows (IOOF), and in this photo he is wearing his regalia: a floral tasseled collar fastened with a three-link chain and ceremonial dress cap. Shared with permission, image credit: The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum.

Christian and Pauline Kimmerle

Christian Kimmerle was born in Baden-Württemberg, Germany in 1845 and came to America in 1860. Pauline Gärtner was born in Stockheim, Germany in 1852 and arrived in America in 1868.

By 1870, 25-year-old Christian Kimmerle and his new bride Pauline were living in Topeka. According to Pauline, the couple came to Wichita in July of 1870, one month after this census was taken that recorded Christian’s occupation as “saloon keeper.”

The 1870 census shows Christian, saloon keeper, and Pauline in Topeka. Pauline remembered Christian working on the construction of the Kansas Statehouse when they lived there. Source

Life in Early Wichita

According to Pauline’s memory, she and Christian came to Wichita in the summer of 1870 on the suggestion of William Greiffenstein, who provided them with free land to build a home. The many hardships they endured in their shack on the prairie in the early days ranged from scares of Indian raids to “the complete absence of eggs in a community that had not yet acquired chickens.”

“Their first house was a shack on lots on North Main street provided by [William] Greiffenstein. Mrs. Kimmerle said the house was terrible. The weather blew into it on all sides, the slightest rain threatening to ruin everything inside. The dining table was a dry goods box and seats cracker-boxes. The Kimmerles had a stove but could find no stove-pipe, Mike Zimmerly, first tinner, not yet having arrived. Pauline Kimmerle found a family named Gusses over on Waco avenue with a fully equipped kitchen stove and she actually went over there, cooked the Kimmerle meals, and carried them home.

“The Kimmerles eventually abandoned the Main Street house and built on North Market. This home was the first one plastered in Wichita and the brick chimney Mr. Kimmerle erected was the first one here.” Source

This was the Kimmerle home on North Market: the first home plastered in Wichita, and the home with the first brick chimney (built by Kimmerle) and first dining room table in Wichita (built by Henry Bolte). Shared with permission, image credit: The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum

The Kimmerles eventually moved out of the North Market house, as it was close to “the old calaboose,” or prison. The prison had poor ventilation and at night during the summer, the prisoners “let the world know it by their wails.”

After this, the couple moved to a lot on North Broadway that they pioneered. The Wichita Beacon, Wichita, KS, Feb 26, 1942

Pauline was one of a handful of early Wichita pioneers who saw the town grow from just a few shacks in 1870 to over 200,000 homes (and growing) by the time of her death in 1943. Many of the historical tidbits and memories of early day Wichita that folks share today came from Pauline.

Pauline Kimmerle, date unknown. Shared with permission, image credit: The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum

Excellent Beer and the Freshest of Lager

Christian is credited with being Wichita’s first stonemason, and we know him as the first proprietor of Wichita Marble Works, but I learned while researching him that before he started his stone and marble yard, he was serving up beer, wine, and lager, not just in Topeka, but in Wichita.

The Daily Beacon, Wichita, KS, Sep 1, 1873

The Wichita Weekly Beacon, Wichita, KS, May 19, 1875

Men could also “retire for a rest” at Christian’s place, but on the March 1875 census, his job was “mason,” not saloon keeper or hotel proprietor. Victor Murdock claimed that Kimmerle laid “more stone foundations and brick chimneys” than anyone in Wichita by 1875.

A Fine Boy?

The 1910 census says Pauline birthed no children, so I was surprised to find that The Wichita Daily Times reported in 1884 that a boy was born at the Kimmerle house.

Wichita Daily Times, Wichita, KS, Feb 7, 1884

I didn’t find any more mentions of this boy, so either something happened to him, or this bit of news doesn’t mean what I think it does. If they had a baby that died, his burial place isn’t known, and he wasn’t given a gravestone.

Christian’s Career

During his career as a gravestone dealer in Wichita, Christian operated a marble and stone yard, called Wichita Marble Works, where gravestones were carved and shipped out to be placed at cemeteries across Kansas and beyond. Most of Kimmerle’s early work was done with a partner, Charles Adams, under the name Kimmerle & Adams.

Several other Kimmerle’s are working as stonemasons in Wichita according to the 1885 Wichita directory. Source

Christian was good with money. He served multiple terms as Wichita’s city treasurer, and while he served, the stone and marble yard doubled as the treasurer’s office. He was also the treasurer for the local Oddfellows Lodge, the Turner Society, and the German Emigrant Aid Society in Wichita.

Before, during, and after running his gravestone business, Christian also maintained a farm. He did his share of threshing wheat, and he raised grapes and pears. And in addition to serving up beer and managing the Turner Opera House, I also found this fun tidbit about some unusual entertainment he provided for Wichitans.

Wichita Daily Times, Wichita, KS, July 12, 1883

Christian was a stonemason by trade, but investing in the growth of Wichita was probably much more profitable. He retired from the gravestone business in 1886 to become a full-time capitalist. He had been investing in real estate for years, completely embracing “the manifest destiny of Wichita.”

Christian Kimmerle, date unknown. Shared with permission, image credit: The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum

The Largest Gravestone in Central West Kansas

Christian was described as not very pious, “but generous to a fault,” and as a “genial, whole souled, honest man. He has gained the good will of everybody and the ill will of no one.”

Christian Kimmerle gravestone at Highland Cemetery

Christian died in San Diego, California of esophageal cancer in 1914 at age 69. His body was returned to Wichita to be buried at Highland Cemetery.

Pauline moved back to Wichita after Christian died. She lived here for another thirty years, sharing stories about the early days of Wichita until her death in 1943 at age 90. She was buried beside her husband.

If you look closely at their gravestone, you can see that the numbers in Pauline’s death year are a little thicker, a clue that they were added later.

The gravestone was commissioned by Pauline from the Jones Bros. Monumental Granite Company in Wichita shortly after Christian’s death. It was carved from Winnsboro blue granite that was shipped to Wichita from the Rion Quarry in South Carolina.

The stone features an angel, a dove, and a background of water, evoking themes of peaceful transition and divine protection, and all of it was carved here in Wichita.

At the time it was placed, Christian’s gravestone was said to be the largest at not just Highland Cemetery, but in central west Kansas, competing with just one other in Anthony. When shipped, the stone was three feet wide, stood over seven feet tall, and weighed in at 3,000 pounds.

The expertly carved stone cost Pauline $1,250 in 1915, equal to about $40,000 today.

Wichita Marble Works

Christian Kimmerle founded Wichita Marble Works in 1875. At one point, his marble and stone yard was “the largest of the kind west of Kansas City,” and the shop took orders from as far away as California.

Wichita Marble Works, circa 1877. Shared with permission, image credit: The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum

C. Kimmerle & Co.

Among the first mentions that I can find in newspapers of Wichita Marble Works is an article from 1876, when The Wichita Weekly Beacon announced that Kimmerle was opening a stone and marble yard with his brother-in-law, Charlie Herburger.

The Wichita Weekly Beacon, Wichita, KS, Apr 19, 1876

Ads for Wichita Marble Works were in local papers that same month, with C. Kimmerle & Co. as the owners.

The Wichita Weekly Beacon, Wichita, KS, Apr 26, 1876

Wichita Marble Works imported stone from the east coast and overseas, but they also used local stone from Isaac Alexander’s limestone quarry near Cottonwood Falls.

Chase County Leader, Cottonwood Falls, KS, Apr 6, 1876

I’m not sure if the limestone was used for any actual gravestones, but it was definitely used for the bases that the gravestones were set on.

Stone Quarry, Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, Tim Johnson Postcard Collection, Fort Hays State University

One of the first gravestones that came from Kimmerle’s shop was for Carlos B. King, a deputy sheriff who was shot and killed at “Rowdy” Joe Lowe’s Hyde Park dance house in Newton in 1871.

The Weekly Eagle, Wichita, KS, Jul 27, 1876

The lettering and Masonic symbol on this early Kimmerle-produced gravestone are quite sharp; but it is also very plain compared to other work, is lacking accurate spacing and centering, and does not have a visible makers’ mark.

Greenwood Cemetery, Newton, Kansas

Dawson & Adams?

Briefly, Wichita Marble Works advertisements did not include the Kimmerle name, and I’m not sure why. Charles Adams and George Dawson were the proprietors briefly in 1876-1877.

The Weekly Eagle, Wichita, KS, Jan 25, 1877

Kimmerle & Adams

Wichita Marble Works advertisements were back under the Kimmerle name in 1877, and Christian was back in business, this time with Charles L. Adams of the aforementioned Dawson & Adams.

The Wichita Weekly Beacon, Wichita, KS, Dec 26, 1877

Known as Kimmerle & Adams, the pair expertly operated Wichita Marble Works together, cranking out countless beautiful gravestones and setting them in cemeteries across Kansas and neighboring states.

The Wichita Weekly Beacon, Wichita, KS, Oct 10, 1883

For nine years, most of the gravestones produced in Wichita were produced by Christian Kimmerle and Charles Adams. The pair traveled around the tri-county area and beyond selling their work. They also operated a shop in Newton.

The Weekly Kansan Republican, Newton, KS, Oct 26, 1882

Adams & Koenig

By the mid-1880’s, Christian had apparently had his fill of the gravestone business for one reason or another. The Wichita Eagle first reported his retirement in 1884, and the formation of a new company headed by Charles Adams, called Adams & Koenig.

The Wichita Eagle, Wichita, KS, Sep 17, 1884

The Wichita Beacon, Wichita, KS, Oct 1, 1884

But less than a month later, Adams & Koenig was officially dissolved, and Christian was back in the business with Charles as Kimmerle & Adams.

The Wichita Beacon, Wichita, KS, Oct 4, 1884

(I’m still looking for an Adams & Koenig marked gravestone.)

Kimmerle & Adams Leave Wichita Marble Works

Christian and Charles worked together for another year and a half until 1886, when Adams sold his share of the business to Kimmerle, and then Kimmerle sold the business to his brother John Kimmerle.

John Kimmerle’s mark is on the gravestone for William “Buffalo Bill” Mathewson and wives at Highland Cemetery. Wichita Daily Evening Resident, Wichita, KS, Dec 23, 1886

The following year, John Kimmerle sold Wichita Marble Works to W.Y. Teetzel.

The Wichita Eagle, Wichita, KS, Dec 10, 1887

The Wichita Commercial, Wichita, KS, Jan 14, 1888

Teetzel sold the business to W.E. Marsh in 1890, and by 1900, it was in the hands of yet another owner and renamed as Wichita Marble & Granite Works. The business changed hands multiple times after that, but remained in operation until at least the 1960’s.

Gravestones by Kimmerle & Adams

There are many beautiful gravestones around Kansas with a Kimmerle & Adams mark, so it’s hard to choose just a few to share. Here are a few of the marked gravestones they carved that I have found.

Sarah Stewart, Greenwood Cemetery, Newton

This elaborate gravestone for Sarah is carved from white marble.

The lettering, layout, and font choices do not immediately appear to be the work of Kimmerle & Adams to me.

But this gravestone bears a Kimmerle & Adams mark, confirming it was carved at Wichita Marble Works under their proprietorship.

Ross Family Monument, Highland Cemetery, Wichita

This large pedestal-style monument at Highland Cemetery in Wichita was commissioned by Wichita mayor Finlay Ross after his wife Sarah died in 1879.

The gravestone bears the mark of Kimmerle & Adams. Note the stylization of the ampersand that could signify a specific carver.

Leva Coulter, Fowler Cemetery, Butler County

Little Leva at rural Fowler Cemetery in Butler County has a simple tablet stone with a carving of a lamb, and it also has a flower at the very top.

The gravestone bears the mark of Kimmerle & Adams, stylized as K&A, and it has the same fancy ampersand as the Ross monument, perhaps indicating the same carver.

George Stroup, Waco Cemetery, Haysville

George’s gravestone at Waco Cemetery has stood the test of time, and the Kimmerle & Adams mark is clearly visible at the bottom.

This one also has the fancy ampersand.

Grave of Lyn Wyckoff, Wichita

There is a single gravestone in the parking lot at Cessna in west Wichita, and it’s for little Lyn Wyckoff.

The gravestone bears the stylized K&A mark without the fancy ampersand.

Shuster Family Monument, Greenwood Cemetery, Newton

When we spotted this unique stone, we suspected it was carved by Kimmerle & Adams, just based on the style and layout of the lettering.

A closer inspection confirmed a Kimmerle & Adams mark on this stone.

Lewellen Children, Belle Vista Cemetery, El Dorado

Two children of Doctor Lewellen were buried on his farm in Butler county, and then later reinterred at Belle Vista Cemetery in El Dorado. The children died in 1858 and 1860, but this gravestone wasn’t carved until at least 1877.

The mark of Kimmerle & Adams, stylized as K&A, is barely visible at the bottom.

Minnie Forney, Belle Plaine Cemetery, Belle Plaine

Minnie’s gravestone has a very Kimmerle & Adams look. Something about the outlined name and the banner that frames it, the font choices, and the shape and style of the lettering, all seem to be the a Kimmerle & Adams carving style.

Nothing is traditional about this Kimmerle & Adams mark, however. This is the fanciest Kimmerle & Adams mark that I have found.

Hamilton Children, Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Cheney

There are several Kimmerle & Adams gravestones at Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Cheney Reservoir, including this double gravestone for twins William and Margaret Hamilton that features mirrored lambs.

The gravestone bears the mark of Kimmerle & Adams with a regular ampersand.

Watkins Children, Seltzer Cemetery, Wichita

Two children of Elizabeth and William Watkins, Daniel Watkins and an unnamed infant, have Kimmerle & Adams gravestones at Seltzer Cemetery.

The infant’s stone was broken and reset, but the lamb on it is identical to one of the lambs on the gravestone of the Hamilton twins above. The Kimmerle & Adams mark is visible on Daniel’s gravestone. The gravestone also has emphasis added beneath the death date, a detail seen on many Kimmerle & Adams stones from this time frame.

Nina Kendle, Maple Grove Cemetery, Wichita

Nina was originally buried at Highland Cemetery, but she was reinterred at Maple Grove Cemetery, which opened after Kimmerle & Adams were out of business.

Her name features the outline-style carving that can be found on many Kimmerle & Adams gravestones.

It also bears a Kimmerle & Adams mark below the family name.

Margaret Wolf, Pioneer Cemetery, Cheney

Margaret’s gravestone almost looks like some kind of weird printing error, but closer inspection reveals that it was definitely an artistic choice made by the carver.

I can see what the artist was going for here, but there is probably a reason why I haven’t seen another Kimmerle & Adams stone like this.

This stone bears the Kimmerle & Adams mark.

Fannie Rawlins, Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum

Fannie M. Rawlins is buried at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Goddard, but her gravestone is at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum. The gravestone was stolen from the cemetery in the 90’s, and when found it was turned over to Maple Grove Cemetery. It was later given to the museum for a display on funerary artifacts. Her actual grave remains unmarked.

The gravestone bears the mark of Kimmerle & Adams, and because it is preserved in the museum, it will remain in this condition.

Kate Orr Hoss, Maple Grove Cemetery, Valley Center

There are several Kimmerle & Adams stones at Maple Grove Cemetery in Valley Center, including this one for Kate, who died of pneumonia.

This gravestone displays the typical Kimmerle & Adams style, but also has some expertly carved tassels and designs decorating the face.

The stone has the Kimmerle & Adams mark.

So What Happened to Charles Adams?

Charles Adams was born in West Virginia and came to Kansas around 1876. He was just 20 years old when he went into a partnership with Christian Kimmerle, suggesting that he was highly skilled and trustworthy at a young age.

Purported to be a young, blue-eyed Charles Lee Adams, date unknown. I believe Brands Studios was located in Chicago, but I have not yet been able to place Charles there. Source

Charles married Mamie Burson in Wichita in 1880. The couple had two children, Grace (b. 1882) and Charles (b. 1889).

After Kimmerle left Wichita Marble Works, Charles followed in his footsteps in more ways than one. He left the business for a while too, and also served as Wichita’s treasurer for a few years in the 1880’s, and then ran for Sedgwick County treasurer in 1889. The 1895 census has his occupation as “police clerk,” and he also joined the military in 1898 (1st U.S. Volunteer Infantry, Company C), and was discharged later that same year. You can view his service and pension files here.

His wife Mamie died in 1899 and was buried at Highland Cemetery.

Charles got back into the stone and marble business after Mamie died. The 1900 census says Charles was working as a marble dealer in Oklahoma City (he was one of the proprietors of Southwestern Granite and Marble Works for a few years), and the 1910 census says he was a marble cutter in Great Bend. When he died, his occupation was listed as “laborer.”

Charles died in 1926 in the veterans home in Leavenworth. He was just 68, but was struggling with heart disease and “mitral insufficiency.” His daughter Grace was listed as his nearest relative, and she had his body returned to Wichita to be buried next to Mamie.

After running at least two gravestone carving businesses in two different states, and artfully carving countless gravestones throughout his life for friends and strangers, Charles was buried in an unmarked grave.

Charles is buried here somewhere in this plot next to Mamie.

He’s buried directly across the cemetery road from Christian and Pauline Kimmerle.

His children, Grace and Charles, ultimately ended up in California. Grace had been married once, but I don’t believe she had any children, and her husband died in 1925. After that, she lived with her brother until he died in 1956, and I believe he was cremated. He was also widowed and I don’t believe he had children either. Grace died in 1967 and she was cremated.