Mesa County, Colorado Cemeteries [Preliminary]
This page is a "work-in-progress" and at this time all preliminary information is on one page. In the future each cemetery will have its own page. A search option will then be created. There are several Mesa County cemetery histories published in various locations. A review of these histories and a Mesa County compiled cemetery history would be a great addition to this website.
Miscellaneous cemetery history notes: From the 'Journal of the Western Slope, Vol 6, No 1, Winter 1991.
Pg 41: Cemeteries of the Lower Valley: Elmwood Cemetery, Catholic Cemetery 1 mile north of Fruita. 1881, Fruita had a designated burial ground. 1897, Grounds plotted and designated as cemeteries of the Lower Valley. 200 +/- servicemen graves in Elmwood. William Pabor - Fruita Founder buried in South Section of cemetery. Marble was from canyon north of Palisade.. Pg 42: Details of the annual cemetery clean-up.
Small cemeteries at: Appleton, Loma, Rhone and on the Highline. Many families buried their very small children on their own property, usually in an area by the side of a rosebush or just outside the parents bedroom.
Most cemeteries were uncared for plots of ground and each family was responsible for family grave care.
This document was last modified:
Highlighted text are items that should be addressed during cemetery project.
Many researchers have been involved with the research into the history of cemeteries and burials of Mesa County, Colorado. Since the 1970's The Museum of the West, Mesa County Genealogical Society members, local community members, local historians, and various community groups have worked to research and catalog the history and burials in Mesa County. These pages will help pull together all the research over the years into one central location. We need a separate page within this project that will detail the efforts of some of these individuals.
I (Karen Sturgill) want to thank in particular, Museum of the West Loyd Files researcher Marie Tipping for her ongoing discussions with me over the last several years about the local cemeteries and burials so that there was a starting point to get this project up and running.
Insert general History of Mesa County and its cemeteries...
Town Company Notice, GJ News, 04 Nov 1882, Sat, pg 3
Kathy Jordan a Grand Junction historian who, unfortunately, passed away in 2013 completed much Mesa County Cemetery research. Links to some of her columns are listed below:
- 'Unearthed Headstone Leads Columnist on Trail of History Mystery'
- 'Ross Cemetery'
- 'Early-Day Cemeteries Proved Profitable to Growing Town'
- 'OM Cemetery Centerpiece of Remembrance'
- 'Potter's Field'
First Recorded Death
Garland - Infant of Mr. & Mrs. Garland, died in December 1881 and may have been buried in Potters' Field.
Garland Infant Obituary, GJ News, 04 Nov 1882, Sat, pg 3
Mesa County Oral History Project related to cemeteries [are there more?]
Interviews with Craig B. Aupperle.
Colorado Historic Cemetery Association
"Purpose": To promote the preservation, interpretation and sustainability of historic cemeteries..." You can view their website here.
Cemeteries: Alphabetical List
As more details are added, each cemetery may require a separate webpage.
** In conjunction with the 'Colorado Cemetery Names Project' [2004], MCGS member Dennis R. Jenkins collected location data and photos of the Mesa County, Colorado cemeteries. Cemetery photographs have the following citation: 'Photo Credit: DRJ 2004'. The original project notebook can be found in the Mesa County Genealogical Society Library and includes detailed location including GPS details and Topographic map printouts.
Miscellaneous Mesa County, Colorado Online Cemetery Information
Mesa County Genealogical Society Cemetery Database (pdf file)
Interment.net
USGenWeb Archives
Find a Grave
Mesa County Colorado Genweb Colorado Gravestones
Billion Graves
Cemeteries: Chronological List
Potters' Field (Grand Junction)
1881 - ????
Potters Field Cemetery- **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Potters Field History
The history on 'Find a Graves' seems to indicate that there were various Potters Field cemeteries in Mesa county and their history is quite convoluted. Kathy Jordan submitted a great deal of details that can be found here.
Joseph Harper homesteaded the property in 1883 and sold it [unknown date] to William Palmer who owned property until 1911. Kathy states that there were no know burials during the time that Mr. Palmer owned the property . Kathy did not note dates.
Potter's Field, GJ News, 04 July 1885, Sat, pg 3
20-30 Club Seeks Information on City's Forgotten Cemetery
Burials after Potters Field property was sold to C.L. Connely in 1911.[Two in 1911, and two in 1913. However Find a Grave shows five in 1913]. Last burial in 1936.
Cemetery sold to the City of Grand Junction in 1919.
Potter's Field was also, apparently, the center of a ghost search possibly in 2009. There is a copy of an email from Feb 2010 that mentions that Kathy Jordan interviewed the group MAAPPS Paranormal regarding their search. It would be interesting to locate the article or interview.
A file has been found named "Cemetery Potter" that includes research done by Harold Hawkworth, President of the Pioneers that includes 'Historic Preservation survey forms; A note from Gladys Tovrea Brandstoettner regarding a contribution of information to the USGenWeb Archives; Several tombstone photographs; a copy of a telephone interview from January 1986 with Don Riggle of the defunct 20-30 Club; and notes by Billie Richardson of the Mesa County Genealogical Society. The documents have been scanned and will be included here.
Additional information on this cemetery can be found here including individuals buried, tombstone photographs and a detailed cemetery history by local researcher Kathy Jordan.
Possible burials: Infant Garland; December 1881, Benjamin A. "Ben" Scott - Sheriff. Died 1 April 1882. Drowned in the Grand River; Patrick Henry Gordon.
Gate Location Address: 26 3/8 Rd; Lat/Long; Status: Inactive
Directions: From Highway 50 take Canon St. (26 1/4 Rd) South to B 3/4 Rd. Turn West and go to 26 3/8th Rd, then South about 1/4 mile to Cemetery on left Side (East). Just north of Police firing range.
Burials/Obituaries
Burials from Find-A-Grave, 33 listed. Additions of obituaries in progress. Apparently the names of the individuals are on the back of the cemetery sign although my understanding is that they are not correct. A photo would be a great addition.
First Burials?
The following is a list of some of the burials from Find-A-Grave. It seems likely that this list is a consolidation of several 'Potters Field' cemeteries. I am in the process of scanning and adding obituaries.
Hope Cemetery
1883 - 1895 ?
Although a 'work-in-progress' the Hope Cemetery details given here is a possible example of the types of details the MCGS Cemetery Project could work towards for all Mesa County cemeteries.
***From Kathy Jordan (need copy write authorization or new blurb) According to Gunnison and Mesa County records, Hope Cemetery was the first area planned as a cemetery by the Grand Junction Town and Investment Co. It was located between Independent and Texas Avenues on First Street...In 1883, John Mayhew filed on 160 acres then sold 60 acres to the Grand Junction Town Company.
*Conversation with Marie Tipping, Loyd Files Research Library in June 2022 - There were ruins of an old adobe or brick chapel that stood near the center of the plot. After 1887 burials were at a cemetery near the W.W. Miller Ranch.
Hope Cemetery Historical Documents
John Mayhew Land Purchase Gunnison County, Land Sale Receipts - Registers of Cash Entries, 1518685_1(80), 1883-1890. Accessed familysearch.org 18 May 2002
PDF image of John Mayhew Land Patent issued by BLM 04 June 1890
Hope Cemetery plat image; No individual plots noted.
Plat of Hope Cemetery with survey notes
Transcription of Hope Cemetery survey notes
Hope Cemetery Abandoned
The Daily Sentinel, Tues, 06 June 1905, Page 2, Column 4
The old cemetery on the Fruit Ridge road, about one mile north of the city limits, long ago abandoned will be entirely effaced and the bodies still remaining in the old cemetery will be disinterred and removed to the the Orchard Mesa Cemetery. Preparations are now being made by the Gourley-Platt Furniture & Undertaking company to make this change, and the old cemetery, long unsightly in its appearance, will soon be a thing of the past. It is thought that about sixteen bodies are still in the old graveyard. Nearly all, if not all, of the graves are unmarked, and in nearly every instance the identity of those who were laid to rest in this cemetery years ago has been lost, and again on the removal to the Orchard Mesa cemetery the bodies will rest in unmarked graves.
The plot upon which the graveyard is laid out is owned by the Grand Junction Town & Development Company. Twenty-five years ago this company laid out the cemetery and many lots were sold. For several years the city's dead was laid to rest here, and there had been perhaps forty interments before it was decided to abandon the cemetery. The last burial service held there was in the year 1887, and from that year until the present time the little plot of ground directly on the public highway has been neglected and un-cared for. This was Grand Junction's first cemetery. For many years following the year 1887 interments were made in a cemetery near the W. M. Miller ranch and then about 12 years ago. the Orchard Mesa cemetery was laid out and lots sold. Efforts have been made from time to time by the residents of Fruit Ridge to have the old cemetery obliterated. At one time a petition, quite lengthy, was prepared and presented to the county commissioners, but no action was taken.
During the last two weeks the Town & Development Company decided to have the change made and the company let the contract to the Gourley-Platt company the latter part of the week. A more dreary and desolate scene ???? that presented by this long forsaken burying ground could hardly be imagined. The remains of an old adobe or brick chapel stand near the center of the plot. A road, the branch of the main highway, finds its was across a portion of the grounds. Years ago some of the graves were marked with stones, but today these stones are broken and scattered in all directions. Many of the mounds have sunken, and there are numerous empty graves, graves from which the bodies were removed long ago. No shade trees nor grass is there to give and air of restfulness to the place. It has all the loneliness and desolation that wrapped in oppressive gloom and weirdness the old graveyard described by Thomas Gray in his famous elegy.
Lot Purchases
There are two infant son's of SJ and SA Scovill buried in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Dates of death given as 1890 and 1891.
Burials
Ross Cemetery
1886 ? - 1894
Ross Cemetery Historical Documents
PDF image of Marcus B Ross Land Patent issued by BLM 27 Jan 1888
Ross Cemetery Location **Image from Google Maps - June 2002
This cemetery no longer exists.
Additional information on this cemetery can be found at Find a Grave including possible burials, and an article on the cemetery history by local researcher Kathy Jordan.
Gate Location Address: According to research done by Kathy Jordan, this cemetery was located "north of the railroad tracks on 19 1/2 Rd, [the] Ross School was just south of the railroad tracks." The Bureau of Land Management records indicate that Marcus B Ross obtained a patented this property on 27 Jan 1888, however Kathy Jordan's research noted that the property was homesteaded by Marcus and Ellen Ross in 1882.
Obituaries
**note: all of these obituaries have been located and will be added to the website.
- Infant daughter Hynes - burial Sat. 18 Oct 1884
- Charles Duckett - 8 months - 18 Aug 1885
- William Duckett - 32 years - 02 Sep 1886
- Mary Chipman: GJ News 30 Oct 1886
- Infant Lowery - 07 Feb 1888
- Sarah Carline McCracken Duckett - 24 Sep 1888.
- Edith Haynes - 04 Oct 1888 - moved to Orchard Mesa
- Mary B Haynes (Mary Matilda?)- 06 Nov 1888
- Infant Woodring: GJ News 21 Jan 1888
- Mrs. Dorothy Rich: GJ News 22 Nov 1890
- Mr. J.H. Berry: GJ News 19 Aug 1893
- Phildellia Franklin "Badger" Haynes - 16 Sep 1894 - moved to Orchard Mesa
Fairview (Abandoned)
1887 - ???? (history?)
Find a Grave lists "Fairview Cemetery" as Mesa-Molina. This is not the same cemetery.
There are/were two 'Fairview' cemeteries. The ownership history of this cemetery needs to be researched
Warranty Deed #8538, 19 Dec. 1889, Burroughs R Hall, County of Arapaho, Co and Alvina D Kenney of Weber Co, UT. $2,500. S 1/2 of the NW 1/4 and Lot Three (3) and the SW 1/4 of the SE 1/4. Section One (1) Township One (1)S, Range 1(1)W, Ute principal Meridian ???? fifteen (15) acres now enclosed and known a Fairview Cemetery.
Last deed for this property 1895
Ariel Biglow - age 43 - 24 Aug 1887 Buried Mr. Hall's Fairview Cemetery
Fair View (City of Grand Junction)
1907 - Present
Original Land Patentee, Marcus A Wheelock, 09 Feb 1891
Fairview Cemetery **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Fairview Cemetery
34 burials are listed on Find A Grave.
Gate Location Address: Canon St. (26 1/4 Rd), Status: Active
Directions: Take Highway 50 South from downtown Post Office to Canon St. (26 1/4 Rd) go about 1/4 mile South; Cemetery is on the left (East) side of the road.
Ohr Shalom Cemetery (City of Grand Junction)
???? (history?)
Ohr Shalom Cemetery **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Ohr Shalom Cemetery
21 burials are listed on Find A Grave as of 31 May 2022.
Gate Location Address:SE Corner of Municipal Cemetery; Also on west side of Canon St (26 1/4 Rd)
Orchard Mesa (Grand Junction)
1887/88 - Present
Orchard Mesa Cemetery **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Orchard Mesa Cemetery
Gate Location Address: 263 26 1/4 Rd
Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery (Fruita)
????
Sacred Heart - Calvary Cemetery **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Gate Location Address:17 1/2 Road about 1/2 mile North of K Road, Fruita
Directions;From roundabout in Fruita (Aspen Ave & Mesa St.) go East on Aspen about 1/4 mile to 17 1/2 Rd. Turn Left and go North about 0.9 miles. The Cemetery is on the left (West) side of the road.
Calvary (City of Grand Junction)
???? (need a history)
Calvary **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Calvary Cemetery
Gate Location Address: 280 26 1/4 Rd
Directions:Take Highway 50 South to Canon St (26 1/4 Rd). Turn South and go .04. The Entrance to the cemetery is on the left (East) side of the road.
Cedar Crest (Collbran)
????-???? (need a history)
Cedar Crest Cemetery and Access Road - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
You can search for burials and tombstone photographs at Find a Grave.
Some burials not listed in Find a Grave are located at Billion Graves.
Gate Location Address: About 15716 - 58.85 Rd, Collbran
Directions: Take Hwy 330 East to 59.5 Rd; go about 0.4 miles South on 59.5 Rd to 58.85 Rd; Turn East and go North up the hill for about 0.15 miles to the cemetery.
Row lists have been provided by former MCGS member Margo Lurvey. Will be reconciled with Find a Grave database. Cemetery plot map would be helpful.
Clover (Collbran)
???? (need a history)
Clover Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Clover Cemetery
You can search for burials and tombstone photographs at Find a Grave.
Gate Location Address:60571 Clover Lane, Collbran
Directions:From Collbran Post Office go North across Plateau Creek Bridge,; Turn right (East) and take Peninsula Rd to cemetery at Clover Lane. (About 2.5 miles from P.O. to cemetery).
Row lists have been provided by former MCGS member Margo Lurvey. Will be reconciled with Find a Grave database. Cemetery plot map would be helpful.
Crown Point Veterans (Appleton)
1896
Crown Point Veterans Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Crown Point Cemetery.
Additional information on this cemetery can be found here including individuals buried, tombstone photographs and an article on the cemetery history.
Gate Location Address: Intersection of I.5 Rd and 23.5 Rd
Directions: From exit 24 on I-70 take 24 Rd North about 2 miles to I.5 Rd, then go West 0.5 miles to the cemetery.
De Beque
????-???? (need a history)
De Beque Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - DeBeque Cemetery.
Gate Location Address: 9th St next to 45 Rd and W.5 Rd, De Beque
Directions: From De Beque PO go North on Minter Ave about 0.3 miles to 45 Rd. Cemetery is just to NE with 45 Rd on the west side & W.5 Rd on the South side of the cemetery.
Eagalite
???? (need a history)
Eagalite Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find A Grave - Eagalite Cemetery.
Gate Location Address:14777 57 Rd (out of Plateau City)
Directions: From Plateau City on Highway 330 take 57.5 Rd South about 0.8 miles to OE Rd. Go West on OE Rd for about 0.4 miles and turn South on 57 Rd. Go 0.3 miles; Cemetery is on right (West) side of road.
Notes from former MCGS Member Margo Lurvey: Row lists have been located. The following tombstones are listed but not on Find a Grave:
- Armour, George; 1837-1985
- Carmichall, (sic) John G; 188-
- Casper, McIntoch; 1894-1900
- Dawson, Orval; 1877 - 1964
- Murry (Murray?), Emma; 1900 - 1900
- Stites,Noma: 1880 - 1915 (is this the same as Stites, Nona 1915-1980 with incorrect dates?)
- Worth, Charles: 1932
- Worth, Flarence (sic) Cathern (sic); 1932
A plot map of this cemetery would be helpful.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Elmwood (Fruita)
1895/96 - ????
Elmwood - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find A Grave - Elmwood Cemetery.
Gate Location Address: 17 1/4 Rd (just south of K 3/4 Rd), Fruita
Directions: From City of Fruita round-a-bout at Aspen Ave and Mesa St. go North on N. Mesa St (17 3/4 Rd) for about 1 Miles. Cemetery is on left (West) side of the street.
Gateway (La Fair ?)
???? (need additional details)
Is this where the graves are located in Gateway???
Written by Jean Moores, 1998: "Records indicate there are five to seven graves in a graveyard on top of the hill across West Creek from the Gateway School. This cemetery was only used a few times in the early 1900's. It is located on private property now owned by Jack and Rosemary Casto. The first person known to be buried was in 1900, the last in 1940. The Museum of Western Colorado kindly shared this information."
Current Status: Inactive
**need more information on this cemetery.Directions: At Whitewater on Highway 50 turn South on Highway 141 to Gateway.
Glade Park
???? (need history)
Glade Park Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find A Grave - Glade Park Cemetery.
Gate Location Address: Cemetery Lane off 16 1/2 Rd. North of Glade Park Store
Directions: Use Little Park Road or Monument Road to Glade Park Store. At DS Road or 16 1/2 Rd go North on from store about 1 mile to Cemetery Lane (also called 'Private Road' but is accessible). Turn right and head East about 0.1 mile. Cemetery is on Right (South) side of road.
Possible burials from 'A Glade Park History Remembered' by Albert Ozbun, published: 1883, 1889, 1995.
There are 145 burials listed on Find a Grave for this cemetery, however many of the burials on this list do not appear.
I.O.O.F. (City of Grand Junction I.O.O.F.)
???? (need history)
I.O.O.F. Cemetery (Grand Junction) **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find A Grave - I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
Gate Location Address: B 3/4 Rd just West of the Masonic Cemetery
Directions: From Highway 50 South of Grand Junction P.O. turn South on Canon Road (26 1/4 Rd). Go South about 0.4 miles to B 3/4 Rd. Go West past Masonic Cemetery about 0.1 mile. IOOF Cemetery is on the left (South) side of road.
I.O.O.F. (Palisade); Palisade Veterans?
????
Gate Location Address:about 3529 Highway 6
Directions:From Palisade Post Office go South 0.3 miles to US Highway 6 and turn right (West), go about 2.5 miles to the cemetery which is on the South side of the Road.
Isolated Graves
Need far more information!
On City of Grand Junction Property: There are two above ground vaults enclosed by stone masonry wall & located on Hillside.
Massey Cemetery?Two miles northeast of Gateway on private ground there may be a grave of twin boys who died at birth in the 1920, on the old Massey home-place. Buried under a tree. Inactive. **Note included with 'Colorado Cemetery Names Project' "Possible Oscar Massey has information on these graves" 2004
Gateway Area
Pentecostal Cemetery? - inactive
On Private property. Located between 16 and 17 Roads South of P Road, NW of Fruita. I checked Google maps. There are several farms located in the area but I couldn't see any specific grave sites, however perhaps they are behind the houses. 6/2022 kms *interview with Marie T. the cemetery was located on the 'Bernal' property at the base of a hill. [The 'Bernal' property was on 16 Rd near Q Rd?] Susan Corey had obituaries. 6/2022I located this obituary/death notice - 29 Oct 1931, Daily Sentinel - Antoni Cordova "Burial will be in the Loma cemetery." I located his grave site at the Orchard Mesa Cemetery, with a handmade flat stone. Was he perhaps buried at the Pentecostal cemetery and later moved?
George Crawford Grave Site
George Crawford grave site - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Founder of Grand Junction, Colorado
Find A Grave Although Find A Grave includes a link to a short biography of George Addison Crawford the link is no longer valid, however you can find the biography at the Internet Archives here.
Grave site location: SE corner of Orchard Mesa Cemetery at 26 1/4 Rd
Directions: From Highway 50, go South on Canon St (26 1/4 Rd) to SE comer of Orchard Mesa Cemetery. A short hike up hillside to grave site.
Little Park Cemetery
Little Park Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Little Park Cemetery.
3 burials are listed on Find a Grave. Charles James Redd, George Wesley Yates, and Henrietta Imogene Lawrence Yates.
Gate Location Address:CS Road (about 7.9 miles SW of CS Rd and Redlands Rd.
Directions: Access is through private property. From Highway 340 take D Rd. onto Redlands Rd, about 1 mile to CS Rd. (Little Park Rd.), turn right (West) and go about 7.9 miles to Cedar fence around small enclosed cemetery on left (South) side of the road.
Masonic (Grand Junction Masonic)
1891...????
Masonic Cemetery- **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Masonic Cemetery.
Gate Location Address: 269 26 1/4 Rd
Directions: From Highway 50 turn South on Canon Street (26 1/4 Rd) about 0.14 miles to intersection of Canon St. and B 3/4 Rd. The cemetery is on the right on the SW corner of the intersection,
Memorial Gardens (Grand Junction)
????
Memorial Garden Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Gate Location Address 2970 North Ave.
Directions: From Grand Junction PO go East to 5th St., then go North about 0.6 miles to North Ave. Turn Right (East) and go about 3.5 miles (past 29 1/2 Rd) to 2970 North Ave. The cemetery is on the North side of North Ave.
Mesa Cemetery (Mesa)
1912 - ????
Mesa Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Gate Location Address: 50050 KE Road, Mesa
Directions: From Mesa, Co Post Office t Highway 65 & KE Road go East on KE Road about 1.1 mile to cemetery (entrance on East side of cemetery.
Molina (Vega)
1894 - Present
Molina Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Gate Location Address: 53044 KE Rd, Molina
Directions: From Molina P.O. go about 0.1 miles west on KE Rd to cemetery which is located on right (North) side of the road across from the Molina Baptist Church.
Notes from former MCGS Member Margo Lurvey: [These names are not included in Find A Grave or Billion Graves]:
- Mrs. Bear (Row 4) - dates gone
- Mrs. Henry Hall 1894 - ????, (east of cemetery outside of fence)
- Leo B Hassle, 01 Sep 1895 - 1954 (Row 3)
- Mary Wallace (Row 3) dates missing
- Mr. D. Walker died 1896 (Row 3) - Martin's Mortuary [tombstone photo on Find a Grave lists Mr. Walker]
A plot map of this cemetery would be helpful.
Municipal (Grand Junction) Includes: Cremation Gardens and Memorial Forest
????
Municipal Cemetery and Cremation Gardens - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Gate Location Address: 291 26 1/4 Rd
Directions: Take Highway 50 South to Canon St (26 1/4 Rd). Turn South and go a short distance. The Entrance to the cemetery is on the right side (North) of the road.
Palisade Municipal
????
Palisade Cemetery- **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Gate Location Address: About 3529 Highway 6
Directions: From Palisade P.O. go South 0.3 miles to US Highway 6 and turn right (West). Go about 2.5 miles to the cemetery which is on the South side of the road.
Veterans' Cemetery (Grand Junction)
????
Veterans Cemetery- **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Gate Location Address: B 3/4 Rd
Directions: From Highway 50 South of Grand Junction P.O. turn South on Canon Road (26 1/4 Rd). Go West past IOOF Cemetery about 0.2 mile. Cemetery is on the left (South) side of road.
Veterans' Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado (Federal)
????
Veterans Cemetery- **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Gate Location: 2830 D Road.
Directions: From Grand Junction Post Office go South to Atkin Ave, East to 9th St, South to D Road, then East on D Road about 1.8 miles to Cemetery. Cemetery is located on left (North) side of the road.
Whitewater
1887/88 - ?????
Whitewater Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Gate Location Address: Cemetery Road of Reeder Rd., Whitewater
Directions:From 1st St & Highway 50 in Whitewater for about 1/4 mile South on Highway 50 to Reeder Rd. Go 0.3 miles East on Reeder Rd to Cemetery Rd. Turn South and go about 0.55 miles to cemetery gate.
Teller Institute Burial Ground
1886 - 1911
There has been ongoing research over the years to attempt to establish the location and burials.
Journal of the Western Slope, Volume 8, No. 3, Summer 1993: pg 19; "The number of persons laid to rest in the school cemetery would be one indication of health conditions at the institute. Unfortunately there is no record of burials and, today, the location of the school's cemetery cannot be ascertained..." **footnote: "The Mesa County Genealogical Society, which has cataloged all known cemeteries in Mesa County, confirms that the Indian School Cemetery has not been located. However , there is documentation that a small number of remains from the Indian School were removed to the Orchard Mesa Cemetery. Conversation with Phyllis George, January 25, 1993."**
The 'Annual report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs' (RCIA) for each year can be found on-line. They are searchable *.pdf files at 'The History Collection of the University of Wisconsin - Madison Libraries'. An example can be found here. They are fascinating.
There has been renewed interest in the Teller Institutes burial ground with archaeologists considering the use of ground penetrating radar to locate the old burial ground. A presentation was recently given at the Mesa County Public Library by John D. Seebach, PhD about this project.
In May 2022, the U.S. Department of the Interior released Volume 1 of an investigative report which begins to address the history of federal Indian boarding school policies. It can be found here.
Information regarding the Colorado Department of Human Services 'Teller Institute Task Force' can be found here
Possible Teller Institute Deaths/Burials
There is a 'Find A Grave' list for 16 of the Teller Indian School burials. There is no source information given. Newspaper death notices have been located and will be added here.
- Ben Reed - 15 Sept 1888.
- Charles VandeVere [drowning] - 16 Aug 1890
- Unknown boy - age 12 - 28 May 1982
- Hannah Neliac - 25 Mar 1893 [Death notice doesn't indicate if Hannah was buried in the Teller Institute cemetery or if her body was transported home.]
- Patie Wyhant - 17 Feb 1894
- Allen Thurman (GJ News)
- Allen Thurman (Daily Sentinel)- 15 Jan 1895
- George Washington (Apache) - 23 Apr 1895
- Milford Cleveland [drowning]- 03 Aug 1895
- Desha Russell (Apache) 24 June 1896
- Charles Bitts (Piute) - 15 Jan 1898
- John Hardson - 18 Apr 1900
- Peter Armell - 07 Jul 1900
- Unknown boy [typhoid] - 19 Jul 1900
- Samuel Shem - 09 July 1900
- Unknown girl - age 13 - 27 Feb 1902
- Charles Henry - 17 Jan 1905
- Luke C Gorkey (Navaho)- 05 May 1905
- Frank Enas [drowning]- 12 Jun 1906
- Ramon Simon - 06 Feb 1909
- Unknown girl - 15 Apr 1910
[Allen Thurman is listed in the U.S., Indian Census Rolls for 1893 with the San Carlos (Apache, Mohave, and Yuma Indians) as a "pupil away at school".]
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Mesa County Genealogical Society is a member of the Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies (CCGS) and the National Genealogical Society (NGS). The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) was merged with the NGS in the summer of 2019.
