Salem Cemetery Association

Collection

Identifier: MGC-1178

Scope and Contents

Among the books in this collection are several hand written journal style books that contain information about the lots and burials. Information may include name, date of birth, date of death, burial date, address, obituaries, funeral home, and lot number. A blue journal, red journal, and another journal contain burials by lot number. A typed alphabetical index referencing the lot and page number in the journal was created as a finding aid for the records by the Association. Sales and deed books include a gray journal (1945-2004), and a red journal (1984-2017). Mixed in with other records are some deeds and receipts. The Association created a collection of obituaries from 1975 to 2017 clipped from the newspaper with added notes on the burial location within the cemetery.

The original records are in possession of the Salem Cemetery Association. Items in this collection were digitized by the Midwest Genealogy Center.

Dates

Creation: 1889 - 2017

Creator

Salem Cemetery Association (Independence, MO) (Organization)

Biographical / Historical

The Salem Cemetery Association, which is separate from the New Salem Baptist Church, was formed in 1917 to maintain the Salem Cemetery. The cemetery is located at 24 Hwy and Blue Mills Road, just east of Independence, MO. The first burial on Hensley Farm was in 1884 and the property was plotted and recorded as a cemetery five years later. Three additions were added to the cemetery between 1900 and 1911 by the Hensley family. The Salem Cemetery Association purchased the fourth addition in 1935.