Beulah Rest Cemetery lies in the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of section 16-16-36 in Wichita County, Kansas.

Since I wrote my last article about this cemetery. I have checked the county and state records and find that memory and hearsay are sometimes incorrect. I find that the state of Kansas gave the title directly to the Beulah Cemetery Association, it being school land that the government had set aside for school financing. I also found that Bob (Robert) Couch was the first title holder of the rest of that quarter section.

The Cemetery Association was formed in 1889. We find the following on record under the signature of Governor E. W. Hooch and Secretary of State J. R. Burrows: "-given under my hand at the City of Topeka the third day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred five, and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-ninth day of the forty-fifth year of the state of Kansas. I certify that the foregoing deed is recorded in Volume 25, page 517." Seth G. Wells, Registrar State Land Office.

Amos E. Glanville, Sr., was the first chairman and served in that capacity for 27 years, to be followed by his oldest son Ben, who served two years. Then Amos E. Glanville, Jr., was elected and served 27 years. Floyd Hoover was the next chairman to be elected and served several years. He was followed by Joe Wing, John Glanville and John Wilson. Ralph Miller and the present secretary, Jack Rickford.

There is some difference of opinion as to the identity of the first person buried in the cemetery. Was it Wilbert Powel, who died September 6, 1889, at the age of nine months? Or was it Baby Hardin, who died April 3, 1887, was buried on the homestead and later moved to the newly organized cemetery when the Hardins abandoned their claim and moved away in 1889. The date on the stone is April 3, 1887, the date of the child’s death. We have the names but lack dates of several other persons who were buried in the cemetery during the early years of its existence.

Burial at Beulah Rest Cemetery has always been free. The only charge has been five dollars if the buyer wanted a deed to his plot. The county attorney ruled that a deed was not required, because the cemetery was deeded in the county. The only requirement was that it be recorded with the register of deeds in the county.

As nearly as I can find, this cemetery is the only one that has held a memorial service each year since it was organized.

The Beulah Cemetery Association bought the old stone Free Methodist Church building across the road from the cemetery and is taking care of it as a historical site. This structure was built of native stone in 1904. Mr. W. H. Ford was the stonemason.

Courtesy of ‘History Of Wichita County Kansas – Volume 1’. Compiled by John K. Glanville.

Map of Beulah Rest Cemetery-click on the thumbnail below for a larger view then use your browsers back button to return to this page.