This is a wonderful Cemetery, the art work is endless. I only got to spend about a hour in here because of car trouble. Calvary Cemetery is across the street from the Bellefontaine cemetery, I was like a kid in a candy store. We drove around in both but I only took pictures in the Bellefontaine. My Birthday is coming up so I know what I want for my Birthday this year. A all day trip to the Bellefontaine cemetery and Calvary Cemetery. The Bellefontaine Cemetery started around 1849 it sits on One hundred and thirty-eight acres of land that was part of the old Military road that led to Fort Bellefontaine . The land was part of the Hempstead farm. The cholera epidemic struck St. Louis in 1849 a few months after the cemetery was established, there was about thirty funerals a day. There is buried in this cemetery a lot of history and the people that contributed to the West ward expansion of the United States. One very well know man that is in our History books is William Clark as in the famous Lewis and Clark. Lets take a walk back in history and visit the Bellefontaine cemetery.
My favorite is the grave of Herman Luyties
1871-1921
Mr. Luyties went on a pleasure trip to Italy and they say that he fell in love with a beautiful Italian girl and had her likeness curved in marble. He had her shipped home but she was to heavy for his home so he moved her to the family burial plot in Bellefontaine cemetery. The weather was deteriorate the marble so he put her in a glass case. Herman Luyties died in 1921 and is buried at her feet. The ground keepers call her Bessie, the girl in the shadow box.
The glass is cracked and it also looks to have a bullet hole in the glass on the left hand side. The statue is wonderful, she is amazing. It would be sad if anything happened to her. The pictures of her do not do her justice she needs to be seen in person.
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My next favorite is that of David R. Francis
1850-1927
He was the Mayor of St. Louis, Governor of Missouri, President of the World's Fair and last United States Ambassador to Imperial Russia. He was well liked by the people of St. Louis and he made the World's fair in ST.Louis a success. This is the family grave plot.
This is the grave of Sidney Rowland Francis
1857-1893
Iam not sure how he is related to David Francis but they are across form one another. They seem to share the same middle name,could be their mother's maiden name. I really like this monument, just think she has been standing there since 1893.
The cemetery is full of wonderful monuments, big tree ,ponds and so much more. It is almost like a out door museum.
Everyone should know this person or at least of heard of his product. It started in St. Louis Mo. He joined his father -in- law and they along with Carl Conrad, created one of the largest brewery's in the World. This family plot belongs to Adolphus Busch and his wife Lily [Anheuser] Busch.
The glass door and the tower on the monument.
This is the inside of the tomb, there is stain glass windows in the back and on the sides.
Side windows and the back windows.
This tomb is very lovely, it has all kinds of ornaments on it. This is the biggest tomb in the cemetery and it looks to have only two graves in it.
This is the Wall family tomb. There looks to be only one grave inside and I can not make out the name on the tomb. There are names of other people some I can read and others I cannot. There is a prayer on the wall in a different language it ends in amen. There also is one in English but I don't think it is a prayer. It has a old chair off to the left side of the tomb and a old oil lamp hanging from the ceiling. I would say this if my favorite tomb that we visited.
The first Marker that I can read is Virginia and William's.
Virginia , Daughter of Nicholas & Frances E. Wall , was last on ? Col. Crosman Feb. 4, 1858 age 6 ys. 1mo. 11ds.
William, son of Nicholas & Frances E. Wall Died Aug. 8, 1859 aged 4mo. 9ds. I thank the one next to them is their Mother Frances can not tell what the dates are.
This is the marker for Mary Ann Wall died at ------- Dec 6,? that is all I can make out. The writing behind the chair is a prayer and I cannot make out what it says but the marker in the front is easier to read well some it is.
I know that my redeemer liyeth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth though after my skin worms destroy to his body yet in my flesh small I see God, where I shall see in myself and with mine eyes? The rest I can not make out.
This is what the inside of the tomb looks like. I call all the white spots reflections My kids call them Ghost. This is a window that I am taking these picture threw so I'm sure I am right. I guess I did not have my camera up against the window enough. I think the one in the right hand corner looks like the famous painting scream. There is a marker that you can not see but it is for Nicholas Wall. Maybe on my next visit I will be able to get more off the markers. Setting here looking at the picture I can finally make out what my daughter see, It does look like a women in a long dress? The eyes can play tricks.
The orginal picture above, and altered below
This is some more of the monuments that you can find in the cemetery. Hopefully I will get to return for some more pictures of this cemetery as for transcribing, this place is too big.
This is the grave marker of Anton Griesedieck His family is buried around him and the marker next to him is his children. I will find out more next time we are at the cemetery
This is the Grave Marker of Captain Isaiah Sellers 1802-1864
He was one of the best steamboat Captains of the Mississippi River. He sailed the Mississippi for more than 40 years and it was said that he new every house, barn etc., from St.Louis to New Orleans. He had his marker made before he died and he sailed with it for several years before his death. The weather over the years has taken a toil on the monument.
This is the family plot of the Erskine's
The names on the left side of the tomb are: Greene Erskine 1797-1888- Lloyd or floyd Erskine 1844? -1884-
Clyde Erskine ?-1912- Adele infant daughter of Clyde and Annie Erskine 1890- George Erskine 1835-1867-
The names on the right side of door are: Elizabeth Erskine 1807-1871- Ann Erskine 1841-1899- Annie Morrison wife
of Clyde Erskine 1850-1925 - Kitt Erskine 1839 - 1866- Adele Erskine 1862- 1865. The grave marker in front of the
tomb has Clyde and Virginia McCathy? Erskine. Clyde 1881- 1961 and Virginia 1895 - 1972.
This is the end of our trip through the Bellefontaine Cemetery at this time. I hope to get back and spend the day there. I did not get a photo of the William Clark Monument, there was people there so maybe next time .
