Wesleyan Cemetery, Saint Louis, Missouri

Centenary Methodist Church established Wesleyan Cemetery at the southwest and southeast corners of Grand and Laclede Avenues in 1847. The grounds comprised 12-3/4 acres and extended to Market Street on the east side of what is now Grand Avenue. The Wesleyan Cemetery Association was formed in 1851. Burials included those of more than 2400 African American. 

Encroachment of the city led the Association to establish New Wesleyan Cemetery at the southeast corner of Olive Street Rd. and Hanley Ave. in 1874. Most graves were moved to this new location, although some were transferred to other burial grounds. New Wesleyan cemetery closed in 1952, and graves were moved to Memorial Park Cemetery and other locations.

Plot map of New Wesleyan Cemetery (jpg)

Indexes

Wesleyan Cemetery records were indexed by the St. Louis Genealogical Society and included in Vol. 4 of St. Louis Burials, a CD-ROM publication that can be used in the History and Genealogy Department. Two additional indexes are available on this website:

• List of Colored persons buried in Weseley Cemetery, 1847 - 1868

• Index to burials recorded on plot sales receipt stubs, 1891 - 1899

   

Wesleyan Cemetery records on microfilm

Cemetery records are available for Wesleyan and New Wesleyan Cemetery from 1847 through 1952 and include removal records. Microfilm copies are available on film no. CMC-1 (FHL film no. 1405557) in the History and Genealogy Department.

CMC-1 (FHL 1405557) contents

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