Woodlawn Cemetery was founded in 1837 with the purchase of 1.25 acres adjacent to the Stayton Family Cemetery for the "interment of all Jackson County residents". In 1845 Joseph and Sally Hansbrough sold one and 6/25 acres of land for use as a grave yard for persons of Jackson County. The land was to be used for the purpose of public burials. This established the cemetery known for many years as the City Cemetery.
The land south of the original cemetery was sold to Father Donnelly in 1853 adding six acres on the southern edge calling it Saint Mary Cemetery for the use of Catholic patrons. These three cemeteries were combined in 1922 to become Woodlawn Cemetery.
The Woodland Cemetery now contains 56 acres, the final resting place for over 33,000 graves. Within its walls is the history of the Civil War and the Sante Fe Trail.
Notable Citizens Buried in Woodlawn Cemetery
Boyd, John R. (1835-1862)
Civil War Confederate Army Officer. He served during the Civil War as Colonel and commander of the 12th Missouri (CSA) Cavalry regiment. He was killed at the first battle of Independence, Missouri. Plot: Buried next to Brigadier General John Taylor Hughes.
Chiles, James (1802-1863)
Colonel James Chiles was a Senator for the state of Missouri. Great uncle to Harry S. Truman, father of James Crow.
Hughes, John Taylor (1817-1862)
Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. Prior to the Civil War, he was a Colonel of militia and a Missouri State Representative. At the start of the war, he was elected Colonel of the Missouri Guard 1st Regiment and participated in the Battle of Carthage, Wilson's Creek and was wounded in the Siege of Lexington. In the summer of 1862, he returned to Missouri to recruit for the Confederacy and was appointed as either an acting Confederate or Missouri State Guard Brigadier General.
Liddil, James Andrew 'Dick' (1852-1901)
He was with the James Gang (Jessie and Frank James) after the war. He was a secret foe of the James and testified against Frank James at his trial. He was involved in several James Gang train robberies.
Sawyer, Samuel Locke (1813-1890)
Graduated Dartmouth College in 1833; admitted to the Bar in Amherst, NH in 1836; moved to Lexington, MO in 1838; elected circuit attorney of the sixth judicial circuit of Missouri in 1848; reelected in 1882; delegate to the MO Constitutional Convention in 1861; delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1868; elected judge of the 24th Judicial Circuit and served from 1871 until 1876 when he resigned; elected as independent Democrat to the forty-sixth congress in 1881.
Smith Jr., Le Roy (1905-1989)
Author of "The Fourth King" which contained poetry, some of which first appeared in The Saturday Review, presented as a biography of Adam and man searching for truth and survival.
Woodson, Samuel Hughes (1815-1881)
William Joseph Randall (1909-2000)
also known as William J. Randall; Bill Randall. Democrat. Lawyer; served in the U.S. Army during World War II; county judge in Missouri, 1946-59; U.S. Representative from Missouri 4th District, 1959-77
Samuel Hughes Woodson (1815-1881)
also known as Samuel H. Woodson - Delegate to Missouri state constitutional convention 25th District, 1845-46; member of Missouri state legislature; U.S. Representative from Missouri 5th District, 1857-61.
Samuel Locke Sawyer (1813-1890)
Democrat. U.S. Representative from Missouri 8th District, 1879-81.
James Chiles (1802-1883)
Granduncle of Harry S. Truman. Member of Missouri State Senate.
John Taylor Hughes (1817-1862)
Member of Missouri state house of representatives, 1854; colonel in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. While leading his troops, was killed in battle at Independence, Jackson County, Mo., August 11, 1862.
Hiram Young (1815-1882)
A slave that purchased his freedom for $1,500. He became famous as a wagon builder during the early trail days and westward expansion. He turned his carpentry skills into a successful business of building oxen bows and manufactured wagons. He purchased many slaves from the slave auction block and used them as laborers. He paid them approximately $5 a week and did not treat them as slaves thereby allowing them to work out their own freedom.
William Earl McLellin (1806-1883)
Ordained one of the original twelve Latter Day Saints (Mormon) Apostles.
Harvey Merrick Vaile
Local entrepreneur and U.S. mail contractor, owner of the Vaile Mansion, which had flushing toilets, a 48,000 gallon wine cellar, and a built-in 6000 gallon water tank, all of which were very uncommon when the mansion was built in 1881. The house, designed by Kansas City architect Asa B. Cross, at a cost of $100,000. An 1882 article in The Kansas City Times says that it is "the most princely house and the most comfortable home in the entire west." The 30-room mansion's design was inspired by a large house in Normandy the Vailes had visited during a trip to Europe.
The City of Independence manages and maintains the entire cemetery, providing perpetual care to all burial sites. Burial lots are available. For information on Woodlawn Cemetery call (816) 325-7365.
THE CEMETERY TREE
by S.D. Seaba 10 May 2017
OH, BEAUTIFUL CEMETERY TREE
I WISH YOU COULD TALK TO ME
AND TELL ME THROUGH ALL THESE YEARS
HOW YOUR ROOTS WERE WATERED BY SO MANY TEARS
THE TEARS THAT FELL WHEN BABIES DIED,
AS THEIR PARENTS IN AGONY PRAYED AND CRIED
BUT YOU IN ALL YOUR SPLENDOR STOOD
AND WATCHED THE BURIAL BEST YOU COULD
YOU WATCHED AS THAT SOLDIER WAS LAID TO REST
FOR HE GAVE TO HIS COUNTRY HIS VERY BEST
YOU WATCHED AS HIS YOUNG BRIDE CRIED OUT IN PAIN
KNOWING THAT HIS SACRIFICE WAS NOT IN VAIN
I WONDER DID YOU SHED A LEAF
EVERYTIME YOU SEEN A WREATH
OR MAYBE SHADE THAT YOU GAVE SOMEONE
WHO LOST A DAUGHTER OR A HANDSOME SON
THE WOODLAWN CEMETERY HAS BEEN YOUR HOME
LOOKING DOWN UPON ALL THOSE THAT ARE ALONE
WHO CRY AND PRAY AND SO DO REMEMBER
THEIR LOVED ONES FROM JANUARY TO DECEMB ER
YOU STAND TALL IN THE CENTER OF THIS FINAL RESTING PLACE
BUT VERY FEW NOTICED YOUR FACE
OR REALIZE ALL THAT YOU HAVE SEEN
A MOMMA ON HER KNEES BESIDE HER LOVELY TEEN
HOWEVER, GOD HAS CHOSEN YOUR MAJESTIC DEPENDENCE
IN THE CENTER OF THE CITY OF INDEPENDENCE
EVER SINCE EIGHTEEN HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN
YOU HAVE WATCHED OVER THOSE THAT ARE NOW IN HEAVEN
I LOOK UP IN TOTAL RESPECT OF YOU
ON THIS DAY WITH THE SKY OH SO BLUE
IN ADDITION, LISTEN TO THE BIRDS SING YOUR SYMPHONY
AS THE GUARDIAN AND PROTECTOR OF OUR WOODLAWN CEMETERY