This Memorial Day weekend, the Centralia Cemetery honors each of its 505 veterans with an American flag. According to the city, the sight has been known to stop passing traffic along nearby Highway 22.
Curious whether the cemetery holds the remains of any of the 147 Civil War Union soldiers killed during the Centralia Massacre, I found the 1911 HISTORY of ADAIR COUNTY, MISSOURI by E. M. Violette, which reports townspeople recovered and buried seventy nine soldiers in one long trench near the railroad on the east side of the town. “The trench was later enclosed with a fence and a slab erected to the memory of the dead. On it was inscribed: ‘The remains
of Companies A, G and H, Thirty-Ninth Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry, who were killed in action at Centralia, Missouri on the 27th Day of September 1864, are interred here.’ Later the remains were transferred to Jefferson City and reinterred in one grave in the National Cemetery there.’
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8 Comments on “Centralia Cemetery”
We have recently placed a Veterans marker for my grandfather, Elmer R. Emerson, at the Centralia Cemetery. He fought in the American/Phillipino-Muro War 1911-13. I would like to use your beautiful picture of flags to send to family members. Thank you. This cemetery rivals others I’ve seen anywhere! Your photos are outstanding!
Thank you, Linda. Thanks to your grandfather! And thanks for letting your family know about my blog.
Hi- Do you by chance, know the Burial place of a Pa. State Police (Constabulary, at that time), killed in the line of Duty-
Name- Jack Curtis Smith. 1884-1909.?
His obit states His body was Railed home to Centralia, for burial. His father was George William Smith.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Tom
Sorry. I do not. Try Centralia Cemetery. Good luck!
See previous request…email was misspelled!
Are the graves of the Union soldiers killed by Bloody Bill Anderson in 1864 marked for their location ? Are they even in Centralia ?
Are the graves of the Union soldiers killed by Bloody Bill Anderson in 1864 marked for their location ? Are they even in Centralia ? I have NOT asked this question beforel
The Union soldiers killed in the Centralia Massacre were reinterred in a mass grave at the National Cemetery in Jefferson City. Mass Grave in Jefferson City