Milwaukee County Wisconsin Genealogy

St. James Episcopal Cemetery

The cemetery and 9th and Grand.
In 1842 Non-Catholics began using a plot near Ninth St. and Grand Av. where the St. James Episcopal Church now stands. In 1854, the cemetery was moved to National Avenue about where Mitchell park is now. Not all the remains were moved as some bones were found when excavating for the church.

The cemetery for St. James Episcopal
The name for this cemetery is unknown, as it was located in the vicinity of where St. James Episcopal stood, I have named it St. James Episcopal Cemetery.

History

From the Milwaukee Sentinel July 9, 1929

3 Milwaukee Tombstones Dated 1839 Discovered

Tombstones of three Milwaukeeans who died nearly a decade before Wisconsin became a state, have been uncovered in the St. James Episcopal church, Ninth and Wisconsin avenue, by workmen erecting a new organ.

The three stones bear the date of 1839, and all were of persons who died before reaching the age of 40. Two other stones were found. One has the date of 1844, and the second only the initials "J.A.W."

The oldest of the stones is that of Lydia Vinton, wife of Edward Vinton, who died July 19, 1839 at the age of 28. Chester Danforth III died on Sept. 3, 1839 at the age of 26 according to another stone, and the third stone dated 1839 is that of James Scott who died Sept. 15, 1839 at the age of 39. The 1844 was in memorium of Dr. John Parmeli who died Jan. 25, 1844 at the age of 43.

It is believed that the stones were discarded sixty-eight years ago when the cemetery on the present site of the church was removed to Forest Home cemetery, according to the Rev. Charles T. Hawtrey, assistant rector of the church. The stones which have been used as a weight for the bellows of the present organ in the church probably were placed there about thirty years ago, he said.

Select Burials and Interments

DANFORTH:
Chester III/d. Sept. 3, 1839/age 26

PARMELI;
Dr. John/d. Jan. 25, 1844/age 43

SCOTT:
James/Sept. 15, 1839 /age 39

VINTON:
Lydia/wife of Edward Vinton/d. July 19, 1839/age 28