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County Almshouse

moboco  (View posts) Posted: 11 May 2009 3:48AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Bryan
My ancestor, Martha Bryan, was living in the county Almshouse in Wyandotte County before she died. Does anyone know where I can find more information from/about the old almshouse and/or where they might have buried her if she died there?

Re: County Almshouse

silkysnobear  (View posts) Posted: 12 May 2009 1:25PM GMT
Classification: Query
You should contact the Wyandotte County Museum and ask for Bennett--he is a great help with these matters.

Wyandotte County Historical Museum
631 North 126th Street
Bonner Springs, Kansas 66012
(913)721-1078

Monday - Saturday: 10AM - 4PM

I am sure this will help you

Ruth

Re: Wyandotte County Almshouse

DebbieKSicks51  (View posts) Posted: 29 May 2009 8:02AM GMT
Classification: Cemetery
I have a 2 page article from KCTV 5 News Channel. The Wyandotte County Poor Farm is being torn down to build a water Vacation Village. The cemetery is being saved, however only two markers are in the cemetery. A period of 80 years went by without ANY records being kept of burials. Wyandotte County Museum says that between the years of 1870-73 thousands of people with nothing lived, worked and often died on the farm. Between the Period of 1870 to 1948 there are also no records to identify who or where bodies where placed.This place is also called Wyandotte County Poor Farm, Wyandotte County Cemetery/Potter's field. A team from Iowa has come here and said through special techiniques they were able to see the very top edge of one of the wooden coffins and some of the coffin handles are outlined. Incredible that absolutely, no records, no headstones, for a period of 80 Years. How many people are buried there that no one will ever know. The report said that the youngest buried is 6 mos and the oldest is 102 years. I am happy to copy and e-mail entire article to any interested persons.I have also tried to attach to this posting.
Attachments:

Re: Wyandotte County Almshouse

margotlind  (View posts) Posted: 29 May 2009 4:34PM GMT
Classification: Query
I'm curious. Where was it located and when did it close down? I'm old enough to remember people saying 'I'm going to end up at the poor farm.'

Re: Wyandotte County Almshouse

DebbieKSicks51  (View posts) Posted: 30 May 2009 5:56AM GMT
Classification: Query
The Cemetery itself has an arch at the entrance which reads Wyandotte Cemetery along with a cross. There are about 450 interments listed at www.Findagrave.com; under Wyandotte County Cemetery.
The poorhouse seems to have closed about 1948.
It is located about North 94th Street and State Line Road.
Current location is an area called Village West and that is where the new waterpark will be built.

Re: Wyandotte County Almshouse

moboco  (View posts) Posted: 30 May 2009 6:47PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Bryan
I was able to download the attachment. Thanks for the info.
Martha Bryan died probably a little after 1910, so I guess if she was buried here, which is very likely, there are no records of her burial.

But I wonder if there are any other records of the people in the County Almshouse, besides the census record I already found?

Re: Wyandotte County Almshouse

DebbieKSicks51  (View posts) Posted: 31 May 2009 8:50AM GMT
Classification: Query
So, have you found her in the 1910 census?

Re: Wyandotte County Almshouse

moboco  (View posts) Posted: 1 Jun 2009 1:25AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Bryan
Yes. She's listed as an "inmate" in the "County Almshouse", Delaware Township, Wyandotte County, Kansas. She's either 81 or 87 years old in 1910, and I haven't found her on the 1920 census, so it looks like she died in the almshouse.

Re: Wyandotte County Almshouse

DebbieKSicks51  (View posts) Posted: 1 Jun 2009 2:30AM GMT
Classification: Query
From the information in the article, the census might be the best source records for her being there and most probably dying there. This article didn't mention if any death certificates were filled out. Kansas death Certificates are harder to get than most, but it would be worth a try to get it if one exists.

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