The earliest recorded burial in the Steamboat Springs Cemetery is in 1882. I. Belle Cantrell died Sept. 4, 1882, her inscription reads "At Rest". The other stone dated in 1882 is that of Nannie Leola Woolery, first wife of J. M. Woolery. There is one stone that is for both of his wives. Nannie died May 16, 1882. His second wife, Melissa May Woolery, died Nov. 16, 1887. We have been told that the first Mrs. Woolery was buried on the island, Dream Island Cemetery, and that she was moved to the "new cemetery" when the second Mrs. Woolery died. The single head stone supports that idea. In the obituary for Mrs. Woolery it states that she was buried in the "new" cemetery on the hill. Other early burials include: Edith Hitchens 1898, Aubrey Woolery 1893, Elizabeth Parkinson 1897, Laura Scott 1898, Arthur Clyde 1890, Wm. H. Kemmer 1891, Geo. Dunfield 1893, Helen Burgess 1891, Robert Williams 1898, Rose Belle Suttle 1894, Charles Graham 1897, Elmore Dunbar 1897, McKean 1896 and John Hangs 1898.
From the early land records we see that Isaac Calden (?) received the land from the government in 1891. Calder sold to Mercelia Church and B. F. Niesz in 1892. We find a record from the sheriff to W. H. Craig in 1893 and a second entry from the sheriff to Rosalie Niesz and Dimmit, G. Z., Adm. for Church. In 1899 there is a transaction from the Church Estate to W. H. Dunfield and Harvey Woolery. Marie Niesz, who received the land from Rosalie in 1900 sold her interest to the Steamboat Spring Cemetery Assoc., in 1903 along with Dunfield and Woolery. As a correcting entry, the patent for this land to Isaac Calder was not filed until 1925. In 1929 Kemmer sold 20 acres to the Cemetery Assoc. In 1939 the Steamboat Springs Cemetery Assoc. sold the land back to the Town of Steamboat and a tract of land 30' x 660' back to the Heirs of the Woolery Estate. In 1961 the land was transferred to the Steamboat Springs Cemetery District. In 1987 Kenneth and Cecil Bettger transferred part of the cemetery road to the cemetery district.
This cemetery is a wealth of history for this area. It includes the grave of James Crawford and his wife, who founded Steamboat Springs. In an article in the Steamboat Pilot dated July 31, 1941 it states that a beautiful marker was placed on the graves of the founders of Steamboat Springs. It is etched with a likeness of the first cabin built by James Crawford. Over the cabin are the words "The End of the Trail". As you read the many inscriptions from this site you find many of the early pioneers of the area. Some are notable and others are not. The stone of William E. Harvey, born 1839 and died 1914, tells of his success as a hunter, according to his stone he killed 56 bears in Routt County. From the earliest burials this site holds the history of Steamboat Springs and Routt County.
ROUTT COUNTY CEMETERY: #RT791
COLORADO HISTORICAL SITE: #5RT791
LOCATION: 400 ft west of HWY. 40
BURIALS: 2,226 burials with 2,226 inscribed stones from 1882 to 1994
CONDITION: well maintained
USGS QUAD MAP: STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO 7.5 1969 UTM 13; 342234 mE 4484380 mN
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: T6N R84W 6th PM N 5, SW 4, NW 4, NE 4 SEC 7
N 5, SE 4, NW 4, NE 4 SEC 7
E 5, NE 4, NW 4, NE 4 SEC 7
S 5, NW 4, NW 4, NE 4 SEC 7
© 2004-2008 Roger & Joyce Cusick
National Association for Cemetery Preservation, Inc.nacpinc@hotmail.com
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