Huron Indian Cemetary Ks.
Published Public History: (Missouri State Archives)
In July of 1843, 664 Native Americans were moved from Ohio to Kansas. While camped along the Missouri River, illness swept through the camps and 50 to 100 of the Native American died. Their bodies were carried across the river to the Kansas Territory, to a ridge which overlooked the Kansas and Missouri Rivers
Huron Indian Cemetery was established to bury the bodies.
A few years, the Wyandotte (Native America) were granted the land including the ridge and used as a cemetery.
By the 1890s, the Huron Indian Cemetery was prime land and developers, wanting to purchase the cemetery land, negotiated with the Wyandotte Nation in Oklahoma. In 1906, the Secretary of the Interior was instructed to sell the land with the remains to be moved to the Quindío Cemetery.
Two daughters of Andrew Syrenus Conley (who is buried in the cemetery) moved onto their family's burial ground, erected a small shelter that was nicknamed "Fort Conley," padlocked the gate, and posted a sign, "Trespass at Your Peril." They maintained a vigil for over 2 years and in 1909 Eliza (Lyda) Burton Conley became the first Native American woman admitted to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Although the court was sympathetic it didn't not rule in her favor. In 1913 Congress repealed the bill authorizing the sale of the Huron Indian Cemetery, but the dispute between those wanting to preserve the cemetery, and those wanting to develop the land continued year after year.
One year Lyda Conley (pictured above) was arrested for shooting a policeman in the Huron Indian Cemetery. Even the placing of the Huron Indian Cemetery on the National Register of Historic Sites years later in 1971 didn't stop those wanting to exploit the land.
Controversy continues until this day.
It is believed that there are over 400 bodies buried in Huron Indian Cemetery. And the facts are we will never know where all the Native American bodies are. 400 bodies 80% unaccounted for.
Investigation:
Walk about in the cemetery during the day was quite an overwhelming experience...as I walk by the gravestones mark unknown one after the other....I realize the rich Native American history and significance of this place and of those buried here rob of their lives and placed in unknown grave markers. However one marker listed as unknown had flowers and stuff animals place gently near it.
As I walk by the family graves that fought so hard to keep this place as an Indian burial ground, I pay my respects by offering tobacco and talking to there spirits here asking for a sign of their presence.
Even as I know these are our people and we am struggling with the idea, that Iam walk a fine line between two worlds...that of the living who come to as tourist attraction and one of a spiritual journey of sadness and out rage for me. As investigator when I am on an investigation I am to keep an open mind and look for scienitific evidence and facts but today I rely on my acute instincts of a senative, I feel anger.
The day is warm and sunny I found high EMF reading 2.3 to 2.4 near three graves. Lyda Conley and her sister
EVP's cannot be validated due to outside noise of passing cars...however I was aware of the presence of three red robins...perching on each stone that was Native American they followed my every move....
then they stopped near several graves...they began to peek and squawk at me...I stopped and got within inches of the 3 red robins...I sat down near the grave and each bird in turn came closer to me...as I read the stones marker unknown....I felt overwhelming sadness....so much I wanted to cry...then they flew away....
