Written by: Leyton Furlong
Every town has that one historic cemetery everyone grows up hearing stories about. In Saint Joseph’s case, we have too many to choose from. But by far our most famous historic cemetery is Mount Mora. Located on 824 Mount Mora Road, Mount Mora is the final resting place for some of our most notable residents. Established in 1851, Mount Mora is the burial ground for more than 15,000 burials. They say death is the great equalizer, and as far as cemeteries go, Mount Mora is a pretty even playing field; everyone from the poorest pauper to the richest magnate is buried here. Pioneers, farmers, inventors, theater vespians, writers, mayors, doctors, millionaires, industrialists, Civil War veterans, Pony Express riders, governors, soldiers of foreign armies, merchants, and architects are all buried here.
Among the more affluent individuals buried here are many key local Civil War figures, including generals and state governors, many of whom were personal friends and associates of Abraham Lincoln. Others were local industrialists and business magnates who are now buried in one of the 21 majestic mausoleums near the entrance to the cemetery.
The first known burial was in 1843 with John F. Shortridge, who died after moving to St. Joseph to live with his son-in-law, Simeon Kemper, who buried him near the city limits. In 1846, Kemper bought the property, and burials continued until the site was eventually incorporated into a cemetery in 1851, which was eventually redesigned in 1872.
Legends and lore (including Maud Vanderlinde)
Of course, being an old cemetery, local legend holds that it’s haunted. One of my favorite local legends surrounding the place is the legend of Maud Vanderline. According to legend, Maud died when traveling through St. Joseph. As the story goes, her husband had a Sac and Fox chieftain cast a spell to preserve her forever and displayed the body in a glass case inside a brick mausoleum. While the legend has lived on for generations, Mount Mora’s historians share the documented details of Maud Vanderlinde’s life and burial.
Voices of the Past
The cemetery is popular for its annual “Voices of the Past” event early October. Visitors arrive at the cemetery at night and walk along the torch-lit Mausoleum Row, where the spirits of the dead, dressed in old attire (portrayed by locals), retell the stories of the lives of the people buried there. Each year has a different theme, from unsolved murders in 2024 to local entertainment in 2025.
Mausoleum Row and the Rural Garden Cemetery movement
Most people, however, go for the sight seeking. The cemetery is an architectural treasure trove with unique mausoleums, beautiful marble statues, towering granite obelisks, and even rare 1840s limestone tombstones, which aren’t often seen West of the Mississippi. The architectural diversity and emphasis on beauty are intentional. When the cemetery was redesigned in 1872, it was done in lockstep with the Rural Garden Cemetery movement, which was popular at the time. This movement sought to clean up cemeteries and make them suitable for public gatherings and recreation, which was a precursor to modern parks. Although intensive restoration work is still ongoing in the older parts of the cemetery, the cemetery is still a beautiful place for long walks.
Notable names buried at Mount Mora
Now, to answer your question, no, Jesse James is not buried here. However, Mount Mora has many, many influential and notable people buried here who are worth mentioning:
- Dr. Jacob Geiger: local surgeon who was the lead coroner in Jesse James’ autopsy.
- James Craig: Militia general and associate of Abraham Lincoln.
- Robert Wilson: US Senator and head of the Missouri Constitutional Convention of 1861. Often credited as the man who helped keep Missouri from seceding during the Civil War.
- Elija Gates: Treasurer for the state of Missouri.
- Merriweather Jeff Thompson: Mayor of St. Joseph and Confederate Brigadier General nicknamed “the Swamp Fox” for his guerrilla warfare tactics.
- Edmond J. Eckel: Architect who designed many of St. Joseph’s historic buildings.
- Robert M. Stewart: 14th governor of Missouri.
- Silas B. Woodson: 21st governor of Missouri.
- Willard P. Hall: 17th governor of Missouri, brigadier general, and personal friend of Abraham Lincoln.
- David Johnson Heaton: Sometimes noted as being the first professional undertaker in the United States.
- William Mitchellhill: Local businessman who died in the sinking of the RMS Lusitania.
- Paul F Porzelius: Bavarian lieutenant and veteran of the Franco-Prussian War.
- John George Schneider: U.S. Marine and war hero who died of wounds received leading his men on an attack against a German machine gun nest in World War I
- Charles Henry Cliff: Pony Express rider.
- Sir William Salton Wiseman: British rear admiral and veteran of the Waikato and Crimean Wars who died under mysterious circumstances.
- Mary Alicia Owen: Folklorist and author.
- Israel Landis: Saddle manufacturer and supplier for the Pony Express.
- True Davis Jr.: U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland.
