Written by: Leyton Furlong
Just off of historic Lover’s Lane in the North End of town is one of St. Joseph’s largest historic cemeteries. Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery is a beautiful cemetery set atop rolling hills, with a Gothic chapel at the top of the main hill. Although not nearly as famous as Mount Mora, Mount Olivet’s history is equally fascinating. Early French settlers, trailblazing pioneers, Eastern European immigrants, and even Pony Express financiers are all buried here. Mount Olivet was built in 1895 as a brand new Catholic cemetery to replace the neglected Calvary Cemetery, which was built in the 1840s. Within a few years of opening up, the old Calvary was closed, and the remains were moved to the new Mount Olivet.
The porcelain portraits that stop people in their tracks
As you stroll along the graves, you’ll notice that some of the old tombstones have porcelain portraits of the deceased (or at least had one at some point). The people in the photos are all dressed up in their Sunday best and stare at the viewer with blank expressions. Like many other graves in the cemetery, you’ll find that their inscriptions may be in a foreign language. Many stones include inscriptions in languages like German and Polish, reflecting St. Joseph’s immigrant communities. These portraits (also known as ‘Dedos’) were popular in the early 1900s, especially among immigrant populations from Southern and Eastern Europe. The majority of these portraits were produced by the J.A. Dedouch Company in Illinois (hence the nickname, ‘Dedo’). These portraits offered a lasting likeness at a time when printed photos weren’t as common in every household. Compared to other larger cemeteries with portraits, the surviving portraits here are in remarkable condition, with some even still bearing the original Dedo watermark.
A window into immigrant St. Joseph
Many burials reflect Eastern and Southern European immigration in the early 1900s. A few Polish immigrants buried here served in the famous World War I Polish Army unit, known as Haller’s Army.
Notable burials and local stories
Many of St. Joseph’s first settlers and explorers are buried here, including Joseph Robidoux, the founder of St. Joseph. The circumstances of his internment are somewhat mysterious. Initially, he and his family were buried at the old Calvary Cemetery on Garfield Road. In 1908, the family plot was scheduled to be dug up and moved to Mount Olivet. According to tradition, Joseph Robidoux was buried in a lead coffin in 1868. Local tradition says even though the remains of other family members were located and moved, Robidioux’s lead coffin was never found. All but one of the family’s markers were replaced. Mitchell Robidoux’s (one of Joseph’s brothers) original grave was rediscovered in a rock pile on Noyes Avenue in the 1950s and was given its permanent home in Mount Olivet.
Other notable burials here include:
- John Corby: former mayor and one of the original financiers for the Pony Express.
- Antoine Robidoux: Frontiersman and explorer who established some of the first trading posts on the American frontier. Brother of Joseph Robidoux.
- Jeremie Francois Mallet: explorer, trader, and veteran of the Battle of Tippecanoe.
- Michael and Mary Pendergast: parents of the notorious political boss and alleged mobster, Tom Pendergast.
- Steve Marks: a Romani clan chieftain who is said to be buried in a casket filled with gold coins.
- William Sidenfaden: the undertaker who organized Jesse James’ funeral.
- Frederick Smith: Prussian Army officer, former mayor, and co-founder of St. Joseph.
- Frank and Joseph Tkacz (Scotch): 1920s train robbers killed during a raid on East Leavenworth, Missouri.
- John Hochenaur Sr: Austrian Army lieutenant who performed regimental salutes for Emperor Franz Jozef I of Austria.
Mount Olivet is a cemetery with many unique and uncommon features and is definitely a good place for long walks and sightseeing. The cemetery’s office is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM and Saturday from 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM. (Images courtesy of Abigail from Findagrave.com)