Maple Grove Cemetery AKA Hoss Cemetery – Valley Center

800 E. 85th St. N

According to records they believe 173 people are interred here. I stumbled across a story about the cemetery.  The records are either missing or incomplete.  Because of that, no other graves will be dug at the cemetery. Since there is no map, they are not sure what is still available.

There is some interesting history to the cemetery. Thomas Hoss came to Kansas in 1870 and he purchased land, part of which would become Hoss Cemetery.  The land was sold to Henry Raymond in 1873 which was turned over to Maple Grove Township in 1883.  Maple Grove Cemetery was given to the state of Kansas in 1967.

The man who bought the land originally, Thomas Hoss, is buried at the cemetery that once bore his name. 

I could not find the headstone, but Anthony Mosley posted this on findagrave.com.

Captain Thomas Orr Hoss was born on December 24, 1833 and died on  October 8, 1914 (aged 80) He served for 4 years as a U.S. Civil War Union Soldier from 1861-1865. He was a member of the U.S. Colored Troop, 61st Regiment, United States Colored Infantry

He wounded his leg at the Battle of Shiloh.  It was one of the bloodiest battles in the Civil War. The total number of forces for both sides killed, wounded, missing, or captured were 23,746.

The oldest grave belongs to Charles Raymond January 2, 1813 – November 1871

There are no famous graves listed at the cemetery.

Like so many older cemeteries this one is showing its age with faded graves, broken stones, general decay, and more than likely vandalism too.

Make sure you check out the other Sedgwick County Cemeteries we have visited so far.

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