The beautiful park-like hills of Historic Elmwood Cemetery are the resting place of more than 36,000 people...each of them with family & friends, triumphs & failures, and interesting life-stories to tell. Here in Historic Biography's, we share the stories of some of the famous, historic, and interesting people buried in Elmwood.

Elmwood Historian Richard Stewart has done most of the digging and written most of the words in these biographies, while Elmwood Photographer Bruce Mathews graces these Biographies with some truly wonderful images.

Click on any of the letters above or navigate using the left-hand sidebar links...

Below are the most recent additions...added on November 17th, 2007!

Evan Albright
Evan was a Civil War soldier. He was a paymaster and crew member of one of the most known iron clads ever to take to water in the war...the U.S.S. Merrimac!! The Merrimac has gone down in Civil War history for it's four hour battle with the iron clad U.S.S. Monitor! He is documented in the book "Branded as Rebels 3" by Donald Hale. You can find that book at www.haroldsbookstore.com!

Mary Chiles

First wife of California Trails pioneer, Joseph Chiles. Joseph is also known throughout the California wine country as Chiles Valley is named after him. She is also the aunt of William Quantrill guerrilla members, Kit Chiles and James "Jim Crow" Chiles.

 

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Charles Christy

Charles is an original member of the famous "Christy Minstrels" of the 1840's! His uncle, Edwin Christy, was the founder of the group. His career saw him perform with the Minstrels for crown heads of Europe. Later, he moved onto the dramatic stage where he performed with the great American actor, Edwin Forrest! He was part of a group performing in New York and was caught right in the middle of the tragic Astor Place riots.

 

 

 

 

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Milton Feld
Gave Walt Disney his very first shot at getting his animation on the movie screen!!  Disney took his animated "Laugh -O- Grams" to Newman Theatre where Feld was the general manager. He saw what Disney had to offer and showed Disney's animations. With Milton's suggestions, Walt made animations of current Kansas City subjects regarding the city's police and maintenance on the Newman screens! Feld later moved to Los Angeles where he managed one of the great Sid Grauman's theatres. Afterwards, Milton became a Hollywood producer where he produced seven motion pictures before becoming executive producer of two of Abbott & Costello's movies. Those movies are "Hit The Ice" and "The Naughty Nineties." During his time in Hollywood, he worked with actors like Sterling Holloway and Lon Chaney, Jr.  He is the uncle of Helzberg Diamonds namesake, Barnett Helzberg.