MESS CEMETERY, King County, WA

The US GenWeb Archives provide genealogical and historical data to 
the general public without fee or charge of any kind. It is intended 
that this material not be used in a commercial manner. All submissions
become part of the permanent collection.

Burial list of Mess Cemetery transcribed and submitted 
by Tammy Phillips June 2001. Both above notices must remain 
when copied or downloaded.
______________________________________________________

The Mess Cemetery is located off Frager Road in
South King County, Washington.  The property of Joe
Gunter surrounds the area.  Although the area is now
largely industrial, the memory of some of the early
pioneers from this area lives on in this small
abandoned burial ground.
     The cemetery was started in 1878 when a diptheria
epidemic claimed the lives of the two small daughters
of Julius and Anna Mess.  Anna, three years and 
Wilhemine A., two years, died in June and July of that
year.  A lovely spot, on the Mess farm, southwest of the
family home, on a hill with a natural terrace, and a
lovely view of the valley was chosen for their burial.
     In time, others from the area asked to bury their
loved ones in the same place.  So, the Mess family had
the grounds set aside for this purpose and taxed as such.
It was managed by a board of directors.  It is believed
as many as fifty graves are located in the cemetery,
although a plot map can not be found and many of the
markers have long ago disappeared.
    There were many shingle type markers, with names
and dates, some of which could still be found in the
1940's.  But time, nature, and cattle have obliererated
them.  In the beginning, a white picket fence with a
gate surrounded the area.  When that had to be renewed
there was a barbed wire fence and then more barbed wire
fences.  Each time it was replaced, however, a smaller
portion was fenced, until only the section with large
stones was included.  The last burial was that of Mrs.
Anna Mess in 1910.
     The cemetery was bequeathed to the White River
Historical Society under the will of Mrs. Walter Mess,
who died June 23, 1966.
     The following tombstone inscriptions were obtained
from the records of the Tukwila Historical Society and
those of Don Vincent and Arthur Friske, which are on file
at the Seattle Public Library.  These records were
transcribed during the mid 1960's.


Erected by the Women of Woodcraft
Mary HOWLEY
Born June 22, 1874
Died March 22, 1905

Nels ANDERSON
Died April 6, 1897
Aged 48 years
In my father's house are many mansions

Anna MESS
February 24, 1875
July 5, 1878

Wilhemine A. MESS
August 2, 1876
June 30, 1878

Julius MESS
February 4, 1843
November 20, 1896

Anna MESS
November 17, 1842
April 11, 1910

Chas BROWN
Co. I, 1st US Art.

George OULETT
Died March 10, 1899
Age 75 years
Also his wife, Elizabeth
Died October 11, 1886  age 34 years
Infant child, Alinda
Died September 15, 1886  age 4 mos.

The remains of Dr. J. JAMES and his stone were removed to 
Mt. Olivet in Renton, Washington in November of 1964. His
stone reads as follows:

               In Remembrance of
                 Dr. J. JAMES
                   Died 1885
        Was a nephew to the Great Chief SEATTLE
          and Whilst living was friendly to the
                    Whites.
             May the Almight God
            have mercy on his soul

Also said to be buried there are Lars and Katrina NELSEN. 
He died in 1907 and she sometime later, before 1910. They
were the parents of Mrs. Nels ANDERSON (later Mrs. Herman
NELSEN).