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Bellefontaine Cemetery Records By Ted Hine - March 2005. Updated March 2007 and March 2012
A Small Mystery - Where are all the Gravestones? After obtaining the Coudy plot records which show 22 interments during the 90 years from 1858 to 1949 on the relatively large plot (23 feet by 20 feet), I headed out to the burial site expecting to see numerous gravestones containing valuable name, date, and relationship information about the Coudys interred there. I was very surprised and confused to only find one gravestone, that of Mathew and Mary Coudy. When I asked, the cemetery office agreed that this seemed a little strange but they could provide no records or information that might explain why there were no other gravestones present and indicated that their marker records only go back to the 1950's and/or 1960's. Upon close examination of the interment records I found that I would not expect to see monuments for everyone buried in the plot since 7 were children who died in infancy, 2 others had been subsequently moved to another plot, and 3 were apparently not Coudy relatives (see the records below). However this leaves several Coudy's which I would expect to find gravestones for including my great grandparents Horace and Harriet Coudy and their children, Harold, and Elmer. The monument for Mathew and Mary Coudy (see photos) was obviously placed on the plot after Mary's 1923 funeral (Mathew had passed away on December 31, 1883.... contrary to the "1884" shown on the monument which was when he was interred on January 2nd). The inscription "Lillie & Jimmie" on the monument refer to 2 of Mathew and Mary's children who died as infants. But why are there no gravestones for the other adult Coudys?. There is physically plenty of room for them on the plot. And, while I can't speak for Charles Coudy and his descendents who share the plot with Mathew and Mary Coudy and their descendents, I can say that Mathew's son Horace R. Coudy could have easily afforded markers for himself, his wife, and his 2 grown children (all of whom had preceded him in death). Horace, the last to be buried at the site in 1949, was not rich but worked his entire life at a good job that apparently provided adequate retirement benefits. I suppose it's possible that none of the other Coudys wanted markers but I find this a little strange and unlikely. A side note regarding the Coudy plot and Hazel Coudy-Hulburd: While not shown in the cemetery records, I think it likely that the cremated remains of Hazel Coudy-Hulburd (daughter of Horace R. Coudy) are also interred in the Coudy family plot. Hazel's obituaries indicates that she was buried in New York (where she passed away in 1944) but my mother (Hazel's daughter) seemed to think (on recorded audio tape) that her mother was buried in the Bellefontaine Cemetery with Coudy relatives. In a recently discovered letter written by C. Earl "Dutch" Hulburd (Hazel's divorced husband) to his daughter (my mother) in December of 1949 regarding the St. Louis funeral of Hazel's father, Horace R. Coudy, Dutch writes: "I had Mother's ashes placed inside the casket so they are adequately cared for." Dutch regularly referred to his wife Hazel as "mother" in written communications with his daughter (and Dutch's mother was by this time buried in Moberly, MO) thus suggesting that Hazel was cremated and the ashes are in fact in Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis. Cemetery Records Below are copies of Coudy interment records obtained in December 2004 along with my comments regarding them:
Above is the summery record for plot 727, block 117. It lists the purchasers and owners (even today) of the plot as "Mathew and Charles Coudy", shows where on the 23'x20' plot most of the interments took place and lists the occupants along with their interment date. The first 6 interments on the list (those without a number next to them) apparently could not be identified by location on the plot. The notes written in blue ink were taken by me based on information provided by the Bellefontaine office staff. 1. Mathew Coudy (interred 1858) - A 1 month old child believed to be the infant son of plot co-owner Charles Coudy. 2. Emma Lilly Coudy (interred 1860) - Daughter of Mathew and Mary Coudy. Cemetery records show that Emma Lilly was moved (re-interred) from another site (402) at the cemetery in 1860 and that she was originally buried in 1854. 3. James Coudy (interred 1860) - Son of Mathew and Mary Coudy who died in infancy. Cemetery records show that James was moved (re-interred) from another site (402) at the cemetery in 1860 and that he was originally buried in 1855. 4. Robert Kinner, Sr. (interred 1863) - An unknown individual who records show was given permission by Mathew Coudy to be buried in the plot. 5. Jesse Finck (interred 1867) - A child of S.K. Finck (relationship unknown) who Mathew Coudy allow to be buried in the plot in a note to the cemetery dated in 1867. 6. Charles B. Coudy (interred 1871). Died July 19, 1871 at the age of about 44. Charles was co-owner of the cemetery plot along with his possible 1st cousin Mathew Coudy. 7. Charles Herbert (interred 1874) - Another unknown individual given permission for burial in the plot by Mathew Coudy in a note dated 1874. Charles Herbert was to be buried in the same grave as Robert Kinner (above) according to the note. Who they were and how they were related is unknown. 8. Limbs of G. E. Coudy (interred 1880) - A note from a local hospital shows that an arm and a leg were delivered to the cemetery for burial. George E. Coudy was the son of Charles B. Coudy and he signed the Bellefontaine interment papers for his brother Alexander in 1906. George lived a long and productive life before passing away in 1933. He is buried in the Sunset Hill Cemetery, Glen Carbon, IL. 9. Mathew Coudy (interred 1884) - Co-owner of the plot, husband of Mary and my great-great grandfather. 10. Norman B. Eilers (interred 1884) - Very likely related by marriage to, or descended from, Mathew Coudy's daughter Agnes Mary Coudy who married August H. Eilers in 1874. The cemetery record shows that Norman was re-interred to plot number 3129 (an Eilers plot) in 1887. 11. Raymond M. Coudy (interred 1884) - Believed to be a son of Mathew Coudy's son Horace R. Coudy. Raymond likely died in infancy. 12. Ruby Eilers (interred 1884) - Age 11 months. Assumed to be related by marriage to, or descended from, Mathew Coudy's daughter Agnes Mary Coudy who married August H. Eilers in 1874. The cemetery record shows that Ruby was re-interred to plot number 3129 (and Eilers plot) in 1887. 13. Louisa Coudy (interred 1885) - Died in infancy. Believed to be a granddaughter of plot co-owner Charles Coudy, the daughter of Alexander B. Coudy. 14. Louisa Coudy (interred 1887) - Died in infancy. Believed to be a another granddaughter of plot co-owner Charles Coudy, the daughter of Alexander B. Coudy. 15. Charles W. Coudy (interred 1893) - Age at interment was 4 months, 15 days. Believed to be another grandchild of plot co-owner Charles Coudy, the son of Alexander B. Coudy. 16. John B. Coudy (interred 1895) - Age 11 months when interred. Believed to be yet another grandchild of plot co-owner Charles Coudy, the son of Alexander B. Coudy. 17. Alexander B. Coudy (interred 1906) - A son of plot co-owner Charles Coudy (and his wife Jane) born about 1852. 18. Mary C. Coudy (interred 1923) - Wife of Mathew Coudy and my great great grandmother who passed away at age 96. 19. Harold L. Coudy (interred 1935) - Grandson of Mathew Coudy and son of Horace R. Coudy. 20. Elmer H. Coudy (interred 1936) - Grandson of Mathew Coudy and son of Horace R. Coudy. 21. Harriet S. Coudy (interred 1938) - Wife of Horace R. Coudy. 22. Horace R. Coudy (interred 1949) - Son of Mathew and Mary Coudy and my great grandfather. He outlived his wife and all his children. The following are interment and other records specific to individual burials presented in date order:
I believe the above 1867 note written and signed by Mathew Coudy to the Bellefontaine Cemetery reads: "Dear Sirs: I hereby grant the (?) (?) S.K. Finck the privilege of burying his child in my lot until such a time as I may order it removed or he may remove it himself". This explains the 1867 interment of Jesse Finck in the family plot.
Charles B. Coudy is the co-owner of the cemetery plot.
This note by Mathew Coudy reads: "St. Louis - March 2nd 1874 - To Bellefontaine Cemetery Association. Robert Kinner was buried on my lot #727, a member of (?) (?) and I herby give permission to have Robert Kinner's grave opened, and if practical, have Charles Herbert buried in the same grave. Mathew Coudy". This indicates that the burials of Robert Kinner and Charles Herbert in the family plot were done with Mathew's knowledge and permission but doesn't shed any light on who they were or why such permission was given.
Reads: "August 28, 1880 - I certify that these limbs (leg & arm) belong to the body of George Coudy amputated at this hospital and delivered this day to (?) (?) for burial." The master family summary interment shows these limbs belong to G. E. Coudy. George E. Coudy lived on as an amputee and passed away in 1933. He is buried in the Sunset Hill Cemetery, Glen Carbon, IL.
Reads "Please issue order to Wm. Rutter to have grave opened for remains of Ruby Eilers age 11 months in lot number 727". Signed by "Mrs. M. Coudy (?)".
1885 authorization for the interment of Louisa Coudy signed by Jane Coudy, wife of plot co-owner Charles Coudy. Louisa is believed to be a granddaughter of Charles and Jane, the daughter of Alexander B. Coudy.
1887 authorization for the interment of a second Louisa Coudy signed by Mrs. Charles Coudy (Jane), wife of plot co-owner Charles Coudy. Louisa is believed to be a granddaughter of Charles and Jane, the daughter of Alexander B. Coudy.
Another document signed by Jane Coudy. Chas. W. Coudy is believed to be another grandchild of Charles and Jane Coudy, the son of Alexander B. Coudy.
Another presumed grandchild of Charles and Jane Coudy, the son of Alexander B. Coudy.
Interment order for Alexander B. Coudy signed for by "Geo. E. Coudy son of Charles Coudy". Alexander was a son of plot co-owner Charles B. Coudy. Alexander and George were brothers.
Interment order for Mary Caroline Coudy (wife of plot co-owner Mathew Coudy) signed for by her daughter, Mrs. A. H. Eilers.
Interment order for Harold Lee Coudy signed for by his father Horace R. Coudy (son of Mathew).
Interment order for Elmer Horace Coudy signed for by his father Horace R. Coudy (son of Mathew).
Harriet Shipley-Coudy, wife of Horace R. Coudy.
Interment order for Horace R. Coudy, son of Mathew Coudy. In place of the authorized signature is a note to see a letter dated Feb. 2, 1948 (above). Horace had outlived his wife, all his children, and all his siblings that I have death dates for so apparently his former son-in-law, C. Earl Hulburd, took it upon himself to administer Horace's burial. C. Earl Hulburd, in a letter written to his daughter (my mother) shortly after Horace's death, indicates that he had the cremated remains of "mother" (his regularly used name for his former wife) buried in the grave along with Horace. This strongly suggests that Hazel Elizabeth Caroline Coudy-Hulburd, Horace's daughter who passed away in New York in 1944, is buried in the same grave as her father. A Strange Letter Regarding Norman Coudy The following letter and reply written in early 1959 is in the Coudy plot records folder at Bellefontaine Cemetery. In it a Mr. Robert Beumer from Phoenix, AZ is asking if Norman Coudy is buried in the Coudy plot over 18 years after Norman's death. He writes "it is quite important that I find out where he is buried". I have no idea who Mr. Beumer was and he didn't indicate why he needed this information. It's clear however that Mr. Beumer was very familiar with the family of Horace and Harriet Coudy and their sons as he knew the full names of them all and also knew that most were buried in Bellefontaine. Interestingly, Norman is the only Coudy that I've been unable to find a burial location for. Perhaps Mr. Beumer was a descendent of one of Horace R. Coudy's siblings and was attempting to complete genealogical work. (The initial correspondence mentioned in this letter was not in the cemetery records folder.)
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