This cemetery has always intrigued me. I will certainly do more than transcribe the information I find. (Amy Crooks, previous host)

Coeur d'Alene Press, 17 Jun 1937, Thursday:

Set Aside Ground:
The County Commissioners today set aside a plot of ground, consisting of 12 acres as a county cemetery. The burial plot is located one-half mile west of the Huetter service station and is located on the north side of the highway (today the highway is Seltice Way).

In about 1976/77 the Pine Tree 4-H club with the help of a Grant restored the old cemetery and completed research on it's residents. their research was completed using the old Cassedy Funeral Home Records which are now maintained by the English Funeral Home.

In 1982/83 Alfred & Betty Shane completed their compilation of "Kootenai County Cemeteries Vol I & Vol II." Their books can be found in most area libraries.

     The cemetery is no longer in use. Only four graves have names attached to them. The last interment was of Delbert LUNDSFORD on 22 May 1943. There is only one stone marker left which belongs to John Edward DAVIS. There are however little white crosses placed I presume by the Pine Tree 4-H to honor those interned there.


Kootenai County Cemetery was created to have a place to bury the poor. Many who are buried there, could not afford or even have an estate to cover the cost of their burial. Hence the Paupers Cemetery was created and rightfully known as the Paupers Cemetery. Today it still sits beneath the pine trees that once covered the area up on a hill over looking Seltice Way, and if you could see past the building and tree you would see the Spokane River snake by. Around the cemetery are many new developments of housing tracts and businesses. I fear that unless this place is protected it may some day be moved or worse yet built over. Like stated before only four of the graves are even marked. How long before the development of the area over runs this cemetery. They may have been the counties poor, but they still deserve to be respected. (Note: this cemetery is across the street from my husband's shop. If anyone wants photos please feel free to email me and request them.)

I have taken photos of the cemetery and the graves. You can see them here.
(Off site on Amy Crooks, previous host, personal site)

Name	Birth	Death	Notes
Hubert AITTANA	23 Dec 1911	1 Sep 1939	5th from the left, 3rd row
Martin ANDERSON	unknown	12 Jan 1942
Edward Martin BAUGHMAN	unknown	13 Jul 1936
Rufus BECK	unknown	12 Oct 1937
Paul Merton BEST	3 Sep 1890	12 May 1939	1st in 3rd row, in the lilac bush
Infant BOCK		30 Apr 1939
Jane Willetta BRADFORD		15 Apr 1938
Minnie Alice BUNTON		9 Apr 1939
Linda Hazel BURKE (baby)		7 Apr 1943
Ivan CARPENTER	22 Oct 1900	2 Jul 1940	5th from left, 3rd row
Isabelle COURTWRIGHT		24 Dec 1937
Mary COX		12 Nov 1935
John Edward DAVIS	11 Dec 1864	22 Jan 1941	6th from right, front row, next to tree just right of entrance.
Frank GOODWIN		6 Aug 1939
Andrew GREIDER		8 Jun 1938
Frank HANDLEY		19 Jun 1939
Thomas HODGE		22 Jan 1943
Chester C. ISAMONS		26 Mar 1938
Alice JEFFREY		23 Jul 1940
Elmer George JENKINS		20 Oct 1940
Charles JOHNSON		Jun 1941
David JOHNSON		19 Oct 1940
Henry JOHNSON		15 Jun 1937
Edward KAUFMAN		25 May 1940
Andrew A KINDRED		18 Jan 1938
Berhart LANNING		15 Apr 1942
Alex LEITCH		6 Nov 1938
Tinkea LOWER		10 Sep 1936
Delbert LUNSFORD		22 May 1943
John MAGNUSON (MUNSON)		22 May 1942
William Henry MANION		18 Mar 1937
Albina (Alvina) MATHEWS		11 Feb 1943
William H McBRIDE		1 Sep 1938
Leo MERCER		19 Dec 1936
Conley Lavern MILLER		23 May 1940
William MYERS		19 Oct 1940
James Cornell NEWKIRK		29 Nov 1938
John NICKELSON		29 Jul 1939
Charles SALYERS		18 Aug 1941
Tovia SAMUEL		15 Jun 1940
James Wesley SNYDER		17 Mar 1938
Mary Loretta STANLEY		4 Oct 1938
George STEWART		19 Jun 1941
Robert WILLIAMS, Jr.		8 Apr 1939
Frank WRITE		16 Oct 1935

 

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