Beum Cemetery

Ellis County, Oklahoma

SEC-8 TWP-19 R-25

LOCATION: Across the road west of the Beum (AKA Little Red School House), 1/4 Mile south of the junction of Highways 60 and 283.

This is a small cemetery that was established about 1901. There were three headstones still standing in 1996. In the 1950's and early 60's, there were several more graves marked. In 1910 Harvey Pinkerton owned the land around this little cemetery. E. M. Beum, who settled here in 1900, owned land adjoining Mr. Pinkerton's. Mr. Beum was also a Baptist minister. Church services were held in his home and in Dow Pinkerton's on alternate Sundays. We know for sure that the Andy Holt Family buried at least 3 infants here and that the Pope family buried an infant. In the 1970'S Mrs. Emma Pratt recalled that there was an unrelated Holt family that buried a young man. (The only other Holt family found recorded in the area was the Quiller W. Holt family). One headstone reads: C.(Q?) W. AND L.I. Holt Infant. Two graves reportedly belong to victims of the flu: an adult female and an infant. And then we add the unknown new mother who possibly was the last to be placed in this cemetery.

Old Podunk was on the S. E. corner of what was the Beum Land. Old Highway 60 (in earlier days known as the "Abo Pass" or "Abo Trail") passed by this corner taking travelers from the East to the West.

An incident worthy of documentation is the story told by a former nurse for one of Dr. O. C. Newman's sons. She related this story because the Doctor never forgot this incident: "In the "Dirty Thirty's" a typically loaded vehicle that was headed west stopped at old Podunk. A lady was in labor. The young Doctor arrived, closed Podunk, and delivered the infant on the counter of the store. He went on to another call near the river, and when he returned the lady had died from hemorrhaging. The father requested that the infant be wrapped up in prepared cloths and given to him and was placed in the truck. He also requested burial for the mother. Beum was suggested since it was only 1/4 mile north." The Doctor recalled many times the scene of the old loaded down truck driving away, and the fate of a new hungry infant was to haunt him for life.

This information was compiled by the Ellis County Historical Society. The Information was derived from: walking the Cemetery, obituaries and other sources. The Seventh Day Adventist Congregation was very helpful in getting the following records. These records are as correct and complete as any record we have. Our deepest gratitude is extended to all.

If you have family buried in the Beum Cemetery or have obits (with newspapers permission or an obit that you can write) or tombstone photos or individual portraits or can write a short bio and would like to add your information to this website, contact the area coordinator for more information. You can also check out our How to Submit page.

NOTICE. If you submit information to this website and change your e-mail address please notify the area coordinator with the county/cemetery and new e-mail address so we can keep our pages as up to date as possible.

Note: Every effort has been made to transcribe this information accurately. These records MAY CONTAIN ERRORS. Any corrections and/or additions greatly appreciated. As with any genealogy information, this is a source and should be considered as such. It is up to the researcher to verify the accuracy.