Wunder's Cemetery

Founded in 1859, Wunder's Cemetery was originally known as First German Lutheran Cemetery. In 1912, it was incorporated as the German Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery Association. The earliest date recorded for a burial is May 1864. In 1912, it was incorporated as the German Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery Association. On October 19, 1919 it was renamed Wunder's Cemetery Association.  Over 15,000 people, with burials at the rate of approximately 24 per year.  The cemetery is named after Heinrich Wunder, pastor of First St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church for 62 years, from 1851 to 1913.

Graceland Cemetery was one of the first established in the township. It had more than 20 acres. When Irving Park Road was extended through Graceland's territory, Graceland sold the acreage that's now Wunder's to First St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. At the time, that acreage was titled German Lutheran Cemetery.

Adjacent to German Lutheran were four small Jewish cemeteries -- Hebrew Benevolent Society, Anshe Mayrev, Cemetery of the Congregation of the Sons of Peace, and Chebra Kadisha Ubikar Cholm -- that together became known as "Jewish Graceland."

Several graves from the old City Cemetery, originally located in what is now Lincoln Park were relocated to Rosehill. Some of the gravestones and monuments were also moved to Rosehill Cemetery and can be seen.  Bodies were supposedly moved from 1868-1880s, but with only 10 men working to disinter the deceased, it’s not physically possible that all plots were evacuated.  Then, when the Chicago Fire swept through, almost all of the markers in the City Cemetery were destroyed.  The only one that was left was the Couch Memorial, which is still in the park.  One researcher estimates that there were nearly 10,000 forgotten graves in the City Cemetery, this includes nearly 4,000 Confederate soldiers who died at Camp Douglas and were buried in Potter’s Field. It’s thoughts that they’re under what is now the baseball fields.  In 1998, a part of the park was excavated for the Chicago History Museum’s parking facility and the remains of 81 individuals were uncovered.  When Lincoln Park was first opened visitors were horrified to find countless open graves with pieces of decayed coffins and bones strewn about.

In the 1850’s the City Cemetery became a place for grave robbers for medical schools in need of bodies.  Marting Quinlan would load bodies from recent interments onto a cart, one of which was the body of a man who had died after having his leg amputated.  There was weekly or even more frequent visits to the cemetery to gather bodies for medical students.

Notable Statues

Raithel or “The Sisters”

The monument was erected by the younger sister, Marie, after her elder sister, Margaret, died in 1906 at age 48. Marie died in 1930 at age 67

The family name on the monument is Raithel. The eight grave markers bearing that name indicate a large family, but relationships are not specific. The oldest member buried at the site was John N., born in 1821, died in 1889. His wife was Barbara, nee Kuhn, born in 1827 and died in 1867.  The monument represents two sisters who lie at its foot and apparently were very close in life.

Heilemann and Beer

A small walk from that statue are two adjacent tombstones with benches. One is marked "Heilemann," the other marked, "Beer." The two grave occupants are not related, but it is believed they were once neighbors in Germany.

Notable Burials

Faith Bacon

Actress, Burlesque Dancer. A Broadway starlet of the late 1920s, she is remembered for her erotic dance routines at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. Born Frances Yvonne Bacon, little is recorded of her early years save that she at some point lived in the Northern California community of Placerville and along the way apparently received at least a modicum of classical ballet training before making her way to New York where she had her Broadway debut in the revue "Earl Carroll's Vanities of 1928". Spending the next three years in the Big Apple Faith became a Broadway regular, appearing in Carroll's "Fioretta" as well as in "Earl Carroll's Sketch Book" and in the "Ziegfeld Follies of 1931". Faith performed as a 'fan dancer' at the 1933 World's Fair where she created a sensation with her "Dance of Shame", in the process competing with the better-known Sally Rand who is alleged to have 'stolen' a portion of her routines. After Chicago she essentially dropped from view, appearing in but one Hollywood film, the 1938 "Prison Train". Married for a time to songwriter Sandford Dickinson, she lived at least some of her remaining years in York, Pennsylvania, but never lost her desire for the limelight. Faith attempted suicide via a pill overdose in 1954 then after travelling to Chicago in a vain effort to get back into show business killed herself by jumping from a hotel window. Her estate amounting to 85 cents, the costs of her final arrangements and burial were borne by the American Guild of Variety Artists. A few videos of her dances have been preserved.  

Herbert Henry Rice

Actor. He is best remembered for being one of the three midgets who played the role of the character of Buster Brown. The famous, wide-eyed character who was popular between 1904 and 1930 was named for comedian Buster Keaton and the Brown Shoe Company. Together with his dog Tige, Brown was often featured in comic strips, used in stage shows, and for commercial use. Rice later left the role behind to become involved cabaret and films. His stage work led him to become a close associate of George M. Cohan, while his film work introduced him to the likes of Lon Chaney. His film credits include, "Pour Finney" (1912), "The Two Chefs" (1912), "The Rainbow Princess" (1916), "Snow White" (1916), and "Alice In Wonderland" (1915), in which he played the White Rabbit. Rice who was only 50 inches tall, spent the rest of his life living in poverty. His funeral was paid for by the Actors Fund of America.