“The Sundance Kid” at the Salt Lake City Cemetery?

On my visit to the Salt Lake City Cemetery last week, I found some really interesting points of interest in the NorthWest section. (Click on map above to view where to find these places of interest.)

Visiting the city cemetery is a great place to learn about the history of the town, and the interesting people that are buried there. There are many stories you can find in a cemetery that you can’t find elsewhere. Mark Smith, Salt Lake City Cemetery Sexton, says: “It is amazing  the amount of history, art,  flora and fauna that can be found here is for the living and should be treasured and used not only at times of passing and sorrow but in times of joy and youth. I have said and always will say ‘Cemeteries are for the living!'”

Spend an afternoon wandering through the cemetery, and you will understand exactly what he is saying! You can even have your kids do a fun scavenger hunt while there!

Ancient Native American Remains

(see map above)

For many years the Utah Museum of Natural History had a collection of Native American remains in their basement. In 2008, they held a special ceremony and placed all of these remains in one mass grave, with a small marker to indicate the spot where they are all buried in one mass grave.

WHERE and WHEN were these remains found? According to the Bureau of Reclamation Federal Register from January 2008, here is the information I was able to find (read the full report HERE):

• In 1959, four human remains were removed from in or near Steinaker Reservoir, Uintah County, UT.  In 1960, 27 human remains were removed from Uintah County, UT. There were three objects found with these remains: two mats and one cloak. In 1990, one human remains were removed from Steinaker Reservoir, Uintah County,UT.  The 32 individuals and 3 objects found with the remains are classified as Uinta Fremont based on evidence from physical anthropology, archeology, and location.
• In 1959, one human remains were removed from Willard Mounds, near the Great Salt Lake, Box Elder County, UT.  In 1961, one human remains were removed from in or near the Great Salt Lake, Box Elder County, UT.  The above two individuals from Box Elder County, UT, are classified as Great Salt Lake Fremont based on evidence from physical anthropology, archeology, and location. Detailed information about the cultural items, their identification as Great Salt Lake and Uinta Fremont, and the lines of evidence for cultural affiliation, is on file at the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Regional Office, Salt Lake City, UT.
• Additional human remains and objects found with those remainsthat have been removed from sites in Box Elder and Uintah Counties, as well as Weber County, after November 16, 1990 have also been identified as Great Salt Lake and Uinta Fremon.
• While craniometric analysis indicates that the Great Salt Lake Fremont and Uinta Fremont were two biologically distinct populations, comparison of basketry and other material culture associated with sites from the two traditions evidences a similar pattern of material cultural manufacture and distribution methods sufficient to identify a single earlier group for purposes of determining cultural affiliation. This earlier group is identified as the Northern Fremont. Craniometric analysis shows the closest biological relationship is between the Northern Fremont and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico. Officials of the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Regional Office and the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation find the preponderance of the evidence for cultural affiliation with the Northern Fremont to be with the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico.
• Officials of the Bureau of Reclamation and Utah Division of Parks and Recreation have determined that the objects found with the remains described above are reasonably believed to have been placed with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony.

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U of U Body Donor Monument

(See map above)The University of Utah’s body donor program was founded in the early 1940s. Cadavers are used to educate health care students and doctors, as well as by researchers developing new technologies. The bodies are cremated after use. If the family wishes to bury them in a family lot, then the remains are given to the family. If the family does not specify that they want to have possession of the remains after cremation, then they are buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in the designated area. Once a year on the Friday prior to Memorial Day they have a service for anyone who wishes to attend. You will find this designated area in Plat 12, in the far NorthWest corner.

Hirum Bebee – “The Sundance Kid”?

(See map above)Was Hirum Bebee the infamous “Sundance Kid” who ran around causing havoc with Butch Cassidy? Nobody knows for sure, but the evidence is very interesting. Hirum Bebee was arrested in 1945 for shooting and killing Mount Pleasant City Marshal Lon Larsen. He was sent to the Utah State Prison where he served until his death in 1955. Some believe that his true identity was Harry Longbaugh, the famous train and bankrobber also known as the Sundance Kid. This identity has never been proven and Longbaugh’s family denies the possibility. After escaping to Bolivia, the story is told that Longbaugh, “The Sundance Kid”, was killed, but because no remains have ever been found, many think that he escaped back to the United States, and lived out the rest of his life as Hirum Bebee. There are rumors in Sanpete County, where Bebee lived, how good he was with a gun, and that Butch Cassidy used to visit him there. Many people say that Hirum Bebee could not have been The Sundance Kid because their height doesn’t match. (see map above)

Prison Inmates Remains

(See map above)Located next to the grave of Hirum Bebee is a mass burial of inmates who died at the Utah State Prison. Some died of natural causes, and some were executed. They all have different death dates and years, and their birth dates are unknown.

Thanks again toMark Smith, current sexton of the Salt Lake City Cemeteryfor helping with this information and research!