Month: February 2025

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Honoring Black History: The Untold Story of African American Burials at Milwaukee County Poor Farm Cemetery

Black History Month - Milwaukee County

As we celebrate Black History Month, we reflect on the resilience, struggles, and contributions of African Americans throughout history. One lesser-known chapter of Milwaukee’s Black history lies in the story of those buried at Milwaukee County Poor Farm Cemetery 2—a final resting place for the city’s marginalized residents between 1882 and 1925.

During this period, Milwaukee’s Black population steadily grew, driven by the Great Migration north. In 1880, only 304 African Americans lived in the city. By 1910, that number had risen to 980, and by 1930, it had reached 7,500. However, despite making up a small fraction of the city’s population at the time, African Americans were disproportionately buried in the county’s poor farm cemetery.

Of the more than 7,000 people interred at Cemetery 2, just over 150 were African American. While Black residents accounted for only 0.39% of Milwaukee’s population on average during this period, they represented 2.58% of those buried in this cemetery—meaning they were laid to rest here at a rate 6.6 times higher than their White counterparts. This stark disparity raises questions about racial inequities in healthcare, economic status, and burial practices during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Using a basic estimate of death rates, it appears that 1 in 6 African Americans who passed away during this era were buried in Cemetery 2, compared to 1 in 40 European Americans. This suggests that African Americans in Milwaukee faced significantly greater barriers in securing dignified burials elsewhere, likely due to poverty, segregation, and limited access to family burial plots.

Understanding these burial patterns helps us recognize the broader social conditions that shaped Black life in early Milwaukee. Honoring those buried at the Poor Farm Cemetery means acknowledging their struggles and ensuring that their stories are not forgotten. As we commemorate Black Heritage Month, let us continue to shed light on these untold histories and advocate for the respectful remembrance of all who came before us.

We invite you to learn more about Black history in the United States and Milwaukee County.

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Froedtert Appeal in Circuit Court Delays Reburials

Froedtert Hospital is continuing to fight the Wisconsin Historical Society’s decision approving our reburial plan for the 831 ancestors exhumed in 2013. Unfortunately, this means the reburial of the ancestors housed at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee will remain on hold until the pending appeal has been resolved.

After the Division of Hearings and Appeals dismissed their appeal on January 10th, finding that it did not have the authority to hear the case, Froedtert and the county filed an appeal in Milwaukee County Circuit Court on February 10th. The case, Milwaukee County et al. vs. Christian W. Overland et al. (2025CV001230), has been assigned to the Hon. William Sosnay. While there is not a set timeframe, it is not likely to be concluded quickly.

Milwaukee County Courthouse (Credit: Ed Bierman. Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license)

Froedtert Hospital has raised concerns about the cost of our reburial plan, citing it as “too excessive;” the costs, however, are reasonable and reflect careful consideration of several factors. Finding a place for 831 individual graves within a single area in Milwaukee County was no easy task, and we are confident in our choice of Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum.

Our plan includes not only the initial cost of reburial but also perpetual care, which will involve ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the graves long after we are gone. This is expected and required for cemeteries in Wisconsin, ensuring the graves remain secure, well-maintained, and accessible to future generations.

The cost of our reburial plan is directly tied to when the reinterments are completed. The more time that passes before the reburials take place, the lower the cost will be for each grave. Froedtert will ultimately bear the increased costs, as they are responsible for paying regardless of when the reburials occur.

Next Steps

Our community is committed to ensuring that every person who was exhumed in 2013 receives the respect they deserve. We are not just fighting for ourselves; we are fighting for the values of our ancestors and the people who built Milwaukee County.

“Our direction at this time is to wait for these court things to happen,” Descendant Community President Judy Houston said. “It is really unfortunate. I’ve been very sad that these people will not be reburied this year.”

Despite this delay, we continue telling our story. We will also continue our genealogical research, identifying veterans and others with the hope of re-uniting them with their families.

Join Us

Join us in this fight for dignity and respect. Donate now or contact us to volunteer to help us honor our ancestors and ensure their legacy continues to thrive. Our community relies on volunteers like you to help us identify veterans and others who deserve reburial; training is provided, and we invite you to join our team!