Ready to explore a place of peace and history? Today, we’re standing before Saint Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery. It is a final resting place holding stories of Chicago’s early German immigrants.
Saint Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery has been known by many names. It has been called German Lutheran Cemetery of Saint Paul and Emanuel Churches. It has also been known as First Evangelical Congregation of Saint Paul Cemetery. Other names include Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Cemetery and Wunder’s Kirchof. It was also known as Wunder’s Burying Ground and Lutheran German Cemetery. It also went by Rev. Wunder’s Churchyard. Another name was Pastor Wunder’s Kirchof Churchyard. Finally, it was also called German Protestant Cemetery.
This cemetery’s story begins in 1858. Citizens wanted to stop burials in the old Chicago Cemetery. That cemetery was in what is now Lincoln Park. People worried about houses being built nearby. So, in May 1859, they stopped selling burial spots. After 1866, bodies were moved to new cemeteries outside the city.
Saint Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery was founded in 1859. Originally, it was called The First German Lutheran or The Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery. In 1912, it became The German Lutheran Cemetery. Then, in 1919, it was renamed Wunder’s Cemetery Association. This honored Rev. Heinrich Wunder. He was the pastor of First Saint Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church.
Rev. Heinrich Wunder was a key figure. He greeted many German immigrants. They arrived at the Lake Michigan port of Chicago. He helped them settle in the city. He served his church for over 60 years. That was from 1851 until he died in 1913.
Saint Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery covers 14.5 acres. It is located between Irving Park Road, Clark Street, Seminary Street, and Hebrew Benevolent Cemetery. The ground is sandy. This makes digging graves easier. Public transportation makes it easy to visit. Buses run along Clark Street and Irving Park Road. Also, the CTA Red Line stop is nearby at Sheridan Road.
Inside Saint Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery are about 15,000 graves. Many notable Chicagoans are buried here. William and Anna Wieboldt are here. They started a department store chain. George Manning was a professional baseball player. Lorenzo Thundercloud was a Chief of the Sioux Nation. Charles Seyferlich was a Chicago Fire Department Chief. Frederick Dinkelberg designed famous skyscrapers. Rev. Wunder and his family are also here.
The logo of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery is special. Einar Svendsen commissioned it. Daniel Hendricksen designed it. It includes the logo of First Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church. This shows the cemetery’s connection to the church. A cross pierces a thick circle. This represents the hope of resurrection. A stylized “W” sits at the top. It stands for Wunder’s and the “Crown of Life”.
Saint Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery is divided into sections. Sections 1 to 3 have some of the oldest burials. Sections 11 and 5r used to be roads. They were later turned into grave sites.
The earliest burial record is from May 1864. However, some records are older but undated. One death date is from 1850. It is for five-year-old Anna Maria Redell. Another is from 1853 for Engel M.J. Franck. These earlier burials may have been moved from the old Chicago Cemetery. The earliest birth date is 1787 for Daniel Millemann.
Saint Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery is more than just a burial ground. It is a piece of Chicago’s history. It tells the story of German immigrants. It remembers important figures. It offers a place for reflection. As you leave, remember the stories held within these grounds. They whisper of faith, community, and the enduring spirit of Chicago.