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Bellefontaine Cemetery
Bellefontaine Cemetery
Open to public / Not Open to public
Open to public
Bellefontaine Cemetery was incorporated in 1849, and is the final resting place of two prominent ministers: the Reverend John Barry Meacham (1818–54), pastor of the First African Baptist Church, and the Reverend John Richard Anderson (1818–63). Born in Shawneetown, Illinois, Anderson learned to read as a child in St. Louis at a Sunday school established by the Reverend John Mason Peck and James Welch. He worked for the Reverend Elijah P. Lovejoy in Alton and was an eyewitness to Lovejoy's murder in 1847. Anderson was called to serve as associate pastor of the Second Colored Baptist Church and became its pastor two years later.
Maps of the cemetery are available in the cemetery office.
SOURCE: The historical information presented on this page is adapted with permission from Discovering African American St. Louis: A Guide to Historic Sites by Dr. John A. Wright, Sr. We are honored to share his invaluable research and historical insights, made available through the generous consent of Dr. Wright and the Missouri Historical Society Press. Their dedication to preserving and celebrating the rich legacy of Black St. Louis is a gift to our community—a testament to those who came before us and a guide for those who walk the path forward.
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Bellefontaine Cemetery