History
The Poor Farm Cemetery in Park County, Montana, is intrinsically linked to the Park County Poor House, which was established in June 1892. The County Commissioners contracted for the construction of the Poor House to serve as a governmental safety net for indigent individuals who could not provide for themselves. The cemetery itself was established on a hillside to the west of the Poor House, with provisions for "burial expenses" to be conducted "in a proper and respectable manner." Between 1892 and 1924, at least 111 individuals were interred in this cemetery, many in unmarked graves [1] .
In the early 1930s, the original Poor House facility was replaced by a new institution named Sunset Farm. This facility functioned as a rest home for the aged, accommodating both paying and county-subsidized patients. However, due to senior healthcare reforms, Sunset Farm was abandoned in the 1960s. Today, the buildings of Sunset Farm have been demolished, and very little physical evidence of the Park County Poor Farm remains [1]. In 2005, the Park County Genealogy Society undertook research to identify those interred in the cemetery, verifying names through death records and obituaries, though acknowledging that the list might not be fully inclusive [1].
The nearby ghost town of Cinnabar, Montana, played a significant role in the region's early development. It was established in 1883 by the Northern Pacific Railroad as the final stop on its branch line to Yellowstone National Park. Cinnabar served as a crucial hub for passengers and freight for nearly two decades. However, its importance waned when the railroad line was extended the remaining three miles to the park boundary between 1902 and 1903, leading to the town's abandonment. Currently, no structures of Cinnabar remain, with only archaeological evidence providing insights into the lives of its late 19th-century residents .
Landscape and markers
The cemetery is a physical record of the harshness of the frontier. The dates carved into the markers tell a story of brief booms and sudden collapses, of winters that took the young and mining accidents that took the strong. To walk among these graves is to feel the immense weight of the past pressing down on the present landscape.
Who is buried here
The stones here tell the story of the settlement. Wyatt Adkins (1827 - Jan. 21, 1912): Husband of Louisa Callahan Adkins, son of Benjamin & Berthena Adkins. Infant Coombs (Jun. 8, 1916 - Jun. 8, 1916): Son of Curt & Forsna Coombs. Infant Sasnick (Mar. 5, 1918 - Mar. 5, 1918): Son of Joseph & Minnie Sasnick. Demographic patterns indicate that many individuals buried here were residents of the Park County Poor House, which served as a safety net for those unable to provide for themselves. Between 1892 and 1924, at least 111 people were interred, many in unmarked graves. The records show a mix of ages, including infants, and individuals with limited biographical details, reflecting the transient and often impoverished circumstances of those who resided at the Poor Farm.
Visiting
The Poor Farm Cemetery is located at 23 Chicken Creek Lane, Livingston, MT. It is situated on a hillside to the west of where the original Poor House stood. While the buildings of the Poor Farm and its successor, Sunset Farm, have been demolished, the cemetery remains. Many graves are unmarked, and little physical evidence of the original site remains. The Park County Genealogy Society has conducted research to identify interments. The cemetery is near Livingston, Montana.