Chief Abram B. Burnett Grave - Topeka, Kansas The Chief Abram B. Burnett Grave in Topeka, Kansas is in southwest Topeka. The private cemetery is on private land, but the public is invited to visit the site, ignoring a sign on Arvonia Place that says "Private Drive, No Trespassing." Burnett was a hereditary chief of the Pottawatomie tribe of Indians. He born along the Tippecanoe River neat Muncie, Indiana in 1812 and moved to Kansas in 1840. He was well known in Topeka and a memorable figure. His obituary from 1870 reported that "he was the largest male in Kansas, weighing 496 pounds at the time of his death." His Native American name was Nan-Wesh-Mah (He Who Prays with Plants). Chief Burnett's name is best known today because he owned the land that now includes Burnett's Mound about two miles east. Many people assume that he is buried there. We first visited the grave in April 2009 and some photos from that day are included at the bottom of this page. The other photos are from October 2024 and show the improvements which have been made to the grave site. The fence around the cement covered grave has been replaced, a tree has been removed and the ground looks more clear. The 7' marble obelisk is still in place and has been restored, but the small foot stone has broken off at the base and is missing. A dream catcher hoop was laying on the cement at the foot of the grave during our visit. It isn't 100% clear what is the proper way to travel to this location. I drove to City of Topeka Pump Station 16 at 6333 SW 32nd Street, south of the intersection of SW 29th Street and Lincolnshire Road. The old driveway through the woods from the pump station has encroaching plants and driving though might damage a vehicle. There is a sign saying no trespassing, but online articles from 10 or more years ago say that permission is given to come here to visit the private cemetery. After crossing through the small woods, turn left when you come to the open area and follow the edge of the tree line to the east about 100 yards to the site. There may be other graves for members of his family at this location, but no others are noted and the area which is fenced in is only about 6 by 12 feet. An article in the The Shawnee Chief newspaper from North Topeka, Kansas on March 27, 1914 said the the cemetery had been plowed up, there were multiple burial sites and at least one was laying open. At that time the Daughters of the American Revolution were going to to restore it and fence it in.
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