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Daniel Muir's Gravesite


In 1885, John Muir visited Kansas City, Missouri, to visit his father, Daniel, who was on his deathbed. In late August of that year, while living in California, John had "the most powerful inner compulsion" he had ever known, sensing that he must go east if he would see his father alive. Muir traveled east, stopping at Shasta and Yellowstone on the way, and gathered up his siblings in Portage, Wisconsin and nearby Nebraska, insisting that they visit their father in Kansas City where he was visiting Muir's sister Joanna and her family. Muir's brothers and sisters had several days visiting with the 80 year-old Daniel, who died on October 6, 1885, surrounded by 7 of his 8 children, including John Muir. Muir shortly thereafter wrote an obituary item about his father for the Portage Recorder newspaper.

Daniel is buried in the historic Elmwood Cemetery of Kansas City, Block N, Lot 57, long with 2 deceased infants of Muir's sister Joanna and and her husband Walter Brown. The cemetery has no record that there was ever a headstone originally for Daniel Muir. In May, 2004, the Muir-Hanna Family Trust donated a headstone, shown below, to commemorate him.

Daniel Muir Headstone, Elmwood Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri - Installed in May, 2004

The headstone reads:

"Daniel Muir, 1804-1885, Father of Naturalist John Muir, donated by the Muir-Hanna Family Trust."

Photo Courtesy of Elmwood Cemetery.



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