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In 1915, the discovery of oil in El Dorado had a massive impact on not only the area, but the entire oil industry. But what about the people who lived and died here before “the oil field that won World War I” was discovered?
Long before Stapleton #1 appeared on the horizon, a new town in Butler County called El Dorado was founded, named after a legend that tells of a golden city somewhere in the Americas. Pioneers flocked to Butler County in the 1870s, lured by the cheap prairie land and big promises.
The cemeteries of El Dorado tell the quiet stories of perseverance and hardship of these early pioneers’ lives. Small family cemeteries, forgotten graves in vanished settlements, and a cemetery relocated to make way for El Dorado Lake serve as silent reminders of the individuals who shaped this land.
This book explores El Dorado’s early days through the cemeteries that preserve the memory of the pioneers who made it their home, long before oil reshaped the landscape.
Autumn Hearne was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas. Her fascination with local dark history, old newspapers, and true crime often makes for interesting (and awkward) dinner conversations. She works full-time as a database administrator, technical writer, and corporate trainer. In her free time, Autumn loves exploring cemeteries and unconventional destinations across Kansas with her husband. She is a mom to four bright children and three opinionated dogs. You can find more of Autumn’s cemetery photos and some true Kansas dark history stories on Instagram and TikTok (@midwesterndeathtrip), and on her website, www.midwesterndeathtrip.com.
