The stories held here are works of art.

There are many notable people buried at Concordia, and more history is uncovered every day.

Every stone tells a story and here are a few of them…

Perhaps our most famous stone is the Schmand family stone and what makes it so special is that we believe it is the only one is Western New York that has a curse on it.

Louis Schmand, son of Charles Schmand, the proprietor of a Buffalo paint and wallpaper store, was only 17 when he was clubbed to death in Euclid, Ohio in 1877.  The inscription, written in German, places a curse upon the murderer of this young boy, a message addressing the killer and appealing that he be brought to a swift justice: Here Rests in Peace, Louis J.H. Schmand, Born 27 October 1860, Died 27 April, 1877, To he who killed so violently, By striking down cruelly, From deep within my heart, You will be judged by a higher power, You are wished a curse on your soul.

Glenn Brooks Dancer & Choreographer

Buffalo native Glenn Brooks was a choreographer and founding member of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company in New York City. In 1969 he appeared in the production of "La Strada" with Bernadette Peters. Other theatre credits are "Look to The Lillies" (1970), with Shirley Booth and Al Freeman Jr. and "Raisin" (1973) with Dancer/Actress Deborah Allen. Glenn is also mentioned as a dancer in the book "Alvin Ailey's Embodiment of African American Culture" (2004). Watch the YouTube Video on Glenn Brooks HERE

John McHugh (1844-May 28, 1910) Medal of Honor Recipient

       Pvt. John McHugh can best be described by the phrase "a soldier's soldier," as he was a veteran who served for most of his life, serving his country for over 38 years. He enlisted at least 10 times in the U.S. Army from 1861 to 1898, serving both in the Civil War and the Indian Wars. 

It was for his bravery at the battle of Cedar Creek that he was awarded the Medal of Honor. The Battle of Cedar Creek (also called Big Dry Creek or Big Dry River) occurred on October 21, 1876, in the Montana Territory between the United States Army and a force of Lakota Sioux Native Americans during the Great Sioux War of 1876. 

William Moeller, born in 1826 in Hesse Germany, was only 34 when he enlisted in the famous Wiedrich’s Battery, NY  1st Artillery in December 1861. In four months, he had fought at battles at Cross Keys against the ferocious Louisiana Tigers, at Waterloo Bridge and White Sulphur Springs and other places in General Pope's campaign. 

After being injured, he was taken prisoner by the Confederates and his wound was not attended to for 8 days, until he was released back to the Union and admitted to a hospital in Washington DC where his left arm was amputated. The same cannonball that had destroyed his arm had also hit Lieutenant Jacob Schenkelberger, taking off one of his legs.

Finally released from the hospital in December 1862, William returned to his West Seneca home and resumed farming. His descendants still live in Western New York.

Lura Bennett (Jan. 19, 1889 - Feb. 12, 1968) Women’s World Wrestling Champion

Born in Fort Scott, Kansas, Lura was destined to be a "knockout."  Her mother Nellie was an accomplished woman boxer and a vaudeville performer so athletics was in her blood. When Lura and her sister Crystal were in their teens, they and their mother toured as a vaudeville act known as The Bennett Sisters. Nellie retired in 1907 and that same year Lura broke out as a star and became only the third recognized Women’s World Wrestling Champion in history. 

The Medal of Honor for Gallantry in Action was personally presented to McHugh by General William Tecumseh Sherman on July 18, 1877 at Parade at Cantonment at the Yellowstone and Tongue Rivers, Montana Territory.

He served his country until his retirement in January, 1899.

Seemingly a humble man, when he passed away May 28, 1910 there was no fanfare nor accolades; in fact, his death was not even reported in the news and his death certificate records his occupation simply as "old soldier."

John McHugh's hand-carved wooden sign was created by master carver Joe Reimers, a descendant of Civil War soldier Sgt. William Moeller, who is also interred at Concordia.

William Moeller (May 17, 1828 – Feb. 27, 1895) Civil War Sergeant

He opened his eyes slowly and was aware at once of the acrid smell of smoke and the barrage of gunfire and thud of cannon balls. His ears were assaulted with the cries and screams of the injured and dying all around him. The pain was excruciating and he was afraid of what he would see if he dared to look at his left arm. Slowly he turned his head and was shocked to see his mangled arm, blood seeping through his blue uniform jacket. He closed his eyes and wondered if he would ever see his wife Martha, daughter Elizabeth and son John again, or if he should pray for death to take the pain away.  It was August 29,1862 and this would be recorded in history books as the second battle of Bull Run. 

Lura and Crystal toured the world on vaudeville stages competing in acts of fencing, boxing, wrestling and gymnastics. She became the Women’s World Wrestling Champion in 1907 and was regarded as one of the first successful female boxers.  She toured as part of "Miner's Americans" and their advertisements boasted a challenge of a "$25 forfeit to all opponents she fails to throw in 15 minutes."

Lura also trained some of the women whom would catapult wrestling into the professional realm including Cora Livingstone; Lura lost a match to her on Oct. 10, 1928, one of her very few losses.  Lura would continue to train women until she retired in 1933 at 44 years of age. Later in life she would break Guinness World Records set for parachuting from the highest altitude and most jumps by a woman.

Lura married twice but had no children. She passed in 1968 at 79 years of age.

The Mund Children (Died 9/24/1907)

At Concordia where “Every Stone Tells a Story,” there are tragic stories to be told as well, and perhaps one of the most tragic tales is that of the Mund family whose small children are buried in the St. Stephen’s section, plot P11.


When Fred Mund left his home on Clinton Street shortly before 7:00 AM on April 24th 1907 for his job on the wrecking crew at the Pennsylvania Railroad yard near Fillmore Avenue, all seemed well at home. That all changed 2 hours later when he was surprised by the visit from his wife Bertha who walked up to him and said “Fred, I have killed the children. It was not right for them to live and they’re better off dead.” He accompanied his wife back to the house where he found his son Christof, 8, and daughters Helen, 2, and Freida, 8 months old, dead having been strangled by their mother.

There was a history of insanity in Bertha’s family and she felt that it was better for her children to die than to live with the probability of going insane. 

The funeral service was held on September 28, 1907. Thirty little girls, attired in white, lined up on either side of the doorway from the entrance to the church and sang ‘Nearer My God to Thee.’ The boy playmates of Christ, the oldest victim of the tragedy, carried the casket up the aisle and into the church. A reported crowd of over 2,000 people jammed the church and overflowed into the street outside.
Bertha was judged insane and committed to Buffalo State Hospital.

She died on Nov. 31, 1935 at Matteawan State Hospital in Beacon, NY and is buried on the grounds there; Fred died in West Seneca in October 1954 and is buried at St. Matthews Cemetery there.

Watch the Video of this story HERE