In the early 1850's the towns of Westport and Kansas found themselves in a quandary. The cholera epidemic of 1849 filled the cemeteries of both communities. With expanding boundaries and increasing populations, city leaders started looking for more burial space. In 1857, their search ended when James Hunter deed 49 acres to the Union Cem Assoc. The corp was organized by a special act of the MO Gen Assemb. on 11-09-1857.The new cem was located between Westport and the town of Kansas and was to be used by both towns, becoming a "union" between the two. That is how Union Cem got its name. Buried in Union Cem are some of the most colorful and dynamic characters in this area's history.