Fern Prairie Cemetery

26700 NE Robinson Rd.
Camas, Clark County, Washington 98607
360-833-9176

Directions

The Fern Prairie Cemetery is east of Vancouver and three miles north of Camas on Highway 500 at 267th Avenue and N.E. Robinson Road.

History

Fern Prairie Cemetery is located on a portion of the former 160-acre Donation Land Claim of Lewis VanVleet, a significant figure in local history. VanVleet, who left Missouri in 1853 and arrived in Oregon City the same year, filed a land claim in Fern Prairie in October 1855, adjacent to the land claim of Joel Coffey. The first recorded burial in Fern Prairie Cemetery was that of Lewis’s future father-in-law, Joel Coffey, who passed away on 10 December 1855. Shortly thereafter, on 3 February 1856, Lewis married Elizabeth Angeline Coffey, marking the beginning of a new chapter in local history. The new family named their land claim “Oak Grove Farm.” In the funeral records for Alexander Coffey, the burial location is referred to as “Oak Grove Farm Cemetery.”

According to Find A Grave, the cemetery was the final resting place for fourteen VanVleet and two Coffey family members.

Over time, various families began selling portions of their land claims to the cemetery, a testament to the community’s commitment to preserving its history. The VanVleet family generously donated the older section of the Fern Prairie Cemetery to the community for public use, further solidifying the community’s role in the cemetery’s history. This burial area eventually became known as Fern Prairie Cemetery. A new history book about Fern Prairie, authored by Della M. Howe and Jane A. Woodworth, mentions an earlier burial of a Native American named Homan. Unfortunately, we do not have a specific reference for this burial aside from what was noted in the Camas Post Record, and the year of the burial is not provided.

In 1906, Pinckney Blair, Frank Butterfield, and Thomas Dorman deeded the cemetery to the Fern Prairie Cemetery Association. In May 1926, D.F. Webberley and his wife, Ella, purchased a small parcel adjacent to the cemetery. On 6 May 1946, C.F. Webberley and his wife acquired another section bordering the cemetery. In August 1946, Fern Prairie Cemetery purchased an additional parcel from C.F. and Ella Webberley.

In 1953, the cemetery members decided to form a district. During a special election in 1954, the Fern Prairie Cemetery Association submitted a petition to become a County Cemetery District. The ballot measure passed, and they were established as Clark County Cemetery District #1. Most people continue to refer to it as Fern Prairie Cemetery. At that time, three commissioners were elected, and those commissioners appointed a secretary. The district has been operating in this manner ever since.

A parcel was purchased from Joseph and Neal Webberley on 13 December 1977. Later, Mr. Charles Gates donated land, and two acres were purchased on 31 December 1989. Another parcel was purchased from Daniel C. Gates in May 1990.

The cemetery now spans 6½ acres and has recently added a new section for upright monuments. In the fall of 2004, a columbarium was installed, accompanied by a designated area for an ash garden. The columbarium is situated beneath five large oak trees, creating a beautiful setting. This area is referred to as The Oaks.

Louisa Van Vleet Wright, one of seven children of Lewis and Elizabeth Van Vleet buried at this cemetery, often nicknamed Lutie, was a remarkable figure in the cemetery. She was born on 30 October 1862, and is recognized as the first female doctor in Clark County and possibly in Washington Territory. She served as the only doctor in the area for many years, delivering countless babies in and around Camas, Washougal, and even in more distant locations like Yacolt and Mount Norway. After her untimely death, she was laid to rest in Fern Prairie Cemetery.

She began her medical practice in Montana. After a year, she returned to Clark County to continue working. While married and raising children, she balanced her responsibilities as a homemaker with her medical career. Louisa had always been interested in nursing. She taught at schools in Grass Valley and other locations to support her education. She initially attended the University of Oregon Medical College before transferring to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She graduated with her first degree in 1885 at the age of twenty-three.

While searching for old death certificates and obituaries of people buried in Fern Prairie Cemetery, we encountered several documents that refer to the cemetery by different names, either due to errors or local usage. One name we found is Oak Farm Cemetery, which relates to the Van Vleet land that was referred to as The Oaks or Oak Farm. Additionally, we have occasionally seen it incorrectly labeled as Camas Cemetery.

The cemetery continues to expand as we actively search for historical records, demonstrating our commitment to preserving the past. Unfortunately, the Yacolt fire destroyed the original cemetery records when it burned down the Methodist Church in Fern Prairie. However, our efforts to find old records are ongoing, and we remain hopeful. Most of the old graves have now been identified, though six to ten unknown graves remain, a testament to our ongoing preservation efforts.

Many pioneers are buried in the cemetery, which has recently been improved with an office, water access, a year-round restroom, and newly paved roads. The cemetery continues to expand as we actively search for historical records, and we have plans for further improvements to preserve our local history.