Erie Cemetery

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Erie Cemetery

Erie Cemetery's gate
Cemetery Details
Year established: 1850
Country: United States
Location: Erie, Pennsylvania
Type: Public
Owned by: Erie Cemetery Association
Size: 75 acres (30 ha)
Website: Erie Cemetery
Findagrave: Erie Cemetery
Political Graveyard: Erie Cemetery

Erie Cemetery is a prominent cemetery located in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is situated on 75 acres (30 ha) of land bordered on the east by Chestnut Street, the west by Cherry Street, the north by 19th Street, and the south by 26th Street.

Contents

[edit] History

Porters' house is just to the right inside the entrance gate.
Porters' house is just to the right inside the entrance gate.

The idea of the cemetery was concieved in October 1846 when a citizens group circulated a petition and collected $1,500 towards the purchase of land. A new subscription effort in December 1849 led to the incorporation of the cemetery on 29 January 1850, at which time seven managers were named. The deed was conveyed to the corporation on 28 March 1850, at which time a $1,500 deposit was paid and a judgment bond of $6,000 signed to secure payment of the balance due. Officers of the corporation were elected on 24 May 1850, namely George A. Eliot, President; William A. Brown, Secretary; and J. C. Spencer, Treasurer. H. Daniels was hired in December 1850 to develop the property. The formal opening of the cemetery took place on 20 May 1851. A porters' lodge was erected near the main entrance before 1885. [1]

The Erie Cemetery Association manages the Erie Cemetery, as well as Laurel Hill Cemetery in Millcreek Township and Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery in Harborcreek Township.

[edit] Notable internments

Notable people buried at the Erie Cemetery:

Name Date of birth Date of death Notable event or occupation
Babbit, Elijah 29 July 1795 9 January 1887 U.S. Congressman
Brainerd, Samuel M. 13 November 1842 21 November 1898 U.S. Congressman
Brewster, Alexander W. June 1795 26 May 1851 Burgess of Erie (first person buried at the cemetery)
Burleigh, Harry T. 2 December 1866 12 December 1945 Famous African-American singer
Clark, Henry Alden 7 January 1850 15 February 1944 U.S. Congressman
Cushman, Edgar L. 27 March 1852 26 September 1915 Major League Baseball pitcher, pitched no-hitter for Milwaukee Brewers in 1884
Davenport, Samuel A. 15 January 1834 1 August 1911 U.S. Congressman
Dobbin, Daniel 1776 1856 Veteran of the War of 1812, manager of the construction of Perry's fleet for the Battle of Lake Erie.
Forbeck, Andrew P. 29 April 1881 24 April 1924 Veteran of the Philippine-American War, Medal of Honor winner
Galbraith, John 2 August 1794 15 June 1860 U.S. Congressman
Himrod, William 19 May 1791 21 June 1873 Industrialist, founder of Himrod Mission school
Jethroe, Sam[2] 20 January 1918 16 June 2001 Major League Baseball player
Read, Seth 1774 1797 Veteran of the Battle of Bunker Hill, early settler of Erie County
Reed, Charles Manning 3 April 1803 16 December 1871 U.S. Congressman
Scott, William L. 2 July 1828 19 September 1891 U.S. Congressman, President of the Erie and Pittsburgh Railroad
Shreve, Milton W. 3 May 1858 23 December 1939 U.S. Congressman, Erie County District Attorney, Pennsylvania state representative
Sill, Thomas H. 11 October 1783 7 February 1856 U.S. Congressman, Burgess of Erie, Erie Postmaster
Vincent, Strong 17 June 1837 7 July 1863 Brigadier General, hero of Little Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg
Alexander Brewster was the first person buried at the cemetery.
Alexander Brewster was the first person buried at the cemetery.

[edit] References

  1. ^ (1884) History of Erie County, Pennsylvania 1. Chicago: Warner, Beer's and Company, 605-606. 
  2. ^ Baseball Almanac. Sam Jethroe Baseball Stats. Retrieved on 2007-06-10.

[edit] External links