Wesleyan Cemetery, Cincinnati
|
Wesleyan cemetery in Ohio. | |
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1843 |
| Location | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Country | United States |
Wesleyan Cemetery is a prominent cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the oldest continuously operating cemetery in Hamilton County, Ohio.
The cemetery was founded in 1843 by the Methodist Church when its old cemetery behind Wesley Chapel had become full.[1] The church then bought approximately 25 acres (100,000 m2) on Colerain Avenue adjacent to Mill Creek. Bodies from other cemeteries were moved there from downtown.
Wesleyan is an historic cemetery - the first cemetery in Cincinnati designed in a park-like fashion, with winding drives, trees, and shrubs. Spring Grove Cemetery, another historic Cincinnati cemetery of similar design, was founded two years later in 1845. Wesleyan Cemetery was also the first in the city to keep and maintain records of its burials and grounds, which it has done since its founding. The grounds are known for their role in the Underground Railroad.
Veterans of every United States war are interred at Wesleyan Cemetery. It is the resting place of Richard Allison, the first resident physician of Cincinnati,[2] who also held a rank in the military equivalent to Surgeon General from 1792 to 1796. Six additional Revolutionary War veterans are buried in the cemetery.
A section of the cemetery is devoted to soldiers of the American Civil War, in which Medal of Honor recipient William Steinmetz is buried. Steinmetz served as a corporal in the Union Army in Company G, 83rd Indiana Infantry, and was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on May 22, 1863, at Vicksburg, Mississippi. The citation on his gravestone reads "Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
In recent years, the cemetery has rarely held services for either Memorial Day or Veterans Day. The cemetery has also recently been the subject of several lawsuits, and has become known amongst locals for its dilapidated appearance. In 1992, visitors reported unearthed bones in discarded dirt piles at the cemetery, and claims were made that filled-plots were being resold.
The cemetery is located at 4003 Colerain Avenue, in Cincinnati, Ohio 45223.
References
- ↑ Charles Theodore Greve (1904). Centennial History of Cincinnati and Representative Citizens, Volume 1. Biographical Publishing Company. p. 713. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
- ↑ History of Wesleyan Cemetery
External links
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wesleyan Cemetery
- Howison, Jody (2004-07-14). "Derelict cemetery has rich history". The Cincinnati Post (E. W. Scripps Company). Archived from the original on 2004-08-07.
- Military Burials
- Wesleyan Cemetery Site
- Wesleyan: Nothing done while lawsuit pends
- Photo of Wesleyan Cemetery
- City Placed In Charge Of Wesleyan Cemetery Upkeep
- Wesleyan Cemetery Owner Sentenced
- Wesleyan Cemetery at Find a Grave
- Postcard Wesleyan Cemetery, North Side, Cincinnati
- Postcard Wesleyan Cemetery, Northside, Cincinnati
Coordinates: 39°09′36″N 84°32′49″W / 39.16000°N 84.54694°W