USA > Kentucky > Franklin County > Frankfort > History of the Frankfort cemetery > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
Gen. John Rodman (1820-1886), about sixty years of age; died October 29th, 1886. He was one of the ablest lawyers in the State. He represented Oldham County in Kentucky Legis- lature in 1850; represented Franklin County in Kentucky Legislature in 1859, was elected Attorney General of Kentucky in 1867. and re-elected 1871. He was made reporter of the Court of Appeals in 1879. During his term as reporter he pub- lished 78-79-80-81 and 82 Kentucky Reports.
There is a very unique stone, an imitation of a wooden cross, located near the Confederate lot. which cost perhaps two thousand dollars; it has no inscription except the word "Mother." There is a tradition concerning it which has never
35
HISTORY OF THE FRANKFORT CEMETERY
been verified, but whether true or not, the story illustrates the marvelous influence of the word "mother." In this lot is buried three men, each of whom. in turn, was the husband of this mother: as the fruit of these marriages there were three sets of children : the mother died after the last husband had been buried. She left a small estate, and the children readily agreed to spend the two thousand dollars for the monument. But it was more difficult for them to agree on the inscription to be placed on it; after a short controversy the word "mother" was suggested, and it was agreed to by all.
Judge Mason Brown died in Frankfort, January 27, 1867, at the age of 68 years. He graduated from Yale College and subsequently graduated from the law school at Lexington. He and Governor Charles S. Morehead compiled a work of great value to the legal profession, known as "Morehead and Brown's Digest." Judge Brown was known as one of the great lawyers of Kentucky. He was Commonwealth's Attorney for several years and was afterwards elected circuit judge. He was Secre- tary of State during the administration of Governor Charles S. Morehead, and he was United States District Attorney for sev- eral years prior to his death.
Col. Robert HI. King was Colonel of the 3rd Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry. He enlisted in the Union Army as First Lieutenant in Capt. Albert G. Bacon's company, which was raised in Franklin County. On the death of Capt. Bacon at Sacramento, Lieutenant King became Captain, then Major, Lieutenant-Colonel and afterwards brevetted Colonel for gallant and meritorious conduct. He commanded a brigade in Sher- man's "ride to the sea."
O. G. Cates was a lawyer of ability. He was Attorney Gen- eral of Kentucky under Governor Owsley. He was afterwards President of the Board of Internal Improvements.
Thomas Todd was Judge of the Court of Appeals in 1801, Chief Justice in 1806, and was Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1807 to 1816.
Charles S. Todd was Colonel on the staff of Gen. Harrison, in the War of 1812; was Secretary of State under Governor Madison ; Representative of Franklin County in the Kentucky
36
HISTORY OF THE FRANKFORT CEMETERY
Legislature in 1817, and was the Agent of the United States to Columbia and Minister to Russia under President Harrison.
Dr. William C. Sneed was for twenty-five years a success- ful practitioner at Frankfort. He contributed many valuable articles to the leading medical journals of the country. For some years he was President of the State Medical Society. His history of the Kentucky Penitentiary was so well written that the Kentucky Legislature had it published at the expense of the State. He died November 20th, 1862.
(en. D. W. Lindsey (1885-1918) was Colonel of 22nd Kentucky Volunteer Infantry and later was Inspector General of Kentucky. When Gen. John H1. Morgan made his raid through Kentucky in 1864, Gen. Lindsey, who was at that time Commander of Second Brigade of G. W. Morgan's Division under Gen. U. S. Grant in the South, was requested by Gover- nor Bramlette to return to Kentucky and organize the home guards. He was appointed Inspector General of Kentucky. which gave him the rank of Major-General and acting com- mander of all the military forces of the State. After the war he was appointed Adjutant General of Kentucky. and as such made his report in two large volumes, which have been very useful in prosecuting claims for Federal Pensions. He died in 1917.
Gen. Ambrose W. Dudley was for fifteen years Quarter- master-General of the United States, and for thirty-seven years President of Branch Bank of Kentucky. He died in Septem- ber. 1884.
Capt. John W. Russell (1794-1869) was a soldier in the War of 1812. He gained distinction as a captain of a boat on the Mississippi; he had great physical courage. His fight with the robber band of Lafitte in New Orleans made him famous in all the western country. When the steamer "General Brown" was lost by an explosion his presence of mind and heroism saved the lives of six men. He was in the State Senate in 1850 and was instrumental in building the State Arsenal. which was built in that year.
Lieut. John J. Crittenden was on the staff of General Cus- ter. and was one of the sixteen officers (and three hundred en-
37
HISTORY OF THE FRANKFORT CEMETERY
listed men) who were killed by the Indians on "The Little Big Horn" the 25th of June, 1876.
Thomas N. Lindsey (1807-1877), father of Gen. D. W. Lindsey, was a leading lawyer of Frankfort and a writer of con- siderable note. For a period of about forty years he was a con- tributor to the press under the nom de plume of "Black Jack." A very unique monument of Italian marble marks his last rest -. ing place.
Near the western driveway is the monument of William Taylor, who died in 1850, in his sixty-eighth year. IIe was American Consul at St. Domingo, Vera Cruz. Alverado and the City of Mexico.
Daniel Weissiger (1763-1829) was one of the Commission- ers who built the State Capitol, which was erected in 1829. He was Clerk of the Franklin County Court for several years, and was one of the substantial citizens of Frankfort for many years.
Jacob Swigert was Captain in U. S. A. Volunteer Infantry ; at one time Judge of the Franklin County Court; for many years was one of the leading citizens of Frankfort.
Col. Solomon P. Sharp was thirty-eight years old at the time of his death. He was in the Kentucky Legislature (1813- 1817) ; was a member of Congress (1818-1819) ; was Attorney- General in 1821, and resigned that position to make the race against Governor Crittenden for position of Representative of Franklin County in 1825. Governor Crittenden was the leader of the Old Court Party in Franklin County. and was a very popular man. The New Court Party was dominant in the county, but there was no man of that party in the county who had the qualifications of leadership necessary to win except Col. Sharp. President Madison said of him that he "was the ablest man of his age who had represented the West" in Con- gress. Col. Sharp and his wife are buried just east of the Boone monument. A square marbel shaft about ten feet tall and each side about ten inches broad marks their last resting place. On the west side of the shaft is this inscription : "Eliza T .. wife of S. P. Sharp. died January 4th, 1844, in her 46th year." On the east side is: Solomon P. Sharp was assassinated while extending the hand of hospitality on the morning of
38
HISTORY OF THE FRANKFORT CEMETERY
November 7th (should be the 6th), 1825, and beneath this is, "What thou knowest not now, thou shalt know hereafter."
The Confederate monument, erected by the Daughters of the Confederacy. dedicated to the Confederate dead, was un- veiled in the spring of 1892. It is of the finest Italian marble imported from the Carrara quarries, Italy. The base is of ยท granite. There is a life size statue of a Confederate soldier dressed in Confederate uniform at parade rest which crowns the column. The following are the inscriptions on the face of the base:
"Our Confederate dead 1861-1865"
"They sleep. What need the question now if they be right or wrong. They know ere this whose cause was just in God, the Father's sight. They wield no warlike weapons now, re- turn no foeman's thrust, who but a coward would revile the honored soldiers' dust."
Rever-e side:
"Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends."
West side :
"The marble minstrels' voiceful tone In deathles songs shall tell When many a vanquished age hath flown The story, how ye fell ; Nor wreck, nor change, nor winter blight, Nor time's remorseless doom Shall dim one ray of holy light That gilds your glorious tomb."
East side:
39
HISTORY OF THE FRANKFORT CEMETERY
"To every man upon the earth Death cometh soon or late, And how can man die better Than facing fearful odds For the ashes of his fathers
And the temples of his Gods."
In a circle around the monument are found the graves of sixty-eight Confederate soldiers, the most of whom died of dis- ease. at Frankfort, during the Civil War.
Mrs. Jennie Chinn Morton died in 1920. She was for many years connected with the Historical Society of Kentucky ; was editor of State Register; wrote "Her Dearest Friend" and other poems.
Robert Burns Wilson died in New York, and his body was returned to his old Kentucky home and laid to rest by the side of Robert Carmichael near the Boone monument. Inscribed on his tomb is the following:
"Robert Burns Wilson. Poet and Painter. Born October 30th, 1850. Died March 31st, 1916. Until the day break and the shadows flee away I will get me to the Mountain of Myrrh and to the Hill of Frank- incense."
Mr. Wilson won for himself a permanent place in art and letters. His paintings and poems are regarded by critics as the work of a genius. His poems were published in book form, which he called "Life and Love." He might have been desig- nated as Nature's Poet. He loved the trees and birds and brooks and flowers, and he sought them "As the hart panteth after the water brooks." A quotation from his "Beside the Stream" best illustrates the bent of his mind:
"The breath of fields-the song of birds, The lifting leaf, the dancing beam, The landscape wide, the grazing herds, The moving music of the stream, These, do not call for wasted words; These, shall enfold me in their dreams."
40
HISTORY OF THE FRANKFORT CEMETERY
Gen. Simon Boliver Buckner ( 1823-1914) was educated at West Point; served through the Mexican War: was brevetted first lieutenant for gallant conduct at Cherubusco : was brevetted captain for bravery at Molino-del Rey. In 1860 he became Commander-in-Chief of the Kentucky State Guard, with rank of Major General; was made Brigadier-General C. S. 1 .: was left in command of Fort Donelson and surrendered with his men. He was exchanged in 1862 and promoted to Major- General. After the battle of Chickamauga was promoted Lieutenant-General; was elected Governor of Kentucky in ISST. On his tomb is inscribed: "Simon Bolivar Buckner. Born April Ist. 1823. Died January 8th. 1914. Graduated U. S. Military Academy 1844. Twice brevetted for gallantry in Mexican War 1847. Lieut. General C. S. A. Governor of Kentucky 1887. A noble life devoted to duty, honor, country.
Governor William Goebel was a State Senator from 1886 tt> 1900. Hle contested the election for Governor of Gen. W. S. Taylor, before the Legislature of 1900. Gov. Goebel was shot from the window in the Secretary of State's office in 1900. After he was shot the Legislature declared him duly elected Governor. Hle took the oath of office and died in the afternoon of the same day. February 3rd. 1900.
Governor William Goebel was a successful business man and a successful lawyer. Perhaps no other man in Kentucky ever incurred such bitter opposition. He was a hard fighter : even his enemies admired his ability and his fighting qualities. He was a conspicuous member of the Senate at the time he con- tested the seat for Governor. The Goebel monument is a large block of solid granite crowned by a bronze statue of Gov. Goebel. On the south side is. "Erected by the people of Kentucky and other states in memoriam of Kentucky's martyr. Governor William Goebel. who devoted and gave his life in defense of the rights of the people." "The question is: Are the corpora- tions the masters of servants of the people?" On the west side is. "Be calm, alide by the law." ! forgave them. they do not understand. On north side is. "Governor William Goebel. Born January 4th. 1856. Died February 3rd. 1900. "Tell my friend- to be brave and fearless and loyal to the great common
41
HISTORY OF THE FRANKFORT CEMETERY
people." His last words. On the east side is "Author of the Anti-lottery Law." The pioneer in American railway rate regulating legislation. The champion of school book legisla- tion.
Dr. Duncan R. Campbell, L.L.D., native of Scotland; a prominent minister of the Baptist Church; was President of Georgetown College.
Henry Wingate was on the first Board of Directors of the Cemetery Company. and a prominent banker of the city. He was a Knight Templar of high degree. His son, Lucien Wingate, was the first person who was buried in the Frank- fort cemetery.
Colonel Daniel Boone (1735-1842). The grave which visitors most frequently request to see is that of Daniel Boone. located on the brow of the hill overlooking the city and the Kentucky River. The Legislature of Kentucky appropriated a sufficient sum to have his remains and those of Rebecca, his wife, brought from Missouri and re-interred in a very beauti- ful and picturesque spot: this re-interment was on the 13th day of September, 1845. Thousands of people were present, repre- senting every section of the State; after the coffins were lowered into the grave. hundreds of them passed by and each threw a handful of dirt into the open grave. In 1860 the State of Ken- tucky built a handsome monument to his memory, the panels of which were of Italian marble, but relic hunters so defaced them that the monument was practically destroyed. In 1906 the State assisted the Daughters of the American Revolution to renew the panels which are an exact reproduction of the original. The base is Georgia granite. The stone of the monu- ment is from Boonsboro. The new panels are Italian marble. The State appropriated two thousand dollars for the purpose of helping to rebuild the monument. The panel facing the south represents Boone in a fight with two Indians, one of whom has been killed: Boone has one foot on the dead Indian and is ready to strike the other one with his knife. The Indian has his war club drawn, ready to strike. On the east side is Rebecca Boone milking a cow. On the north side is a man and boy standing, facing each other: it is supposed to be Boone telling
42
HISTORY OF THE FRANKFORT CEMETERY
the boy where he wanted to be buried. On the west side Boone is sitting in front of his cabin, with a slaughtered deer at his feet. The lot on which the monument is erected contains about a quarter of an acre.
The first monument erected in the cemetery is a few feet northeast of the Boone lot, and is located on the Major lot. It has no inscription on it; the column is about eighteen inches square, crowned with a pyramid four feet in height.
Rev. H. A. M. Henderson. A.M., D.D. & L.L.D., was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of unusual learning and eloquence: he was small of stature but broad minded. and popular with all classes of people.
He was a captain in the 28th Alabama Infantry, C. S. A., and was known as "The Soldier Preacher." Later he was com- missioned Lieutenant Colonel. with the pay of a Brigadier Gen- eral. In the fall of 1866 he became the pastor of the Methodist Church at Frankfort, Kentucky. In 1871 he was elected Super- intendent of Public Instruction. In 1874 he was re-elected to the same position. Dr. Henderson was the author of several books, some of which were theological and some were secular.
Governor John Jordon Crittenden (1786-1863) was one of the greatest. and probably the very greatest. man who has been buried in the Frankfort Cemetery. He was the compeer of Clay, Calhoun and Webster, all of whom he survived. When a young man he was an army officer: he served as Major in General Hopkins' expedition to the northwest. and was aide-de- camp of Governor Shelby at the battle of the Thames.
In the year 1811 he was elected to represent Logan County in the Kentucky Legislature, and he continued to represent that county for six terms, the last of which (1817) he was Speaker of the House. and during that term he was elected to the United States Senate. Ile represented Franklin County in the Legislature in 1825-29-30-31 and 1832. He was the leader of the Old Court Party in the controversy between the Old Court and the New Court. In 1835 he was re-elected to the United States Senate and was serving in that capacity when President Harrison appointed him Attorney General for the United States, which position he resigned and was again elected
43
HISTORY OF THE FRANKFORT CEMETERY
to the Federal Senate (1843). He resigned that position to make the race for Governor in 1848. He also resigned the posi- tion of Governor in 1852 to accept the appointment of Attor- ney General under President Fillmore. After the expiration of his term as Attorney General he was again elected to the Federal Senate. Governor Crittenden was serving his second term as member of the lower House of Congress from the Ash- land District at the time of his death. He was the recognized leader of the Peace Party. As a man he was loved and honored, and as a statesman he was held in reverence by the people of his State and Nation.
Two of his sons became distinguished during the Civil War: one was a Major General of the Confederate States and the other was a Brigadier General of the United States.
Governor Crittenden was President of the Border State Convention, held at Frankfort in 1861. On the north side of his monument is: John Jordon Crittenden. Born September 10th. 1787. Died July 20th. 1863. On south side is: Erected by the State of Kentucky in honor of her illustrious son, John J. Crittenden, member of the Legislature, Governor, Represen- tative and Senator in Congress and Attorney General of United States. West side: For fifty years he devoted himself with in- flexible integrity, consummate wisdom and patriotic zeal to the cause and service of his native State and of his whole country. His great talents made him preeminent in the elevated offices he filled. and placed him among the first of American states- men. "Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy country's, thy God's and truth's." These were among his last words. They were the rule of his life, and are a fitting inscription for his tomb. The history of the nation will bear witness to his lofty patriotism. and Kentucky will ever cherish the memory of her son.
Mrs. Emily Tubman, a sister of Landon A. Thomas, was born and reared in Frankfort. She donated twenty-six thous- and dollars for the purpose of building the Christian Church at Frankfort, dedicated August 11th, 1872. She endowed a chair in Bethany College, and materially assisted the Kentucky Uni- versity and the Orphan School at Midway.
44
HISTORY OF THE FRANKFORT CEMETERY
Captain John Cannon was owner and in charge of the Robert E. Lee, and gained national notoriety by defeating the Natchez. Captain Leathers was in charge of the Natchez, a boat built at Cincinnati. Ohio, at a cost of two hundred thousand dollars, for the express purpose of defeating the Robert E. Lee. The race had been talked of for many months prior to the great race. At one minute before five o'clock on June 30th, 1870, the great race was started. The time from New Orleans to St. Louis was three days. eighteen hours and twenty-seven minutes, defeating the Natchez three hours and thirty-one minutes.
Perhaps no other race in all the history of the world created such widespread interest. Many thousand people were on the river fronts to see the boats pass. At night the banks were almost a continual blaze of campfires. Millions of dol- lars were waged on the result. One enthusiastic admirer of the Natchez. who lived in the city of Natchez, staked all of Lis cash and then bet his home against thirty thousand dollars on the Natchez. This race made Captain Cannon the most famous man in America.
Captain Cannon was born in Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1810. and died at Frankfort in 1880. His life was practically spent on the Mississippi, Red and Ouachita rivers. The great race of the Lee and Natchez was an occurrence that gained world-wide notoriety.
Near the Boone monument is a stone marked "Robert Carmichael. Died January 17th. 1858; aged 40 years. He located and was the first superintendent of these grounds."
Judge William Lindsay ( 1835-1909) was Captain C. S. A .: was on staff of Generals Buford and Forrest. Elected State Senator in 1867. Judge of the Court of Appeals in 1876 and became Chief Justice at forty-one years of age: was elected State Senator from Franklin County in 1890 and United States Senator in 1893. He was one of the great men of the nation. No -tone of any kind marks his grave.
William Cromwell died December 18th. 1909. He was for twenty years Chief Clerk of the State Senate. Ilis memory and powers of endurance were marvelous.
Judge Patrick Upsher Major ( 1822-1903). Was County
45
HISTORY OF THE FRANKFORT CEMETERY
Attorney in 1852: Commonwealth's Attorney 1856; Circuit Judge 1870. The strongest criminal lawyer who ever engaged in the practice at Frankfort. His grave is not marked.
Major Frank Murphy Scanland was buried in the Frank- fort Cemetery on Wednesday, October 26th, 1920, aged 38 years. Major Scanland was very mysteriously assassinated in New York. He had been discharged on account of disabilities a few days prior to his death. He had been in the United States Army for about eighteen years, and had seen service in the Philippine Islands and in Panama ; he was brevetted Major for gallant conduct in the world war; he was gassed and also wounded with shrapnel while serving in Italy as Major of 332d Infantry. He was in the service overseas for two years and prior to that time was Drill Master at Camp Sherman. Gen. John J. Pershing gave him the following citation :
United States Army.
U. S. A.
A. E. F.
Major F. M. Scanland, 332 Infantry. For exceptionally meritorious and conspicuous services at Cattaro Dalmatia, Italy. American Expeditionary Forces. In testimony thereof and as an expression of appreciation of these services I award him this citation. Awarded on 20th June, 1919.
JOHN J. PERSHING, Commander-in-Chief.
Col. S. I. M. Major died June 21st. 1885. He was born in Franklin County September 11th, 1830, and was educated by B. B. Sayre. He was regarded as one of the best educated men in Frankfort. In 1853 he became the Editor of the Yeoman, which was considered the leading Democratic paper in the State during the time he was Editor. An incident in his editorial life was a challenge to fight a duel in 1857, sent by Thomas M. Green. Col. Major was Publie Printer for twenty-five years. In 1867 he was elected to the Kentucky Legislature and in the following year was elected Mayor of Frankfort, which position he held for four terms.
46
HISTORY OF THE FRANKFORT CEMETERY
James Andrew Scott. Represented Franklin County in the Kentucky Legislature and was Master Commissioner of the Franklin Circuit Court. He was a prominent lawyer of Frank- fort for many years.
Pat McDonald, lawyer, editor and Democratic politician. died March 144th. 1901. He was a Magistrate of Franklin County and was the best informed man on county affairs in the county. For many years he was editor and publisher of The Western Argus.
Miles Ragland was killed in the World War. He was buried a short distance west of the State Monument on August 7th. 1921.
Stewart Hosler was a private in the 166th C. S. Infantry. He was killed in France July 28th. 1918. in the memorable drive of the American troops on the western front.
Hon. Thomas Francis Marshall ( 1801-1864). Was born in Frankfort. Ky. Represented Woodford County in the Ken- tucky Legislature 1832-3. Served two terms in the Kentucky Legislature from Louisville. He returned to Woodford County and again represented Woodford in the Legislature. Was elected to Congress from the Ashland District in 1841. Served as Captain in a company of cavalry in the Mexican War. Rep- resented Woodford County in the Kentucky Legislature again in 1853. He fought three duels. one with John Rowan, Jr., one with James Watson Webb, editor of the New York Courier and Enquirer, and one with Gen. James S. Jackson. He was an able lawyer and was one of the greatest orators Kentucky has produced. His remains were removed from Woodford County in May. 1921, to the State Cemetery at Frankfort.
Dr. T. D. Elliott. a wealthy physician of Bardstown. Ken- tucky. came through Frankfort with his only daughter. They visited the Frankfort Cemetery and she was so much pleased with the beauty of the place that she told her father that she wanted to be buried there when she died and her father told her that her request would be granted. AA few months later she died of a fever, and in compliance with her request he brought her remains to Frankfort. and since then he has had erected to
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.