USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Sinclairville > History of Evergreen Cemetery, Sinclairville, Chaut. Co., N.Y. > Part 2
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charge to preserve a fac simile of this curious piece of workmanship as a relic of the past.
It is told of Martin, who had a ready and sarcastic wit, that a leading Fredonia physician who saw him at work, jocosely asked him if it was his custom to letter the grave-stones before the person for whom they were intended had died. Martin grimly replied, "Not unless I hear he is your patient."
Joseph quarried the stone on the farm, from the quarry still known as the Damon quarry. On the 24th of April, 1834, he committed murder upon the person of his wife. He was tried at Mayville in September of the same year. He was ably defended by James Mullet of Fredonia, one of the most talented and cloqnent lawyers in Western New York. He was convicted, and hung at Mayville, May 15, 1835. This was the first execution for a capital offense in the county. It occurred in the open field, in the presence of a large concourse of spectators. It was regarded as a prominent event in the early history of the county, and a deep impression was made upon the many people who witnessed the melancholy scene. The skull of Mrs. Da- mon, and the iron bar with which the murder was committed, are now in the possession of Elias Forbes of Fredonia. Joseph left two children.
Soon after his brother's execution, North Damon went to Canada. Sub- sequently dark rumors came back, that he too had been executed for mur- der. Martin died soon after the death of Joseph.
O. E. I am indebted for many of these facts respecting the Damons, to HIon. E. F. Warren.
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HISTORY OF
Nelson Mitchell, John Arnold, Isaac Newton, Susan Marsden, Henry Smale, a citizen of Cuba, West Indies, Dr. Samuel Par- ker, and Robert LeGrys.
Although the land constituting the Old Burying Ground was fully dedicated to the public, and for many years actually used as a burial place, yet no written conveyance was made of it by Major Sinclear in his life-time. Upon a carefully pre- pared map of the village of Sinclairville, made by Simcon Clinton, May 10, 1836, is accurately delineated all of the vil- lage lots, including that of the Old Burying Ground, giving the length and bearing of its boundary lines. Upon a still older map, the burying ground appears, carefully plotted with res- pect to its dimensions and boundary lines, while upon the ear- liest plot of the village that has been preserved it is not delin- eated. The first conveyance of these grounds made to the public was by deed bearing date March 3d, 1849, executed by Elias S. and Jonathan Hedges, and Lucy his wife, to "John Reed, John M. Brunson, and Nelson Mitchell, trustees, duly appointed by the town of Charlotte, to superintend the burying ground situate near the village of Sinclairville." Subsequently the boundary line of the old burying place was slightly changed by the conveyance of a small portion of its grounds to Richard D. Sherman, in exchange for a strip of land nearly twenty feet in width, extending along its western limits. The ground was regularly surveyed, and divided into lots, probably not long after it was dedicated to the public, but during many years afterwards, no one exercised any special authority over it. Nothing was charged for lots. People buried their dead wherc they chose, and no inconvenience or misunderstanding resulted. Such money and labor as was expended to keep the grounds in order, was raised by subscription. A sufficient amount was raised in this manner, at one time, to build a good and sub- stantial board fence around it. No one regularly served as sexton. The graves were dug by such persons as happened to be at hand. At a town meeting held March 7, 1848, John Reed, John M. Brunson, and Nelson Mitchell were chosen trustees. These were the first persons who had lawful authority to excr- cise control over it. At a town meeting held March 6, 1849, Isaac Newton was also chosen trustee. For many years, Har- rison Nichols was usually employed to dig the graves, and per-
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EVERGREEN CEMETERY.
form some of the duties of sexton. At a town meeting held February 21, 1865, the Board of Trustees of Evergreen Ceme- tery were duly elected trustees of the burial ground, and at a meeting of the Board of Trustees of Evergreen Cemetery, held April 1, 1865, B. W. Field was elected Superintendent of the burial ground, and John Dewey its Secretary and Treasurer.
GREENWOOD.
About two miles southwest of Sinclairville, is one of the earliest places set apart for the burial of the dead, in the central part of the county. It is near what was once known as the Barnes Place, in the northeast corner of the town of Ellery, close to Cassadaga creek, and not far from a pleasant natural grove of original forest trees. It was in use from the carliest period of settlement by the people who reside upon Pickard street, in Ellery, and upon the town-line road between Ellery and Gerry, and in South Stockton, and by some who resided in the vicinity of Sinclairville. Over three hundred burials have been made here. The earliest inscription is that upon an old head-stone at the grave of Margaret Love, who died Feb- ruary 3, 1823. Among those best known, interred in this ground, are John Pickard, a soldier of the Revolution; Elisha Tower, John Love, Jared Nicholson, Zaccheus Norton, Peter Pickard, a soldier of the war of 1812, Abel Brunson, Levi Love, John Tompkins.
Inscribed upon the headstones in this grave-yard are the names of many well known families in this part of the county. Among them frequently appears the name of Pickard, Love, Becker, Denike, Stom, Vanderwaker, Lenox, Patterson, Brun- son, Norton, Demott, Rogers, Carpenter, Tompkins, Denison, Rooker, Kibbe, Tefft, Woodworth, Putnam, White and Burn's.
This burial ground has been enlarged from time to time, and now contains about two and one-half acres. The present trustees are Arkinzo Norton, Asa Tefft, and James Becker. Arkinzo Norton is the superintendent.
CHARLOTTE CENTER BURYING GROUND.
The third death, and the first male person who died in the town of Charlotte, was Barnabas Cole. He died in the year .
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HISTORY OF
1811, and was buried at Charlotte Center, then a little settle- ment deep in the woods which had been commenced in ISog, a little later than the settlement in the Pickett neighborhood, and a little earlier than that at Sinclairville. It is not certainly known where Cole's remains were interred. It is believed, however, that he was buried within the limits of what was afterwards set apart as the burial place at Charlotte Center. The burying ground consists of two acres or more, situated on the west side of the highway, about forty rods south of the in- tersection of the roads at the center of the town, in which about four hundred and fifty people are buried at this time. The oldest grave-stone in the burial place is that at the grave of Betsey C., daughter of Jabez and Mary Beardsley, who died February 12, 1831, aged nine years. A monument is erected here to the memory of Alonzo W. Cross, the first soldier repre- senting the town of Charlotte to fall in the war of the Rebellion. He was instantly killed in the thick of the conflict in the battle of Malvern Hill, July Ist, 1862. Upon his monument are in- scribed the lines:
"No more the trumpet's martial sound Shall summon him to meet his foes,
Nor war's deep thunder echoing round, Disturb him in his last repose."
Many of the pioneers, and most prominent of the early res- idents of the town, are buried in this burial place. Among them Robert W. Scaver, a soldier of the Revolution, and the first settler at Charlotte Center; Randolph W. Seaver, his son; Elijah Carter, a soldier of the Revolution, was probably buried in this ground; Stephen Lyman, Samuel Vaughn, and Samuel Cleland, soldiers of the last war with England; the brothers Calvin, Luther, Nathan, and Daniel Lake, among the best known and most respected citizens of the town; Aaron Hall, Nathan Penhollow, Addison Lake, Hiram and A. W. Straight; also Thomas Pearson and William Wright, natives of England; James Houston and Hugh Harper, natives of Ireland; David George, and James Williamson, and David Rose, natives of Scotland. The latter was more than seven years a soldier in the British Army. He served in the 93d Highlanders. He arrived at the battle ground at Waterloo, with his regiment, just as the great conflict terminated. He served under Pack-
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EVERGREEN CEMETERY.
enham at the battle of New Orleans, and soon after was honor- ably discharged, his time having expired. He returned to his native country, and later took up his home in Charlotte.
BURYING GROUND IN DISTRICT NO. 2, GERRY.
About the year 1828, the Holland Land Company conveyed to William Alverson, Stoddart Cannon, and James Schofield, grandfather of Gen. John M. Schofield, as trustees and mem- bers of the Methodist society in Gerry, one hundred acres of land on Lot 53, situate a little northwest of the center of the town. In 1829, or soon after, with the proceeds of the sale of a por- tion of it, a Methodist meeting house was built. It stood upon this land, on the west side of the highway, about two miles south of Sinclairville. Adjacent to it a burying ground, con- sisting of about one-third of an acre, was at the time set apart from this tract and dedicated to the public. The church was the first built in the Cassadaga Valley, and one of the first Methodist meeting houses in Chautauqua county. Long since, it has passed away, as have the earnest and faithful fathers of the little society that built it. They sleep in the burial place near the spot where the church so dear to them was reared. Previous to the building of the church, there had been three deaths in this community-John McCullough, who died in May, 1827, and his nephew John McCullough, who died in November of the same year, and a child of Chauncey Shaw. They were first buried a little distance from the church site, on Lot 46, near to its south line, on land now owned by John Heminger. After the dedication of the burial ground, they were disinterred and buried there. The oldest grave stone is a Damon stone, erected at the grave of Roany Scott, who died January 3Ist, 1829. Of the early members of this society of Methodists, whose influence was so long felt in the town of Gerry, are buried in this place, James R. Alverson, his wife Damaris, and his brother William, Gilbert Strong, who died at the age of ninety-two. Here also are buried John McCullough, James Langworthy, Robert Lenox, James Heath, David Strong, James Woods, Dr. Japtha L. Heminger, David Cowden, Eph- raim Belknap, and Samuel Woods, the last four soldiers of the war of 1812. Charles Lenox, a soldier of the war of the Rebel-
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HISTORY OF
lion, is buried here. Among those here interred is Susannah Woods, who died June 15, 1873, at the advanced age of one hundred years, eight months, and twenty-two days. In all there are about eighty interments in the ground.
THE RICHMOND BURYING GROUND.
Deacon Ezra Richmond came to Sinclairville from Wind- ham Co., Vt., about 1817. He set apart from his farm, which lies just out of the corporate limits of the village of Sinclair- ville, about five-sixths of an acre for burial purposes, asking no compensation. July 2, 1860, he executed a deed of the ground in trust to Merlin Wagoner, Charles H. Blanchard, and Orren Robertson. Until his deccase, he took much interest in pre- serving these grounds properly. They lie upon the south side of the road leading from Sinclairville to Ellington, about half a mile cast of the bounds of the former village. They are now in very good condition, surrounded by a fence with stone posts, and numerous thrifty maple trees. The oldest grave-stone is that erected at the grave of Zilphia Goodrich, who died No- vember 12, 1836, aged thirty-six. About fifty-five persons have been buried here, most of them members of the families of Richmond, Brown, Brunson, Cutting, Baker, Wagoner, and Blanchard, who were nearly all of them residents along the highway leading from Sinclairville to Ellington. Among the buried are Deacon Ezra Richmond and his wife Clarissa, An- thony Brown, Moulton Blanchard, Stephen Freeman who died at the age of ninety years, and George Wade.
THE LUCE FAMILY BURYING GROUND.
The only private burial ground in the town of Charlotte is the Luce Family Burying Ground, on the east side of the high- way, about two and half miles north of Charlotte Center, in which five persons have been buried. It consists of about an eighth of an acre of the farm owned by William Luce at his decease. It was set apart for such use by the members of the family of William Luce, an early settler in this part of the town. He died February 27, 1867, and is buried there. His wife Lydia Luce, who died March 26, 1868, is also buried there. The first interment was made June 5, 1866, of Elmer D., a child of Nelson Luce. The deed by which it was dedicated to its uses was executed October 5, 1870.
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EVERGREEN CEMETERY.
EVERGREEN CEMETERY.
The history thus far given of early burial places in Chau- tauqua County, may seem inappropriate in a work purporting to relate solely to Evergreen Cemetery. The people, however, who dwell in its vicinity, are interested in the burial places that preceded it, where lie their ancestors, their neighbors, and those whom once they knew. It is for these persons that the foregoing was prepared. The present opportunity is improved chiefly to preserve a record of these early burials and burial places.
The first places of burial in Chautauqua County were usu- ally much neglected. It was not, however, through want of affection by the carly settlers for departed friends that this was so, The pioneers as sacredly cherished the memory of their dead as do we of the present generation. They were poor, and the first step necessary to make for themselves homes, was to remove the formidable forests that stood every- where around. The first process in clearing the land left the fields disfigured with stumps, and blackened logs, and conse- quently they were obliged to select for the sacred purposes of burial, unpromising places with forbidding surroundings. It was not practicable for them to even make such places pleasant, much less to adorn them. They had so little to encourage a taste for beautifying their burial grounds that they too often permitted them to grow up to weeds and briars. However, as circumstances grew more favorable, they began to care for the resting places of the dead.
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HISTORY OF
ORGANIZATION.
Although the Old Burial Ground at Sinclairville was less neglected than most others, certain public-spirited citizens of the village, among whom were Alonzo Langworthy, B. W. Field, and John Dewey, saw that a decent respect for the dead demanded that more care should be taken of the graves than it had been common to bestow, Moreover, it was found im- possible to procure title to the lots, and it was seen also, that the greater frequency of the burials would soon render the Old Burying Ground inadequate. Accordingly, a meeting was held by some of the citizens of the village at the office of Obed Edson, June 21, 1862, for the purpose of organizing an associ- ation under the "act authorizing the incorporation of rural cemetery societies, passed April 27, 1847." More than seven persons were in attendance as required by the act. B. W. Field was called to the chair, and John Dewey was chosen sec- retary. On motion of Alonzo Langworthy, it was resolved that the name by which the Association should be known should be " Evergreen Cemetery." Six trustees were chosen: Timothy D. Copp, John Dewey, William Wait, Bernard W. Field, Daniel B. Dorsett, and Alonzo Langworthy. Bernard W. Field was chosen President; Daniel B. Dorsett, Vice-Presi- dent, and John Dewey, Secretary and Treasurer.
PURCHASE OF GROUNDS.
June 26, 1862, about one and three-quarters acres of land, lying north and adjoining the town cemetery, was purchased for the sum of one hundred dollars, and conveyed to the trus- tees by John M. Brunson and Hawley Green. The grounds bounded on the north by the pond at high-water mark, and lands of F. Holtz, east by the highway, south by the town bur- ial ground, and west by the continuation of the west bounds of the town burial ground, northwest to the old Drummond Pond. This ground was laid out into lots, and mapped. Walks and drives were made, and shrubbery was set out. By the faithful attention and the skill of Mr. Field, the President and acting Superintendent, the grounds were soon changed from a barren hemlock knoll, to green lawns, adorned with tastefully-trimmed shrubbery.
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EVERGREEN CEMETERY.
EARLY DIFFICULTIES AND FINAL SUCCESS.
At first, the Association encountered much opposition. Some respectable people seemed to believe that it was a spec- ulation entered into for gain, while others assumed that it was to draw a distinction between citizens in the community, by providing better places of burial for some than others. Against these unjust prejudices the Association for a while had to con- tend. Upon the suggestion of Mr. Langworthy, one of the first steps taken was to remove the fence that separated the new cemetery from the old ground, making the two one burial place. All parts of the ground thereafter received equal atten- tion. The members of the Association loaned it money and gave their time towards its development. By prudent and wise management, the Association has been made self-sustain- ing, kept out of debt, and has a handsome balance in the treasury. This has been accomplished without the aid of con- tributions from the public. The members of the Association have never asked for nor received donations from any source whatever. As improvements were made, and the grounds became more and more attractive, those who had early opposed it, became the most desirous to obtain choice lots within the new grounds, and finally all opposition ceased, and the ceme- tery became an object of general pride.
ADDITION TO GROUNDS.
The demand for lots became so great that the necessity of acquiring new grounds became apparent, accordingly, for the sum of five hundred dollars the Association purchased of John M. Brunson and Hawley Green, a much larger tract, which ad- joined the cemetery and old burying ground. The new purchase included the territory bounded on the north and west by the pond and the race issuing from it, and south by a line extend- ing from the southwest corner of the cemetery to the race. It was surveyed and plotted, and a field of briars and thorns soon transformed into a lawn, with walks and drives, and burial lots. June 19, 1872, Hawley Green and Sheldon M. Hall, for the sum of two hundred dollars conveyed to the Association a consid- erable tract, bounded on the north by the last mentioned pur- chase, east by the lots of Richard D. Sherman and Martin B. Craw, south by the highway known upon the map of the village
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HISTORY OF
as Water street, and westerly by lines extending a little dis- tance easterly of the race. This purchase includes a portion of the south slope of the hill or eminence upon which the cem- etery is situated, extending the bounds of the cemetery to the highway, where a gateway was subsequently erected, and a southern entrance to the grounds established January 1, 1886. S. M. Hall, and the estate of Hawley Green, for the consider- ation of one hundred dollars, conveyed a small strip of land adjacent to the last above described piece, which extends the limits of the southern portion of the cemetery westerly to the race below the mill, and widens the front of the grounds along Water street, so that the boundaries of Evergreen Cemetery, including the Old Burying Ground, comprise about eight acres of land.
LAYING OUT AND IMPROVING THE GROUNDS.
Soon after the purchase of the two first mentioned tracts, they were laid out by Mr. Langworthy, and the Superintendent, Mr. Field, assisted by Obed Edson, who surveyed and made maps of each tract as it was acquired. John M. Edson, jr., afterwards made a map of all the grounds belonging to the cemetery, including also the old burial grounds surveyed by him for that purpose. A lithographed copy of his map, re- duced in size, accompanies this sketch.
It was only proposed when the Association was formed, to provide a moderate addition to the old burying ground, to sup- ply an immediate local want. The first purchase of land com- prised less than two acres. With so small a tract at their dis- posal, the founders of the cemetery were obliged to sacrifice, to some extent, their views of what a cemetery should be. And when subsequent additions were made, the territory was still so small in extent, and the number of burials so rapidly increased, that they were unable to wholly conform their plans to the natural beauties of the situation. Widely sweeping drives and walks, and ornamental areas, such as the natural features of the ground justified, would have required too lavish an appropriation of space. The Association have, however, in laying out the lots, avoided the stiff and straight lines of the conventional burying grounds of the past, and have, upon the
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EVERGREEN CEMETERY.
steep sides and outer limits of the ground, preserved its natu- ral beauty undisturbed.
The moderate limits of the cemetery, also influenced to some extent, the selection of the evergreen as the prevailing shrubery. That being better adapted to limited areas, by rea- son of its compact growth. The artificial style of training would have been unjustifiable in more ample grounds, as un- natural, and in violation of correct taste, but is here compelled by the narrow space alloted to its growth. The faithful care bestowed by Mr. Field, the late Superintendent, and Mr. Kirk, his successor, in the cultivation of trees and shrubs ; the close and skillful training required to prevent the branches from overshadowing the crowded lots, has resulted in a marvelous density and beauty of evergreen foliage.
BURIAL LOTS.
The burial lots are laid out in various sizes, so that all per- sons can be suited in the quantity of the ground, as well as in location. Grading and putting lots in shape is done by the As- sociation, so that the grade may harmonize with the general features of the particular locality. The prices of the lots vary with the desirableness of the location. Those who desire to secure but a single grave can do so without purchasing more ground, as the Association has set aside good eligible ground for that purpose. .
SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE GROUND.
Bernard W. Field died May 20th, 1884. He had been Presi- dent and Superintendent of the Association for twenty-two years. During this period, encouraged and supported by the trustees and officers of the Association, through his assiduity, and remarkable skill in training the shrubbery, and his care of the lawn, this barren, arid promontory, became a place of beauty. He gave it not merely his official attention, but bestowed upon it constant personal labor, for which he re- ceived but a modest compensation. Since the death of Mr. Field, under the careful supervision and constant attention of Mr. Kirk, the present Superintendent, the cemetery has been made more beautiful each year, until now it is unsurpassed by any in Western New York.
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HISTORY OF
IMPROVEMENTS.
Further improvements and embellishments are contemplat- ed, which in process of time will undoubtedly be made. Among other improvements a receiving vault, and the means for more perfectly supplying the grounds with water, are con- templated. The elevated situation of the cemetery, its irreg- ular and diversified surface, render it dry and adapted to drain- age, fitting it for the purposes for which it was designed, as well as greatly enhancing its beauty.
SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.
A most beautiful and striking situation can be chosen for a soldiers' monument, which ought at once to be erected, to perpetuate the memory of those interred here who fell or served in the defense of their country. There is no spot in all the country around that will warrant the erection of so fine, so costly a monument, as this. It is central, easy of access, and constantly visited-frequently by people from abroad, drawn here by the reputation the cemetery bears.
Many soldiers are buried in the old and new ground. The following were soldiers of the Revolution: Samuel Sinclear and Nathaniel Johnson. The latter participated in the battles that resulted in the capture of Burgoyne.
The following were soldiers in the last war with England: Sergeant Joel Burnell, who served at the battle of Buffalo; John McAllister, Sylvanus L. Henderson, Jesse Walker, John Sinclear, James Parsons, John Bowen, and Richard G. Burlin- game.
The following soldiers of the Rebellion are buried here: Sergeant Hiram Waterman, of the 49th N. Y. Vols. He was killed October 19, 1864, at Cedar Creek. Sergeant Caleb J. Allen, of the 4th Iowa Cavalry. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg, was afterwards taken prisoner by the Confeder- ates, and confined in both Belle Isle and Libby prisons. His health was so impaired by sickness and hardship that he died Jan. 2, 1864, soon after his release. Sergeant Charles H. Brown, of the 154th N. Y. Vols. He died December 7, 1864, near Springfield, Ga. Also Silas L. Bennett, Daniel Kelly, Cyrus W. Torry, Benjamin F. Gossett, Leland A. Kirk, Roswell W. Graves, Edward Richmond, George A. Richmond, George A.
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