USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati cemetery of Spring Grove: report for 1857 > Part 1
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.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10
This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project to make the world's books discoverable online.
It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover.
Marks, notations and other marginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the publisher to a library and finally to you.
Usage guidelines
Google is proud to partner with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to the public and we are merely their custodians. Nevertheless, this work is expensive, so in order to keep providing this resource, we have taken steps to prevent abuse by commercial parties, including placing technical restrictions on automated querying.
We also ask that you:
+ Make non-commercial use of the files We designed Google Book Search for use by individuals, and we request that you use these files for personal, non-commercial purposes.
+ Refrain from automated querying Do not send automated queries of any sort to Google's system: If you are conducting research on machine translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a large amount of text is helpful, please contact us. We encourage the use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help.
+ Maintain attribution The Google "watermark" you see on each file is essential for informing people about this project and helping them find additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it.
+ Keep it legal Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just because we believe a book is in the public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other countries. Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of any specific book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book's appearance in Google Book Search means it can be used in any manner anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liability can be quite severe.
About Google Book Search
Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at http://books.google.com/
NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 08184253 0
Digitized by
Google @Digitized by
Digitized by
Digitized by
1
1
Digitized by
-
.
IVB
(Cincinnati)
. it :
1 Digitized by
.
-
Digitized by
1
.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
Astor, Lenox and Tilden Four dations. 1905
-
Digitized b
(mal). J
Digitized by
1
" #FATUR EY ODUARDO FANTACCHIOTTI
HOFFNER MONUMENT.
Digitized by
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY --
1:00
Digitized by
THE
CINCINNATI
Cemetery of Spring Brove.
Report for 1857.
CINCINNATI : C. F. Bradley & Co., Printers, 147 Main Street. 1857.
Digitized by Google
OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION.
R. BUCHANAN, President. D. H. HORNE, Treasurer. CYRUS DAVENPORT, Secretary.
Directors:
R. BUCHANAN,
DAN'L. H. HORNE,
S. C. PARKHURST,
A. H. ERNST,
J. P. FOOTE,
WM. RESOR
G. K. SHOENBERGER,
K. YARDLEY.
THE NEM VORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
: Astor, Lenox ane Tilden Foundations. 1906
18423
-
01.1809
Digitized by
WILLIAM ORANGE,
·
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LISTA Y
Astor, Lenox and Tiden FourC .P.S. 1905
rmm
1
7
Digitized by
VIEW AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE CEMETERY.
EHRGOTT & FORBRIGER, Lith Cin.0
CONTAS
Photograph by J.P.BALL & THOMAS
.
Digitized by
THE CEMETERY OF SPRING GROVE.
Historical Sketch.
+
THE Charter of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society authorized the establishment of a public Cemetery by that Association : but before any very important measures had been adopted for that purpose it was perceived that, with Societies, as with individuals, the best results will always be effected by directing attention to a single object. A divi- sion of the necessary exertions to different objects by any Association, will generally result in such a division of the feelings, opinions, and wishes of the different members as to give a suitable opportunity to the genius of failure for the practical operation of the maxim "divide and conquer,"
Even in cases like this, in which the aid of each to the other might appear to be adapted to increasing their mutual prosperity, it was per- ceived that elements of discord were slumbering, which might easily be awakened so as to retard the prosperity of the institution.
Some of the members of the Society being sagacious enough to perceive the dangers that threatened their original plan, determined to organize a new Association which should have but one object, viz : that of establishing and conducting a public, rural Cemetery, upon such principles and under such a system of management as would best accord with the feelings and wishes of the community. These had been excited by the examples of "Mount Auburn," in Boston, of " Greenwood," in New York, and of " Laurel Hill," in Philadelphia, as those had been by " Pere la Chaise," in Paris. The design of these rural Cemeteries was to remove from the last resting places of the friends loved and lost that gloom and dread with which a future state was regarded by the ancient Pagans-which made them look forward to the happiest state hereafter as one far inferior to the lowest condi-
-
Digitized by Google
[ 4 ]
tion here on earth, *- or the hopeless apathy of atheism which looks for nothing in the death of the body better than the annihilation of the soul. It was to convert not only our souls to a brighter-holier belief, but to give our bodies a holier resting place, where brighter aspects are presented to the survivors. It was to symbolize our belief in a renewed and happier life hereafter through the conquest of death by Christ. In the resurrection of the flowers in their return to life after their death in winter, symbols of the immortality of the soul were per- ceived-symbols which seemed to proclaim that the universal wish of mankind for a future and happier state of existence had expanded into HOPE under the teachings of Christianity. And in those beautiful children of song, the birds, that with their joyous notes seem to hail the opening buds and flowers.of Spring, fancy saw symbolized Heav- enly angels hailing in their songs of praise the coming of the re- deemed.
The melancholy receptacles of the dead in caves and pyramids-in mausoleums and cinerary urns, could not " gild the gloom " of the grave to the heathen, who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage. But to Christians, enjoying the glorious liberty of the sons of God, this bondage was replaced by faith and hope, symbols of which, instead of those of despondency and grief, were more appropriate to the last resting place of those friends from whom they considered themselves separated but for a season.
With these, and other views and opinions inciting them to desire " the establishment of a rural t Cemetery in the neighborhood of Cincin- nati, a number of gentlemen met at the house of ROBERT BUCHANAN, on the 13th . of April, 1844, to hold a consultation on the subject, and adopt measures for carrying their object into effect. .
DAVID LORING was appointed Chairman of the meeting, and J. B. RUSSELL, Secretary. It was, after discussion, decided that this object was not only desirable, but feasible; and a Committee was appointed to make the necessary examinations, and recommend a suitable site.
* Homer represents the departed spirits of his countrymen as greatly dissatisfied with their change of abode. The ghost of Achilles says to. Ulysses . "Rather I choose laboriously to bear A weight of woes and breathe the vital air, A slave to some poor hind that toils for bread, Than reign the sceptered monarch of the dead."
t The gentlemen who composed this meeting were G. W. Neff, William Neff, Jas, Hall, Griffin Taylor, S. P. Chase, A. H. Ernst, S. C. Parkhurst, Dr. J. A. Warder, T. H. Minor, Dr. M .. Flagg, R. Buchanan, David . Loring, J. B. Russell, and Peter Neff, who was one of the earliest and most efficient promoters of the institution;
Digitized b Google
-
[ 5]
The requisites for such a site were,-first, that it should be as near the city as would be consistent with the necessary distance from the annoyances which the smoke, the turbulence and the noises of the city of industry and commerce, might occasion to visitors of the "city of the silent." Secondly,-that it should be pleasantly situated, with an agreeably diversified surface, combining as many of those features which constitute landscape beauty as could be found in the necessa. rily limited space required. Thirdly,-that the soil should not be un- derlaid by the stiff, tenacious clay which retains water, and which renders many, otherwise suitable; sites ineligible. Many beautiful situa- tions on the hills which surround our city were rejected fot want of these requisites ... Another objection to some of them may, perhaps, have had some influence, though probably the circumstance was thought of. but by few. This was a feeling of repugnance to place the bodies of our departed friends in so close companionship with the fossil remains of beings which existed before the creation of man : and although those of our hills are not of the huge horrid monsters that are found elsewhere, the ideas they awaken are not such as it is desira- ble to call forth in connection with those of departed friends. .
After all the necessary researches and observations had been made, the Garrard farm, situated about four miles from the city, containing 166 acres, was selected, as combining more of the. requisites sought for than any other, and the price being considered reasonable, its pur- chase was recommended by the Committee, which had been appointed at the meeting above mentioned. This Committee consisted of the following gentlemen,, well fitted for the duty assigned them, viz : WILLIAM NEFF, MELZER FLAGG, T. H. MINOR, DAVID LORING, R. BUCHANAN, S. C. PARKHURST, and A. H. ERNST, and their recom- mendation was approved, and adopted.
A meeting was held on the 4th of May, and a committee was then appointed to prepare articles of association. It consisted of TIMOTHY WALKER, G. W. NEFF, NATHAN GUILFORD, NATHANIEL WRIGHT, D. B. LAWLER, MILES GREENWOOD and Judge JAMES HALL, and on the 11th they reported thirteen articles, which were ordered to be published in the newspapers, for the consideration of the citizens. generally. On the 19th of October, these articles were referred to a committee consist- ing of TIMOTHY WALKER, S. P. CHASE, JAMES HALL, N. GUILFORD, . N. WRIGHT. D. B. LAWLER and E. WOODRUFF, with instructions to prepare a Charter in conformity with them, to be presented to the Legislature for enactment. This was done, and Judges. Burnet, Walker and Wright were, on the Ist of December, appointed to lay it before
Digitized by Google
[ 6] -
the Legislature, and obtain its passage. It was passed without objec- tion or alteration, on the 21st of January, 1845.
Of the above committees, eight members already rest in peace, in the pleasant places which they had chosen in their life-time, for their "last of earth ;" the others remain to aid with their accustomed seal and energy, the progress of this and other patriotic and useful public institutions.
Of the act of incorporation, the prominent features are as follows :
" Every lot-holder is a member, and entitled to a vote.
"The Corporation is authorized to hold land exempt from execution, and any appropriation to public use, for the sole purpose of a Ceme- tery, not exceeding 300 acres, 167 of which, such as shall be desig- nated by the Directors, shall be exempt from taxation.
" All receipts, whether for the sale of lots, or otherwise, shall be ap- plied exclusively to laying out, preserving, protecting and embellishing the Cemetery, and the avenues leading thereto.
" The original conveyance of lots from the Corporation to individuals, shall be evidenced by a certificate under the seal of the Corporation, which shall vest in the proprietor, his heirs and assigns, a right in fee simple to such lot, exempt from execution, attachment, taxation, or any other claim or lien, or process whatever, for the sole purpose of inter- ment, under the regulations of the Corporation, and said certificate shall have the same force and effect as a deed, duly executed in other cases."
Much discussion took place in relation to a suitable name. Several were proposed, among them that of "Spring Grove," which being preferred by a large majority, was accepted.
The approbation of the citizens in relation to the proceedings of the committee, was general, and the exertions of Messrs. PETER NaFP, JAS. PULLAN and A. H. ERNST, in obtaining subscribers, were so suc- cessful, that as soon as the lots were surveyed, enough were immedi- ately taken up to establish the institution on a firm basis.
The first meeting of the lot-holders for the election of Directors, in compliance with the requisitions of the Charter, was held on the 8th of February, 1845, when the following gentlemen were elected, viz : R. BUCHANAN, WM. NEFF, A. H. ERNST, R. G. MITCHELL, D. LORING, N. WRIGHT, J. C. CULBERTSON, CHARLES STETSON and GRIFFIN TAYLOR, and on the 11th the Board was organized by the appointment of R. Buchanan, President, S. C. Parkhurst, Secretary, and G. Taylor, Treas- urer.
The original plan of the grounds was made by J. Notman, of Philadelphia. It has since been materially improved ; important alter- ations having been found necessary to adapt it to the surface of the ground. And it may be useful to others engaged in similar undortak-
Digitized by Google
[ 7 ]
ings here to remark, that a large outlay might have been saved, with a manifest improvement of the plan, by a reduction of the roads and · gravel walks to about one half the number proposed. Considerable progress was made in the embellishment of the ground, under the di- rection of Thomas Earnshaw, Chief Engineer, and D. Delany, Super- intendent. But the present plan of adopting a system of Landscape gar- dening, by which the capacities of the ground are developed, and made to contribute to their attractions, is due to the taste and talents of Adolph Strauch and his efficient asssistant, Henry Earnshaw ; and their aid in heightening and exhibiting in their best light, the various beauties of mature, has been faithfully and skilfully directed towards rendering Spring Grove one of the loveliest among the many lovely objects in the vicinity of Cincinnati.
This city of the dead seems to have arisen as by enchantment, to testify that the city of the living, to which it belongs, is inhabited by those to whom the tombs of their loved ones are not emblems of sad despair, or of cheerless doubt, but of confident and cheerful belief of a happy ro-union. The cultivation of the most beautiful of nature's products-the bright flowers, the ornamental trees and shrubs-recals to imagination that paradise, lost by the transgression, which brought
"Death into the world with all our woe,"
and, with it, recalls the promise of that lovelier-glorious-paradise, prepared by the conqueror of death, for those that love Him.
The Cemetery was consecrated on the 28th of August, 1845, with appropriate solemn ceremonies, and an address by the Hon. Judge MeLea, and the institution is constantly increasing its attractions and growing in favor with our citizens, who regard it as one of those in which they may feel a legitimate pride-as one whose tendency is to improve the taste, to soften the manners, and purify the morals of the people.
Cincinnati is proud of the resting places she has prepared for her citizens after death. She is proud of her schools, which prepare her youth for life-for a life which shall conduct them to a death from which the sting has been taken-to a peaceful rest in hope, in that beautiful "field of God,"* that holy field-from which they may, like the flowers around them, rise in the spring time of eternity, in renewed beauty, to everlasting happiness.
*Gottesaker,-the field of God-is the German appellation of a Cemetery. Campo Santo-the Holy field- is the Spanish designation.
Digitized b Google
[ 8 ]
MENTAL AND MORAL INFLUENCES OF SPRING GROVE.
The following lines were written by a young mother, whose first born was laid in the Cemetery of Spring Grove, soon after she. had begun to display. those graces and beauties of character, which seemed to require a higher state of existence for their due cultivation.
They are an exemplification of the brighter, happier feelings, excited on seeing the last resting place of a beloved object, situated where nature's · loveliness is calculated to awaken feelings in strong contrast with those exci- ted by the melancholy, neglected, grave yards of our ancestors.
The painful emotions. which naturally arise, when we are parting for -. ever, from the earthly remains of our loved ones, are soothed by the feel- ing that they are laid where art and nature are so directed by cultivation, as to seem designed to offer consolation to the afflicted and desolate.
.They seem to sympathize with us at those periods when sympathy is most grateful to our feelings, and to join in paying those tributes of affee- tionate regret, which relieves our hearts in seasons of desolation.
The contrast which our bright and beautiful, rural Cemetery presents to the grief-heightening Church-yards, and burial grounds of our ances- . tors, is a cheering example of the progress of refinement in our feelings and manners, by. the cultivation of the Christian virtues of Faith and Hope, whereby the greatest of those virtues, Love; is strengthened. The belief-the feeling-that these virtues are seeds of happiness which, plan- ted on earth, will bring forth flowers here, and fruits hereafter, in Heaven -fruits of glory, honor and immortality -. must lead to their cultivation,. and to that of every thing pure and lovely, and of good report.
THE GRAVE OF - THE FIRST BORN, "Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.""
Beneath the forest trees, Waved by the summer breeze, While birds with gushing throat, Poured forth a joyous note, We laid thee :- there.
Digitized by
.
[9]
Where wild wood blossoms shed Pale leaves upon thy bed, And sun-light, glimmering lay, Gilding each leaf and spray, Where all was fair.
For meet it was my child, Thou pure and undefiled, That earth's most lovely hues, And nature's fragrant dews Should weep for thee.
That her soft, grassy bed, Should pillow thy young head, In silent slumber laid, Where nothing shadow made But sheltering tree.
For in thy sunny days, Amid thy childhood's plays, Thou ever lov'd'st to wear Her glories in thy hair, And sung thy song,
Ever of birds and flowers ; And wove thy summer bower Where blossom, bird and bee Were playmates dear to thee, All the day long.
Sweet sounds, soft airs, bright wreaths, How didst thou joy in these. A memory .now they seem, A sweet and precious dream Of thy bright life. 2
Digitized by Google
.
[ 10 ]
Bright ! tho' this life is sad, Thine, thine was ever glad. A joyous cadence :- fled,- A perfume o'er us shed, With blessings rife.
Thy merry, bounding feet, Thy laugh so silver sweet, And more than all, the bliss Of thy mouth's rosy kiss, Told but of pleasure.
We have the grief, the woe, The weary days, and slow, But it was given to thee, Only life's joys to see, In fullest measure.
And as I thanked His love, Who gave thee from above, To dwell awhile on earth, Gladdening our happy hearth With hopes most bright ;
So do I thank Hne now Who sealed thy fair, young, brow, With His own name, and gave To us, the gloom, the grave, To thee the light.
Digitized by
.
Spring Grove.
How sweet to lay our precious dead In such a spot to sleep, Where waving trees their branches spread, And stars their vigils keep, Looking from Heaven with angel eyes To guard the sacred dust we prize.
The wild-wood flowers their pale leaves shed, The sighing breeze doth wave, The drooping bud that bows its head Above each cherished grave. Beauty on earth and joy in Heaven, To His beloved, God hath given.
Hearts broken with their weight of woo How slowly learn to feel, That He who struck the bitter blow Has still the power to heal. But tears that dew the flowers bright, To-morrow's sun can gem with light.
Then, not despairing, let us come Where nature still doth tell They are but taken to His home, Who " doeth all things well." We, see but darkly in our night, They, face to face in Heaven's own light.
Sing then sweet birds your joyous note, . Breathe soft thou summer air, In fragrant thanks let perfume float, On incense breathing prayer. Hrs lambs He gathers to His breast, The sad have joy, the weary rest.
Digitized by y Google
[.12 ]
The two foregoing' pieces refer to the feelings excited by our rural Cemetery, in the contemplation of the beauties of nature, during the sea- sons of Spring and Summer.
The Wintry period and the fading flowers have also their softening influences on the mind and heart, which are beautifully set forth in the following touching stanzas.
They are addressed by a young lady to a mother bereaved of a most lovely child, whose early death was the cause of an affliction which appeared to be too deep to be reached by any ordinary mode of consola- tion. They point to the only source of comfort to the mourner bereaved of her children, and awaken feelings that lead the heart from the gloom and despondence which every thought of earth seems to cause to sink deeper, by the exhortation to " look above."
The influences of our rural Cemetery are exclusively pure and holy, for there the dead whom we loved in life speak to us from their graves,- not in words of rebuke and reproof, but of love and hope ; and earth's loveliness, when contemplated in connection with such words, tends to raise our thoughts to the source of all that is good and beautiful, and to give us a confident hope that those who are taken away are but removed to scenes of greater beauty where hope is forgotten in fruition.
THE DEATH OF THE FLOWERS.
TO A BEREAVED MOTHER.
Mournfully, sweetly, the slow passing hours Chant a low dirge o'er the summer flowers, As they die ; Tenderly, softly, the pale virgin snow Descends to the earth, gently and slow ;
It windeth their shrouds, as bending low, Fading they die.
Quietly, sadly, a funeral train, For the withered flowers that ne'er bloom again, Is passing on. And one by one, as they sadly depart, They echo the wail of the stricken heart ; The ceaseless wail of the broken heart, " Forever gone."
Digitized by Google
[ 13 ]
"Forever gone !" and the jewelled chain Of hopes thou hads't woven, is severed in twain. Look above, Shining afar, through the mist of tears, Which dims the brightness of coming years, Is the arch of promise thy Maker rears, In His love.
" Forever gone," life's shadows no more Shall darken their brows on that happy shore, Where they rest. They wait for thee in that summer's shine, And swiftly the silent waves of time, Are bearing thee on to that shadowless clime, Of the blest.
Borne on the breath of the summer showers, Come the faint odors of blooming flowers, From a far-off land. And the music that floats on the breeze of spring, Is the echo from golden harps that sing Glad songs of praise to the Heavenly King Of that angel band.
These are the jewels from earth's dark mine: In the crown of the Heavenly King they shine Forevermore. These are the flowers all washed from stain Of mortal birth,-when thy lips shall drain, Life's bitter cup, they are thine again, To fade no more.
Digitized by
[ 14 ]
.
Monuments.
The love of beauty, that precious endowment of humanity which con- tributes so largely to human happiness, and which like hope
"Travels through, nor quits us when we die,"
is exhibited in our monuments to the dead, as well as in our architecture for the living.
To connect the remembrance of those whose memories we desire to preserve, with beautiful forms of art, as well as with the beauties of nature, seems to be an inherent wish of our being, and it is strong in proportion to the refinements of social life, and the cultivation of kindly feelings.
Mausoleums and stately monuments to the memory of the mighty dead- those whose lives influenced nations-are not more consistent with our human feelings and sentiments, than the humbler memorials of those whose lives have influenced a few humble and loving hearts.
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.