USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati cemetery of Spring Grove: report for 1857 > Part 2
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Beauty is always desired; and art and nature are invoked on such occasions, to give their combined influence to effect the best expression of the beautiful.
Success in producing this expression, is a test of the degree of refine- ment and good taste, which characterizes any people, and their progress is one of those ennobling traits of humanity, which all civilization brings forth, and in which Christian civilization displays its superiority. Its memorials should be beautiful, for they speak of heart-felt love instead of admiration and the hero-worship of the heathen, which require stately and magnificent monuments. Memorials of love adorn our rural Cemeteries ; those which we dedicate to the memory of the great-of public bene- factors-must be too grand and imposing to accord well with those gentler feelings symbolized in our more modest monuments ; they may suitably adorn public buildings, or they may be so constructed, as to be useful for public purposes.
The adoption of Egyptian monuments and funeral symbols, has been general, in modern times, and the obelisk is a favorite form of them in our own country, as well as in England. In the early period of Egyptian
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BAUM
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LEDY
Astor. LePed d'
1900
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history, the preservation of the body, after death, from that corruption and decay to which God and nature destined it, seems to have been con- sidered a sacred duty, due from the living to the dead. In the progress of civilization and mental improvement, other methods of preserving their memory, have been devised in a better and more rational taste, and other duties to the dead from the living, have been discovered, in the perform- ance of which, our characters are strengthened and improved.
Greater and more costly memorials of kings and other potentates, have been erected in Egypt than elsewhere, during the periods of her ancient history, and this, together with other marks of extraordinary devotion to the preservation of the memory of the dead, is probably the reason of the frequent adoption of the Egyptian symbols in modern Cemeteries. The change of our vile, natural bodies into spiritual bodies, was not compre- hended in ancient times, tho' the winged globe of the Egyptians is con- sidered as the manifestation of a faint belief in the immortality of the soul, and their system of enbahmment, seems to be founded on a belief that it will return to the same body from which it was separated.
This symbol-the winged globe-is now frequent in modern Cemete- ries, but the obelisk, which is considered a peculiarly suitable form for funereal monuments, is far more common. It's outline being simple, and admitting of no variety, except in size, gives it a peculiar identity ; and except that of the pyramid, is best adapted to confer durability ; and this is, combined with the gracefulness which the pyramid lacks.
The monument, in the Egyptian style, erected by D. B. Lawler, is unique. It is not an obelisk nor a pyramid, but a massive solid block of grey marble, giving a pyramidical appearance of durability, surmounted by a sphynx in very dark marble, with a graceful, pleasing female face. It does not accord with the prevailing taste, but it helps to relieve the monotony of which some persons complain, caused by the too frequent recurrence of obelisks, columns, and Gothic pinnacles ; and its colors, sober and sombre, suit the taste of some who complain of the too great prevalence of white marble in our Cemetery. This last mentioned mate- rial for monuments seems, indeed, to be the favorite with a majority of the members of the association. They consider it the most suitable for giving that contrasted beauty in the works of art which gives the best effect to the beauties of nature.
Some specimens of the blueish granite of New England are seen in Spring Grove, as well as of the variegated marble of Pennsylvania, and the grey sandstones of our own State and Kentucky, which accord better
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with the taste of many persons as being more appropriate than lighter colored materials.
The family monument of Jacob Hoffner, of which a representation is given in our frontispiece, copied from a photograph, is the most attractive to visitors, generally, of any one in the Cemetery. It consists of a Gothic shrine, in which is the statue of a graceful female scattering flowers upon the graves of the dead, all of white marble. The statue was executed in Florence, by Fantoci; the shrine by Rule, of this city, from a design by J. Earnshaw, architect. The accompanying decora- tions could not be given in this view.
The monument of the Baum family is one of the most conspicuous in the Cemetery, and attracts attention from its height, which is thirty feet, the base being five feet square. The material of which it is formed, being the Quincy granite of New England, gives an idea of strength and durability, and with the severe simplicity of its form, seem to render it peculiarly suitable to perpetuate the memory of that worthy pioneer of our city, Martin Baum, who was an excellent specimen of the best mem- bers of that class of worthies.
A very superb mausoleum is in progress of erection for Jacob Strader. It is a Gothic chapel of twenty-five feet width in front and twenty-three feet in depth. It is built of the brown [red] sandstone of Connecticut, and the accompanying lithograph gives a view of it in front. It contains twenty-six catacombs, and is from the works of J. G. Batterson, of Hartford, Connecticut, the designer and builder.
The family monument of PETER NEFF is a beautiful sarcophagus of white Italian marble, the design taken from the tomb of Scipio. Some other monuments in the Cemetery are copied from the same, and they are generally admired.
The monuments and vaults on that portion of the grounds which was first laid out, are already as numerous as they ought to be in that locality in order to the production of the best and most picturesque effect. The extension of the grounds has, therefore, been considered by the directors desirable, in order to afford sufficient space for future improvements-for the erection of monuments sufficiently distant from each other, to be free from the appearance of being crowded too closely.
This consideration induced the Board, in 1847, to purchase forty acres for an addition to their grounds on the north, making their whole terri- tory at that time include (206) two hundred and six acres, which was inclosed by fences, surrounded by a hedge of Osage orange.
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WILLIAMS
Photograph by J P.BALL & THOMAS
EHRGOTT & FORBRIGER Lith Cinco.
CHARLES E. WILLIAMS MONUMENT.
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Another addition of sixty acres was purchased in April last, by which their northern boundary was extended to the Greytown road. The asso- ciation now possesses two hundred and sixty-six acres, bounded on three sides by public roads, together with fourteen acres between the Hamilton Road and Mill Creek, amounting in all to two hundred and eighty acres, and containing varieties of surface sufficient to enable the landscape gar- dener to produce by his improvements many picturesque beauties.
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A monument. has lately been erected by the association on which are the following inscriptions. The one on the rear refers to a reversionary · legacy contingent on the death of the child to whose memory it is inscribed, which has lately been received by the association, amounting to above eleven thousand dollars.
Inscription on the front:
" Suffer little children to come to me." LAURA WILLIAMS,
DAUGHTER OF CHARLES E. AND MARY WILLIAMS.
Was born on the 23d September, 1847,. and on the 18th July, 1852, was suffered to go to her Savior.
Inscription on the rear : THIS STONE,
ERECTED BY THE SPRING GROVE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION, IS A MEMORIAL OF LAURA WILLIAMS, And of the liberal bequest of her Father To the funds of this Association.
The monuments to the memories of WILLIAM WOODWARD and JOHN HUGHES are the noblest in the city of Cincinnati ;- but they are not in Spring Grove. They are the two High Schools which bear their names, and were endowed by their liberality. The first named is one of those rare examples of such endowments made during the life of the donor, 3
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which were almost unknown until the American character began to rise above the influences of the habits of their European ancestry.
Another name ought to be added to those of the early benefactors of the youth of our city ; it is that of JOHN KIDD, who, although his noble benefaction was lost to those for whom it was designed, by one of those cases of injustice sanctioned by law, which disgrace the administration of the laws of our country,-is entitled (the more for that cause) to a memorial of gratitude from our city, and it is to be hoped that such an one may soon be found in Spring Grove.
In the lessons of the dead for the instruction of the living, those from the tombs of such men as Woodward will be peculiarly impressive, for they exemplify faith by works. And Kidd- as the portion of his wealth which he gave to promote the instruction of the young was lost,-ought to be enabled to give instructions from his tomb which the subtleties of the law cannot cause to be lost.
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One of the beneficial influences produced by the establishment of our rural Cemetery, will be the correction of that miserable, barbarous, obtuseness of the finer feelings of our nature which permits the desecra- tion of our grave yards, and of which our city, young as it is, exhibits melancholy examples.
The improvement of our taste and habits in relation to our Cemeteries is a testimony of moral and mental progress as decided and impressive as is the enslavement of steam and electricity to our physical progress.
The establishment of such a Cemetery as Spring Grove is not only an acknowledgment of the debt due from the living to the dead, but a con- tribution to the mental and moral education of the unborn, who will owe us a similar debt hereafter. We all acknowledge the duty incumbent on us to provide for those who are to succeed us, and to profit by the lessons taught by those who have preceded us : but we are apt to imagine that those only who have acquired celebrity by their writings, or by their achievements in the field, or the cabinet, can give profitable instructions after death to the living. And it is true that history derives its lessons from these alone. But these lessons are like instructions in the higher departments of literature and the sciences, which alone are thought worthy to be considered constituents of education. We overlook the value of humbler teachers of the alphabet and the spelling book, without whose aid the occupation of the teachers of the sciences would be gone. In relation to the lessons we should learn from the graves of the dead, the case is similar.
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MY PARENTS
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EERGUTT &FORBRIGER. ich Cino
DE P. G. FORT'S MONUMENT. Executed by D.BOLLES.
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Those of the pioneers of our city and State, humble and unpretending as most of them were in life, might teach us lessons of fortitude, stern self-denial, patience and perseverance through sufferings and dangers and privations, of which we can hardly form an idea at the present day.
The desecration of their graves has been a disgrace to our city, but we trust that a spirit has been awakened which may redeem our characters in regard to them.
To one of them who labored long and faithfully from an early date, & monument has been erected-a stately obelisk of white marble, bearing on its front this inscription, with other suitable ones on its other sides :
IN MEMORY OF JOSHUA LACY WILSON, Born in Bedford County, Virginia, Sept. 22d, 1774, Removed with his family to the State of Kentucky, A. D. 1781. ORDAINED TO THE GOSPEL MINISTRY,
BY THE PRESBYTERY OF TRANSYLVANIA, And installed pastor of the churches of Bardstown and Big Spring, A. D. 1804,
Came to the State of Ohio, and took charge of the First Presbyterian Church in the city of Cincinnati, May, 1808, of which he continued Pastor until his death, after an illness of 3 weeks and 3 days, in which he underwent the most intense suffering, with triumphant patience.
He fell asleep in Jesus and rested from his labors, Au- gust 14th, 1846, in the 79th year of his age, and the 42d of his ministry.
To some others of the early immigrants to our city, its founders and builders up-suitable monuments have been erected. Those of ETHAN STONE, JAMES FERGUSON, and DAVID LORING, are distinguished among them, as well as that of Dr. DANIEL DRAKE, who gained a world-wide fame by his untiring labors in the cause of medical education and medical sci -. ence. That of DAVID E. WADE has not been removed to Spring Grove, nor that splendid specimen of sculpture in the grey sandstone of this region, the memorial to Gen. JOHN S. GANO, now in the Baptist Ceme- tery, in the city. These men were eminent among the pioneers of our city, together with Gen. WILLIAM LYTLE, whose magnificent donations in
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the early period of the history of our city, for the promotion of educa- tion, with those of ARTHUR ST. CLAIR, Judge JACOB BURNET, Gen. JAMES ". FINDLAY, WM. CORRY, Judge GOFORTH, and others, were among the seeds of our present prosperity, ought to be memorialized in Spring Grove.
OLIVER M. SPENCER, DAVID KILGOUR, ANDREW MACK, and others of their class, ought also to be among them. A public monument to the memory of Gen. WM. H. HARRISON, is to be erected, and a lot in Spring · Grove, has been dedicated to that purpose. A conspicuous place in the city has also been selected on the site of Fort Washington, as a most appropriate situation of such a monument.
The founder of Cincinnati, JOHN CLEVES SYMMES, must not and can- : not be forgotten among the early benefactors of the city, and of the extensive and fertile regions round about ; nor his brother, Judge DANIEL SYMMES, distinguised among the earlier and most efficient of our pioneers.
In the. beautiful Cemetery of Frankfort, Ky., the memory of their ear -. liest pioneers, has been honored in a style, which is honorable to the good taste and good feeling of the Kentuckians. The remains of Boone and his wife have been brought from the far West, and laid on that lofty emi- nenoe on the Banks of the Kentucky river, which gives a most extended view of that lovely country whose beauties so charmed the adventurous . explorer of the then far West, as to induce him to devote a life of danger, privation and labor, to the object of making it the abode of civilization, and its name, the emblem of fertile fields, and treasures to be obtained from earth's surface.'
The lessons we may learn from the graves of our ancestors, and of the . pioneers of our City and State should not be neglected. We know-tho' we are apt to forget-the benefit we derive from their lives, but few reflect on the benefits they can confer on us after death, if we study the lessons which we ought to find on their tombs. The Philanthropy which calls forth those living exhortations from the dead, which are more pure and free from taint and stains of earth, than any that can be called forth from · the living, is peaceable, undefiled, full of mercy and good fruits ; and tho' these good fruits may require time to ripen and glow with the influences ' which the sun of righteousness will impart, yet they will in due time, bless and gladden. the hearts of those who mourn now, but shall be com- forted hereafter.
Many monuments besides those already referred to, in various styles of beauty, decorate Spring Grove. Among them are conspicuous those of Capt. J. PIERCE, W. S. JOHNSTON, J. C. WRIGHT, L. REEFUSS, 8. 8. L'HOMMEDIEU, in whose grounds hie the remains of CHARLES HAMMOND,
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
Astor, Lenox ana Ti den Four dations. 1906
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S. WIGGINS
WIGGINS
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EHRGOTT & FORBRIGER. i.ith Gin O.
LIOVA SAISSIA'S
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a man distinguished not only for talents of the highest order, and scru- pulous integrity in private life, but of incorruptible and rare honesty in a political career, which the prospect of offices of the highest distinction would not influence.
. But few vaults are found in our Cemetery, the policy of the Board being to discourage them. The following are distinguised by finely orna- mented fronts, with convenient and suitable interior arrangements, viz :
Those of VACHEL WORTHINGTON, SAML. R. WIGGINS, F. BODMAN, JAS. C. HALL, GRIFFIN TAYLOR, A. B. COLEMAN, S. DAVIS, S. G BROWN, and E. S. HAINES.
The Monuments of LARZ ANDERSON, R. CAMERON, BONTE, J. DARE, JAS. MCLEAN, C. BATES, J. O. SAWYER, (a graceful statue, ) J. T. FOOTE, DR. FORE, T. C. DAY, J. H. GROESBECK, and J. IUPPENTATZ, decorate the grounds appropriately: A small monument of white marble, on which is sculptured a rose bush with a bud separated from it by an arrow, and lying on the ground, exemplifies an appropriate, poetical idea, is seen in the grounds of G. K. SHOENBERGER.
The monuments of WM. RESOR and K. YARDLEY, are also highly orna- mented. .
The family monument of THOMPSON NEAVE, commemorate in enduring granite, two of our early and useful settlers, JEREMIAH NEAVE and OLIVER MARTIN. Those of R. BERESFORD, G. M. SHIELDS, M. SOUTHGATE, G. H. BATES, A. HURDUS, JOHN KENNETT, and J. R. CORAM, together with those of the efficient members of the small band of founders of Spring Grove, G. W. NEFF and WILLIAM NEFF, are in various styles of beauty, with many others erected, and in progress of erection, are among the attractions by which it is distinguished. Two of those in the south west portion of the grounds, excite much attention ; one on account of the graceful statue, of life size, with which it is surmounted. This is dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Groshon. The other is a memorial of Mrs. Frances Wright Darusmont, celebrated for her splendid talents as a writer, and for her disinterested efforts to improve the lot of the poor and humble, on earth, . all of which failed, not being based upon Christianity.
The lot on which is erected the monument to J. D. Douglass is a flower garden, cultivated with incessant care by a mother who has established already her own monument beside that of her son.
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Several hundred other monuments have already been erected in the Cemetery ; many more are in progress of erection and in contemplation, showing that the addition to grounds which have lately been made consti- tute a judicious investment, and a provision for a considerable period in the future, against that crowded appearance which a superabundance of monuments already gives to Mount Auburn and Laurel Hill.
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1905
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TORRENCE
EHRGOTT &FORBRIGER Lith. Cin 0.
MONUMENT OF GEO. P. TORRENCE. Executed by CHA! RULE.
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Trees.
The tree of life is a beautiful image-an image of a concentration of beauties, more extensive than any other object ; and that form of the manifestation of truth, which beauty affords, has no fairer emblem than trees.
A rural Cemetery without trees, would be like a sandy desert without water, affording as little nourishment to the heart, as the latter can give to the body. The first impression of each, would be a desire to turn from it our steps, and our thoughts.
The number and variety of the original forest trees of our country, contained in the site of Spring Grove, formed one of the causes of its selection for our Cemetery. Their names are included in the following catalogue, together with those that have been added from other parts of our country, and it is determined to continue these additions until they include all those which can be made to flourish in this climate. A valuable arboretum will thus be established, in a favorable situation, as well for the study of their peculiarities, as the enjoyment of their attrac- tions.
Trees must necessarily be beautiful objects. Good taste in their arrange- ment, in their varieties, and in their relative positions toward each other, and toward different objects, may increase their beauties, but nothing can take them entirely away, as long as they continue to flourish.
The indigenous trees of any country, are always among its interesting characteristics, and they form an important portion of its wealth.
In our city of the silent, will be found the remains of natives of a great number of countries-chiefly of the temperate latitudes-and above them, the trees of all their various native countries, are intended to be assembled.
The solemnizing influence of a deep forest has always been experi- enced and remarked. The beauties of the trees in their endless varieties, is seen and felt, inspiring solemn thoughts and feelings, without terror or repulsive gloom. This was probably the source of the Gothic style of Architecture."
"We are aware of the discussions on this subject, but give our own opinions.
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This style, admitting of an endless variety of ornament if required, of of exhibiting beauty in severe simplicity, if necessary, is peculiarly suitable for sacred architecture ; and the ancient cathedrals of Europe, by the adoption of this style, have become perpetual models of beauty and grace, more attractive to the sight, and more exciting to the higher feel- ings of our nature, than any of those heathen orders which include the Parthenon, the Erectheion and the Pantheon-or of the heavy Egyptian or ornate Indian.
The object of the unknown inventors of the Gothic style, was to com- bine, like nature, the grand and magnificent in outline with great variety of beauties in the details- beauties which may be multiplied or dimin- ished, according to circumstances.
Trees can not, naturally, be made to inspire melancholy feelings, altho' some, such as the Yew and the weeping Willow, are supposed to have that effect, but this is because they have been selected as emblematical of mourning. But seen even in this light, they are like sympathizing friends who weep with us in our afflictions, and thereby lighten instead of increasing our distress. .
The variety of indigenuous trees in our Cemetery, altho' to most of our citizens it will appear greater than they expected, will seem small to the naturalist, but the number of exotics in the following catalogue, will. exhibit a fair commencement of the design above mentioned, of establish= ing an arboretum.
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List of Trees and Shrubs
CULTIVATED AT SPRING GROVE CEMETERY.
1 Acer dasycarpum,
2 " platanoides,
3 rubrum,
4
" saccharinum,
Sugar
5
nigrum,
Black Sugar
Striped Barked "
7 Aesculus hippocastanum,
8 ohioensis,
Silver leaved Maple.
Norway
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Red €
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6 striatum,
Common Horse Chestnut.
Ohio Buckeye,
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LAWRENCE.
[JOSIAH LAWRENCE BORN APRIL 18. 1781. DIED JUNE 22.1852.
EHRGOTT & FORBRUER Lithi.Cm. 0.
MONUMENT OF JOSIAH LAWRENCE. Executed by CHA! RULE.
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9 Ailanthus glandulosa,
10 Alnus glutinosa,
11 Aralia spinosa,
12 Betula alba,
13 Castanea americana,
14 Carpinus americana,
15 Caryaalba,
16 " amara,
17 Catalpa syringifolia,
18 Celtis occidentalis,
19 Cercis canadensis,
20 Chionanthus virginiana,
21 Cornus florida,
22 Cratægrus Crus-galli,
23 Cytisus laburnum,
24 Diospyros virginiana, 25 Fagus sylvestris,
26 " purpurea,
27
pendula,
28 Fraxinus americana,
29 « sambucifolia,
30 aurea,
31 " pendula,
32
excelsior,
33
pendula,
34 lentiscifolia,
35 integrifolia,
36 quadrangularis,
37 salicifolia,
38 Gymnocladus canadensis,
39 Juglans nigra,
40 Kælreuteria paniculata,
41 Laurus Sassafras,
42 Larix europæa,
43 " microcarpa,
44 Liquidambar styraciflua,
45 Liriodendron tulipifera, -
46 Maclura aurantiaca,
47 Magnolia acuminata, 48 glauca,
4
Chinese Ailanthus. European Alder. Hercules Club. White Birch.
American Chestnut.
American Hornbeam. .
Shell Bark Hickory. Bitter Nut.
Catalpa. Nettle Berry.
American Red Bud.
White Fringe Tree.
White Flowering Dogwood.
Cockspur Thorn.
Laburnum, or Golden Chain.
American Persimmon.
American Beach.
Purple leaved Beach. " weeping "
White American Ash.
Elder leaved Gold barked
" weeping
English
weeping
Lentis leaved
Entire-leaved
Blue
Willow-leaved
Kentucky Coffee-tree.
Black Walnut.
Chinese Koelreuteria.
Sassafras. European Larch. American " Sweet Gum. Tulip Tree.
Osage Orange.
Cucumber Tree.
Fragrant Magnolia.
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49 Magnolia macrophylla, 50 tripetala, 51 Magnolia purpurea, 52 Mimosa jullibrissin, 53 Negundo fraxinifolia, 54 Nyssa aquatica, 55 Ornus europæa, 56 Ostrya virginica, 57 Platanus occidentalis, 58 orientalis,
59 Populus alba,
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