Muskingum County, Ohio - Chapter 8: Burying Grounds, 1882

" There is a reaper whose name is Death, And, with his sickle keen, He reaps the bearded grain at a breath, And the flowers that grow between."

The second graveyard, was where the Cooper Mill road now intersects Woodlawn avenue. In 1802, Dr. Increase Mathews donated this tract, containing two and one-half acres, to the village of Putnam, for a burying-ground. The first person buried there was Mrs. Mathews, consort of Dr. Increase Mathews ; this event took place in June, 1802. These grounds now form a part of "Woodlawn Cemetery."

The graveyard at the head of Main street was probably opened as early as 1807. A Mr. Elijah Hart was buried there, in March, of that year. John Mclntire's tomb is all that remains distinguished as such to mark this burial-ground. The fragments of gravestones, scattered around, are sad mementoes of the forgotten and neglected dead - the heroes and honored of long ago. Perhaps a thrill of grateful remembrance may enter the bosoms of the City Fathers and induce them to take better care of this place ; it would seem to be their duty, for as early as 1816 the town of Zanesville took charge of this Cemetery.

Zanesville City Cemetery was laid out in 1835, ^^^ bodies were removed from other grounds to it. The original tract contained a little less than seven and one-half acres, purchased of Richard Stillwell, March 5th, 1835-, for $476.00. It is located about one mile east of the Court House, on the north side of the National road. The first addition to this cemetery was made by the city of Zanesville, April i, 1852, in the purchase from Captain Joseph Moorehead of a fraction over two acres, for the sum of $600.00 ; and, on the same day, a further addition of a little more than five acres, purchased from J. V. Cushing, for $1,560.00. [See Muskingum county Records of Deeds, Book P, .p. 337, and Record of Deeds, Book 21, pp. 317, 322.] The next addition, April 13, 1852, by purchase of six and one-third acres from R. P. Robinson, for $ i ,270.00 ; [See Record of Deeds, Book 21, p. 365]; and again, March 11, 187.5, by purchase of two acres from Wm. W. Miner, for $2,000.00 ; [See Record of Deeds, Book 62, P- 3373 ) ^^^ again, March 6, 1878, about twenty acres, from Henry Blandy, for $6,000.00. [See Record of Deeds, Book 66, p. 619.]

The first interment in the City Cemetery, was that of Sarah Ann, wife of Jacob Stout; she was buried Sunday, October 24th, 1835. "^^^ second was Lot Barr ; the third, Mr. James Durban, father of Thomas Durban.

W^ooDLAWN Cemetery. - In 1850, Charles C. Convers obtained a charter for an association known as "The Proprietors of Woodlawn Cemetery ;" in anticipation of which, C. C. Convers and A. A. Guthrie purchased from Dr. Increase Mathews the east end of the north half of the southwest quarter of section twelve, Springfield township sixteen, ranges thirteen and fourteen, embracing fifty-five and one-half acres, more or less (see Record of Deeds, book 20, p. 14), for which was paid $4,358.00.

On the 5th of August, following the purchase, Charles C. Convers, Charles B. Goddard, Richard Stillwell, Isaac Dillon, Solomon Sturges, Corrington W. Searle, Hugh J. Jewett, Ebenezer Buckingham, Albert A. Guthrie, Alvah Buckingham, Henry Blandy, Daniel Applegate, George James, Daniel Brush, William Galligher, Allen Metcalf, Ezra B. Eastman, and George N. Guthrie, having each paid fifty 'dollars for a first-class lot, met pursuant to notice, at the office of C. C. Convers, in Zanesville, and organized the society, and elected officers, in accordance with the provisions of the charter, resulting as follows :

The Board then confirmed the purchase of the tract of land heretofore specified, on the terms stated. The terms of purchase were, $1,000 down and the balance as follows : $1,000, payable November i, 1853 ; $1,000, payable November I, 1854; and $1,000, payable November i, 1855, and the balance payable November i, 1856, the several notes bearing interest.

The improvement of the grounds began in 1852, under the personal direction of the President, who laid them out. He designed the avenues and walks, and it is but just to say that he not only preserved the natal beauty, but added greatly thereto, and also devised harmonious adornments, rendering it a place of peculiar attraction.

In 1853, the cemetery was publicly dedicated. Among the exercises, was an address by the President, A. A. Guthrie, that, on account of its beauty and appropriateness, was printed in pamphlet form.

Roman Catholic Cemetery. - The first graveyard used by this denomination was on the rear of the lot now occupied by St. Thomas' Church, on Fifth street. The first person buried on this ground was John S. Dugan, who was accidentally killed March ii, 1825. It has been claimed that three persons, named Nicholas, Tudor, and Pratt, who were Quakers, were buried here, in 1815, and that this was "the Qiiaker graveyard;" this, however, is all we know, and is not certified. When St. Thomas' Church was erected, the dead were removed to the present Cemetery, on the National road, about a mile east of the Court House. The site was purchased for the church, by Bishop John B. Purcell, of Cincinnati, of Richard Stilwell, for $i6o. It contains a fracBon less than two acres. The purchase was made August 14, 1835. [^^^ Record of Deeds, Book Q^, p. 30.]