LAWRENCE & DOUGLAS CO [IN PERSPECTIVE] by Patricia A. Michaelis, Ph.D., Historical Research & Archival Consulting photos by Steven Hertzog Because urban cemeteries often were overcrowded, cities across the country began to move them a few miles In his inaugural address in 1864, Mayor R. W. Lud- and mausoleums in a landscaped parklike setting. The dington called for a new cemetery to serve as a site with rural cemetery movement mirrored changing attitudes to- “sepulchral tness for sacred reminiscences where de- ward death. Images of hope and immortality were popu- parted friends could be remembered.” It was to replace lar, and statues and memorials included depictions of an- Pioneer Cemetery, which was a distance from town gels and cherubs, as well as botanical motifs such as ivy and contained the remains of victims of the 1863 raid representing memory, oak leaves for immortality, poppies by William uantrill and his guerrillas. As a result, the for sleep and acorns for life. city of Lawrence purchased land for what became Oak For Oak Hill Cemetery, this meant creating that desired Hill Cemetery in 1865 and authorized Mayor Gurdon parklike setting. However, an article in the Daily Kansas Grovenor to look for a professional landscaper. In the Tribune on March 26, 1870, pointed out the City’s failure meantime, Holland Wheeler, and engineer hired by to meet that goal: the City, platted the site, and the City sold 250 lots, While it is true that nature has lent many charms with the proceeds being used to pay for surveying and to the site selected, and individual taste and af- fencing the property. fection contributed to its adornment, the grounds The cemetery was to be designed on the “rural cemetery still lack the improvement which the friends of ideal,” which had been popular in eastern cities because the beloved dead should have bestowed on of the effects of industrialization—smoke, grime and pol- them. We do not want to find fault with our City lution of all sorts. Urban cemeteries with limited room to Council. They have done much of the past year’s expand were overcrowded, and graves were sometimes work well, and deserve commendation for many stacked on top of each other. Rural cemeteries were typi- things. But it seems to us that there might be cally built one to five miles outside of the city, far enough more attention paid to the cemetery. Individual to be separated from the city but close enough for visitors. effort might be made to a greater and better pur- They often contained elaborate monuments, memorials pose, and the city ought to spend more money 8 9 in laying out the walks and planting trees. As this is the season of tree-planting, the suggestion, we think, is not inappropriate, that every person having a relative reposing there should plant a tree. Evidently, the City took notice. The next spring, Grovenor, former mayor and then cemetery superintendent, placed an ad in the Daily Kansas Tribune for 75 elm trees for Oak Hill Cemetery. The cemetery has several connections to Quantrill’s Raid. Many of those who died were buried in a trench on Mount Oread called the long grave. In 1872, the City of Lawrence decided to reinter these raid victims to Oak Hill Cemetery. Others killed in the raid were buried in vari- ous places throughout Lawrence. Mayor Grovenor invited the families of these victims to be reburied in Oak Hill Cemetery, as well. On May 30, 1895, the Quantrill’s Raid Memorial was dedicated. The inscription on one side of the granite monument reads: “Dedicated to memory of the one hundred and fifty citizens who defenseless fell victims to the inhuman ferocity of border guerrillas led by the infamous Quantrell [sic] in his raid upon Lawrence, August 21st, 1863.” The other side’s message was: “The roll of their names may be found in the city Clerk’s office Lawrence. And in the records of the State Historical So- ciety, Topeka.” Oak Hill Cemetery was integrated from its inception. This is not surprising given the abolitionist sentiments of the City’s founders. For a time, the Daily Kansas Tribune print- ed the names of those receiving permits for burial. The notice in the Jan. 30, 1870, edition indicated that “burial permits were issued for the interment in Oak Hill Cem- etery of Etta B Ellis, aged 4 months; Fannie Bowers (col- ored).” Gabriel Gray, an African American minister, was one of the early burials. Jesse and Frances Dillard, African Americans who lived in the Pinckney neighborhood, were also buried in Oak Hill. Charles and Mary Langston, the grandparents of Langston Hughes who raised him during his time in Lawrence, are buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. In Section 4 of the cemetery, there are graves of veterans of the 79th and 83rd United States Colored Troops. All of these burials are interspersed among the graves of white Lawrencians. In the years following the Civil War, Decoration Day was established to honor those who died fighting for their country during this conflict. A proclamation of Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) in 1868 stated that the first majorMemorial Day observance was held to honor those who died “in defense of their country during the late rebellion.” Known as “Decoration Day,” mourners honored the Civil War dead by decorat- Arlington.” The first governor of Kansas, Charles Robin- Executive Office Space For Lease: ing their graves with flowers. On the first Decoration Day, son, and his wife, Sarah, are buried there. The graves of STARTING AT $530/MONTH Gen. James Garfield made a speech atArlington National early Lawrence activists include James H. Lane, James Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to deco- Blood, Richard Cordley, James Emery, Wilson Shannon INCLUDED rate the graves of the more than 20,000 Civil War soldiers and John Speer. Lucy Taylor, the first woman dentist in buried in the cemetery. This built on a pre-Civil War tradi- Kansas, is interred in Oak Hill. The cemetery includes tion of decorating graves of family members in the spring. several mausoleums including one for John Usher, Sec- In the 1870s and 1880s, Decoration Day observances in retary of the Interior under President Abraham Lincoln. Lawrence were elaborate. According to the “Order of Ex- The graves of Lawrence businessmen Justin Bowersock ercises,” arranged by the Lawrence GAR post and printed and Jabez Watkins are in in the May 28, 1871, Daily Kansas Tribune, at 12 noon: the cemetery. Prominent “one hundred guns will be fired from Oak Hill cemetery, all Kansas University basket- bells of the city will be tolled for thirty minutes, all steam ball coach Forrest “Phog” whistles blown, all flags displayed at half mast, and the Allen is buried in Oak Hill, Lawrence Office Center band will discourse a dirge from the headquarters of this as well, along with many 4830-4840 Bob Billings Parkway Post.” At 3 p.m., a procession was to be formed by various other notables. 40 YEARS groups to go to Oak Hill Cemetery. Those participating in Oak Hill Cemetery is a the parade included a mounted escort of Knights Templar, peaceful place that illus- EXPERIENCE orators of the day, the band, G.A.R. and all other soldiers trates the goals of the rural and sailors, city government, fire department masonic fra- cemetery movement with + ternity, Odd Fellows, Good Templars, Turnverein Society, its rolling terrain. If explored Newly University cadets, all other organizations, citizens on foot, in detail, it presents a look REMODELED CUTTING EDGE citizens mounted and citizens in carriages. The memo- at the people who founded Small Offices rial program was to begin at 4 p.m. with an anthem by Lawrence and made it a PRIVATE TECHNOLOGY the choir and a prayer by the Rev. Richard Cordley. The prosperous city. Oak Hill West Lawrence program included speeches by T. D. Thatcher, Gen. John Cemetery is located on GREAT Fraser, the Rev. N. S. Sage and I. S. Kalloch. The ora- East 15th Street and Oak LOCATIONS tions were interspersed with musical numbers including Hill Avenue, and can be Contiguous GET LYNN the “Star-Spangled Banner” and “America.” The decora- accessed from Elmwood LARGER tion of graves followed the program, and the event con- Street. p SPACES AVAILABLE ON THE LINE! cluded with a benediction by the Rev. F. M. Ellis. Similar Memorial Day programs were organized for the following Lots of OPPORTUNITY 758-843-LYNN years. Oak Hill Cemetery became one of the attractions for visi- tors to Lawrence. The Daily Kansas Tribune for May 9, 1881, described the cemetery as follows: Oak Hill Cemetery is situated half a mile east of the city ELECTRIC SERVICE limits. A high mound forms the center of the grounds, tak- • Commercial • 24-Hour Service ing a gradual slope in every direction. This is arranged • Industrial • Commercial into terraces, covered with blue-grass and ornamented • Multi-Family • Industrial with shade trees. At the summit of the mound is the flower garden, appearing in summer, like one vast bouquet of • Design Build • Residential choice flowers. A few yards west of this is a fine marble Free State Business Center • Design Assist • Parking Lot Lighting shaft, marking the resting place of Gen. James H. Lane. 1201 Wakarusa Drive • Remodel • Panel Upgrades At the eastern extremity of the grounds are buried the heroes of the Lawrence massacre. … Much attention is bestowed by the city upon its cemetery, especially upon Decoration Day. 725 N 2nd Street, Suite K, Lawrence KS 66044 So many well-known people are buried in Oak Hill Cem- etery, journalist William Allen White called it the “Kansas To Schedule a Tour Call www.LynnElectric.com John (785-760-0638) or Dave (785-550-8137) 1 80.