xt72bv79sb7b https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt72bv79sb7b/data/mets.xml Johnson, Lewis Franklin, 1859- 1921  books b92-148-29450470 English Roberts Printing Co., : Frankfort, Ky. : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Frankfort Cemetery (Frankfort, Ky.) History of the Frankfort cemetery  / by L.F. Johnson. text History of the Frankfort cemetery  / by L.F. Johnson. 1921 2002 true xt72bv79sb7b section xt72bv79sb7b 





           HISTORY




               OF THE





FRANKFORT CEMETERYi



BY L. F. JOHNSON
    1921



ROBERTS PRINTING CO.
FRANKFORT, KY.

 

COPYRIGHTED 1921
BY L.F. JOHNSON

 


















               TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                          Page.
    Preface . ..................................................     5
Chapter 1-
   The Incorporation . ..............    ..........................  9
   Report of Legislative Committee . ............l..............   n
   State Monument .   ....................................  13
   Theodore O'Hara .      ..........................................  23
Chapter 2-
   Lots Purchased by State ..........      .........................  27
   Revolutionary Soldiers and Others Buried in State Lot ...... 27
Chapter 3-
   Other Prominent People Buried at Frankfort .....       .......... 35
Chapter 4-
   The Names and Location of Noted People, Offices Held by
       Them, or Other Incidents Worthy of Note .        ............. 55
   Summary of National and State Officers .....        ............... 61
   The Natural Scenery of Grounds, c. ......        .................  62
Chapter- 5-
   Revolutionary Soldiers . .......        ............................  66
   The War of 1812-1815 . ........        ............................  66
   Soldiers of Mexican War .       ................................67
   Confederate Soldiers of Civil War . ......      ................... 68
   Federal Soldiers of Civil War . ......       ......................  71
   Spanish-American War . ........    ...........................73
   Soldiers of World War ........         ............................  73
   Trustees of Cemetery Company . ......        ......................  74
 This page in the original text is blank.
 









                    PREFACE


    We cherish the memory of the soldiers who gave their
jives to the service of this country and who have thus secured
for their native State an honored name among the states of the
Nation.
    We rejoice that so many of the officers and men who won
lasting fame for Kentucky during the wars in which this
republic has been engaged, and who laid down their lives in the
defense of their country, have been removed to the State's
beautiful necropolis, and that they now rest in the bosom of
their native State and their bodies have become a part of the
earth for which they gave their lives. We rejoice that our
fathers have preserved in granite and marble the names of
those men who fell in the defense of this country, and by so
doing they testified to the world their regard for Kentucky's
gallant dead. We are also proud of those great Kentuckians
whose virtues and faithful service in civil life "are lamps unto
our feet and lights unto our path." Their purity of life, their
wisdom and their patriotism make their dust the most sacred
heritage of a patriotic people.
    All the nations of the earth have honored, and have
striven to perpetuate, the memory of their great and good. The
Jews carried with them the bones of Joseph, their benefactor,
during their wanderings through the wilderness, while in search
of the Promised Land. The pyramids of Egypt are monuments
to the great men of an early civilization.
    The ceremonies over the remains of the departed and the
manner of disposing of the dead have differed among different
nations, but all nations have rendered homage to, and have
honored in some way, their departed heroes, and no people
have ever arisen to power or greatness who have not striven
to perpetuate the memory of their great men and women. No
nation, whether barbarian or civilized, has failed to show some
 






maiurks of respect and honor for their distinguished dead. We
are told that the barbarians turned aside the course of a river
in order that their chieftain, Alaric, might be buried in the
bed of the river, and the water changed again to its natural
course so that no foe could desecrate the grave of their hero.
     For half a century the people of Kentucky searched for a
 secure and permanent place in which to deposit the ashes of
 their loved and honored dead. Their efforts were finally
 rewarded and the ideal place which is now used for that pur-
 pose was secured in the year 1845.
     It is eminently proper that the mortal remains of these
distinguished men should be gathered from   all parts of the
earth, and that thev should find a last resting place in Ken-
tuckv's "CITY OF THE DEAD," which overlooks the capitol
of the State. Our fathers have erected here the monumental
columns upon whieh have been inscribed the names and deeds
of Kentucky's noted sons, in order that their children in all
time to come mayr make their pilgrimage to this holy shrine, as
did the knights of old to the Holy Land; that they may read the
History of Kentucky as it has been carved in marble and
granite. The pens of Xenophon and Herodotus, of Livy and
Tacitus, have made immortal the names of Greek and Roman,
who deserve less from posterity than do many of the great men
who nlow sleep in the necropolis of this Commonwealth.
    Kentuckv has made this cemeterv her temple of honor,
and the mortal remains of her great men have been gathered
from the State and Nation and from foreign countries, until
these grounds have become the Ver.vResting Place of Honor-
The Westminster Abbey of this Commonwealth.
    They who (onceived the idea of collecting into this ceme-
terv the ashes of Kentucky's distinguished dead conferred a
lasting benefit upon those who came after them, in that it pre-
sented to their minds those conspicuous examples of patriotism
and virtue which are worthy of emulation. The coming genera-
tions of this Commonwealth will regard a burial in the State
Cemetery at Frankfort as the most distinguished honor which
can be conferred upon their dead, and they will covet such
honor as did the-English Captain who said to his men as he went



6



PREF4ACE3
 






into battle, "Now then for a victory or a tomb in Westminster
Abbey." We know not what the future has in store for us, but .
we know that we are going the way of all the earth, that "Be-
yond the dim unknown standeth God within the shadow, keep-
ing watch above his own."
    When we think of the so-called "death" of our great and
good, we have a counsciousness that men like these never die;
death to them is but a circumstance in their existence. We have
a consciousness of their immortality that they are still with us
in spirit; they revisit the scenes of their earthly activity and
commune With kindred spirits. We believe that in a brighter
and better world we shall meet and know them; that they will
all live again; yes, that they do now live, for there is no death.

           "There is no death, but Angel forms
             Walk o'er the earth with silent tread;
           They bear our best loved things away,
             And then we call them dead.
           But ever near us though unseen
             Their dear immortal spirits tread,
           For all the boundless universe
             Is life.-there are no dead."
                                        -The Author.



7



PREFACE
 This page in the original text is blank.

 









           KENTUCKY'S NECROPOLIS


                       CHAPTER I.
                    THE INCORPORATION.
    The Frankfort or State Cemetery was incorporated by Act
of the Kentucky Legislature, approved February 27th, 1844.
(The incorporators were Edmund H. Taylor, A. G. Hodges,
IHenry Wingate, Mason Brown, Jacob Swigert, A. P. Cox,
Philip Swigert, Orlando Brown and M. R. Stealey.)  The Act
provided that seven trustees should be elected by the share-
holders, once every five years. The proceeds of the sale of lots
and all money that came to the corporation from any other
source should be applied, first, to the reimbursement of those
who had made advancements for the original outlay and pur-
chase; and whatever should he paid afterwards, for all time to
come, should be used to ornament and improve the grounds
and defrav incidental expenses. The Frankfort Cemetery was
the second incorporated cemetery in the United States. Mt.
Auburn, at Boston, Mass., was the first.
    The Act provides that the grounds shall be used for burial
purposes only, and that no roads shall be opened through the
grounds. It prescribes that in addition to their other duties
the trustees shall preserve an accurate map and survey of the
grounds and lots. and have the same recorded in the Clerk's
office of the Franklin County Court, and also in the office of
the Clerk of the Court of Appeals. It is made their duty to add
such fixtures as may be necessary for the use or ornament of the
grounds, with power to lay off and sell burial lots, etc.
    When -a burial lot is purchased the trustees shall give a
certificate thereof, under the seal of the corporation, which
shall vest the purchaser with title. If this -title is not trans-
ferred by the grantee it shall descend or pass by devise as
other real estate.
 




HISTORY OF THE FRANKFORT CEMETERY



   Section 5 provides: Any person defacing any of the tomb-
stones, monuments or enclosures, or injuring any of the
grounds, shrubbery, fixtures or buildings, or in any manner
damaging the grounds of'the corporation, shall be punished
by fine or imprisonment and be liable to the corporation for
civil damages. There was an amendment to this Act which
provided for the superintendent to reside on the grounds, and
which vested him and other employees of the company with
police power to arrest persons trespassing and committing
depredations and offenses in the grounds. This was approved
April 7th, 1888.
    On February 16th, 1845, Ambrose W. Dudley and Eliza
G. Dudley, his wife, conveyed to the Frankfort Cemetery Coin-
pany thirty-two acres of land, then known as "Hunter's
Garden," the consideration for which was three thousand,
eight hundred and one dollars. In the year 1911 the com-
pany purchased from Mrs. Bessie L. Exum and others thirteen
acres, for which was paid the sum of three thousand and
twenty-five dollars. The grounds now consist of one hundred
acres of land, the original cost of which was six thousand, eight
hundred and twent'-six dollars.
    In the year 1890 the company erected a chapel at an
expense of about seven thousand dollars. This building is of
artistic design and is located on the brow of the hill overlook-
ing the Kentucky River and the City of Frankfort. It adds
materially to the beauty and convenience of the grounds.
    When the company secured the original tract of land it
employed Mr. Robert Carmichael as landscape gardener. This
gentleman was not only learned in his profession but -he also
had several years' experience in Scotland prior to this employ-
ment. The symmetry and harmony which prevails every part
of these grounds proclaim that a master mind had planned the
original construction and embellishment thereof.
    In the year 1919 the company reconstructed the approach
or driveway to these grounds at a cost of about six thousand
dollars. About twelve inches of well prepared macadam was
overlaid with about four inches of rock asphalt; this makes a
substantial and beautiful driveway.



10
 




HISTORY OP TEE FRANKFORT CEMETERY



     The- location of' these grounds is ideal. - The contour of
the land is sufficiently undulating to' furnish a variety of
scenery and at the same time- it is level enough for the purpose
for which it was set aside. Mr. Carmichael died in the year
1858 -and was buried in- the grounds which he had done so
much to beautifv.
     In January, 1.846, the books of the company were opened
for the sale of lots, the deeds to only a very few of which have
been recorded.
     In the year 1.847 the Legislature of Kentucky, by resolu-
tion, appointed a committee for the purpose of inquiring into
the policy and expediency of causing a suitable monument to
be erected at the most eligible point in Kentucky in honor of
the officers and soldiers who have heretofore and who may
hereafter fall in the defense of their country, and to mark the
resting place of her illustrious statesmen; also, report the most.
suitable place to be selected in which Kentucky may deposit
the ashes of her illustrious dead.
    The committee reported that in discharge of those duties
they visited the grounds of the Frankfort Cemetery, recently
laid off and improved, on the hill immediately above the capitol,
known formerly as "Hunter's Garden." They found it to be
a spot of great beauty and remarkable for its commanding
situation and romantic and picturesque seenerv. The grounds
embrace thirty-two acres, enclosed by a secure and excellent
fence of walnut and cedar, which affords perfect security to
the place. Good buildings are provided within the enclosure
for the superintendent, who constantly resides there, and whose
dutv-it is to take care of the improvements that have already
been made and to superintend such as the -company may think
proper hereafter to make, to keep the grounds in neat and
complete order and protect the same from the slightest injury
or trespass. Its high elevated situation, being about three hun-
dred feet above the Kentucky River, affords a fine and com-
manding view of that stream which winds at the base of the
hill or bluff. From -a portion of this ground you have a view
of the capitol and the greater portion of that part of the city
of Frankfort north of the river, the whole of South Frankfort



11
 





HISTORI OF TRIP! FRANKFORT CEMETERY



the bridge across the Kentucky River, and for many miles over
the surrounding country.
     The elevated situation of this point, the purpose for which
it has been set apart, consecrated and forever devoted and
dedicated, the neat and tasteful manner in which it has been
improved, point it out in the opinion of your committee as the
most eligible point that could be selected for the erection of a
grand and splendid monument for the purpose contemplated
in the preamble and resolutions; also the most suitable place
to be selected as a public burying ground for Kentucky.
     Your committee would further state that by the charter of
the company it is forever set apart as a cemetery; no road can
pass through it; it is not subject to execution or sale; it can
never be used for other purposes. It has been handsomely laid
off into small lots for the use of families, portions of which have
been sold and handsomely enclosed. The proceeds arising from
the sale of the lots are forever to be applied to the improve-
ment and ornament of the grounds.
    The letter which Judge Mason Brown, as chairman of
the Cemetery Company sent to the committee states: "You
will discover, by the charter of the company, that the Frankfort
Cemetery is strictlv a charitable and benevolent institution and
wholly free from speculation or gain. The sole object of the
gentlemen who established it was a desire that they and their
friends might have a secure, permanent and beautiful spot in
which to deposit the ashes of their dead; that while living they
might have pious hands keep the briars and weeds from the
graves of those they loved, and when laid by their side, the
same melancholy but consoling care might be bestowed upon
them. The grounds of the cemetery embrace thirty-two acres.
There will have been expended during this and the ensuing
year, in' the original purchase and improvements, the sum of
twelve thousand dollars. Its romantic situation and improve-
ments make it, as they believe, an interesting and beautiful
spot.
    I am charged by the company to state that should it meet
the views of your committee they will cheerfully convey to the
State the beautiful mound in the center of- the grounds, which



12
 




HISTORY OF THE FRNKFORT CEMETERY



is sufficiently large for all State purposes. The company is
unwilling to receive any compensation for it now or at any
future period. All that they would expect or desire is that it
be kept by the State in the same neat and simple manner in
which the lots of private individuals are kept, so as not to mar
the beauty of the place. I am also charged to say that should
the legislature at any time hereafter desire any other ground
on which to erect such a monument as is alluded to in your
note and resolutions, the company will cheerfully give to the
State any unoccupied spot in their grounds on which to erect
same. (Signed) Mason Brown, Chairman Company."
    y3v an Act approved February 25th, 1848, fifteen thousand
dollars was appropriated for the purpose: "To erect a monu-
ment to those who have fallen in defense of the country." The
mound on which the State monument is erected is known as
"The State Mound," and also as "The Bivouac of the Dead,"
so called bv Theodore O'Hara in his poem which has gained
national celebrity, "The Bivouac of the Dead."
    Mr. Robert E. Launitz, of New York, one of the mol(SE
skilled workmen in America, was emploved to do the work;
most of the carving was done in Italy. The material was
shipped to Frankfort by way of the Mississippi River. A barge
was sent to New Orleans for the purpose of receiving it directly
from the vessel, and it was delivered at Frankfort without any
injury.
    The monument rests on a base twenty feet square, made of
Connecticut granite. Many of the blocks of which the monu-
ment is mnade weigh five tons each, the weight of the whole
being more than one hundred and fifty tons; the height of the
monument is sixtv-five feet. The Statue of Victory which
crowns the column was placed in position in June, 1849. The
material of the monument was imported from the noted quarry
of C. Fabricotti Carrara, and it was considered the purest and
richest monumental marble ever brought to America; at the
time it was received it was free from all blemishes and was uni-
form in color. Some of the blocks are now showing the effects
of the elements to which they have been exposed for more than
half a century, and some have become colored in places, caused



13
 




14HSTORY OF THE FRANKFORT CEMETERY



by the rust of the dowel pins which were used to hold the blocks
in place.
    The Statue of Vietory which crowns the work and the
four eagles which guard the corners of the die were sculptured
in Italy from the models prepared by Mr. Launitz. The other
relief figures on the panels, the coat of arms and the rest of the
marble work was executed bv Mr. Launitz in-New York City.
    On the upper base, facing the west, is the inscription, "The
principal battles and campaigns in which her sons devoted their
lives to their country are inscribed on the bands and beneath
the same are the names of her officers who fell. The names
of her soldiers who died for their country are too numerous to
be inscried on anv column."
    On the north side of the upper base is a tablet on which is
inscribed "Military Monument erected by Kentucky, A. D.
1850."
    On the east side of the same is "Kentucky has erected this
column in gratitude equally to her officers and soldiers."
    Facing the south is the coat of arms of Kentucky, with
the motto of the State: "United we stand; divided we fall." On
the bands are inscribed the names of twenty-two battles or cam-
paigns and beneath these bands are the names of eighty-four
officers who fell in battle. A biographical sketch of these
eighty-four men would give the history of Kentucky for more
than half a centurv.
    The names of these officers are as follows: Beginning at
the top band on the south side of the column are the words
"Cerra Gorda;" on the panel below which there is no name.
On the next band is "New Orleans," and the next below that is
"1Iassissinaway," on the panel below neither of which is there
inscribed any name. This shows that no officer from Kentucky
lost his life in any of the battles named. The next band is
marked "St. Clair's Defeat," on the panel beneath which is the
name of "William Oldham." Then follows:
                     "Estill's Defeat"
               Capt James Estill
               Lieut.     - South



14
 




HISTORI OF THE F11ANKFORT CEMETERY



                      'Tippecanoe"
               Col. Joseph H. Daviess
               Col. Abram Owen
               Capt. Jacob Warrick

                      "Fort Meigs"
               Col. William Dudley
               Capt. John C. Morrison
               Capt. Christopher Irvine
               Capt. Joseph Clark
               Capt. Thomas' Lewis

                      "Blue Licks"
               Col. John Todd
               Col. Stephen Trigg
               Maj. Silas Harlan
               Maj. William McBride
               Capt. Edward Bulger
               Capt. John Gordon
               Capt. Isaac Boone

    On the east side of the monument all the bands and panels
(seven in number) are without name of battle or officer killed
except the last or lowest one on the column which is marked
"United States Navy."

             Lieutenant John Gunnell Talbot
                  Drowned at Kalihikai
                  December 19, 1870.
             Lieutenant Hugh Willson McKee
             Killed in Corea June 11, 1871.
                   Master Alfred Foree
                 Drowned off Georgetown
                     April 12, 1872
             "All in the perforynagtie of dtuly."



is
 





1IISTORY OF THE FRAN KFORT C'EM EN IR.RIY



Just above the base is inscribed:

           By order of the Legislature
         The name of Col. J. J. Hardin
         Of the 1st Regt. Illinois Infantry
               A son of Kentucky
      Who fell at the battle of Buena Vista
              Is inscribed hereon.

On the north side is:

                   "Mexico"
              Lieut. J. W. Powell

                "Bonesborough"
           Panel left without a name

                  "Harmon's Defeat"
               Capt. J. McMurtry
               "W ayne's Campaign"
               Col. .John Hardin

                  -'Monterev"
               Maj. P. N. Barbour

                 "Buena Vista"
          Col. William R.. McKee
          Lieut. Col. Henry Clay
          Capt. William T. Willis
          Adjutant F. P. Vaughn

                   ''Raisin"
          Col. John Allen
          Maj. Benjamin Graves
          Capt. John Woolfork
          Capt. N. G. S. Hart
          Capt. James Meade
          Capt. Robert Edwards



16
 




HISTORY OF THE FRANKFORT CEMETERY



                   '-Raisin"
          Capt. Virgil McCracken
          Capt. William Price
          Capt. John Edmonson
          Capt. John Simpson
          Capt. Paschal Hickman
          Lieut. John Williamson

On the west side is:

                  "Thames"
          Col. William Whitley
          Capt. Elijah Craig

                "Indian Wars"
          Col. John Floyd
          Col. Nathan Hart
          Col. Walker Daniel
          Col. William Christiarn
          Col. Richard Callowliy
          Col. James Harrod

                "Indian Wars"
          Col. William Lynn
          Maj. Evan Shelby
          Maj. Bland Ballard
          Capt. Christopher Irvine
          Capt. William McAfee
          Capt. John Kennedy

                "Indian Wars"
         Capt. Christ. Crepps
         Capt.       Rogers
         Capt. William Bryant
         Capt. Tipton
         Capt. Chapman
         Capt. McCracken



17
 




HISTORY OF THE FRA N K POUT CETM E'TiR V



                      "Indian Wars"
               Capt. James Shelby
               Capt. Samuel Grant
               Survr. Hanck.- Taylor
               Survr. Willis. Lee

                    `Little Big Horn"
                By order of the Legislature
          The name of Lieut. John J. Crittenden
                    20" U. S. Infantry
               A brave Kentuckian who was
                  Killed in the battle of
                    "Littlet Big Horn"
                On the 25" of June, 1876
                While performing his duty
                   Is inscribed hereon.

                        "Raisin"
               Lieut. Robert Logan
               Lieut. Thomas C.- Graves
               Lieut. Thomas Overton
               Lieut. Francis Chinn
               Ensign Levi Wells
               Ensign Shawham
                        "Raisin"
               Surgn. Alexander Montgomery
               Surgn. Thomas C. Davis
               Surgn. John Irvine
               Surgn. Thomas Mcllvane

    The base of the monument is made of granite, the founda-
tion of stone and the column of Italian marble. The whole
is inclosed by an iron fence to protect the column from vandals,
sometimes called relic hunters.
    There are four cannons placed near the monument, two
of which were taken from the enemy at the battle of Buena
Vista, both of which were spiked by the enemy before they were



18
 




HISTORY OF.THE FRANKFORT CEMETERY



surrendered.. The other two belongwed to the State and were
taken from the State arsenal.
     To the north of the State Monument is the tomb of Henry
Clay; .Jr., son of the great commoner. . He was Lieutenant
Colonel of twvo Regiments of Kentucky Infantry.: Near him
on his left is the tormb of Cary H. Fry, Major of Second Ken-
tucky Regiment; the next one to him on the left is that of
Adjutant (., N. Canrdwell, and the last one in that row is Col.
WA. E. McKee. All of these officers fell while in the discharge
of their duitv at the tattles of Buena Vista.
    To the. south of the militarv monument- are the tombs of
Adjutant E. M. Vaughn 'of the First Kentucky Cavalry, and
W. T'. Willis, Captain of Second Regiment, both of whom were
killed at. Buena Vista. On the west side are the tombs of
Ezekiel H. Fields. Lieutenant Colonel - of . First Kentucky
Cavalry. and James W. Moss, who was Captain of Company
"A" in the Mlexican War, and in the Civil War he was Captain
of Company "A" C. S. A.; he was promoted to the position of
Colonel. Ife was, killed at the battle of Jonesboro, Georgia.
    Just north of the Clay tomb are two small markers; on one
is inscribed "Lieutehant Colonel R. H. King, 3rd -Kentucky
Cavalrv V. S. A.; died June 8th. 1866." On the other is "Capt.
A. G. Bacon, 3rd Kentucky Cavalry, U. S. A.;. killed at Sacra-
mento, Kentuckyj 'December. the 28th, 1861, aged 42 years."
Captain Bacon was killed in a hand to hand fight with General
Bedford Forrest. The A. ('. Bacon Post of the Franklin
Countv G. A. R. was so named to commemorate his name.
    On the extreme Worth of the military mound is a monu-
ment erected to the, memory of Philip Norboimrne Barbour, by
Kentucky to her brave and noble son. He was brevetted for
valor in the Florida War and brevetted Major for gallantry in
the Mexican War.' "He fell at the head of his command, cov-
ered with honor and glory at the storming of Monterey, Sep-
tember 21st, 1846."
    Near the Harbour monument and just' south of it is a small
slab recently placed there by the Susanna' Chapter of D. A. R.,
which marks the -grave of' "Lieut. Presley Neville O'Banion,
who departed this life' September 12th, 1850, aged 74 years."



19
 




HISTORY OF THE FRANKFORT CEMETERY



This slab is about three feet long and eighteen inches wide.
At the age of twenty he was Lieutenant under Commodore
Stephen Decatur to the Algerian Coast. Lieut. O'Banion lead
the charge under Capt. Eaton, who was killed when the fif-
teen pirate ships were taken. O'Banion, with seven of his men,
was the first to jump on shore and pull down the Algerian
colors and raise the American colors. This took place at Dene
Fortress. On his return to America he was regarded as the hero
of the expedition. The city of Philadelphia gave him a gold
mounted saddle and the women embroidered a white satin cover
for it. Congress presented him a jeweled sword and had his pic-
ture painted. He was in the Kentucky Legislature from 1812 to
1820. His wife was a daughter of a Revolutionary soldier.
    Between the Barbour monument and the State Monument
is a small stone marked:

       "Dr. John G. Keenon, Born in Frankfort, Ky.,
                     Oct. 20th, 1827
       Commissioned Brigade Surgeon Oct. 9th, 1861
     Died in service at Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 12th, 1864
   He was Brigade Surgeon with rank of Major U. S. A."

   The following is a list of the Kentuckians who were killed
in the different battles of the Mexican War, and whose remains
were brought back and buried in the State lot, near the State
Monument, at the expense of the National Government, to-wit:

        William H. Maxey            Mexico
        Sergt. Henry Wolf           Buena Vista
        James Seston                Buena Vista
        Major Updike                Buena Vista
        Robert Latta                Mexico
        L. B. Bartlett              Buena Vista
        John Spratt                 Mexico
        William Blackwell           Buena Vista
        Ezra R. Price, Born Dec. 23,
          1817; Died July 7th, 1848  Mexico
        John Ellingwood             Buena Vista



20
 




HISTORY OF THE FRANKFORT CEMETERY



Abram Goodpaster
Lieut. Ed. F. Hogg, 19 Ky.
  Vol. Inft. Died Feb. 4th,
  1863; aged 24 years
John Sanders
1Lenrv Edwards
W. C. Green
Yves J. Thorean
  Thorean was a Mexican who
  joined the IJ. S. forces
  and was killed the follow-
  ing day.
C. B. Thompson
Tilford McH. Dozier
Enoch Bronton
Oliver H. P. Beard, Capt. of
  the 1st Regt. Ky. Vol.
  Died of wounds received
  at the battle of Buena
  Vista.
John A. Scott
Harvey Trotter
Ambrose H. Hampton, Died
  Dee. 25th, 1883, aged 69
  years.
Cincinnattus Ramey
Thomas Weigert
Clement Jones
Henry Carty
William Thwaits
William W. Bayles



Buena Vista



Buena
Buena
Buena
Buena



Vista
Vista
Vista
Vista



Buena Vista
Buena Vista
Mexico





Mexico
Buena Vista



Buena
Buena
Buena
Buena
Buena
Buena



Vista
Vista
Vista
Vista
Vista
Vista



    On the south side of the military grounds is a stone, in-
scribed "G. W. Gilmore, a Lieut. in the Mexican War. Repre-
sentative from Pulaski County 1850-1. Died in Frankfort
while serving as senator from the 17th District, May 7th, 1880,
aged 56 years."
    Located on the southern part of the State mound is.the un-



21
 




2  ISMTORY OF T1lE FRANKFORIT CEMETERY



marked grave of an unknown Mexican soldier. He might be
regarded as the "typical unknown" from Franklin County who
gave his life for the honor of his country. The following is the
story concerning this grave: When Captain Benjamin Cave
Milamn, who is buried a short distance south of the State
mound, was organizing his Franklin County Company of
Cavalry for the Mexican war, a young man from       Shelby
County, Kentucky, made application to become a member of
this Company. biut on account of his extreme youth the Captain
refused to enlist him; a few davs later he renewed his applica-
tion, his widowed mother came with him and joined in the re-
quest and thereupon he was enlisted'; he manfully bore his part
of the toil and hardships of the campaign.
     When Captain Milamn was ordered to charge the Mexican
Lancers at Beuna Vista he directed the boy to remain in a place
of safety, but he begged to participate and said that he would
be called a coward if he did not do his part; Captain Milam
very reluctantly yielded his consent and after the battle the boy
was found on the battlefield pierced through by a Mexican
lance, his body was returned with the other members of his
Company who lost their' lives at that battle, but by oversight
or some unknown reason his grave was left unmarked. The
foregoing is only tradition, but the grave is there unmarked
and it has become the "typical unknown" of the Mexican
heroes who gave their lives for their country.
    In the year 1851 the Legislature of Kentucky, by com-
missioners, contracted with Mr. Robert E. Launitz for the erec-
tion of a monument to the memory of Col. Richard Mentor
Johnson and for which the State paid the sum of nine hundred
dollars. At the time this work was completed it was considered
one of the most beautiful monumental structures in the United
States and though the elements and vandals have greatly
marred its beauty during the past half century, it still sfiows
that a master in his art planned and executed the work.