Highland Cemetery, Part 2: It’s history and some people buried there as it celebrates 150 years

By Stephen M. Edwards
Written in July 1986

The development of a cemetery for some of Kentucky’s historical figures, as well as a place for her people, was the topic of discussion in early December 1868. On December 12 of that year, at a regular scheduled meeting of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the question of a new cemetery arose. This was inspired by the fact the Old Sixth Street Graveyard in Covington was filled, and there were but a few plots still available in Covington’s Linden Grove Cemetery.

In order for development on the new cemetery to begin, many committees were necessary. There were many duties and responsibilities required of the men selected for these committees. One of their main requirements was to prepare and to complete an “Act of Incorporation.” They would also need to acquire land, with easy access from all parts of Kenton County. A charter would also need to be set up and put into action. Through the course of the months to follow, many more committees would be set up.

With the committees formed there was a distinct need for predetermined meeting time and place. The times and place of future meetings were generally discussed at each assembly. Many of the early gatherings were held in the Lecture Room of Covington’s Christian Church. They were later held at the Kenton Insurance Company in Covington.

The men working on the new cemetery were forging ahead with much success and admirable progress as each day passed more quickly than the previous one. Then finally the men who had been looking for a prime location had discovered several sections of land suitable for the site of the new cemetery. This land was comprised of eight tracts to be presented to the Board for approval. On March 1, 1869, it was concluded that of the eight tracts only three were to be purchased. These tracts were each independently owned by S.A. Hagerty, E.B. Sandford, and Thomas R. Sandford.

Of the three tracts, Hagerty’s was the most centrally located. It was situated at the front of the Lexington Turnpike. This tract contained a house, which was set on a parcel slightly over forty-one acres in size. The total purchase price of this land, as set by Hagerty, was $16,000.

The next tract to be purchased was that which belonged to E.B. Sandford. This parcel consisted of thirty-one and one-half acres at a total cost of $5,602.50.

The third and final tract to be purchased was that of Thomas R. Sandford. This land cost $5,602.50 for the entire forty-one and one-half acres.

With these three sections of land, the total area was a little more than one hundred and fourteen acres costing $27,205. With the location decided and the price agreed upon, funding had now become a serious consideration.

Upon purchase of this land, it would then be necessary to survey the ground and to devise an outline of improvement for the grounds. Funding, in the beginning, was estimated at a few thousand dollars. This, of course, was an extremely low amount, as shown in the final cost. It was thus determined that the sale of plots with advanced payment would help in the funding of the cemetery. The excess revenues could then be put to use on improvements, expansions and maintenance of the grounds.

Construction would not begin until $20,000 had been acquired. This money was to be raised by the sale of “Subscription Books” as shown on pages a and b (Minutes 3). These subscriptions were to be sold for not less than twenty-five dollars.

As reported on January 11, 1869, these “Subscriptions” to the “fund for purchasing land and preparing the same for a Rural Cemetery” were as follows:

By V. Shinkle 1,700.00
By A.J. Gray 1,700.00
By C.A. Whitcomb 100.00
By Thomas Reed Sen. 500.00
Total $4,000.00 (Minutes 7)

By February 1, 1869, the Subscription dollars had mounted to $19,000. Things were progressing effectively. Then on February 8, 1869, another meeting was held. At this meeting, the funds were tabulated and they amounted to $22,000.

With the proceeds being so large, the secretary, Peter Beall, was instructed to stock more Subscription Books.

At the meeting held on February 8, 1869, it was decided that the names of the people who had subscribed to the cemetery’s funds would be printed in the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Cincinnati Commercial. The dollar amount subscribed by each would be omitted. Along with this notice would be an open invitation to the March first meeting. Circulars were also going to be delivered to the subscribers requesting their presence at the meeting.

The March first meeting was an enormous success as well as a monumental stepping stone in the future progress of Highland Cemetery. People were so pleased with the overwhelming success and progress that eight more people had subscribed, bringing in a total of three hundred and seventy-five dollars. These contributions boosted the total to $23,475.

At this particular point in time, it became necessary to find a bank with which to deposit these proceeds. It was decided that the First National Bank of Covington, now known as the Kentucky National Bank, would be the depository.

With land acquired and money on hand, it was necessary to employ someone to survey the grounds. It was decided that George A. Yates would be the one for the job. Yates had good experience and agreeable rates.

Yates was paid ten dollars a day for the preliminary outline, topographical survey, and field work. All office work would then be performed at a cost of five dollars a day. (Minutes 32)

By March, laying out of the grounds was given the go-ahead and construction was ready to begin. There was one minor setback –the fact that no one had any previous experience in the development and layout of a graveyard. Due to this fact, it became necessary to seek the help of someone connected with another cemetery.

The most suitable prospect for this was Mr. Straus of the Spring Grove Cemetery, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Mr. Straus was asked if he would help in the laying out of the grounds for the new cemetery and he readily agreed to help with all that he could.

With Yates’ work and the help of Straus, the main “avenue” of the grounds had been laid out by April 15, 1869. This avenue was to be called Central Avenue. (Minutes 38)

On the third of June 1869, section one was completed and ready for use. The surrounding road of section one was called Prospect Avenue.

With this progress it was time to schedule the dedication. The date was discussed and then set for Tuesday, June 22, 1869. The dedication was to start at ten o’clock in the morning. The ceremonies of dedication to be ad follows:

l. Introduction by Band
2. Opening Prayer
3. Consecration Hymn
4. Address
5. Music by Band
6. Benediction (Minutes 54)

The dedication was extremely successful. The opening prayer was delivered by Reverend P.B. Miles, of the Christian Church of Covington. The Reverend D.H. Greer, of Covington’s Trinity Episcopal Church delivered the address. The music was that of the Newport Brass Band and vocals by the Covington Philharmonics Society. The closing consisted of a prayer by Reverend J.M. Worrall of the Presbyterian Church.

Over two thousand people were in attendance that afternoon to witness the grand dedication of Highland Cemetery. At the dedication the cornerstone of the receiving vault, which would be completed and ready for use in early November, was laid. Many items were set into the cornerstone. Among these items were a copy of the charter of the cemetery, a charter of the City of Covington, coins and daily Cincinnati newspapers.

Prices for plots had been set at twenty cents per square foot for lots facing the main road since these were considered the best locations in the cemetery. All remaining plots had been set at a price of fifteen cents per square foot. Through the course of the afternoon on the day of the dedication, fifty-six plots were sold at this price.

The first person to be buried at Highland was Mary Ann Blythe. Ms. Blythe was born in Frederick, Maryland, in 1798. Blythe was seventy when she died of paralysis on December 21, 1868.

She was originally buried in the Linden Grove Cemetery before being removed and placed in Section One, plot three of the Highland Cemetery. (See page c)

Among some of the prominent people buried at Highland are the following:

ELI BRUCE

Bruce was a Confederate Congressman and a neighbor of Robert E. Lee. Bruce died in 1866, and was buried in Linden Grove Cemetery. His body was removed from Linden Grove and placed to rest at Highland in 1917. (See page c)

SENTATOR RICHARD P. ERNST

Ernst was once a resident of Covington. He had possibilities of being a vice-presidential candidate with Calvin Coolidge, but was defeated by Alben Barkley. Ernst is also recognized as the founding father of Camp Ernst, located today in Boone County. He died in 1934.
(See page d)

JOHN W. STEVENSON

Stevenson, a U.S. Senator and a Kentucky Governor, had signed the papers of incorporation for the Highland Cemetery. He was first buried at Highland and now is interred in
Spring Grove Cemetery.

AMOS SHINKLE

Shinkle began his career as a cook on a flat boat. Saving the money earned from this, he bought a boat of his own. Shinkle used this boat to haul lumber from Eastern Kentucky to New Orleans. This business failed and he went into business with his brother. This venture proved to be quite profitable. With his newly acquired wealth he started investing. One of his most profitable investments was that of the Suspension Bridge. After his death, Shinkle’s widow donated some of their property to the Salvation Army for a women’s home. This property soon became the William Booth Memorial Hospital. (See page e)

J.D. SHUTT

Shutt was a successful businessman and a prominent citizen of his community. He was elected to city council in 1863 and served as it’s president two years later. He was nominated and elected to the state legislature in 1865, replacing Harvey Meyers. Shutt died February 24, 1895. He is now buried in a $40,000 mausoleum with a life-size statue of himself on the top. (See page 3)

The front-runners of the original cemetery plan had little idea of what the growth and outcome of the idea would be. The cemetery grew larger than their expectations. It became one of Kentucky’s largest non-profit cemeteries.

In 1917, the chapel and receiving tomb were destroyed by fire. All that remained was the archway above the front door. This disaster was a major tragedy since there was no fire insurance on the chapel. (See page f)

Rebuilding was immediately started. A committee was selected and instructed to visit other chapels for ideas on modern renovations. The chapel was completely rebuilt by the end of 1917.

The chapel was last used for services in 1947. Then in the early 1950s, it was reopened for services. To this day the chapel is still available for public use without charge.

The Linden Grove Cemetery which planners had earlier feared would reach saturation, to this day still has numerous plots available. Could it be that the opening of Highland was the cause of Linden Grove not becoming full as expected?

In fact the cemetery once located at the west end of Sixth Street, also called the “Old Sixth Street Graveyard” and the “Craig Street Cemetery” was shut down in 1872. This action was a result of the graveyard becoming rundown. It was then relocated to Highland in this same year.

Highland now has 250 hundred acres with 46, 483 interments. (Howell) Highland Cemetery provides burial plots for more than 70,000 sufficient for another century. (Pamphlet)

So, as can be seen through the course of the years to follow, much of Kentucky’s history as well as the history of Highland are now set to rest within its acreage. This was the ultimate goal of the few which originated the idea of Highland Cemetery, to have a permanent resting place for their family and neighbors.

Added – 2009

CLIFF BORLAND, SR.

Borland helped found Newport Steel. Eventually, he became the President and CEO
of its holding company, NS Group, Inc. In 1990, the company became the first in
Northern Kentucky listed on the New York Stock Exchange. He died Feb. 19, 2009
Sec. NA, Building 3, Crypt 96

JUDGE THOMAS JEFFERSON PHELPS

Phelps served in the Confederate Army, staff officer on General Stonewall Jackson’s
staff. He was a Kenton County Judge for 3 successive terms. Died Feb. 27, 1897 in
Paris, KY. Sec. 5, Lot 96

EUGENE C. VON RIESTENBERG

Von Riestenberg started Oktoberfest in 1976, when he was President of the
German American Citizens League as a tribute to the German-Americans, who helped
settle Cincinnati. Died Jan. 10, 2005 Sec. 27, Lot 227, Gr. 1

ALEX C. PAPAS

Papas former owner of Chris A. Papas & Son Co. The company that makes those
popular chocolate-covered opera cream Easter eggs. Mr. Papas was an Army Veteran
of WWII and the Battle of the Bulge. He received four Bronze Stars among other medals
for his service. Died Oct. 11, 2004 Sec. 24, Lot 30, Gr

Highland Cemetery General Managers:
George Yates 1869-1871
Thomas Murray 1871-1882
George H. Haug 1882-1885
Thomas H. Wright 1885-1907
William H. Rosenfeldt 1907-1955
Julius H. Rosenfeldt 1956-1971
Earl Kuhnell 1972-1987
Thomas R. Honebrink 1987-