Erie Cemetery

{{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox Cemetery | name = Erie Cemetery | image = Erie Cemetery gate.jpg | imagesize = 250px | caption = Erie Cemetery's gate | established = 1850 | country = United States | location = Erie, Pennsylvania | coordinates = {{coord|42|6|41|N|80|5|5|W|display=inline, title}} | type = Public | owner = Erie Cemetery Association | size = {{convert|75|acre|ha}} | graves = <!-- how many gravesites --> | website = [http://www.eriecemeteryassoc.com/erie_cemetery.html/ Erie Cemetery] | findagraveid = 44764 | politicalgeo= PA/ER-buried.html#cms00095 }} '''Erie Cemetery''' is a historic cemetery located in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is situated on {{convert|75|acre|ha}} of land bordered on the east by Chestnut Street, the west by Cherry Street, the north by 19th Street, and the south by 26th Street.

== History == thumb|left|Porters' house is just to the right inside the entrance gate. The cemetery was conceived in October 1846 when a citizens group circulated a petition and collected $1,500 towards the purchase of land. A new subscription effort in December 1849 led to the incorporation of the cemetery on 29 January 1850, at which time seven managers were named. The deed was conveyed to the corporation on 28 March 1850, at which time a $1,500 deposit was paid and a judgment bond of $6,000 signed to secure payment of the balance due. Officers of the corporation were elected on 24 May 1850, namely George A. Eliot, President; William A. Brown, Secretary; and J. C. Spencer, Treasurer. H. Daniels was hired in December 1850 to develop the property. The formal opening of the cemetery took place on 20 May 1851. A porters' lodge was erected near the main entrance before 1885.<ref>{{cite book |title=History of Erie County, Pennsylvania |volume=1 |year=1884 |publisher=Warner, Beer's and Company |location=Chicago |pages=605–606}}</ref>

The Erie Cemetery Association manages the Erie Cemetery, as well as [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927235534/http://www.eriecemeteryassoc.com/laurel_hill_cemetery.html Laurel Hill Cemetery] in Millcreek Township and [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927235540/http://www.eriecemeteryassoc.com/wintergreen_gorge_cem.html Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery] in Harborcreek Township.

== Notable interments == Notable people buried at the Erie Cemetery:

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Name ! Date of birth ! Date of death ! class="unsortable"|Notable event or occupation |- | {{sortname|Elijah|Babbitt}} | {{dts|1795|7|29|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1887|1|9|format=dmy}} | U.S. Congressman |- | Rdml. John Marshall Bowyer | {{dts|1853|6|19|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1912|3|15|format=dmy}} | Rear Admiral, U.S.N., Superintendent of US Naval Academy, 1909–1911 |- | {{sortname|Samuel M.|Brainerd|Samuel Myron Brainerd}} | {{dts|1842|11|13|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1889|11|21|format=dmy}} | U.S. Congressman |- | {{sortname|Alexander W.|Brewster}} | {{dts|1796|6|6|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1851|5|26|format=dmy}} | Burgess of Erie (first person buried at the cemetery) |- | {{sortname|Harry T.|Burleigh}} | {{dts|1866|12|2|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1945|12|12|format=dmy}} | Famous African-American singer |- | {{sortname|Henry A.|Clark|Henry Alden Clark}} | {{dts|1850|1|7|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1944|2|15|format=dmy}} | U.S. Congressman |- | {{sortname|Judah|Colt}} | {{dts|1761|7|1|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1832|10|11|format=dmy}} | Early settler of Erie County |- | {{sortname|Charles A.|Curtze}} | {{dts|1911|5|8|format=dmy}} | {{dts|2007|12|26|format=dmy}} | World War II veteran, U.S. Navy rear admiral |- | {{sortname|Ed|Cushman}} | {{dts|1852|3|27|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1915|9|26|format=dmy}} | Major League Baseball pitcher, pitched no-hitter for<br /> Milwaukee Brewers in 1884 |- | {{sortname|Samuel A.|Davenport|Samuel Arza Davenport}} | {{dts|1834|1|15|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1911|8|1|format=dmy}} | U.S. Congressman |- | {{sortname|Daniel|Dobbins}} | {{dts|1776|1|5|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1856|2|29|format=dmy}} | War of 1812 veteran, manager of the construction of Perry's<br /> fleet for the Battle of Lake Erie. |- | {{sortname|Andrew P.|Forbeck}} | {{dts|1881|4|29|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1924|4|24|format=dmy}} | Philippine–American War veteran, Medal of Honor recipient |- | {{sortname|John|Galbraith|John Galbraith (Pennsylvania)}} | {{dts|1794|8|2|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1860|6|15|format=dmy}} | U.S. Congressman |- | {{sortname|William|Himrod}} | {{dts|1791|5|19|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1873|6|21|format=dmy}} | Industrialist, founder of Himrod Mission school |- | {{sortname|Sam|Jethroe}} | {{dts|1917|1|23|format=dmy}} | {{dts|2001|6|16|format=dmy}} | Major League Baseball player |- | {{sortname|David B.|McCreary|David B. McCreary}} | {{dts|1826|2|27|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1906|2|4|format=dmy}} | State legislator<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archives.house.state.pa.us/people/member-biography?ID=7513 |title=David Berkley McCreary |website=Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives |access-date=2025-12-20}}</ref> |- | {{sortname|Prescott|Metcalf}} | {{dts|1813|1|25|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1891|10|14|format=dmy}} | former Mayor of Erie |- | {{sortname|Seth|Read}} | {{dts|1746|3|6|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1797|3|19|format=dmy}} | Veteran of the Battle of Bunker Hill, early settler of Erie County |- | {{sortname|Charles M.|Reed|Charles Manning Reed}} | {{dts|1803|4|3|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1871|12|16|format=dmy}} | U.S. Congressman |- | {{sortname|William L.|Scott|William Lawrence Scott}} | {{dts|1828|7|2|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1891|9|19|format=dmy}} | U.S. Congressman, President of the Erie and Pittsburgh Railroad |- | {{sortname|Milton W.|Shreve|Milton William Shreve}} | {{dts|1858|5|3|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1939|12|23|format=dmy}} | U.S. Congressman, Erie County District Attorney,<br /> Pennsylvania state representative |- | {{sortname|Thomas H.|Sill|Thomas Hale Sill}} | {{dts|1783|10|11|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1856|2|7|format=dmy}} | U.S. Congressman, Burgess of Erie, Erie Postmaster |- | {{sortname|Strong|Vincent}} | {{dts|1837|6|17|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1863|7|7|format=dmy}} | Brigadier General, hero of Little Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg |- | {{sortname|Milden Henry|Wilson}} | {{dts|1847|7|26|format=dmy}} | {{dts|1924|2|5|format=dmy}} | American Civil War and American Indian Wars veteran, Medal of Honor recipient (Battle of Big Hole, MT)

|- | {{sortname|William|Young|William Young (Medal of Honor)}} | {{dts|1835|format=y}} | {{dts|1878|12|26|format=dmy}} | American Civil War veteran, Medal of Honor recipient

|} thumb|Alexander Brewster was the first person buried at the cemetery.

==References== <references/>

==External links== * [http://www.eriecemeteryassoc.com/ Erie Cemetery Association] * {{Find a Grave cemetery}} * [http://www.nativetreesociety.org/fieldtrips/penna/erie_cemetary/erie_cemetery.htm Native Tree Society]

Category:1850 establishments in Pennsylvania Category:Cemeteries established in the 1850s Category:Cemeteries in Pennsylvania Category:Buildings and structures in Erie, Pennsylvania Category:Rural cemeteries Category:Tourist attractions in Erie, Pennsylvania