Glenwood Cemetery
October 13, 2025
The following digitized map was found on searchiqs.com. Info Quick Solutions, Inc. (IQS) is a site that the Niagara County Clerk has partnered with to digitize many of their books and maps.
This map of Glenwood Cemetery was originally found in Book 12 on Page 1149-1151.
September 25, 2025
The following is an extract from the 1878 History of Niagara County.
“GLENWOOD CEMETERY.
The Glenwood Cemetery Association was formed in May, 1865, with the following officers : President, Joseph Ballard; vice-president, J. H. Helmer; treasurer, J. H. Helmer; secretary, George W. Bowen. The first trustees were Jason Collier, D. M. Mather, Peter B. Aiden, Silas H. Marks, Calvin Haines, J. H. Helmer, Joseph Ballard, George W. Bowen, William B. Gould, Daniel Van Valkenburgh, John Hodge and B. L. Delano. The superintendent, from the beginning to the present time, has been Mr. George Woods, to whom we are indebted for the data from which this article is written.
An attempt was made to purchase land to enlarge the Cold Spring Cemetery. Failing in this project, it was found necessary to open the Glenwood Cemetery, in order to keep pace with the growth of the city. About one hundred acres of land, situated north of the road known as the “old railroad,” a mile from the center of the city, were purchased of Michael Wheaton at $80 per acre. The locality selected is admirably adapted to such an object, being only conveniently removed from the business portion of the city. The extensive grounds seem to have been formed in all their picturesqueness by some convulsion or upheaval from beneath, or a violent sundering of masses of earth from the brow of the mountain, to shape the hills and valleys with which they are broken, and which afford an opportunity for the display of skill in improvement which has been seized upon and profited by by [sic] those who have had the grounds in charge.
The association secured the services of Frederick E. Knight, the accomplished civil engineer who laid out the Central Park grounds in New York. He planned the drives and general form of the cemetery, and the work was carried forward under the supervision of the superintendent, who directed the workmen in the laying of pavements and the construction of sewers. Improvements are in progress all the time. A large vault was built in 1875, and a fountain is partially completed which, when finished, will add much to the beauty of the grounds. Many fine monuments have been erected, the most conspicuous being those bearing the names of Daniels, Keep, Bowen, Fox, Richmond, Moody, Marks, Hodge and other prominent families of the city. Perhaps the most imposing monument in the cemetery, and the one to which attaches the greatest interest, is that of ex-Governor Washington Hunt, erected to his memory by influential political friends in all parts of the Union, at a cost of $6,000. It is twenty-two feet high from base to top, and all the dies are bronze. The following is a copy of the inscriptions and a description of the devices on the different sides. South side: “In grateful remembrance of the public services and the private virtues of Washington Hunt, who departed this life February 2nd, 1867, aged 54 years. Many friends have united in erecting this monument.” East side “Conscientiously attached to the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, he was a distinguished member for the last fifteen years of his pure and honored life.” North side: “With eminent ability and patriotism, he successively filled the offices of First Judge of Niagara county, Representative int he Congress of the United States, Comptroller and Governor of the State of New York.” West side : Coat of arms of the State of New York in bronze relief, and the word “HUNT” in large, square letters near the base.
Glenwood cemetery is open for the interment of people of all classes, sects and religions, a portion of it being set aside for the use of the Jews, who are seldom buried in the same ground with people of the different Christian denominations. It is justly the pride of the citizens of Lockport. Few cities possess so creditable an improvement, and its founds deserve a permanent memorial upon the grounds so properly selected and so tastefully beautified.”
The images from the book are found on Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/cu31924100387392
September 8, 2025
The following is an extract from the 1869 Gazetteer and Business Directory of Niagara County, NY in the Lockport portion of the Gazetteer of Towns.
“There is not a progressing improvement in the city partaking as largely of commendable enterprise as the Glenwood Cemetery, located in the northern part of the city. It is characterized by irregular and approachable hills, intervening ravines and extensive flats. The location is beautiful and romantic, and, as a resting place for the dead, appropriate and retired. The rapid increase of population in the city made it a necessity to procure some other location for a cemetery. The spot selected was the Cold Spring Cemetery, where memory may still linger over the graves of esteemed friends and respected citizens, and where rests the remains of Jesse Hawley, to whom De Witt Clinton gave the credit of the first intimation of the construction of the Erie Canal, in a series of articles published in 1807, under the signature of “Hercules,” in the Ontario Messenger. The benevolent public spirit of few individuals, gave the first impulse to the needed changes. Public sentiment justly bestows the merit of originators to Joseph T. Bellah, Hon. George W. Bowen and Dr. J. H. Helmer; by whose solicitations, some forty other citizens, became interested, subscribing the sum of $5,000, which was appropriated to the purchase of 80 acres, for the sum of $7,000. An organization was perfected under the statute, October 13th, 1863, and is now controlled by the following board of officers: -Joseph T. Bellah, President; D. A. Van Vankenburgh [should be Van Valkenburgh], Vice President; G. W. Bowen, Secretary; J. H. Helmer, Treasurer; and an efficient board of resident trustees; $26,000 has already been expended for well advised and judicious improvements. The skill of a talented engineer, Fred. E. Knight, has been made available in laying out broad avenues, convenient approaches to the various lots, combining the beauty of simplicity with attractive interest. Twenty acres of the ground now laid out, under the superintendence of the able and energetic Geo. Wood, show a rapid, permanent advance of improvement. The avenues are underlaid with the most substantial stone sewers. Among the most attractive marks of respect, is the appropriate monument to the memory of the late Ex-Governor Washington Hunt. Another, in beautiful form, denotes the resting place of William P. Daniels, who is remembered and esteemed as an enterprising business man, identified with some of the most extensive projects of public improvement, whose industry and capacity, secured for himself and family more than a needed competence.”
The above page from the 1869 Niagara County directory was found on HathiTrust at: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/yale.39002005939427?urlappend=%3Bseq=91
A color scan is available on Ancestry at: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/41199_1220706242_4247-00090?usePUB=true&_phsrc=Exj76&pId=1427473220
August 24, 2025
The following four cemeteries advertised in the 1911 Lockport City Directory:
August 21, 2025
Since the 1910s, the Daughters of the American Revolution have been transcribing unpublished records to help preserve them. They then publish these as part of the Genealogical Record Committee (GRC) Reports.
To learn more about these reports, you can read my blog: https://jeanettesgenealogy.com/dar-grc-reports-part-1-of-3-background/.
One of the GRC Reports is a 208-page volume (#317 of the Cemetery, Church, and Town Record Reports) from the DAR Niagara Falls Chapter (of which I am a member) of records that were copied from the Niagara County Historian’s Office.
The report lists the name of the person that was buried, born, died, and the name of the cemetery.
Here is the FamilySearch link to the volume (#317): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSS9-J4SZ-S?.
Multiple volumes were put on the same microfilm reel. Here is the breakdown of the images:
Many cemeteries were listed as being represented in the volume:
Cambria
Hartland
Lewiston
Lockport
Newfane
Niagara & Niagara Falls
North Tonawanda & Wheatfield
Pendleton
Porter
Royalton
Wilson
June 20, 2025
The following digitized map was found on searchiqs.com. Info Quick Solutions, Inc. (IQS) is a site that the Niagara County Clerk has partnered with to digitize many of their books and maps.
This four-part map of Glenwood Cemetery was originally found in Book 12 on Page 1138-1140.
February 10, 2025
One of the FamilySearch microfilms that has been digitized is the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church records. Included in the records is a section titled “Burials” in which there is a chronological listing of deceased members. Information includes:
In Volume 1 there were less than 100 burials recorded between August 1869 and July 1886. Images 60-62 of 276 can be found at: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3WH-V9WV-L?i=59&cat=52640.
Volume 2 burials begin September 1883 and end October 1903. Images 149-154 of 276 can be found at: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3WH-V947-G?i=148&cat=52640.
The burials in Volume 3 begin February 1904 and end April 1939. Images 240-249 of 276 can be found at: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3WH-V9WF-B?i=239&cat=52640.
Of the burial listings, the following Niagara County cemeteries were found:
August 26, 2024
Washington Hunt (1811-1872) was the 17th Governor of New York State. He lived much of his adult life in Lockport, NY.
Washington Hunt on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Hunt
He is buried in Glenwood Cemetery in Lockport. You can see his memorial on Find a Grave here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5480/washington-hunt
On Wikimedia Commons, there is a stereograph of Washington Hunt’s monument shown below: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Governor_Washington_Hunt_monument,Glenwood_Cemetery,_Lockport,_N.Y,_by_Plimpton%26_Ruggles.jpg
Stereoscopic images would look 3D when viewed through a stereoscope. You can learn more here at: https://stereoscopicviews.com/.
And/or watch this YouTube video:
August 21, 2024
The following article was found in the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal on 19 February 1962.1
“Glenwood Group Will Observe ’63 Centennial
Glenwood Cemetery Assn. will observe the 100th anniversary of its incorporation next year, and a committee has been formed to plan the occasion, President Carol H. Buri said today.
The cemetery was incorporated in 1863, though headstones show burials on the site as early as 1820. Elmer S. McCloy heads the committee, with Dr. Robert L. Downes, Daniel F. Witte and Herbert S. Knight as members.
Mr. Buri was chosen for an eighth term as president at the annual meeting last week. Other officers elected are: Vice president, Mr. Knight; treasurer, Raymond M. Noble; and secretary and assistand treasurer, Walter J. Schweichler.
Re – elected trustees for three-year terms are: Lawrence V. V. Moss, Mr. Buri, Raymond L. Cothran and Robert C. Bishop. Holdover trustees are Mr McCloy, Wolcott Keep, Mr. Witte, Dr. Downes, J. Milton Woodward, Mr. Knight, Mr. Noble and C. Rhodes Palmer.”
August 12, 2024
One of the FamilySearch microfilms that has been digitized is the Grace Episcopal Church records. Included in the records is a section titled “Burials” in which there is a chronological listing of deceased members. Information includes:
Between January 1905 and December 1928 there are 515 burials that were recorded in this church record. January 1905 begins on image 307 of 414. The record ends on image 326 of 414. The records are mostly in chronological order, however the book ran out of room for 1927 and 1928, so those records were continued on earlier pages that had space available (such as image 310 of 414).
The beginning of the burials (image 307 of 414) can be found at: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS5F-46V6?i=306&cat=52389.
Of the 515 burial listings, the following Niagara County cemeteries were listed: