 WOODLAND
CEMETERY,
'CITY OF THE DEAD'
FOUNDED IN 1871, CONTAINS
MORE THAN 8,000 GRAVES
Woodland Cemetery, Ironton's beautiful
“City of the Dead,” is rapidly increasing in its population, and
now, according to F. A. Bixby, a member of the Cemetery Board,
contains exactly 8,000 graves.
A review of the history of this place, noted throughout
the tri-state region for its beauty, shows that the greatest
increase in its sleeping population has been made within the past
ten or fifteen years.
Woodland was established 53 years ago, the records show,
and the first body buried there was that of Mrs. Dosetta Nolten,
who was removed from Kelly Cemetery to Woodland on May 18, 1871.
The first original burial in the cemetery was of Spiral Dillon,
who was buried on May 25, 1871.
In the first years of its history Woodland grew
comparatively slowly due mainly to the us of other cemeteries at
that time, and also due to the fact that Ironton was much smaller
in size than now. In January 1910, there were approximately 4,800
graves, each occupied by a single tenant. Thus there were about
4,800 bodies placed in the cemetery in 39 years, or an average of
123 a year, quite a small growth.
Starting about 1910, however, Woodland became more popular
as a burial site and from that year until the present time, 3,620
graves have been added, an average of about 241 per years.
DAVIS FIRST SUPERINTENDENT
When Woodland was established, a man by the name of Davis
was superintendent and he served one year. He was succeeded by
Jacob Klineman, who served two or three years and was in turn
succeeded by Ambrose Collier, who served until 1886. At that time
Nathan Sloane took charge and from that year until 1914, the
superintendence remained in the Sloane family.
The elder Sloane served until 1894 when he was succeeded
by his son Edward, who served until 1907, when he resigned to
accept the superintendence of the Marion, Ohio cemetery. When he
left Ironton his brother, Fred succeeded him until July 1, 1914,
when he left the city to take charge of the cemetery at
Youngstown, Ohio. This office then passed from the Sloane family,
Roy Haney succeeded him, and being reelected in July 1924.
It is almost entirely due to the constant attention given,
and the great interest shown in the work by this long line of
superintendent of Woodland, that the spot has become noted, not
only throughout the entire state of Ohio, but also throughout the
tri-state region, for its beauty and well-kept appearance. Much of
this credit is due to the Sloane family who had it under their
control from 1886 to 1914, a period of 28 years. The present
superintendent, Mr. Haney, has proved to be a able successor of
the Sloane family, and through his work and constant attention to
the duties. Woodland is daily becoming even more noted as a really
beautiful “City of the Dead”. All Ironton rejoiced in his
reelection to the superintendence last July, as it means that the
good work will continue.
Mausoleum Suggested
With the now rapid increase in the population of Woodland
rises a problem, what to do to secure more burial ground. It is
understood that even now the cemetery Board is worrying over this
subject and is attempting to purchase ground lying near the
present plot. One solution which has been suggested several times
and which will undoubtedly sometime come to pass is the erection
in Woodland of a large Community Mausoleum. It has been suggested
that the most appropriate location for this would be on the plot
of ground just inside the gate of the cemetery, on the left. Other
nearby cities have erected such mausoleums, Huntington having one
to accommodate about 600 cribs, and Portsmouth a similar one. Such
a mausoleum would likewise add much to the beauty of the entrance
to Woodland.
Many improvements have also been made outside the cemetery
which add greatly to its attractiveness. Years ago it was
necessary for all funeral processions to go up Third street to
Coal Grove, and then out the Maddyville road to what is now the
back entrance to the cemetery. This long journey was a great
hardship, considering that at that time there were no automobiles
and that much traffic was encountered on Third street. Later, when
the cemetery bridge was constructed, the processions would go up
Third to Lorain. The greatest improvement to date, however, has
been the paving of Sixth street, but even now much of the traffic
has followed from Third over to Sixth. An even greater improvement
is now under construction, and upon its completion the processions
will go up Sixth to Vine, then out Vine to Ninth and up Ninth to
the cemetery gates. Thus practically all of the traffic will be
eliminated.
Methods Improved
With the constant improvement and beautification of
Woodland has likewise come great improvements in burial methods.
Years ago the grave was indeed crude, and the coffin was lowered
only by means of straps held by the pall-bearers. Thus sometimes
the coffin would be elevated at all sorts of angles on its way to
the last resting place. But only today the grave presents a neat
appearance, while the coffin is lowered by a scientific method
descending smoothly and evenly. Such improvements make burial
services more pleasant.
Because of these great improvements both in and out of
Woodland, and also because of the faithful work of a long line of
successful superintendents, it is, and will continue to be known
as a really beautiful “City of the Dead.”
---Morning Irontonian, 11 January 1925, Sunday, Page 16
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