Tri-Counties Genealogy & History by Joyce M. Tice Glenwood Cemetery, Troy Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania Cemetery History Bradford County PA Chemung County NY Tioga County PA

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HISTORY OF GLENWOOD CEMETERY BY Wilber H. Parsons, Secretary Published in 1922 Booklet Retyped for Site by Patricia SMITH Raymond

Joyce's Search Tip - December 2007 - Do You Know that you can search just the Bradford County Cemetery Records on the site by using the Cemeteries -Bradford button in the Partitioned search engine at the bottom of the Current What's New Page? If you use that partition follow these steps to search just one cemetery.  1. Choose Cemeteries - Bradford.  2. Enter part of the cemetery name [ie Ballard or Berrytown] AND a surname. 3. Choose the Find ALL Words option. Then it will find just the pages with that surname in the one cemetery you indicated.  See also - Bradford County Cemetery Addresses

Glenwood Cemetery Association, Troy, Penna.

Rev. Elisha Rich was the first Minister to the First Baptist Church which was located in the Cemetery. This is the oldest grave of which there is a record.

The early history of Glenwood Cemetery is closely related to the history of the Baptist Church of Troy. In the early records of the church we find the following: "In 1808 Elder Elisha Rich, and Elisha Rich, Jr., also a minister of that denomination, both of whom now sleep in the older portion of the beautiful Glenwood Cemetery, and the latter of whom was the maternal grandfather of Mr. Edwin Loomis and Mrs. Frank Leonard, came from Vermont to carve them out a home and a fortune in this then wild and sparsely settled wilderness. Rich, not only in name but also in faith and good works, the pious father and son mourned over the desolations of Zion among the few and scattered pioneers, and longed for the time to come when God should visit His plantation and grant refreshing showers.

"They had not long to wait, for the same year came Elder Jesse Hartwell, a missionary from Massachusetts, who gathered the devout into an organization known at the time as: ‘The Baptized Church of Christ at Burlington,’ Troy not having as yet been formed from that large and generous township. True to ancient instincts and precedents, there were, in this case, just ‘eight persons saved by water’—Elder Elisha Rich, Elisha Rich, Jr., Phoebe Rich, Pegga Rich, Russell Rose, Lydia Rose, Moses Calkins and James Mattison, placing their names on the first church-roll written for Troy."

March 25, 1809, the heroic little band met, probably in the humble home of one of their number, and appointed a committee consisting of Aaron Case, Elisha Rich, Jr., John Barber and Eli Parsons, "to search for a place for a graveyard and suitable site to build a church." This quartette of earnest workers with a zeal well worthy of universal emulation, immediately addressed themselves to the business in hand, the result being that on May 6, just one month and thirteen days later, worship was held in the Block Meeting House, long since sunken into decay and invisibility within the limits of the old burying ground east of the village.

The church which was erected on these grounds was of hewn logs and was in size 24 by 36 feet with a gallery on three sides. It is reported that Reuben Wilber and Stephen Palmer hewed the logs.

In a history of the Baptist Church written by Elder Thomas Mitchell we have the following: I understand this land was donated by the Riches and that a deed of it is to be found among the Lycoming Records at Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

The rectangular part of the cemetery enclosed by the road and row of maple trees is known as the "old section." There are no records showing the lot owners in this portion of the cemetery. However, nearly all lots or graves are distinctly marked with markers or monuments. It is believed that the log church stood on this section owned by the Ezra Long Estate. Records show that purchases were made from the land surrounding the church from time to time as more land was needed. These purchases all being within what is known as the "old section."

The deed for the land on which was located the original cemetery and the log church was held by the First Baptist Church of Troy until Feb. 3, 1912, when it was deeded to Glenwood Cemetery Association. This was done in order that the ground would be subject to the rules and regulations of the Association and that it might participate in the benefits derived from the care and maintenance of the association and in any bequests or endowments the association may receive for the keeping up of the cemetery.

The early Baptist Church was used for twenty-three years when, on account of their increasing members, and desiring a more convenient location, they erected a church on Canton Street where their present one now stands.

After the agitation of the subject of an improvement of the Troy Cemetery for a number of years by some of our citizens, foremost among whom were C. F. Sayles, H. F. Long and Rev. S. L. Conde, a meeting was called at the Troy House, June 5, 1877. At this meeting a good number of leading citizens were present, S. W. Pomeroy being chosen chairman and Delos Rockwell, secretary. S. W. Pomeroy, Delos Rockwell, John A. Parsons, Geo. N. Newbery, Brainard Bowen, Chas. F. Sayles, E. H. Dewey and Lester G. VanHorn were appointed "a committee to see what additional lands could be bought for, locate lines for old grounds, ascertain how many have been sold in the same and what has been done with proceeds of such sales." At the next meeting it was determined to purchase suitable lands, and S. W. Pomeroy, Geo. N. Newbery, Delos Rockwell, N. M. Pomeroy and Wm. Morgan were appointed a committee to purchase lands and secure subscriptions of stock. On the 9^th of July, Capt. B. B. Mitchell proposed the name of Glenwood, which was adopted, and Geo. N. Newbery, Brainard Bowen and Wm. Morgan were appointed to purchase additional grounds, and Chas. F. Sayles to procure a landscape gardener. A charter was applied for and men were set at work on the grounds clearing them up. 17.27 acres of land were purchased from V. M. Long, extending the grounds to the road and widening the tract to embrace what is now contained in the cemetery enclosure. N. M. Pomeroy and Geo. N. Newbery were appointed to employ men and set them at improving the grounds. F. K. Knights, of Cortland, N.Y., a landscape gardener of skill and experience, was employed to lay out and beautify the grounds. At the meeting Sept. 24^th work was reported as progressing favorably, fence built, walks nearly completed and a vault was decided upon.

The Association known as the Glenwood Cemetery Association having procured the necessary charter fixed its capital stock at $10,000 divided into 200 shares of $50 each.

On May 7^th a clause was added to the By-Laws that lots in the old grounds should receive the same attention as lots in the new.

On this lot, owned by the Ezra Long Estate, stood the Block  Meeting House, or First Baptist Church. Erected in 1809	This picture was taken June 2001 by Joyce M. Tice to show comparison with the 1922 photo at left.

Meetings of the association were held annually or more often when required up to the year 1887. During the next few years there were very few meetings probably due to the fact that many of the original stockholders who had formerly taken an active interest in the association as trustees or officers had passed away and it was impossible to secure a quorum.

On June 18^th, 1904, a meeting of the stockholders and stockholders’ representatives was called. There were six persons present. The treasurer’s report at that time showed a balance of $2.38 and about $150.00 due the association from notes and accounts.

John A. Parsons was re-elected president and S. B. Aspinwall, treasurer, Frederick E. VanDyne was elected to succeed Benjamin B. Mitchell as secretary, who died May 24^th, 1904.

Several endowments had been received from individuals but the income from them and from the sale of lots was not sufficient to keep the cemetery in good condition. It became a question among the stockholders how the association could be continued without additional funds for doing the necessary work.

Through some of his friends located in Troy, Mr. Henry P. Davison of New York City became interested in the financial condition of the cemetery and after visiting Troy and conferring with the officers of the association was pleased to offer to make an endowment of $25,000.00 in memory of his father and mother, George B. And Henrietta Davison, provided those interested in the cemetery would raise an amount sufficient to make the following improvements:

First.—In building a lodge or house to be occupied permanently by the caretaker of the cemetery.

Second—In improving the driveways and paths, as they appear upon the plan or chart prepared by the landscape architect and adopted by the association when said cemetery was laid out, by macadamizing or otherwise treating them so that they will be neat in appearance and permanent in character.

Third—In installing a system of water supply throughout the grounds to serve, from hydrants conveniently located, for the purpose of sprinkling lawns and flower beds.

A circular letter regarding the above was sent out Sept. 27^th, 1911, by the president to those interested in the cemetery, and on Oct. 19^th, 1911, a special meeting of the stockholders was called.

A motion was passed to accept the proposition of Mr. Davison, and the following committee was appointed to raise the necessary fund: Frederick E. VanDyne, Benjamin B. Mitchell, Thos. W. Parsons, Mrs. Geo. O. Holcombe and Mrs. Mary E. Hoffman.

At a meeting held on March 28^th, 1912, the subscription committee reported $13,200.00 subscribed. At a later date the above amount was increased to $15,000.00.

Inasmuch as the committee had succeeded in raising more than $12,000.00, the amount originally estimated for the improvements, Mr. Davison offered to make a further contribution of $15,000.00 or to expend an amount equal to that to be used to construct a bridge and put in the necessary grading for an entrance on the Long’s Pond Road or the north side of the cemetery.

On June 25^th, 1913, Glenwood Cemetery Association purchased from N. R. Stanton 2.42 acres of land which extended from the original boundary line north to the Long’s Pond Road. With this land arrangements were completed for the bridge and road, making a north entrance to the cemetery.

The improvements were commenced in 1913 and completed in 1915. The firm of Wadley & Smythe, New York City, Landscape Contractors, looked after the complete work of improving the roads, grading, drainage, water system, etc.

At a meeting held on Oct. 19^th, 1911, action was taken on the amendment of the charter, Section 6, to change the number of trustees from sixteen to five and also to change the word trustees to directors and to add a vice-president to the office so that the same shall read as follows:

Sixth, the business of this corporation shall be done by a board of five directors who shall be stockholders and be annually elected by the stockholders on the second Tuesday in January in each year and such directors shall elect one of their number as president, and one of their number as vice-president, one of the number as secretary, and a suitable person as treasurer. Carried, on motion.

Action was also taken to change Section Seven by striking out the clause: "Income shall not exceed $500.00 per annum."

In 1916 the need for a new tool house was so apparent that Mr. Davison instructed the officers of the cemetery to see that it was constructed, and made an additional gift of this building. This was placed on the north side of the cemetery near the lodge.

According to the trust agreement between Henry P. Davison and the Bankers Trust Company the terms of which are in perpetuity the trust fund is known as the "George B. And Henrietta Davison Endowment Fund."

The Bankers Trust Company Trustees pay the income received from the trust fund semi-annually to Glenwood Cemetery Association after deducting the Trustees’ Commission, provided always that the Trustee may withhold the payment of any installment of income, at any time if in its discretion it shall determine that the income is not being applied in a satisfactory way and may resume the payment of income when the Trustee shall be satisfied that it will be applied in accordance with the intention of the instrument.

The said trust fund shall be used for the purpose of defraying the expense of keeping the grounds, roads, buildings and fences of Glenwood Cemetery in good condition and repair and generally for the purpose of appropriately beautifying the same and maintaining it as a fit and proper burial ground.

At a meeting of the directors of Glenwood Cemetery on april 30^th, 1913, it was moved and carried that the President and Secretary are hereby authorized to issue to Henry P. Davison the one hundred sixteen and on-half shares of the unissued or treasury stock of the association.

It was also agreed that an effort be made to secure the assignment to Mr. Davison of all the outstanding shares of stock all in consideration of his gifts, and it being the desire of Mr. Davison that the stock be deposited with the Bankers Trust Co. Trustee.

The above endowments have been invested as securely as possible under the direction of the Board of Directors and the interest from the same to be used in the care of the lots; provided, that if the interest so received should exceed the amount required to keep said lots in an orderly condition, then the excess may go into the general fund for the maintenance of the grounds in common as directed by the Board.

On December 4, 1909, the association obligated itself to care for the George B. Davison lot, in the first addition to the old grounds, to keep it in an orderly condition, mowed through the season, possibly resodded and fertilized occasionally, and, should the income exceed this expense, to have the excess go into the general fund for keeping up the grounds, drives, etc.

On June 12, 1918, Mr. Daniel E. Pomeroy established a trust fund of $5,000.00 with the Bankers Trust Company, New York, known as "The Newton M. Pomeroy Endowment Fund," the income of which is to be paid to Glenwood Cemetery Association for the purpose of defraying the expenses in connection with the upkeep of the Newton M. Pomeroy cemetery lot.

As the income from this trust fund is more than sufficient for this purpose it was the desire of Mr. Daniel E. Pomeroy that the association should use such excess income for its general purposes, provided, however, that at all times a reserve fund of $1,000.00 is maintained to cover such planting, filling in, etc., as may be necessary by reason of washouts or other emergencies.

It is the desire of the association that others who are interested will establish similar funds for the care of individual lots and the general expenses of the cemetery.

It is important that all monuments and markers in the cemetery should remain in a plumb condition. This can be accomplished only with proper foundations. After carefully considering this subject and making inquires in regard to what was the custom in other towns of this size, the directors made the following rules which are being observed:

The foundation for all markers must be 4 feet deep.

The foundation for all monuments is to be to the depth of the bottom of the grave.

The present price for this work is to be 30 cents per cubic foot for stone and 35 cents per cubic foot for all concrete footings.

All work of this nature is to be done by the superintendent of the cemetery or under his supervision.

Persons owning lots in the cemetery will not be allowed to do any of this work, but can make arrangements with the superintendent of the cemetery.

When any work is done on a lot, the above prices include cleaning up the lot and removing any surplus dirt or stone which may not have been used.

No corner markers on a lot can project above the level of the ground. The association furnishes suitable terra cotta pins for this purpose, marking the boundaries of the lots.

All graves are to be level with the surface of the lot.

All rubbish made by lot owners, or persons employed by them, must be removed immediately to such place or places of deposit as are or shall be provided for the purpose.

The planting of any shrubs, trees, vines or flowers on a lot can only be done with the consent of the superintendent.

The deed given out when a lot or single grave is purchased specifies that it is sold subject to the conditions and limitations and with the privileges that are now or hereafter may be specified in the Rules, Regulations and By-Laws of the Association.

Sunday Funerals require a large amount of work on the day of rest and interfere with the regular work of the churches on that day. In accordance with a growing sentiment this association expresses its disapproval of funerals on the Lord’s Day, except in special cases where other arrangements can not be made.

The old or central section of the cemetery has 290 lots which contain 1,044 graves. The lots were selected before the incorporation of the cemetery in 1877 and the association has no record of the owners or early burials in these lots except by the monuments and markers.

Since the incorporation of the cemetery there have been 300 deeds issued for lots and single graves. There are 661 graves in the ten sections of the new portion of the cemetery. This makes a total of 590 lots and 1,705 burials.

The cemetery is divided up into ten sections and these sections are divided into plots of various sizes, the smallest having room for three graves. From this they increase in size to plots large enough for any requirement. In addition to this, there is one section in which single graves can be purchased. While the prices of plots vary considerably, according to size and location, all are moderate and in every case, the purchaser has the satisfaction of knowing that his lot will have perpetual care through the "George B. And Henrietta Davison Endowment Fund."

Full information regarding the prices of available plots may be obtained from the Superintendent occupying the lodge at the entrance to the cemetery.

To provide a temporary resting place for the dead while arrangements are made for final interment, the association maintains a Receiving Vault, where bodies, if contained in metal-lined caskets, may remain a reasonable length of time.

In May, 1921, the firm of Wadley and Smythe, New York City, presented the cemetery association with some tall weeping willows, laurel leaf willows and other shrubs and trees. There were 122 of these and they were planted at each end of the bridge leading to the cemetery. The gift was much appreciated as it improves the entrance to the cemetery.

Glenwood Cemetery covers a tract of 23 acres situated northeast of the borough of Troy, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. It is just outside the residential section of the town and while readily accessible, it enjoys a rural seclusion highly appropriate to its purpose and most unusual in a site so near a town.

It is a place of great natural beauty, and this advantage has been accentuated by careful development. Trees and shrubbery have been planted, lawns have been perfected and excellent roads have been maintained.

March 22, 1912

A fine addition to Glenwood cemetery fund was received the first of the week from David DeForest in a subscription of $500 in memory of his parents, Carlos M. and Elizabeth DeForest.  The former is probably the only person buried in Glenwood or anywhere else in this section who was born in what a late magazine article says is today the richest agricultural country in the world, Argentina, South America.  The DeForest’s were an old, influential and wealthy New Haven, Conn., family but it was while our townsman’s grandfather was serving as United States Consul to Buenos Aires that Carlos was born, a thorough American but still of foreign birth.  The older DeForest and others of the name were potent factors in the founding of Yale university in New Haven which even then was aglow with the educational fire which to this day illumines the greater part of New England.

Bradford County PA Chemung County NY Tioga County PA

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