Montgomery Cemetery (West Norriton Township, Pennsylvania)
Encyclopedia
Montgomery Cemetery is a cemetery located near the Schuylkill River
on Hartranft Avenue and along Jackson Street in West Norriton Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, immediately adjacent to and southwest of the Municipality of Norristown
. Founded in the late 1840s, the cemetery is the final resting place of several high ranking Civil War
officers, as well as one of the former governors of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
. The cemetery is adjacent to Riverside Cemetery, which was founded a half century later, during the fin de siècle
era of the 19th century. The cemetery is currently administered by the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, located in Norristown, Pennsylvania
.
on April 10, 1848. The initial members of the cemetery company were William Hamil, John R. Cooken, Adam Slemmer
, Henry Freedley, James Wells, Abraham Markley, John Freedley
, and Joseph Fornance
, with the first five being trustees. The 29.6875 acres (120,141.2 m²) of land for the cemetery had been sold to the company on March 31, 1848, by one of the trustees, William Hamil, and his wife Willimina. The first burials in the cemetery ensued shortly thereafter.
The cemetery was originally a part of Norriton Township when the cemetery company was incorporated. When the then-Borough of Norristown
annexed the land immediately to the northeast of the cemetery in 1853, the cemetery's land, including the road leading to the cemetery (now Hartranft Avenue), was specifically omitted from the annexation. However, the cemetery company's land along and beside Hartranft Avenue, not including the cemetery itself, became a part of the then-Borough of Norristown
on January 18, 1909. Less than two months later, the cemetery itself became a part of West Norriton Township after Norriton Township was divided on March 9, 1909.
Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
on Hartranft Avenue and along Jackson Street in West Norriton Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, immediately adjacent to and southwest of the Municipality of Norristown
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
. Founded in the late 1840s, the cemetery is the final resting place of several high ranking Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
officers, as well as one of the former governors of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The cemetery is adjacent to Riverside Cemetery, which was founded a half century later, during the fin de siècle
Fin de siècle
Fin de siècle is French for "end of the century". The term sometimes encompasses both the closing and onset of an era, as it was felt to be a period of degeneration, but at the same time a period of hope for a new beginning...
era of the 19th century. The cemetery is currently administered by the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, located in Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
.
Origins and History
The Montgomery Cemetery Company, which originally owned and maintained the cemetery, was incorporated by act of the Pennsylvania General AssemblyPennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
on April 10, 1848. The initial members of the cemetery company were William Hamil, John R. Cooken, Adam Slemmer
Adam J. Slemmer
Adam Jacoby Slemmer was an officer in the United States Army during the Seminole Wars and the American Civil War, as well as in the Old West.-Early years:...
, Henry Freedley, James Wells, Abraham Markley, John Freedley
John Freedley
John Freedley was a Whig member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.John Freedley was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He attended the public schools and Norristown Academy. He served as an assistant to his father, who operated a brickyard. He studied law, was admitted to...
, and Joseph Fornance
Joseph Fornance
Joseph Fornance was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Joseph Fornance born in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1832 and commenced practice in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He served as president of the council of...
, with the first five being trustees. The 29.6875 acres (120,141.2 m²) of land for the cemetery had been sold to the company on March 31, 1848, by one of the trustees, William Hamil, and his wife Willimina. The first burials in the cemetery ensued shortly thereafter.
The cemetery was originally a part of Norriton Township when the cemetery company was incorporated. When the then-Borough of Norristown
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
annexed the land immediately to the northeast of the cemetery in 1853, the cemetery's land, including the road leading to the cemetery (now Hartranft Avenue), was specifically omitted from the annexation. However, the cemetery company's land along and beside Hartranft Avenue, not including the cemetery itself, became a part of the then-Borough of Norristown
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
on January 18, 1909. Less than two months later, the cemetery itself became a part of West Norriton Township after Norriton Township was divided on March 9, 1909.
Notable Interments
- John FreedleyJohn FreedleyJohn Freedley was a Whig member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.John Freedley was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He attended the public schools and Norristown Academy. He served as an assistant to his father, who operated a brickyard. He studied law, was admitted to...
(May 22, 1793 – December 8, 1851), PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
member of the U.S. House of Representatives. - Winfield Scott HancockWinfield Scott HancockWinfield Scott Hancock was a career U.S. Army officer and the Democratic nominee for President of the United States in 1880. He served with distinction in the Army for four decades, including service in the Mexican-American War and as a Union general in the American Civil War...
(February 14, 1824 – February 9, 1886), General during the American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. - John F. HartranftJohn F. HartranftJohn Frederick Hartranft was the 17th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1873 to 1879 and a Union Major General who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
(December 16, 1830 – October 17, 1889), Governor of Pennsylvania and General during the American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The road leading to the cemetery is named in his memory. - Joseph FornanceJoseph FornanceJoseph Fornance was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Joseph Fornance born in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1832 and commenced practice in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He served as president of the council of...
(October 18, 1804 – November 24, 1852), PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
member of the U.S. House of Representatives. - Adam J. SlemmerAdam J. SlemmerAdam Jacoby Slemmer was an officer in the United States Army during the Seminole Wars and the American Civil War, as well as in the Old West.-Early years:...
(January 24, 1828 – October 7, 1868), officer during the American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. - John WoodJohn Wood (congressman)John Wood was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.John Wood was born in Philadelphia. He attended the Friends Society schools of Philadelphia, and was employed by his father in the manufacture of tools and agricultural machinery from 1832 to 1840...
(September 6, 1816 – May 28, 1898), PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
member of the U.S. House of Representatives. - Samuel K. ZookSamuel K. ZookSamuel Kosciuszko Zook was a Union general during the American Civil War, killed in action during the Battle of Gettysburg.-Early years:...
(March 27, 1821 – July 3, 1863), General during the American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Mortally wounded at the Battle of GettysburgBattle of GettysburgThe Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
.
External links
- Montgomery Cemetery on the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania's web site.
- YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
video of Memorial DayMemorial DayMemorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
ceremonies at Montgomery Cemetery, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgacO4I2M-0 - Montgomery Cemetery on Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
. - Montgomery Cemetery on The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...
.