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River View Cemetery (Portland, Oregon)
Encyclopedia
River View Cemetery in the southwest section of Portland, Oregon
, United States
, is a non-profit cemetery
founded in 1882. It is the final resting place of many prominent and notable citizens of Oregon
, including many governors and United States Senators. Other notable burials include the Weinhard
family, football player Lyle Alzado
, and Carl Mays
the baseball player who killed an opposing player with a pitch in a Major League
game, and famous western lawman Virgil Earp
.
, James Terwilliger, Henry Failing
, Henry Corbett, Henry Pittock
, Simon Benson
, and others in 1882. All those who joined co-owned the cemetery. In 1902 a Roll Call statue was added to honor the 165 Oregonians that died in the Spanish-American War
. The first adult burial was Dr. William Henry Watkins. In the 1940s a 135 person chapel was added, designed by Pietro Belluschi
.
, the cemetery has a variety of mausoleum
s including the Hilltop Garden Mausoleum and Main Mausoleum. There are also private mausoleums and crypts. River View is an endowment care cemetery as defined by the state of Oregon.
, but approximately half of the property is not a devleoped cemetery. Initially, this excess land was held for future expansion of the cemetery, but demographic trends away from burial (in favor of cremation
) have reduced the need for future expansion. For example, in 1973 8% of Oregonians chose cremation, versus 68% in 2010.
In 2006, the River View Cemetery Association sought to develop 184 acres of their surplus land into residential properties, and filed a $24 million dollar compensation claim under Oregon Ballot Measures 37 (2004) and 49 (2007). In 2007, the River View Cemetery Association submitted an application to change the zoning of the surplus land from open space to single-family residential for 182 housing units. On May 2, 2011 the City of Portland announced that it had agreed to purchase 146 acres of this undeveloped surplus land for $11.25 million, which will be managed by Portland Parks & Recreation
with the initial goals of habitat stabilization, removal of invasive species, and trail and access planning.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, is a non-profit cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
founded in 1882. It is the final resting place of many prominent and notable citizens of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, including many governors and United States Senators. Other notable burials include the Weinhard
Henry Weinhard's
Henry Weinhard's Private Reserve and Blitz-Weinhard are brands of beer first brewed in 1856 in Portland, Oregon, United States. The brewery was owned by the brewer Henry Weinhard of the Weinhard family, who also made a line of soft drinks which survives to this day.The Blitz-Weinhard brand was...
family, football player Lyle Alzado
Lyle Alzado
Lyle Martin Alzado was a professional American football defensive lineman of the National Football League famous for his intense and intimidating style of play....
, and Carl Mays
Carl Mays
Carl William Mays was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1915 to 1929. Despite impressive career statistics, he is primarily remembered for throwing a beanball on August 16, 1920, that struck and killed Ray Chapman of the Cleveland Indians, making Chapman one of two people to die...
the baseball player who killed an opposing player with a pitch in a Major League
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
game, and famous western lawman Virgil Earp
Virgil Earp
Virgil Walter Earp fought in the Civil War. He was U.S. Deputy Marshal for south-eastern Arizona and Tombstone City Marshal at the time of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in the Arizona Territory. Two months after the shootout in Tombstone, outlaw Cowboys ambushed Virgil on the streets of...
.
History
River View Cemetery was founded as a non-profit cemetery by William S. LaddWilliam S. Ladd
William Sargent Ladd was an American politician and businessman in Oregon. He twice served as Portland, Oregon’s mayor in the 1850s. A native of Vermont, he was a prominent figure in the early development of Portland, and co-founded the first bank in the state in 1859...
, James Terwilliger, Henry Failing
Henry Failing
Henry Failing was a banker, and one of the leading businessmen of the Pacific Northwest of the United States. He was one of Portland, Oregon's earliest residents, and served as that city's mayor for three two-year terms...
, Henry Corbett, Henry Pittock
Henry Pittock
Henry Lewis Pittock was an Oregon pioneer, newspaper editor, publisher, and wood and paper magnate. He was active in Republican politics and Portland, Oregon civic affairs, a Freemason and an avid outdoorsman and adventurer...
, Simon Benson
Simon Benson
Simon Benson was a noted businessman and philanthropist from Portland, Oregon.-Background:Simon Benson was born Simon Iversen in Norway, one of seven children in the Berger Iversen family. His eldest brother Jon immigrated to the United States in 1861, followed by his sister Mathea in 1865...
, and others in 1882. All those who joined co-owned the cemetery. In 1902 a Roll Call statue was added to honor the 165 Oregonians that died in the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
. The first adult burial was Dr. William Henry Watkins. In the 1940s a 135 person chapel was added, designed by Pietro Belluschi
Pietro Belluschi
Pietro Belluschi was an American architect, a leader of the Modern Movement in architecture, and was responsible for the design of over one thousand buildings....
.
Facilities
Overlooking the Willamette RiverWillamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
, the cemetery has a variety of mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
s including the Hilltop Garden Mausoleum and Main Mausoleum. There are also private mausoleums and crypts. River View is an endowment care cemetery as defined by the state of Oregon.
Property and Surplus Land
River View Cemetery occupies approximately 350 acres on the west slope of the Willamette River, south of Downtown PortlandDowntown Portland
Downtown Portland, the city center of Portland, Oregon, United States, is located on the west bank of the Willamette River. It is in the northeastern corner of the southwest section of the city and is where most of the city's high-rise buildings are found....
, but approximately half of the property is not a devleoped cemetery. Initially, this excess land was held for future expansion of the cemetery, but demographic trends away from burial (in favor of cremation
Cremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
) have reduced the need for future expansion. For example, in 1973 8% of Oregonians chose cremation, versus 68% in 2010.
In 2006, the River View Cemetery Association sought to develop 184 acres of their surplus land into residential properties, and filed a $24 million dollar compensation claim under Oregon Ballot Measures 37 (2004) and 49 (2007). In 2007, the River View Cemetery Association submitted an application to change the zoning of the surplus land from open space to single-family residential for 182 housing units. On May 2, 2011 the City of Portland announced that it had agreed to purchase 146 acres of this undeveloped surplus land for $11.25 million, which will be managed by Portland Parks & Recreation
Portland Parks & Recreation
Portland Parks & Recreation is the bureau of the City of Portland which protects the parks, natural areas, recreational facilities, gardens, and trails of the city of Portland, Oregon....
with the initial goals of habitat stabilization, removal of invasive species, and trail and access planning.
Notable burials
- George AbernethyGeorge AbernethyGeorge Abernethy was an American pioneer, notable entrepreneur, and first governor of Oregon under the provisional government in what would become the state of Oregon in the United States...
, (1807–1877) Governor of the Provisional Government of Oregon - George Forrest AlexanderGeorge Forrest AlexanderGeorge Forest Alexander , was a judge of the United States territorial court for the Alaska Territory from 1933 to 1947. Prior to that, Alexander had been in private practice in Portland, Oregon for over 20 years. Alexander died in Portland and was interred at River View Cemetery.-References:...
, (1882–1948) federal judge - Lyle AlzadoLyle AlzadoLyle Martin Alzado was a professional American football defensive lineman of the National Football League famous for his intense and intimidating style of play....
, (1949–1992) professional football player - George H. AtkinsonGeorge H. AtkinsonGeorge Henry Atkinson was an American missionary and educator in what would become the state of Oregon. In Oregon, he served as a pastor for several churches, helped found what would become Pacific University, and pushed for legislation to create a public school system in Oregon Territory...
, (1819–1889) missionary and "Father of Oregon Schools" - Lola Baldwin, (1860–1957) first female police officer in the United States
- Robert S. BeanRobert S. BeanRobert Sharp Bean was an American attorney and judge in the state of Oregon. He was the 16th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving as chief justice three different times. Bean was on the state’ highest court from 1890 to 1909 when he was appointed as a judge for the United States...
, (1854–1931) federal judge, Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice - Simon BensonSimon BensonSimon Benson was a noted businessman and philanthropist from Portland, Oregon.-Background:Simon Benson was born Simon Iversen in Norway, one of seven children in the Berger Iversen family. His eldest brother Jon immigrated to the United States in 1861, followed by his sister Mathea in 1865...
, (1852–1942) Portland businessman and philanthropist - Donald CookDonald Cook (actor)Donald Cook was an American stage and film actor.Born in Portland, Oregon, he originally studied farming but later started business with a lumber company. He joined the Kansas Community Players and through this received an offer of stage work...
, (1901–1961) movie and stage actor - Henry Winslow Corbett, (1827–1903) United States Senator
- Maurice E. CrumpackerMaurice E. CrumpackerMaurice Edgar Crumpacker was a Republican U.S. congressman from Oregon.-Early life:Crumpacker was born in Valparaiso, Indiana in 1886, where he attended the public schools until his father, Edgar D. Crumpacker, was elected to the United States House of Representatives when Maurice was 10 years...
, (1886–1927) United States Congressman - Joseph N. DolphJoseph N. DolphJoseph Norton Dolph was an American politician and attorney in the state of Oregon. A native of the state of New York, he immigrated to Oregon over the Oregon Trail and settled in Portland where he became the state's federal district attorney...
, (1835–1897) United States Senator - Abigail Scott DuniwayAbigail Scott DuniwayAbigail Scott Duniway was an American women's rights advocate, newspaper editor and writer, whose efforts were instrumental in gaining voting rights for women.-Biography:...
, (1834–1915) women’s rights pioneer - Virgil EarpVirgil EarpVirgil Walter Earp fought in the Civil War. He was U.S. Deputy Marshal for south-eastern Arizona and Tombstone City Marshal at the time of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in the Arizona Territory. Two months after the shootout in Tombstone, outlaw Cowboys ambushed Virgil on the streets of...
, (1843–1905) lawman and brother of Wyatt EarpWyatt EarpWyatt Berry Stapp Earp was an American gambler, investor, and law enforcement officer who served in several Western frontier towns. He was also at different times a farmer, teamster, bouncer, saloon-keeper, miner and boxing referee. However, he was never a drover or cowboy. He is most well known... - Joseph Horace EatonJoseph Horace EatonJoseph Horace Eaton was an American artist and Army officer.-Early life:Eaton was born in Salem, Massachusetts. He graduated from West Point in 1835. During the Mexican-American War he was an aide to Gen. Zachary Taylor and was twice promoted and cited for gallantry, first at the Battle of...
, (1815–1896) artist and Civil War general - Henry FailingHenry FailingHenry Failing was a banker, and one of the leading businessmen of the Pacific Northwest of the United States. He was one of Portland, Oregon's earliest residents, and served as that city's mayor for three two-year terms...
, (1834–1898) mayor of Portland - Robert S. Farrell, Jr.Robert S. Farrell, Jr.Robert S. Farrell, Jr. was an American Republican politician in the state of Oregon.-Political career:He lived in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon and served as a Delegate to the Republican National Convention from Oregon in both 1940 and 1944. Farrell was elected as the Speaker of the Oregon...
, (c.1906–1947) Oregon Secretary of State - A. C. GibbsA. C. GibbsAddison Cranwick Gibbs was an American politician. He was the second Governor of Oregon from 1862 until 1866, and previously served in the Oregon Territory's legislative body and later the state legislature.-Early life:...
, (1825–1886) Oregon Governor - Alan Punch Green, Jr., (1925–2001) United States Ambassador to Romania
- La Fayette GroverLa Fayette GroverLa Fayette Grover was a Democratic politician and lawyer from the US state of Oregon. He was the fourth Governor of Oregon, serving from 1870 to 1877...
, (1823–1911) Oregon Governor - John Hicklin HallJohn Hicklin HallJohn Hicklin Hall was a politician and attorney in the U.S. state of Oregon. A native of the Portland area, he served in the Oregon House of Representatives in the early 1890s before appointment as the United States District Attorney for Oregon...
, (1854–1937) United States Attorney, Oregon legislator - Rufus C. HolmanRufus C. HolmanRufus Cecil Holman was an American politician and businessman in the state of Oregon. A Republican and native Oregonian, he served as United States Senator for a single term during World War II...
, (1877–1959) United States Senator - Nan Wood HoneymanNan Wood HoneymanNan Wood Honeyman was an American politician from the state of Oregon. A native of New York, she was the daughter of author and attorney Charles Erskine Scott Wood. After growing up in Oregon, she served in the Oregon House of Representatives and the Oregon State Senate...
, (1881–1970) United States Congresswoman - James Jackson, (1833–1916) Congressional Medal of Honor recipient
- Jacob KammJacob KammJacob Kamm was a prominent early transportation businessman in Oregon.-Early life:Kamm was born on December 12, 1823 in Canton of Glarus, Switzerland. His family immigrated to America when he was 8 to Illinois, St. Louis, then New Orleans. He worked as a Printer's devil beginning at age 12...
, (1823–1912), shipping magnate, founder of Oregon Steam Navigation CompanyOregon Steam Navigation CompanyThe Oregon Steam Navigation Company was an American company incorporated in 1860 in Washington with partners J. S. Ruckle, Henry Olmstead, and J. O. Van Bergen... - Albertina Kerr, orphanage founder
- William S. LaddWilliam S. LaddWilliam Sargent Ladd was an American politician and businessman in Oregon. He twice served as Portland, Oregon’s mayor in the 1850s. A native of Vermont, he was a prominent figure in the early development of Portland, and co-founded the first bank in the state in 1859...
, (1826–1893) mayor of Portland - Roswell LamsonRoswell LamsonRoswell Hawks Lamson was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, (1838–1903) Civil War navy hero - Charles Henry MartinCharles Henry MartinCharles Henry Martin was an American Army officer and later politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Illinois, he had a 40-year career in the military including serving in conflicts from the Spanish-American War to World War I before retiring as a major general. A Democrat, he was the U.S...
, (1863–1946) Oregon Governor - Wallace McCamantWallace McCamantWallace McCamant was an American jurist in Oregon. A Pennsylvania native, he served as the 46th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court from 1917 to 1918. Later he served briefly on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit...
, (1867–1944) United States Court of Appeals judge - Dorothy McCullough LeeDorothy McCullough LeeDorothy McCullough Lee was an American politician and attorney in the state of Oregon. She was the first female mayor of Portland, Oregon.-Early life:...
, (1902–1981) first female mayor of Portland - John H. MitchellJohn H. MitchellJohn Hipple Mitchell, also known as John Mitchell Hipple, John H. Mitchell, or J. H. Mitchell was a controversial American lawyer and politician, who served as a Republican United States Senator from Oregon on three occasions between 1872 and 1905...
, (1835–1905) United States Senator - Frederick W. MulkeyFrederick W. MulkeyFrederick William Mulkey was an American attorney and politician from the state of Oregon. A native of Portland, he began his political career on the Portland City Council, serving one year as its president. A Republican, he twice served as a United States Senator from Oregon, filling terms...
, (1874–1924) United States Senator - Paul L. PattersonPaul L. PattersonPaul Linton Patterson was an American Republican politician. He served as President of the Oregon State Senate and the 26th Governor of Oregon .-Early life:...
, (1900–1956) Oregon Governor - Sylvester PennoyerSylvester PennoyerSylvester Pennoyer was an American educator, attorney, and politician in Oregon. He was born in New York, attended Harvard Law School, and moved to Oregon at age 25. A Democrat, he served two terms as the eighth Governor of Oregon from 1886 to 1895. He joined the Populist cause in the early 1890s...
, (1831–1902) Oregon Governor - James Tilton Pickett, (1857–1889) newspaper writer, son of George PickettGeorge PickettGeorge Edward Pickett was a career United States Army officer who became a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
- Henry PittockHenry PittockHenry Lewis Pittock was an Oregon pioneer, newspaper editor, publisher, and wood and paper magnate. He was active in Republican politics and Portland, Oregon civic affairs, a Freemason and an avid outdoorsman and adventurer...
, (1836–1919) publisher The Oregonian newspaper - Harvey W. ScottHarvey W. ScottHarvey Whitefield Scott was an American pioneer, newspaper editor, and historian.Scott was born in on a farm in Illinois and migrated to Oregon with his family in 1852, settling in Yamhill County. He and his family moved near Olympia, Washington in 1853. At age 18, he fought in the American Indian...
, (1838–1910) editor of The Oregonian newspaper - Joseph Showalter SmithJoseph Showalter SmithJoseph Showalter Smith was a Representative from the U.S. state of Oregon.-Early life:Born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, Smith moved with his farmer parents to Ohio and Indiana where he attended the common schools...
, (1824–1884) United States Congressman - Isaac W. SmithIsaac W. Smith (surveyor)Isaac Williams Smith was an American soldier, surveyor and engineer.-Early life:Smith was born in 1826 in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, Virginia, the son of Episcopalian preacher Reverend George A...
, (1826–1897) Portland Pioneer, first Chief Engineer, "father" of Portland's water system - Lansing StoutLansing StoutLansing Stout was an American politician and lawyer. He was the second person elected to the United States House of Representatives from the state of Oregon. He later served in Oregon’s legislature...
, (1828–1871) United States Congressman - Owen Summers, (1850–1911) soldier, Oregon legislator
- James Terwilliger, (d. 1892) Portland pioneer, street namesake
- Frances Fuller VictorFrances Fuller Victor- External links :...
, (1826–1902) writer and historian - Henry WeinhardHenry WeinhardHenry Weinhard was a German-American brewer in the state of Oregon. After immigrating to the United States in 1851, he lived in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and California before settling in the Portland, Oregon, area...
, (1830–1904) brewer and Portland businessman - George Henry WilliamsGeorge Henry WilliamsGeorge Henry Williams was an American judge and politician. He served as Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, was the 32nd Attorney General of the United States, and served one term in the United States Senate...
, (1823–1910) United States Attorney General - Richard WilliamsRichard Williams (congressman)Richard Williams was an American lawyer and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Ohio, he moved to Oregon in 1851 where he became an attorney...
, (1836–1914) United States Congressman - George L. Woods, (1832–1890) Oregon Governor
