WORTHINGTON CEMETERY

FOUNDED: 1855

ADDITONAL NAMES: Archibald Worthington

AFFILIATION(S): N/A

HISTORY:

Archibald Worthington (1818-1895) was a farmer that owned land in Highland Township, Defiance County Ohio. He migrated to Ohio upon gaining his freedom from slavery in Virginia. He and his wife raised their children on his land in Section 7 of Highland Township. He designated part of his land to be a cemetery that "was built by him, on his land, for 'his' people, no one but colored persons were ever buried there" according to the 1936 WPA Cemetery record for Worthington Cemetery. The cemetery was used until about 1890 when he moved from the area. He moved with his third wife to Wilmington, Ohio where he ran a business until his death in 1895. He is buried in Sugar Grove Cemetery in Wilmington. The land was given to his living children James and Matilda. His oldest son Henry Worthington joined the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment and saw battle, eventually taken as a Prisoner of War. Before he could be freed, he developed typhoid fever and passed away on January 8, 1865. He is buried in Salisbury National Cemetery in Salisbury, North Carolina. James and Matilda sold the land when they moved out of the area. The cemetery was considered abandoned and the land was bought and sold many times. The stones were moved in the early 1900's to make farming the land easier. It is currently owned by Ayersville Water and Sewer Co. who lease it for farming.

BCN Contact Information:

Defiance Public Library

smarshall@defiancepubliclibrary.org

https://www.defiancelibrary.org/

UNITED COLORED AMERICAN CEMETERY

FOUNDED: 1883

ADDITONAL NAMES: N/A

AFFILIATION(S):

• The Union Foundation

HISTORY:

United Colored American Cemetery was founded by the United Colored American Association. It is one of the oldest and most important African American Cemeteries in Ohio. The cemetery incorporated graves that had been previously located in Avondale which had been established in 1848. Many citizens of Avondale were unhappy about having a "Negro cemetery in their mist. In 1870's Avondale petitioned the Ohio Legislature and got a bill passed giving the local Board of Health power to declare the cemetery a public nuisance and had it closed. Abolitionist Martin Delany was at the original dedication and writes, "This is a most praiseworthy undertaking on the part of the colored citizens; and how shameful the necessity of a separate burial-place for the dead!" The cemetery became increasely neglected over the years. Council Charles P. Taft, Trustee of Spring Grove Cemetery was appointed to operate the cemetery. In 1968 he transferred the cemetery to Union Baptist Church.

United Colored American Cemetery is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. At least 45 African American veterans from the Civil War are buried here. Other prominent citizens buried here are abolition John Isom Gains (1821-1859). The United American Cemetery is in disrepair and restoration is urgently needed. Invasive plant species have overtaken large areas of the cemetery. Erosion and vandalism also have contributed to condition concerns. Headstones and monuments have tilted and fallen over. Improvements are needed to the roadway and the burial vault. In the last 5+ years large runoff of water and waste materials have been found. This had caused enormous additional deterioration. United Colored Cemetery was closed by the health department unsafe for families to visit their loved ones. We are actively looking for the cause and financial resources to restore this sacred burial ground.

BCN Contact Information:

Louise Stevenson

lstevenson@fuse.net

TheUnionFoundation.org

UNION BAPTIST CEMETERY

FOUNDED: 1864

ADDITONAL NAMES: N/A

AFFILIATION(S):

• The Union Foundation

HISTORY:

Union Baptist Cemetery is the oldest African American burial ground in Hamilton County at its original location, purchased, maintained, and still used by Union Baptist Church, the second oldest black congregation in Cincinnati. Union Baptist Cemetery is on the National Register of Historic places in America. This cemetery is the resting place of Underground Railroad conductors, artists, writers, musicians, physicians, business leaders, politicians, Civil Right workers, and many veterans, including approximately 150 veterans of the Civil War. Union Baptist Cemetery one of two historical cemeteries owned by Union Baptist Church.

BCN Contact Information:

Louise Stevenson

lstevenson@fuse.net

TheUnionFoundation.org

PINE STREET COLORED CEMETERY

FOUNDED: ca. 1860

ADDITONAL NAMES: None

AFFILIATION(S): None

HISTORY:

The Pine Street Colored Cemetery is a four-acre, 162-year-old cemetery that sits on the edge of downtown Gallipolis, Ohio. Many of those buried in the space were members of the John Gee African Methodist Episcopal Church, today known as the John Gee Black Historical Center. The center supervises the cemetery’s upkeep and includes its history in school tours and educational programming.

The Pine Street Colored Cemetery is important to both Gallipolis and Black American history because it houses prominent locals and the ancestors of many area residents. Laid to rest includes Leah Stewart, the first African American to live in Gallipolis; Phoebe Smith, who established the local Mutual Aid Society; and at least fifty-seven soldiers. Also buried is the namesake of the historical center and cemetery founder, John Gee. He was a wealthy Black carpenter and Gallipolis resident who donated the four acres to create a space for his newly-deceased wife, who was not allowed to reside in the all-White cemetery nearby. The Pine Street Colored Cemetery then became a place of rest for generations of Black Gallipolis locals and is today a culturally significant landmark.

BCN Contact Information:

Robin Payne

info@johngeeblackhistory.com

https://www.johngeeblackhistory.com/