Richmond
Cemetery is located in Richmond, Kentucky is the largest cemetery in Madison
County. The city originally had a
graveyard located on a knoll near town, but it had reached capacity and another
location was needed. Unfortunately the history of this cemetery and the
Richmond Cemetery, up to August 1862, were lost when Confederate soldiers broke
into the courthouse and stole the original cemetery records during the Civil War.
In
January 1848 the Kentucky General Assembly incorporated the Richmond Cemetery. An additional 18 acres were purchased in
the early 1850’s. The cemetery was
dedicated on May 31, 1856. The
next day, June 1st the first burial took place. The first to be interred was Jane Todd
Breck, wife of U.S. Representative Daniel Breck, and aunt to Mary Todd Lincoln.
The
cemetery now consists of over 70 acres located in the middle of town. The rolling hills and winding roads add
to the peaceful feel, even though you can hear traffic (and the EKU marching
band) throughout the cemetery.
Trees and flowers are prolific throughout the cemetery, giving it a true
Rural Cemetery feel. Stones range
from simple to extremely ornate obelisks, statues and sculpture. There are no mausoleums, but a public
vault was added in 1900.
 |
| Cassius M. Clay |
 |
| Clay Memorial |
Kentucky
governors, and members of Richmond’s prominent families: the Clays, Chenaults
and Tribbles are buried here, along with Kentucky abolitionist, Cassius M.
Clay. Clay grew up the son of one
of the wealthiest landowners and slaveholders in Kentucky. Clay became an ardent anti-slave
crusader and served three times in the Kentucky House of Representatives. Clay
is whom Muhammad Ali was named for.
 |
| Depiction of his murder |
 |
| Captain James Estill |
Kentucky
frontiersman, Captain James Estill has a memorial that commands attention. Estill, one of the first Madison County
settlers, was killed by Indians in 1782 in the Battle of Little Mountain, near
Mount Sterling, Kentucky. His
monument depicts his murder as a Wyandotte Indian prepares to stab him in the
chest. Atop the monument, Estill
stands, dressed in a fringed coat, holding his rifle and gazing out over the
town.
 |
| Civil War Monument |
 |
| Confederate Monument |
In
1862, a portion of the Battle of Richmond was fought in the cemetery with
soldiers using tombstones for cover!
The Confederate troops pushed the Union soldiers into the graveyard
where they proceeded to defeat them.
Over 240 Union troops are buried here. Over 175 Confederate soldiers are buried in a mass grave
marked with a small stone that says “The Southern Dead.” A new monument was later erected and
dedicated to all Civil War soldiers buried there.
The
cemetery also is the burial site to a Revolutionary War captain.
 |
| Vandalism |
Over
100 gorgeous old monuments and stones were toppled and damaged in April 2010
when vandals broke into the cemetery.
Many were irreplaceable.
The
Richmond Cemetery is located on East Main Street in Richmond, Kentucky. It is open from 8:00 A.M. until 4
P.M. You may reach them at (859)
623-2529 for information on genealogical research. The cemetery does not have a web site or Facebook presence.
The
Richmond Cemetery is well worth an afternoon, even a day, to explore. The older part is a treasure trove of
statues, monuments and stone bearing interesting and informative symbols and
epitaphs.
~
Joy
Richmond
Cemetery is located in Richmond, Kentucky is the largest cemetery in Madison
County. The city originally had a
graveyard located on a knoll near town, but it had reached capacity and another
location was needed. Unfortunately the history of this cemetery and the
Richmond Cemetery, up to August 1862, were lost when Confederate soldiers broke
into the courthouse and stole the original cemetery records during the Civil War.
In
January 1848 the Kentucky General Assembly incorporated the Richmond Cemetery. An additional 18 acres were purchased in
the early 1850’s. The cemetery was
dedicated on May 31, 1856. The
next day, June 1st the first burial took place. The first to be interred was Jane Todd
Breck, wife of U.S. Representative Daniel Breck, and aunt to Mary Todd Lincoln.
The
cemetery now consists of over 70 acres located in the middle of town. The rolling hills and winding roads add
to the peaceful feel, even though you can hear traffic (and the EKU marching
band) throughout the cemetery.
Trees and flowers are prolific throughout the cemetery, giving it a true
Rural Cemetery feel. Stones range
from simple to extremely ornate obelisks, statues and sculpture. There are no mausoleums, but a public
vault was added in 1900.
The
Richmond Cemetery is located on East Main Street in Richmond, Kentucky. It is open from 8:00 A.M. until 4
P.M. You may reach them at (859)
623-2529 for information on genealogical research. The cemetery does not have a web site or Facebook presence.
The
Richmond Cemetery is well worth an afternoon, even a day, to explore. The older part is a treasure trove of
statues, monuments and stone bearing interesting and informative symbols and
epitaphs.
