Rush Pine Hill Cemetery
Pine Hill Cemetery Current Board Members: Selden Chase, President Robert Kuhls, Vice President Robert Bock Barbara Bittner John David William Meister Richard Schneider Susan Mee, Sec/Treas. Kurt Knapp, Supt.
American Cemeteries The Rural Cemetery Movement: 1830-1855 -From Family Cemetery to Garden of Graves Term cemetery comes into use The Lawn Cemetery: 1855-1917 -More organized appearance & design -Planned landscape -Easier to maintain
Pine Hill Cemetery 1730 Rush Scottsville Road Rush, New York Cemetery Association founded 1863 Formed by interested Rush community members
Key Developments 3 Acres Land Purchased from Cynthia P. Martin, May 1, 1863 16 Rods Deeded from Nathan Jeffords, May 1, 1863 Cemetery Lots Sold at Public Auction on August 22, 1863 Common Seal of the Rush Cemetery Association adopted, Aug., 1863
Rush Cemetery Association Common Seal - 1863
200 evergreen trees donated by Ellwanger & Barry Nursery, May 1865 Trustees designate 2 lots on southeast corner for the burial of strangers. Susan Palmer, age 17, buried same afternoon, May 9, 1865 9 additional acres purchased from Cynthia Martin, January 1880 Association referred to itself as the Rush Rural Cemetery Association, Minutes of early 1900 s
$1.00 annual assessment for lot care Establishment of permanent fund. Could elect to pay $25; receive a certificate for permanent care instead of annual fees, Early 1900 s. 244 of Wrought Iron Fencing, Posts and Gates purchased, July 1903. Hitching Post @ no charge. Total Cost: $346.25 1,000 seedlings purchased from NYS Conservation Dept., May 1918. Cost of $3.85 May 1936: Annual lot assessment increased to $2.00, permanent fund increased to $40.00
August 1940: Letter to Security Trust Bank clarifying the name of the cemetery Purchase of additional 8.62 acres from Mr. and Mrs. George Luedemann, April 1946 Name of the Rush Cemetery Association changed to Pine Hill Cemetery Association in June 18, 1956 by-laws Rush Pine Hill Cemetery becomes incorporated, May 19, 1998
Letter Clarifying Name
Monument Types and Symbols The basic tablet tombstone or headstone is rectangular in shape, with no curves, angles or tapering. It is generally found set directly into the ground.
Domed Tombstone Markers Generally rectangular in shape with a domed or curved top
Shouldered Tablet Rectangular at the base, with plain or intricate curves and angles embellishing the top
Scalloped Top Shouldered tablet headstones come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes
Gothic Style Steep curves angling to a point differentiate the gothic style tablet tombstone from the domed or shouldered tablet headstones.
Pediment Tablet The pointed top of the pediment tablet is triangular in shape, instead of rounded
Botanical Symbolism Ivy - memory Oak leaves immortality Poppies - sleep Acorns - life
Foot Stones Clarissa Phillips Blood Foot Stone: CPB
Monument Styles The urn is a Greek symbol of mourning. The body acted as a vessel of the soul and was a popular symbol of mourning.
Draped Urn Monument The draped urn symbolizes immortality
Obelisk Monuments
Founding Members of the Pine Hill Cemetery Association Warren Foote Thomas J. Jeffords John Lyday Peter Martin Matthew C. Martin Socrates Smith
Warren Foote First Cemetery Board President Mill Owner, Foote and Darrone, in East Rush 1865 (June)Town Census: Warren Foote, age 47, Occupation: Miller Rhoda Foote, wife, age 44, 5 children Josephine (20), Seeley (17), Ella (15), Libbie (12) and Carrie (4) Not buried in Pine Hill Cemetery
Honorable Thomas Jefferson Jeffords First Cemetery Board Secretary Born in Rush, April 2, 1811. Died 1891 Son of Joseph and Susanna Morris Jeffords 7 th son in family of 12 children North Rush Merchant Public Office from 1835-1874 Justice of Peace: 2 terms; Rush Supervisor 15 years; Elected Board President 10 times
Honorable Thomas Jefferson Jeffords County Chairman of Committee on Bounties 1860: Elected to the County Assembly Chairman of the Committee on Public Lands and Indian Affairs Attended Albany Law School 1865: Admitted to Bar of Supreme Court Represented Rush at the county convention for 37 consecutive years
Thomas J. Jeffords Photo credit: History of Monroe County 1877 by H.W. McIntosh
Honorable Thomas Jefferson Jeffords Grave Jeffords Burial Grounds
John Lyday Died May 9, 1874, age 72 1865 (June) Town Census: John Lyday, age 62 from Maryland, occupation farmer, married to Susan Faust Lyday, 2 nd wife., age 48 First wife was Mary Martin, died at age 28 Son John I. Lyday, Jr. died at age 19 in Civil War
John Lyday Grave Old Section: Row H, Lot 5
John Lyday s Family Plot
Peter Martin 1822 July 6, 1916 First Cemetery Board Vice-President Died at age 92 Occupation: Farmer (1865 Town Census) Married to Jeannette Ellis, 1825-1909 Children: Charles E. Martin (1856-1865), Ella L. Martin (1854-1935),
Peter Martin Grave Old Section: Row F, Lot 5
Mathew C. Martin First Cemetery Board Member Died April 16, 1872, age 49 Occupation: Farmer (June 1865 Town Census) Married to Harriet Martin, 1 st wife died Nov 16, 1867 (Mathew was her 2 nd husband) Married to Lydia A. Martin, 2 nd wife died March 22, 1904
Mathew C. Martin Grave Old Section, Row K, Lot 1
Dr. Socrates Smith Oct. 21, 1801 Aug. 27, 1870 First Cemetery Board Treasurer Born in Vermont, graduated from Castleton Medical College June 1823 moved to Rush Married Matilda Markham Smith (1805-1903), February 1829. Matilda was the daughter of Col. William Markham Same year, built his residence located in hamlet 1 daughter, Louisa, married Rev. Isaac Gibbard Mrs. Smith affiliated with DAR (Daughters of American Revolution)
Eminent physician of the time; well respected, more than ordinary intellect Temperance leader Trustee of the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary & Genesee College Dr. Smith s habit was to review the lessons of the day A fellow well respected of the time stated We used to think Socrates Smith was half of western New York
Dr. Socrates Smith Source: Findagrave.com
Family Plot of Dr. Socrates Smith Old Section: Row E, Lot 5 at the top of the hill
Other Early Rush Settlers Buried in Pine Hill Cemetery Chauncy & Mary Norris: 1 st burials in Pine Hill John Galentine: 1804-1871, Attorney. Several Galentine family members lived in Rush in mid-late 1800 s: the Little family farmhouse at 5 Pts was originally a Galentine home Gilbert Brothers: John A., age 17, Dec. 13, 1862 and Granville M, age 24, June 23, 1864 - both died in the Civil War
Nathan Jeffords, Sr.: 1757 1816 or 1819 Arrived in Rush in 1806 Samuel H. Kinsey:1845 1929. Farmer and Storekeeper. Town Hall was above his store in 1890 s. Built a sugar mill on his property Jacob Martin: 1746 1825. Settled here in 1808. Had 1 st grafted apple orchard in Rush Honorable Peter Price: 1791-1848. Self-taught lawyer elected to many offices; 1 st town clerk in 1818, Supervisor 1821-1831, Monroe Cty Judge
Rebecca Jeffords Price: 1791-1888. Daughter of Nathan Jeffords, came with family to Rush in 1806; only 4 families here then. Married Peter Price, lived to age 97 Joseph H. Sherman: 1835-1914. Farmer and Rush supervisor intermittently from 1879-1901 Barbara Shinster Smith: 1851-1934. Spent her life helping others. Caretaker of veteran graves
Susannah Price Stull: 1788 1847. Only daughter of Philip and Susannah Price who lived to maturity; Married Jacob Stull; 1802 their son was first white child born north of Honeoye Creek Jacob Stull: 1771-1845. One of earliest settlers; arrived with or shortly after Philip Price family & built first house north of the creek Christle Thomas: 1759-1844. Arrived in Rush about 1801. Built the first sawmill in town and first bridge over Honeoye Creek -Biographical information from Town of Rush 175 th Anniversary Tour of Pioneer Gravesites in Pine Hill Cemetery
Pine Hill Cemetery Website http://pinehillcemetery.org Website Tour: -Maps -Burial Search -Related Links -Veterans -Images
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