Articles of incorporation for Frankfort Cemetery were approved by the Kentucky Legislature 27 Feb 1844; and at the time it was only the second incorporated cemetery in the country. It began with a 32 tract known as Hunter’s Green and today Frankfort Cemetery totals 100 acres. It is the final resting place of over 22,000 Kentuckians. Overlooking the Kentucky River and city of Frankfort, probably the best view of Kentucky’s capitol building is from Daniel Boone’s grave.
Planning this cemetery took place in a golden age of cemetery design. The cemetery board chose a Scotsman, Robert Carmichael, to landscape the grounds. He is also buried in the cemetery, not far from Daniel Boone. His use of winding roads, integration of river terraces and hills, and so many varieties of trees make Frankfort Cemetery one of the state’s most beautiful spots and an absolute glory when in spring or fall color.
A list of famous Kentuckians buried here includes 16 governors, the artist Paul Sawyier, numerous business, philanthroptic and industry leaders, and soldiers of every war from the Revolution on. Many of these notable Kentuckians are in section M and the adjoining State Lot. Four KY governors buried in the state lot- Greenup, Scott, Adair and Madison - were Revolutionary War soldiers.
The State Mound, wherein stands the Military Monument, was deeded to the Commonwealth in 1847 for purpose of memorializing Kentuckians lost in the nation’s wars. It quickly moved into use with those lost in the Mexican War at Buena Vista. The Military Monument lists the names of those who had died in all wars (at the time of dedication) except the Civil War. There were too many to list on the monument. A drive through the cemetery will reveal many, many Union and Confederate soldier’s tombstones. In the Glen’s Creek section, once the only place where blacks could be buried, rest many soldiers of the Colored Infantry units.
The cache is a camo-taped matchstick holder near the DAR lot. The Kentucky Daughters of the Revolution have moved Revolutionary soldier's remains to this lot from elsewhere in the state where old cemeteries are threatened. No need to frisk the shrubs!
Information for this cache came from ‘Frankfort Cementer… in Kentucky’ (KY Genealogical Society, 1998), ‘Frankfort Cemetery, The Westminster Abbey of Kentucky’ (Hatter and Hughes, 2007), and information in the files at the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO SQUARESHOE FOR A FIRST FTF!