Restin' with the Belleville Mayors: A Legacy Remembered
While brainstorming ideas for a new Adventure Lab series, we began to wonder if any notable figures were buried in Belleville Cemetery. After some research, we were surprised to learn that 56 of the city’s first 67 mayors are buried there. That discovery sparked the idea for this four-part series.
We decided to try locating the headstones of these mayors, beginning with the earliest ones. It became a rewarding and sometimes challenging journey through local history. While we did our best to find the first 20 mayors, a few could not be located.
This four-part Adventure Lab series takes you on a reflective journey through the final resting places of Belleville’s past mayors. At each location, you’ll uncover the stories of the men who helped shape the city—its growth, values, and civic spirit. Take a moment to explore their legacies, learn about their contributions, and appreciate the history that built Belleville into what it is today.
The historical information throughout this series comes from Dr. Donald Brearley’s book Mayors of the City of Belleville, whose research provides valuable insight into the lives and legacies of these civic leaders.
To obtain coordinates for this bonus cache you must complete two Adventure Labs; Restin' with the Belleville Mayors (1850-1863) and Restin' with the Belleville Mayors (1875-1888).
Mayors (1850–1897) Not Included in the Adventure Lab Series. Can you find their headstones?
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3rd Mayor – John O’Hare (1825–1865)
Served as Mayor: 1855–1856
Buried in Mount St. Patrick Cemetery, Belleville
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11th Mayor – Alexander Robertson (1838–1888)
Served as Mayor: 1870 & 1878–1879
Buried in Belleville Cemetery
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13th Mayor – John J.B. Flint (1838–1929)
Served as Mayor: 1872
Buried in Belleville Cemetery
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14th Mayor – George Eyre Henderson (1819–1895)
Served as Mayor: 1874
Buried in Belleville Cemetery
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16th Mayor – Reuben Spaulding Patterson (1820–1900)
Served as Mayor: 1880–1881
Buried in Westfield Cemetery, Westfield, N.Y.
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19th Mayor – Henry McIninch (1839–1917)
Served as Mayor: 1886
Possibly buried in Ottawa
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25th Mayor – Curtis Bogart (1848–1922)
Served as Mayor: 1892
Buried in Belleville Cemetery