“As early as the year 1842, the subject of a suitable burial-ground
was urgently before the people of Springfield, and a piece of
ground was selected where Wittenberg College now stands. But after
a few interments had been made therein, by the consent of the
proper authorities, the land was transferred to the college.
Arrangements were made by the City Council for the purchase of a
beautifully located tract of land, known as Greenmount, lying east
of the city on the National road, between Main and High streets
extended. The tract consists of beautifully wooded, rolling
elevation of about twelve and a half acres, now on the eastern
boundary of the corporation. The first interment here was in
December, 1844, but the land was not deeded to the city until the
2d of September, 1845, when Cyrus Armstrong and others transferred
the title to the City Council for the consideration of $1,256.
William Moore, who is still living, was, at that time, Mayor of
Springfield, and the Council was composed of Stephen Bell,
President; Samuel Parsons, Recorder; and Charles Anthony, John
Ludlow, Horace Pool, William Warder and Ira Paige, Councilmen. The
first sexton was - Wilds, since deceased, who was succeeded by
Robert Minnick, and he, in 1862, by the present aged and faithful
guardian, Louis Kindle. A plain and substantial dwelling house was
erected there in 1868, at a cost of about $1,000. At the present
day the cemetery is well kept and its natural beauty preserved, but
the lots have been about all sold, and its use as a burial-place is
confined to the few families who still retain lots. The interest
once manifested in this silent city of the dead is steadily
decreasing, until it will soon be a more memento, guarded by the
public as a relic of a past generation. “
While doing research on this cemetery we found a book that says
that Merryfield Vicory is buried in Greenmount Cemetery. We walked
the cemetery looking for his grave and had no luck but here’s a
little background on Mr. Vicory.
“Merryfield Vicory an odd but genial character, located in
Springfield in the year 1814. and soon afterward received and held
the sobriquet of "Little Daddy Vicory." He was a short, round man,
with a jolly face. He had been a drummer in the Revolutionary war.
and had his drum shot from his side by a cannon ball at the siege
of Yorktown. Mr. Vicory in one instance displayed skill and bravery
in catching a thief while stealing some bacon, from his smoke
house. He seized the thief and tied him fast with a rope, and it
being Sunday morning. kept him in confinement until the horn for
church. when he drove the thief down Main street under threatenings
of a large club, with two sides of bacon swinging over his
shoulders. He went so far in his efforts to humiliate that thief as
to take him to the door of the Presbyterian Church and ask the
people there assembled if they claimed him as one of their members.
The thief was never after seen in the town. Mr. Vicory received a
pension from the Government, and, soon after his settlement here.,
he bought ten acres of land on the old Columbus road, on what
afterward became the east end of High street. He was father of Mr.
Freeman Vicory, another esteemed citizen, who inherited the
property, and spent his days also in Springfield. Mr. Merryfield
Vicory was buried with military honors, in March, 1840, aged
seventy-seven years.”
Please place the cache back as you found it. and bring a
pencil.