The Office/Parking
Welcome to Walnut Grove Cemetery. Visitors who arrive in a vehicle can park at the office lot, or alongside any of the roads throughout the cemtery. Please make sure dogs are leashed during your visit. Additionally, should a funeral be in progress during your tour, please be respectful and rework your tour route if necessary.As you progress through the tour, swipe left on the images to see pictures of the stone locations, the inscriptions and photos of associated buildings, homes and people, as available.Stop 1 is at the intersection of Sycamore and Memorial. From Stop 1 to Stop 2, follow Buckeye, which merges into Cottonwood. Stop 2 is at the intersection of Cottonwood and Maple.
Captain William Pinney & the Beers Family
Images (swipe left on pictures to view all four): (1 & 2) Pinney headstones; (3) Beers Tavern c. 1900; (4) Jennie Beers headstoneTo the left of the road, as you approach Maple Street, you will find the markers for Captain William Pinney and Jennie Beers. Pinney was a member of the 46th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was the main recruiter for the company. He was also the grandson of Levi Pinney, who we will visit later in the tour. Pinney's first wife was Jennie Beers. Her parents, Uriah Sr. and Clarissa were the proprietors of the Beers Tavern which was built in the 1810's on the southeast corner of Stafford and High where the Old Worthington Library is located today. Architecturally, this was the most distinctive building in the village with a three story central section and elegantly crafted palladian-style entry. The tavern/inn had several owners, and it was sold to Uriah Beers in 1838, whose family members continued to operate it until after the Civil War. It burned down around the turn of the 20th century. From Stop 2, turn right onto Maple and walk about ten feet to find stop 3 on your right.
The "other" Orange Johnson
“Orange ” was a more common name in the 1800s than it is today. At that time, there were at least 3 “Orange Johnsons” (unrelated to each other) living in Ohio; two in Worthington!Buried in Walnut Grove is a different Orange Johnson than the one who lived in the large brick house that is now the Society's museum at North Street and High Street. The Orange Johnson buried here was born in 1842, in Knox County. He served in the 65th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and re-enlisted in the army remaining almost until the end of the Civil War. On April 15, 1865, he is listed as having deserted, and was given a dishonorable discharge. This was reversed in 1888. (He had probably become separated from his unit, couldn’t find them and joined another unit for the remainder of the war. To become separated from your unit during battle was a common problem during the Civil War.) He spent the remainder of his life with his wife, Mary Jane who went by "Jennie", living in Sharon Township as a farm laborer. Both Orange and Jennie have government issued stones that were available to veterans and their spouses. They also both have the medallions indicating they were members of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) for veterans who served in the Civil War and their spouses.In addition to two Orange Johnsons in Worthington, there was also an Orville Johnson, who went by Dr. O. Johnson. Orville was active with the school board and was a practicing physician in the second half of the 1800s in Worthington. He too is buried here at Walnut Grove.From Stop 3 to Stop 4, continue on Maple where the Griswold monument is the tall obelisk visible off the path in the middle of the section.
The Griswolds
Walnut Grove has at least 20 members of the Griswold family, many of whom are buried in this area. You may enjoy wandering off the path towards the tall obelisk (image 1) in the section to the left. Here is the monument for George Harlow Griswold (image 2) and his wife Mila Thompson Griswold (image 3). George Harlow was the second oldest son of Ezra Griswold and nade the trip to Worthington from Connecticut at age 8 when the Scioto Company came in 1803. His wife Mila Thompson also came as a young child. "General Griswold" served in the militia and was a veteran of the War of 1812. He was actively involved in the creation of this cemetery and was also the sexton, or recorder, for St. John's Cemetery. He followed his father in performing as justice of the peace, was elected recorder when the village was first incorporated in 1835, completed several terms as mayor and was postmaster for a time. He succeeded his father as owner, operator and lifelong resident of the Griswold Tavern (Griswold Inn/image 4), but his primary income was from rental property.When he died he owned 464 acres of land in Worthington and Sharon Township. George Harlow's only son, Worthington Franklin (image 5), inherited everything; the rental income and the properties. Worthington Franklin and his wife Fondelia (image 6) had 14 children. "W.F.", as he was known, became a surveyor and civil engineer. He also was a Sharon Township Justice of the Peace as well as Mayor of the village for some time. Of their 14 children, Edith, Caroline, Howard, Edwin, Herbert are here as well as his 8th daughter Ruth. Ruth was the last Griswold woman to live in the Griswold Inn until 1964 when the Inn was torn down (image 9). For the last year of her life Ruth lived with her sister Edith in California. Both women are buried here (image 10/11).From Stop 4 to 5, continue on Maple just past Beech, where the white Civil War marker for James Hood is on the right.
John Hood and the Birkheads
Look for the white marker for John Hood just after Beech to locate the row where the Birkheads are buried. James Birkhead and his wife, Lettie, lived on property once owned by Worthington’s founder, James Kilbourn. In the early 1800s, Kilbourn had built his Worthington Manufacturing Company along the Olentangy River at the bottom of W. South St. on this land. He also had constructed, in 1814, a “boarding house” which is still there today. Birkhead, who was born in 1851, purchased the property in 1892 for $950. Much as James Kilbourn had helped his neighbors by developing his businesses, James Birkhead and his family planted orchards, and raised fruits and vegetables that they sold to Worthington and neighboring areas. James Birkhead and his family lived in the boarding house, the same one where the officers stayed during the training camp at the beginning of the Civil War for the 46th Ohio Volunteer Infantry led by Col. Thomas Worthington. In addition to feeding his family and supplying food to his neighbors, James became one of the founders of the St. John A.M.E. (African Methodist Episcopal) Church on Plymouth Street in Worthington. A daughter, Catharine Birkhead Trimble was a 1924 graduate of Worthington High School. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan with a B.S. in Education, and became the first African-American teacher in the Delaware City Schools. In the same row, a son-in-law, John Hood, is buried. He was Civil War veteran, a member of a black artillery unit.From Stop 5 to Stop 6, continue to Elm, turn left, and then turn left on Walnut. The Gardner markers will be on your right at the intersection.
Lyman and Royal Gardner
Images: (1) Gardner plot, (2) Lyman Gardner stone; (3) Gardner House at 161 and Oxford; (4/5) Royal Gardner stone & I.O.O.F. markerLyman Gardner served in the Civil War, and after retiring from the saw mill/lumber business, in the Powell area, moved to the village ofWorthington in the 1890s. He established the first official bank in Worthington called the Worthington Savings bank in 1892. He also built the large yellow house on the nw corner of Rt. 161 and Oxford St.Royal served in the Spanish-American War, which was the first military engagement on foreign soil since the war with Mexico in 1846. There are few Spanish-American veterans in this cemetery. The other unique marker on in front of his grave indicates membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, (I.O.O.F) which is a non-political and non-sectarian international fraternity that was founded in 1819. The three links with the letters F, L & T, for "Friendship, Love & Truth" are an I.O.O.F. symbol. From Stop 6 to Stop 7, turn left on Walnut and travel to the corner of Oak to find the Mausoleum.
The Mausoleum
In 1918 a mausoleum, with 128 crypts, was completed by Scott Morris. In 1967 his widow signed a quit-claim selling the mausoleum to Walnut Grove Cemetery for one dollar to allow the much needed repairs to be made using tax money. Mausoleums got their name from the splendid and grand tomb that Artemisia, an Asia Minor queen, build for her late husband, King Mausolos who died around 350 BC. It was so dazzling that “mausoleum” became a common name for exceptionally beautiful tomb structures.This mausoleum has leaded glass windows which face south. Go up to the doors and look through to see the windows lighted up by the sun. Inside the crypts are all faced with marble and the floor is marble. From Stop 7, proceed on Maple through the interesection to Stop 8 on the inside, or left of the path.
Crissa Johnson Maynard
Images: (1/2) Maynard monument; (3) Crissa Johnson Maynard; (4) Maynard homestead where Riverlea is now; (5/6) Crissa's fan and cupboard at the Orange Johnson House; (7) Clara Lenhert MaynardCrissa Maynard was the sister of early prominent businessman, Orange Johnson. She migrated from Connecticut to Worthington, Ohio with her brother in 1814. Crissa married Moses Maynard Jr. who also migrated to Ohio from Massachusetts. He was a veteran of the War of 1812. The Maynards operated a large sheep farm in the area south of Worthington now known as the Village of Riverlea in the 19th century. They lived in a home at the soutwest corner of W. Riverglen and N. High St. In the dining room of the Orange Johnson House museum, on High Street in Worthington, can still be seen Crissa’s corner china cabinet and some of her china. Upstairs one of her beautiful fans is displayed, showing her to be a lady of culture and position in the community.She is buried here with her husband, Moses, and the Clarissa "Clara" E. Lenhert Maynard, the first wife of their son Devoss. Devoss remarried and moved from Worthington. Crissa died before Walnut Grove cemetery was here so she was moved here later to be with her husband and daughter-in-law.Continue along Maple from Stop 8 to Stop 9 a very short distance along the same side of the street.
John Snow and the Masonic Lodge
Images: (1 & 2) Snow Monument, (3) Snow House; (4) Masonic Lodge on High Street; (5) John Snow Most of Worthington’s Scioto Company were Masons, and the organization was a very important aspect of life in early Worthington. John Snow was a silversmith and merchant from Providence, Rhode Island, whom James Kilbourn persuaded to come west to Worthington. His house, the Snow House, is best known as the building with the crooked doorway and windows on West New England Avenue. Because John Snow was an early master of New England Lodge #4 many Masonic meetings and rite ceremonies were held in his home prior to the lodge being constructed in 1820. The corner stone of the Masonic Lodge building features a copper plate engraved with John Snow’s name, and the words: “Masonry, Virtue, and Universal Benevolence.” The Masonic Temple was the oldest in continuous use west of the Allegheny Mountains until it moved out of Worthington in 2013, leaving behind only the New England Lodge #4. John Snow died prior to the availability of Walnut Grove Cemetery so he was moved here also. Continue along Maple from Stop 9 to Stop 10 a very short distance along the same side of the street.
Circle of Honor & Memorial Day at Walnut Grove Cemetery
From the Walnut Grove Cemetery website:Each year the Worthington American Legion Post 239 hosts one of the largest Memorial Day parades in Ohio. The parade begins at the American Legion Post 239 on Morning Street and ends at Walnut Grove Cemetery. The parade was originally started by the Daughters of the American Revolution and since 1919 has continued to be hosted by the American Legion Post 239. After the parade, everyone is invited to a service that is held in the Cemetery on the Ceremonial Mound in the section of the Cemetery which is called the Circle of Honor. The Circle of Honor was dedicated on May 31, 2010 by Dr. Robert Chosy, Cemetery Trustee.Each Memorial Day the Cemetery Staff places a flag at each of the 1,388 Veterans graves and is a sight to behold. The Veterans also have a flag holder that is provided by the Veterans Association that denotes the war in which they served or if they served during peace time. There are Veterans from the War of 1812 through the Persian Gulf War represented in Walnut Grove. Continue along Maple from Stop 10 to Stop 11 a short distance along the same side of the street.
The Wrights
Three generations of the Wright family were the occupants the elegant residence at 137 E. Granville Rd now known as the Sharon Memorial Hall. It was built in 1861 by Horace Wright in before his marriage to Henrietta Tuller. Wright operated a sawmill and was also active in farming. One of eight children of Potter Wright and Lovisa Maynard Wright, Horace and wife Henrietta had five children. In one week in 1876, three died , Kate, Albert and Bernard, from childhood diphtheria.Subsequent generations of the Wright family occupied the home until 1940. Following a War Memorial Levy in 1945, the property was conveyed to the Trustees of the Sharon Township Memorial. There are 51 burials with the last name of Wright at Walnut Grove.Continue along Maple from Stop 11 to Stop 12 a short distance along the same side of the street as you approach the intersection of Sharon.
Captain Levi Pinney
Images: (1) Levi Pinney's stone; (2) Levi & Miles Pinney's stones; (3) Levi Pinney's residence painted by Frank WellingLevi Pinney was a young man, when members of the Scioto Company became the first settlers in Worthington. His marriage to Charlotte Beach was the first wedding in the village of Worthington , a double ceremony with that of his brother, Abner, and Polly Morrison. Levi was an ensign in the Sharon Township Light Infantry Militia Company, organized in 1805. In the War of 1812 he became a captain. In Worthington, he worked as a blacksmith, doing the work of a combination scientist, inventor, manufacturer and mechanic. In 1839, he became Sharon Township Justice of the Peace, and in 1842, mayor of Worthington. A street just north of Riverlea is named Pinney Drive . Next to Levi Pinney's stone is that of his son Miles Pinney. Miles Pinneywas a Colonel in the militia and purchased the Orange Johnson farm (now the museum) in 1863, just before his death. His family maintained the home for some time. Fun fact: there are 41 burials with the last name of Pinney in Walnut Grove.From Stop 12 to Stop 13, turn left on Sharon and procede almost to the corner of Oak. The Tuller monument is set back from Sharon near the corner.
The 46th Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Pvt. Lowis Crawford & Camp Lyon
Thanks to the efforts of Worthington resident Merlin Denig (Denig Jewelers family), Private Lowis Crawford, who died at Worthington’s Camp Lyon, represents the members of the 46th Ohio Volunteer Infantry with memorial monument. The 46th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (O.V.I.) has always been considered by the residents of Worthington as their own, since it organized, recruited and trained in Worthington at Camp Lyon during the fall of 1861. The regiment’s first colonel was Thomas Worthington (West Point Class of 1827), son of Governor Thomas Worthington, for whom the town was named.Camp Lyon was located at the foot of South (then Factory) Street, near the Olentangy River. The presence of the old mill dam and a large spring near the bend of the river in the area known as Lime Kiln, provided adequate water supply. The entire regiment totaled almost 1000 men. Several brick buildings were occupied and tents were erected in the area known as Mechanics Square. These buildings remained from James Kilbourn’s ill-fated adventure in 1811, the Worthington Manufacturing Company. In September 1861 a recruiting office was opened in a frame building on the east side of High Street in the business section. William Pinney, of Worthington, was among those active in the recruiting. He received a commission as Captain (Co.E) and it was in his company that most of the Worthington men served. Other companies were made up of volunteers from Licking, Fairfield, and Van Wert counties.Their first major encounter was the Battle of Shiloh. There were 96 locally who enlisted, two died before Shiloh, nine transferred to other companies so there were 85 locals present at Shiloh. Four were killed, eleven wounded (one died of wounds), and one went missing, so there were only 69 present after battle. Many of Co B are buried here in Walnut Grove, including a couple of those killed or wounded at Shiloh.From Stop 14 to Stop 15, travel back from the way you came and take Cedar to where it turns to the right.
The Corbins
Images: (1) Corbin Stone; (2) Kilbourne Commercial building where Corbin Funeral Home was located; (3) Cornelia Vest (Corbin), 1904; (4) Cornelia Vest Corbin driving; (5) Frank Corbin, 1927; (6) Edith Corbin's quilt at the Old RectorySam and Cornelia Vest Corbin, who both were raised in Worthington, purchased the funeral business operating in the Kilbourne Commerical Building on High Street from Frank Goble in 1922. The building is the oldest surviving building in Worthington and the oldest commercial building in its original site in continuous commercial use, dating to 1808. The building now houses the offices of HER Realtors.Cornelia was an active member of the Worthington community. She bought the Worthington Inn in 1936 and was a member and former organist of Worthington United Methodist Church as well as a trustee of the Worthington Library. She is also reported to be the first woman to receive a driver's license in Worthington. Cornelia was the last person to live upstairs in the residential part of the building, who died in 1978. Son Frank Goble Corbin and wife Edith later took over the funeral business. Frank was the historian for the Worthington Historical Society, and his wife Edith Lewis Corbin created a large quilt depicting many of the early homes in Worthington which hangs in the stairwell of our headquarters at the Old Rectory. They are buried here along with each set of parents; the Corbins and the Lewis’. From Stop 15 to Stop 16, continue on Cedar and turn right on Dogwood. Travel a short distance, and William Arter's grave will be on the right just off the path.
Bill Arter
Images: (1) Arter row; (2) William Arter's stone; (3) Bill Arter works in his studio in Riverlea; (4) a Vignette as appeared int eh Columbus DispatchBill Arter caught the attention of central Ohioans with his whimsical and fascinating Vignettes; his rendering and historical accounts of various buildings past and present in the area that appeared each week in the Columbus Dispatch. Beginning his work in 1964 and concluding in 1970, Arter illustrated dozens of sites around Columbus, including Worthington and Ohio State University, giving flavor and new life to the history of the city. The vignettes were later published in several volumes of books.Bill was a graduate of Ohio State University and majored in English and Fine Arts. Later he was on the faculty in the School of Journalism. However, he is best known as an artist, particularly a watercolorist, and as a writer. In addition to writing for the Columbus Dispatch he produced syndicated science features that appeared in 400 US newspapers.Arter and his wife lived in Riverlea.
