Riverside Cemetery (Oshkosh, Wisconsin) Explained

Riverside Cemetery
Coordinates:	44.043°N -88.5649°W
Added:	June 26, 2003
Refnum:	03000578

Riverside Cemetery is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2003.^[1]

Founding and expansion of cemetery

On March 6, 1855, the city of Oshkosh purchased a land parcel from Maria Grignon for creation of a cemetery. The parcel was located on the east bank of the Fox River and was named Riverside Cemetery. It was built as a replacement for the Locust Grove Cemetery, which was the first burial ground in Oshkosh and built in 1848. Between 1855 and 1869, the remains of those buried in Locust Grove were moved to Riverside Cemetery.^[1]

In 1855, the Riverside Catholic cemetery was laid out north of the cemetery^[2] and expanded further in 1875.^[1] In 1868, a parcel was purchased east of the Riverside Cemetery by Masons. In 1882, the city purchased in the north edge of the Catholic plots. In 1887, the city sold off to the Catholic Church. In 1914, an additional were purchased from H. C. Rogers, expanding the cemetery to, the current size today.^[1]

Landmarks

• Burr/End of the Trail Monument – erected by John Burr in 1929, the monument depicts an American Indian and his weary horse. It is an interpretation of James Fraser's sculpture End of the Trail.^[1]
• Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Memorial – erected in 1894, memorial to the Grand Army of the Republic.^[1]
• Riverside Cemetery Gateway – erected around 1930, Rustic-style gateway.^[1]
• Soldier and Sailor Monument – erected in 1924, 40-foot granite obelisk dedicated to veterans of the Spanish–American War and World War I.^[1]

Notable burials

• Thomas Allen (1825–1905), Secretary of State of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Assemblyman
• George Rex Andrews (1808–1873), U.S. Representative from New York^[3]
• Lyman E. Barnes (1855–1904), lawyer and U.S. Representative from Wisconsin
• Charles R. Boardman (1860–1950), Adjutant General of Wisconsin and American general in World War I^[4]
• Gabriel Bouck (1828–1904), Attorney General of Wisconsin and U.S. Representative from Wisconsin.
• Charles Frederick Burgess (1873–1945), University of Wisconsin professor, pioneer of electrochemical engineering^[5]
• Frank Merrill Caldwell (1866–1937), U.S. Army general in World War I
• James H. Davidson (1858–1918), lawyer and U.S. Representative from Wisconsin
• Edward Eastman (1806–1870), mayor of Oshkosh and Wisconsin Assemblyman^[6]
• George Fitch (1848–1896), Wisconsin state senator^[7]
• John Fitzgerald (died 1963), 7th mayor of Oshkosh, Wisconsin state senator
• Richard W. Guenther (1945–1913), Treasurer of Wisconsin and U.S. representative from Wisconsin.^[8]
• Samuel McClellan Hay (1825–1906), 5th mayor of Oshkosh, Wisconsin state senator and bank president^[9]
• Henry C. Jewell (1811–1889), 8th mayor of Oshkosh, Wisconsin state representative^[10]
• Florian Lampert (1963–1930), U.S. representative from Wisconsin^[11]
• Lucas M. Miller (1924–1902), U.S. Representative from Wisconsin^[12]
• Charles Rahr (1865–1925), Wisconsin state representative and owner of Rahr Brewing Company^[13]
• Christian Sarau (1839–1903), Wisconsin state representative and state senator
• Philetus Sawyer (1816–1900), U.S. senator and U.S. representative from Wisconsin
• Ganem W. Washburn (1823–1907), Wisconsin state senator and judge
• Edwin Wheeler (1828–1864), Wisconsin state senator and judge

External links

• Official website
• Catholic Cemeteries of Oshkosh

Notes and References

1. Web site: NPGallery Asset Detail.
2. Web site: Our History . catholiccemteriesoshkosh.org . 2021-06-17.
3. Web site: George R. Andrews . The Political Graveyard . 8 July 2013.
4. News: Gen. Charles Boardman To Be Buried Monday Morning . 1950-04-07 . The Sheboygan Press . Sheboygan, WI . 6 . 2021-06-18 . Newspapers.com.
5. News: Oshkosh Native, Charles Burgess, is Called By Death . 1945-02-14 . 4 . Oshkosh Northwestern . Freeport, IL . 2021-06-18 . Newspapers.com.
6. Web site: Portrait of Edward Eastman - Description . Oshkosh Public Museum . 2021-06-17.
7. News: Funeral of George Fitch. The Oshkosh Northwestern. April 1, 1896. 1. Newspapers.com. 2021-06-17.
8. Web site: GUENTHER, Richard William . bioguide.congress.gov . 2021-06-17.
9. News: S. M. Hay is No More . . October 26, 1906 . 1 . May 27, 2023 . .
10. News: A Pioneer's Rest . . January 4, 1889 . 4 . August 26, 2024 . .
11. Web site: LAMPERT, Florian . house.gov . 2021-06-17.
12. Web site: MILLER, Lucas Miltiades . bioguide.congress.gov . 2021-06-17.
13. News: Charles Rahr's Funeral . 1925-11-05 . The Oshkosh Northwestern . 15 . 2021-06-17 . Newspapers.com.