HISTORIC BATTLE GROVE CEMETERY

In the month of May 1868, a group of about 60 citizens met to establish a new burial ground for Harrison County, Kentucky. Committees were formed to find suitable grounds for the cemetery and to raise approximately $13,000 dollars by subscription to stock. The grounds committee returned with a recommendation to purchase a 40 acre tract of land for $200 dollars per acre. A charter was obtained in the winter of that same year with dedication services on the 4th of Nov. 1868. The charter declared the Battle Grove Cemetery to be a non-profit corporation and was to be governed by a board of 7 trustees, serving 5-year terms. The by-laws, rules and regulations still govern the operation of the cemetery some 134 years later. Over these many years the cemetery has had only 10 superintendents, which reflects a dedication to the cemetery and the community.

The cemetery is rich in history due to it being the site of one of the Civil War battles fought here in Cynthiana, and Harrison County. There is a circle of graves around a large Civil War monument with the names of 24 soldiers and spaces of 20 more listed as "names unknown".

Monuments and people draw the historians to Battle Grove with the cemetery probably having more unique monuments and statues for its size than most cemeteries in the country. In the early years of Battle Grove family units were disinterred and moved to these grounds with large family plots and erecting many beautiful statues and monuments which display a lot of symbolism unique to cemeteries. One of the statues that attracts a lot of attention, especially families and children is known as the (Withers Boy) monument. Visitors try to unravel the many tales pertaining to this statue. The Withers family lost 3 sons at very young ages. We understand the statue was sculpted in Italy from a photograph.

David W. Young, the inventor of Tylenol, is interred here, as is Mattie D. Todd, the niece of Mary Todd Lincoln. Mattie D. Todd was the postmaster in Harrison County and her father was a physician. In the fall of 2001, a historical workshop was held here as a scheduled class of the local Junior College, with a local historian teaching the class, featuring 16 different people and monuments.

The trustees have purchased additional land bringing the total to just over 100 acres, giving the community the assurance of many years of service from Battle Grove. We are moving a fast pace to plant trees, bulbs, flowers, etc. An Arboretum is being established, and a nursery with 300 seedlings was planted in 2001 with more to follow this year. Benches have been placed throughout the grounds to give the many people that walk here a place to rest and enjoy the quietness and atmosphere of the grounds. Battle Grove will be striving to highlight the history, monuments and people with published brochures available to the public.

As there are many plans for the future of the Battle Grove Cemetery, we will at the same time also remember the inherent sacred nature of these grounds and maintain the dignity and honor the cemetery deserves and the community has grown to expect.

Billy Grayson, Superintendent