Charles Evans Cemetery is an historic,

nonsectarian Nonsectarian institutions are secular institutions or other organizations not affiliated with or restricted to a particular religious group. Academic sphere Examples of US universities that identify themselves as being nonsectarian include Adelp ...

, garden-style cemetery located in the city of

Reading, Pennsylvania Reading ( ; Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Reddin'') is a city in and the county seat of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city had a population of 95,112 as of the 2020 census and is the fourth-largest city in Pennsylvania after Philade ...

. It was founded by Charles Evans (1768-1847), a son of Quaker parents and native of Philadelphia who became a prominent attorney and philanthropist in Reading during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Early history

After donating the cemetery's first twenty-five acres and $2,000 to support the early development and operations phase of this public burial ground, he then ensured the cemetery's long-term stability by bequeathing a roughly $67,000 endowment from his estate, following his death in 1847 to support beautification of the grounds and other perpetual care activities. Sited atop a hill, the cemetery was initially located outside of the city when Evans first donated the land, but was absorbed into Reading's boundaries as the city developed to meet the needs of its expanding population. By the 1870s, cemetery administrators had expanded the grounds significantly, according to the ''Huntingdon Journal'', which reported on the cemetery in its September 10, 1873 edition as follows:

The Charles Evans Cemetery, the beautiful "City of the Dead" of Reading contains one hundred acres of ground. The total number of interments within its precincts last year was 483; for the months of January, February, March, April, May, June, and July of this year the number was 267.

Roughly six thousand of the seventy-two thousand individuals interred since the cemetery's establishment have been veterans of the U.S. military, including two thousand men who served during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

Administration

The original members of the cemetery's thirteen-member board of trustees were personally appointed by Charles Evans. They were: John Banks, John S. Hiester, Dr. Isaac Hiester, James L. Dunn, Samuel Bell, Dr. H. H. Muhlenberg, William Strong, Matthias S. Richards, William Darling, Dr. Diller Luther, William Eckert, Benneville Keim, and

Peter Filbert Peter Filbert (1793 – May 28, 1864) was the first mayor of the city of Reading, Pennsylvania Reading ( ; Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Reddin'') is a city in and the county seat of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city had a popula ...

. As those men resigned or died, they were succeeded by: Isaac Eckert, Adam Leize, James Milholland, James B. McKnight, G. A. Nicolls, William L. DeBorbon, Charles H. Hunter, J. Pringle Jones, Horatio Trexler, William M. Hiester, Augustus F. Boas, Warren J. Woodward, George D. Stitzel, Henry S. Eckert, John S. Pierson,

Hiester Clymer Hiester Clymer (November 3, 1827 – June 12, 1884) was an American political leader from the state of Pennsylvania. Clymer was a member of the Hiester family political dynasty and the Democratic Party. He was the nephew of William Muhlenberg H ...

, Henry M. Keim, Thomas D. Stichter,

Daniel Ermentrout Daniel Ermentrout (January 24, 1837 – September 17, 1899) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district from 1881 to 1889 and ...

, Edwin F. Smith, and D. Gregg. William Clemson was the first superintendent of the cemetery, and Thomas Gallagher was the first grave digger employed by the cemetery. Jacob Gnau was the cemetery's sexton at the time of Charles Evans' death in 1847. Following his death, Clemson was succeeded by Alexander Burnett, who was succeeded by John C. Hepler in 1880. The first interment at the cemetery took place on May 21, 1847. Mrs. Harriet Norton, the mother of P & R Express Co. executive James L. Norton, was the individual buried that day. Cemetery managers subsequently issued burial permits, beginning on January 1, 1848. Each permit from that date until through March 1886 was numbered with each year's series of permits "bounded and filed among the archives of the cemetery," according to ''The Reading Eagle''. By the mid-1880s, it was estimated that roughly fifteen thousand burials had been made at the cemetery and at least $125,000 expended for the addition of trees and other ornamentation to the cemetery's grounds, as well as the purchase of additional land for future burials. Payments were made for these expenses by the cemetery's trust and through the sale of cemetery lots, which sold for twenty cents per square foot in the cemetery's oldest section in 1886 and thirty cents per square foot in the newest. The cemetery was also insured, and was "protected by law from taxation, and against the opening of streets through its grounds."

Architecture

Visitors arriving via the main gate on Centre Avenue enter through a large, sandstone, Gothic Revival arch, which was erected in 1852, and pass by the grave of the cemetery's founder, Charles Evans, above-ground crypts, obelisks and other monuments to Civil War-era soldiers and other historical figures from

Berks County Berks County ( Pennsylvania German: ''Barricks Kaundi'') is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 428,849. The county seat is Reading. The Schuylkill River, a tributary of the Delaware River ...

. In 1895, the cemetery's chapel served as the site for the funeral services of U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Strong (1808-1895). A Yale University law school graduate who became known for his anti-slavery views during the American Civil War, Strong had served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1847 to 1851 and as a Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court prior to his appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1870, a tenure which included his service on the Electoral Commission tasked with resolving America's disputed presidential election of 1876. According to the August 22 Washington, D.C.'s ''Morning Times'':

The body of ex-Justice William Strong arrived in Reading last night and was taken to the chapel in Charles Evans Cemetery. This morning a plaster mask was taken of the face of the deceased by U. S. J. Dunbar, of Washington. The funeral services, which, of brief character, were held in the chapel this afternoon in the presence of the family.... The ceremonies were exceedingly short, consisting of the reading of Scriptures, prayer by Rev. Dr. Teunis Hamlin, pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C., and the Rev. George Heckman, of Olivet Presbyterian Church, this city. No remarks were made. The choir of Olivet Presbyterian Church sang "Lead, kindly light," and "Abide with Me," favorite hymns of the deceased.

In 1927, cemetery administrators opened a Tudor-style office building, followed by a

columbarium A columbarium (; pl. columbaria) is a structure for the reverential and usually public storage of funerary urns, holding cremated remains of the deceased. The term can also mean the nesting boxes of pigeons. The term comes from the Latin "'' colu ...

in 1939. Built with separate chapel and crematorium sections and a bell tower, the columbarium facility is situated on the cemetery's east side near Perry Street. Designed in the Romanesque Italianate style, the artistry and craftsmanship of its windows and bronze door continue to be a subject of attention by photographers even today. On July 31, 1939, the ''Reading Times'' reported on this facility's opening as follows:

Charles Evans Cemetery's new crematorium, chapel and columbarium, opened yesterday for public inspection, attracted more than 500 persons. Inspection periods will continue daily from 1 to 5 p. m. The building, erected at the suggestion of the board of trustees, is now ready for use. The functions of the new crematory will be available to all people, regardless of race or - creed, and not restricted to residents of the Reading area. Now complete with landscaping, the building fits into the general pattern of the rest of the cemetery. The main entrance faces the Fifth street highway, and a circular driveway which passes the main doors links with the network lacing the cemetery. The building is designed in Romanesque Italian style and constructed of pink brick with Indiana limestone trimmings. Reinforced concrete was used for all structural parts. Divided into three general sections, which include the chapel, the higher central portion; the south wing, or crematory, and the north wing, or columbarium, the overall dimensions of the structure are 120 feet by 60 feet. The columbarium is divided into four small rooms and one large room, which - will be divided later as the need for expansion arises. Bronze crypts, for family and individual use, line the walls.

The Chapel Garden Museum and Hillside Mausoleum were added, respectively, in 1972 and 1981, and the crematorium's cremation chambers were updated in 1993. Over time, cemetery administrators also purchased additional land. As of 2018, those purchases had expanded the grounds to 119 acres, made accessible by seven miles of paved roads, and beautified by flowering shrubbery and more than 2,200 trees, many of which are old-growth and massive in size.

Notable interments and monuments

Initially buried at the Reformed Church of Reading's cemetery when he died in 1823, the remains of

Joseph Hiester Joseph Hiester (November 18, 1752June 10, 1832) was an American politician, who served as the fifth governor of Pennsylvania from 1820 to 1823. He was a member of the Hiester family political dynasty, and was a member of the Democratic-Republ ...

, the fifth governor of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; (Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, Maryl ...

, now rest at the Charles Evans Cemetery, making his grave one of the earliest of the more than sixty-two thousand individuals who have been laid to rest here since the mid-19th century. (At the end of 1911, the total interments had reached thirty thousand four hundred and fourteen, according to the ''Reading Eagle''.) During the late 1880s, the remains of more than two hundred

veterans were also interred at Charles Evans after having been exhumed and relocated from potter's fields across Berks County. The site was then elevated in prominence with the placement of the city's

Grand Army of the Republic The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army (United States Army), Union Navy (U.S. Navy), and the Marines who served in the American Civil War. It was founded in 1866 in Decatur, Il ...

monument. Erected after two years of planning and modeled after bugler Charles Gilliams of the

6th Pennsylvania Cavalry The 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry was a Union Army, Union cavalry regiment during the American Civil War. They were known for their early use of 9-foot lances, and were called "Rush's Lancers." History The regiment was raised during August and Septe ...

, the G.A.R. sculpture was unveiled before a large crowd on September 10, 1887, and became the gathering point, thereafter, for the city's annual Memorial Day ceremonies. Other notable figures interred, inurned or otherwise memorialized at Charles Evans include: * Lt. Col. George Warren Alexander (1829-1903), founder of Reading's G.W. Alexander Hat Co., former captain of the

Reading Artillerists The Reading Artillerists was a militia organization founded in Reading, Pennsylvania during the late 18th century. Mustering in for the first time during the presidential era of George Washington, members of this artillery unit went on to serve ...

, and former second-in-command of the

47th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment The 47th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Formed by adults and teenagers from small towns and larger metropolitan areas of Pennsylvania, this regiment ...

Sydenham Elnathan Ancona Sydenham Elnathan Ancona (November 20, 1824 – June 20, 1913) was an American educator and politician who served three terms as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania from 1861 to 1867. Life and career ...

(1824-1913), U.S. Congressman (37th through 39th sessions) *

John Banks John Banks or Bankes may refer to: Politics and law *Sir John Banks, 1st Baronet (1627–1699), English merchant and Member of Parliament * John Banks (American politician) (1793–1864), U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania *John Gray Banks (188 ...

(1793-1864), U.S. Congressman (22nd through 24th sessions) and Pennsylvania State Treasurer (1847-1848) * Robert Grey Bushong (1883-1951), member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1908 and 1909) and U.S. Congressman (70th session) *

(1827-1884), Pennsylvania Senator (1860-1866) and U.S. Congressman (43rd through 46th sessions) *

(1837-1899), Reading district attorney (1862-1864) and solicitor (1867-1870), Pennsylvania Senator (1837-1880) and U.S. Congressman (47th through 50th sessions) * Charles Joseph Esterly (1888-1940), U.S. Congressman (69th and 71st sessions) *

Charles Evans (Pennsylvania philanthropist) Charles Evans (1768-1847) was an American attorney, civic leader and philanthropist during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He established the Charles Evans Cemetery, an historic, nonsectarian, garden-style, public cemetery located in the ...

(1768-1847), founder of the cemetery and a prominent Reading lawyer and philanthropist * James Lawrence Getz (1821-1891), co-founder of the Reading Gazette, member sof the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1856-1857), U.S. Congressman (40th through 42nd sessions), and City of Reading Comptroller (1888-1891) * William Graul (1846-1909), U.S. Medal of Honor winner * Brig.-Gen. David McMurtrie Gregg (1833-1916), colonel of the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry and brigadier-general of volunteers, U.S. Army *

William Muhlenberg Hiester William Muhlenberg Hiester (May 15, 1818 – August 16, 1878) was an American political and military leader from Pennsylvania who served as Democratic Speaker of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 5th district from 1853 to 1857. He was a memb ...

(1818-1878), Pennsylvania State Senator for the 5th district from 1853 to 1857 * William Edward Holyoke (1868-1934), U.S. Medal of Honor winner * Edward Burd Hubley, 1792-1856), U.S. Congressman (1835-1839) *

Jehu Glancy Jones Jehu Glancy Jones (October 7, 1811 – March 24, 1878) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Often called "Glancy", he was a top adviser on Democratic Party affairs to his close friend James Buchanan, e ...

(1811-1878), Berks County district attorney (1847-1849), U.S. Congressman (32nd through-partially 35th sessions), and U.S. Minister to Austria (1858-1861) * William ("Canada Bill") Jones (1840-1877), riverboat gambler and card sharp known for winning significant sums of money at

three-card monte Three-card Monte – also known as Find the Lady and Three-card Trick – is a confidence game in which the victims, or "marks", are tricked into betting a sum of money, on the assumption that they can find the "money card" among three face-dow ...

* De Benneville Randolph Keim (1841-1914), American Civil War correspondent for the ''New York Herald'' and advisor to Union Army commanding general Ulysses S. Grant *

George May Keim George May Keim (March 23, 1805 – June 10, 1861) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Biography George May Keim (uncle of William High Keim), was born in Reading, Pennsylvania. He attended Prin ...

(1805-1861), U.S. Congressman (1838-1843) and Mayor of Reading (1852) * Brig.-Gen. William High Keim (1813-1862), Mayor of Reading (1848); general of the Pennsylvania Militia and brigadier-general of volunteers, U.S. Army; U.S. Conressman (35th session) *

Charles August Knoderer Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was " ...

(c. 1824-1863), commanding officer, 167 Pennsylvania Infantry *

Henry Augustus Muhlenberg Henry Augustus Muhlenberg (July 21, 1823 – January 9, 1854) was an American politician and Congressman ( Democratic) representing the state of Pennsylvania. Early years Muhlenberg was a member of the Muhlenberg family political dynasty. He w ...

(1823-1854), U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district from 1853 to 1854 * Henry Augustus Philip Muhlenberg (1782-1844), U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district from 1829 to 1833 and Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district from 1833 to 1838 *

Matthias Richards Matthias Richards (February 26, 1758 – August 4, 1830) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Early life and education Matthias Richards was born near Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He had many siblings, includin ...

(1758-1830), U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district from 1807 to 1811 *

Henry Melchior Muhlenberg Richards Henry Melchior Muhlenberg Richards (February 27, 1825 – May 5, 1862) was an American military officer who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War and then as a captain in the United States Navy during the Spanish–American Wa ...

(1848-1935), American military officer who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War and as a Captain during the Spanish–American War *

John Ritter Johnathan Southworth Ritter (September 17, 1948 – September 11, 2003) was an American actor. Ritter was a son of the singing cowboy star Tex Ritter and the father of actors Jason and Tyler Ritter. He is known for playing Jack Tripper on the ...

(1779-1851), U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district from 1843 to 1847 * John Hoover Rothermel (1856-1922), U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district from 1907 to 1915 * William Sands (1835–1918), principal musician and first sergeant with the 88th Pennsylvania Infantry during the

, who won the U.S. Medal of Honor for capturing a Confederate army flag behind enemy lines in the Battle of Dabney's Mill/Hatcher's Run, Virginia (February 6–7, 1865) * Alexander Schimmelfennig (1824-1865), Union Army general in the U.S. Civil War * John Schwartz (1793-1860), U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district from 1859 to 1860 * Amanda E. Stout (1864-1933), first female superintendent of schools in Reading, the only female superintendent of schools in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1933, and the person for whom Reading's Amanda E. Stout Elementary School was named * Matilda Edwards Strong (1822-1851), reportedly a rival to Mary Todd for the affections of Abraham LincolnBrudereck, Jason.
Berks woman may have almost stolen Abraham Lincoln's heart
" Reading, Pennsylvania: ''Reading Eagle'', February 8, 2009. and later the sister-in-law of William Strong, who became a U.S. Supreme Court Justice * Justice William Strong (1808-1895), Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1870-1880), former Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and former U.S. Congressman (1847-1851) * Constantine Gus Yatron (1927-2003), U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district from 1969 to 1993

Gallery

File:Charles Evans Cemetery Aug 2020 34.jpg, Augustus Heston and Joseph DeLong File:Charles Evans Cemetery Aug 2020 24.jpg, Isaac Hiester, M.D. File:Charles Evans Cemetery Aug 2020 23.jpg, Peter Muhlenberg Hiester File:Charles Evans Cemetery Aug 2020 05.jpg, Charles Knoderer File:Charles Evans Cemetery Aug 2020 22.jpg, Amelia Muhlenberg File:Charles Evans Cemetery Aug 2020 15.jpg, Henry Augustus Muhlenberg File:Charles Evans Cemetery Aug 2020 29.jpg, Henry A.P. Muhlenberg File:Charles Evans Cemetery Aug 2020 09.jpg, Alexander Schimmelfennig

References

{{reflist

External links

Charles Evans Cemetery
(official website). Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Charles Evans Cemetery
(searchable listing of interments and memorials). Salt Lake City, Utah: Find A Grave. *

(photographs of the monuments of Charles Evans, Civil War military officers, etc.) The 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (website), retrieved online August 23, 2018. * Gath, Sarah.
Charles Evans Cemetery
(photographs of angel sculptures, Egyptian-themed burial crypt carvings, and other artwork at the cemetery). Deviantart.com, retrieved online August 23, 2018. * Reichenbach, Maris.
Charles Evans Cemetery: A Berks County Historical Institution
. Reading, Pennsylvania: Ringgold Band, January 18, 2011 (retrieved online August 23, 2018). Cemeteries established in the 1840s Cemeteries in Pennsylvania Buildings and structures in Berks County, Pennsylvania Companies based in Berks County, Pennsylvania History of Berks County, Pennsylvania