rural cemetery
A rural cemetery or garden cemetery is a style of cemetery that became popular in the United States and Europe in the mid-nineteenth century due to the overcrowding and health concerns of urban cemeteries. They were typically built one to five ...
in the West Ward of
Newark, New Jersey
Newark ( , ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey and the seat of Essex County and the second largest city within the New York metropolitan area.Fairmount. It opened in 1855, shortly after the Newark City Council banned burials in the central city due to fears that bodies spread
yellow fever
Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains – particularly in the back – and headaches. Symptoms typically improve within five days. In ...
. The first burial in Fairmount Cemetery was a 24-year-old man named Lewis J. Pierson. Fairmount is still accepting interments.
Along with Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Fairmount has the graves of Newark's most eminent turn of the century citizens, including
Clara Maass
Clara Louise Maass (June 28, 1876 – August 24, 1901) was an American nurse who died as a result of volunteering for medical experiments to study yellow fever.
Early life
Clara Maass was born in East Orange, New Jersey, to German immigrant ...
, who gave her life in the investigation of
yellow fever
Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains – particularly in the back – and headaches. Symptoms typically improve within five days. In ...
. A high proportion of the graves belong to German families. Fairmount Cemetery includes large trees, rolling hills, and intricately carved monuments. Featured near the old South Orange Avenue entrance is the recently restored zinc Settlers' Monument, commemorating the founders of Newark. There is also a Civil War memorial. The modern entrance to Fairmount Cemetery is on Central Avenue.
Notable burials
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Harriet Adams
Harriet Stratemeyer Adams (December 12, 1892 – March 27, 1982) was an American juvenile book packager, children's novelist, and publisher who was responsible for some 200 books over her literary career. She wrote the plot outlines for many boo ...
(1893–1982), pseudonymous author of many books in the ''
Nancy Drew
Nancy Drew is a Fictional character, fictional character appearing in several Mystery fiction, mystery book series, movies, and a TV show as a teenage amateur sleuth. The books are ghostwriter, ghostwritten by a number of authors and published ...
'' series and a few in the ''
Hardy Boys
The Hardy Boys, brothers Frank and Joe Hardy, are fictional characters who appear in several mystery series for children and teens. The series revolves around teenagers who are amateur sleuths, solving cases that stumped their adult counterpa ...
'' series
*
Leila Bennett
Leila Bennett (November 17, 1892 – January 5, 1965) was an American film actress who primarily appeared in supporting roles as either slapstick sidekicks, mousy maids, and scatterbrains.
Early life
Bennett was born in Newark, New Jerse ...
Mayor of Newark
The Mayor of Newark is the head of the executive branch of government of Newark, New Jersey, United States. The mayor has the duty to enforce the municipal charter and ordinances; prepare the annual budget; appoint deputy mayors, department he ...
from 1903 to 1907
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Thomas Dunn English
Thomas Dunn English (June 29, 1819 – April 1, 1902) was an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey who represented the state's 6th congressional district in the House of Representatives from 1891 to 1895. He was also a published a ...
(1819–1902), represented
New Jersey's 6th congressional district
New Jersey's 6th congressional district is represented by Democrat Frank Pallone, who has served the district in Congress since 1993. The district includes the northern and eastern portions of Middlesex County and the coastal areas of Monmout ...
from 1891 to 1895
*
Christian William Feigenspan
Christian William Feigenspan (December 7, 1876 – February 7, 1939) was president of Feigenspan Brewing Company, president of Federal Trust Company, and president of the United States Brewers' Association.
Birth
He was born in 1876 to Rach ...
(1836–1939), president of Newark's Feigenspan Brewing Company
*
James Fairman Fielder
James Fairman Fielder (February 26, 1867 – December 2, 1954) was an American politician of the Democratic party, who served as the 35th governor of New Jersey, from 1914 to 1917. He had previously served as acting governor in 1913 but stepped ...
(1867–1954),
Governor of New Jersey
The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The official res ...
New Jersey's 6th congressional district
New Jersey's 6th congressional district is represented by Democrat Frank Pallone, who has served the district in Congress since 1993. The district includes the northern and eastern portions of Middlesex County and the coastal areas of Monmout ...
from 1883 to 1885
*
Gwen Guthrie
Gwendolyn Guthrie (July 9, 1950 – February 3, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter and pianist who also sang backing vocals for Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Peter Tosh, and Madonna, among others, and who wrote songs made fa ...
(1950–1999), singer-songwriter
*
Fred A. Hartley Jr.
Frederick Allan Hartley Jr. (February 22, 1902 – May 11, 1969) was an American Republican politician from New Jersey. Hartley served ten terms in the United States House of Representatives where he represented the New Jersey's 8th and New Jer ...
(1902–1969)
*
Georgiana Klingle Holmes
Georgiana Klingle Holmes (November 4, 1841 - April 22, 1940) was an American poet and painter. She founded the Arthur's Home For Destitute Boys and the LaRue Holmes Nature Lovers' League, both in memory of her sons, who died young.
Early life
...
(1841–1940), wrote poetry under the name George Klingle
*
Henry Lang
Henry George Lang (3 March 1919 – 17 April 1997) was a New Zealand public servant, economist, university professor and company director. He was born in Vienna, Austria on 3 March 1919 and later became the step-son of the architect Ernst Pli ...
(1828–1897), Mayor of Newark from 1882 to 1883
*
Frederick Lehlbach
Frederick Reimold Lehlbach (January 31, 1876 – August 4, 1937) was an American lawyer and politician. As a Republican, Lehlbach served as the U.S. representative for New Jersey's 10th congressional district from 1915 to 1933 and as the repres ...
(1876–1937)
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Herman Lehlbach
Herman Lehlbach (July 3, 1845January 11, 1904) was an American Republican Party politician who represented New Jersey's 6th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for three terms from 1885 to 1891.
He was the unc ...
(1845–1904), represented
New Jersey's 6th congressional district
New Jersey's 6th congressional district is represented by Democrat Frank Pallone, who has served the district in Congress since 1993. The district includes the northern and eastern portions of Middlesex County and the coastal areas of Monmout ...
from 1885 to 1889
*
Clara Maass
Clara Louise Maass (June 28, 1876 – August 24, 1901) was an American nurse who died as a result of volunteering for medical experiments to study yellow fever.
Early life
Clara Maass was born in East Orange, New Jersey, to German immigrant ...
(1876–1901), nurse who died as a result of volunteering for medical experiments to study
yellow fever
Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains – particularly in the back – and headaches. Symptoms typically improve within five days. In ...
*
Le Gage Pratt
Le Gage Pratt (December 14, 1852 – March 9, 1911) was an American businessman and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from New Jersey for one term from 1907 to 1909.
Early life and career
Born in Sterling, Massachusetts, Pratt was e ...
(1852–1911)
*
Needham Roberts
Needham Roberts (April 28, 1901 – April 18, 1949) was an American soldier in the Harlem Hellfighters and recipient of the Purple Heart and the Croix de Guerre for his valor during World War I.
Early life
Roberts was born in Trenton, New Jersey ...
(1901–1949), African-American
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
The Political Graveyard
The Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 277,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information. The name comes from the website's inclusion of burial locations of ...