The Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery is a

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 ...

located in

Poughkeepsie, New York Poughkeepsie ( ), officially the City of Poughkeepsie, separate from the Town of Poughkeepsie around it) is a city in the U.S. state of New York. It is the county seat of Dutchess County, with a 2020 census population of 31,577. Poughkeepsi ...

and includes the gravesites of several notable figures. It also has a

crematory A crematorium or crematory is a venue for the cremation of the dead. Modern crematoria contain at least one cremator (also known as a crematory, retort or cremation chamber), a purpose-built furnace. In some countries a crematorium can also b ...

. The forty-four acres of land used for the cemetery were purchased by

Matthew Vassar Matthew Vassar (April 29, 1792 – June 23, 1868) was an English-born American brewer, merchant and philanthropist. He founded Vassar College, a women’s college, in 1861. He was a cousin of John Ellison Vassar. The city of Vassar, Michigan, ...

. Some of its architectural features were designed by

J. A. Wood John A. Wood (June 11, 1837 – December 18, 1910), was an American architect . His work in upstate New York included projects in Poughkeepsie and Kingston, New York as well as four armories, in Kingston, Newburgh, Bethel, and Watertown. His wo ...

. His work includes the cemetery gates and gatehouse, the Frost Mausoleum, and a monument for Matthew Vassar's nephew, John Guy Vassar.

Hamilton and Schuyler families

Several relatives of Alexander Hamilton, a

Founding Father of the United States The Founding Fathers of the United States, known simply as the Founding Fathers or Founders, were a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the war for independence from Great Britai ...

, are buried at the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery: *

Allan McLane Hamilton Allan McLane Hamilton (October 6, 1848 – November 23, 1919) was an American psychiatrist, specializing in suicide and the impact of accidents and trauma upon mental health, and in criminal insanity, appearing at several trials. He was a fou ...

(1848–1919), psychiatrist * Louis McLane Hamilton (1844–1868), cavalry officer in the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

and

American Indian Wars The American Indian Wars, also known as the American Frontier Wars, and the Indian Wars, were fought by European governments and colonists in North America, and later by the United States and Canadian governments and American and Canadian settle ...

Philip Hamilton Philip Hamilton (January 22, 1782 – November 24, 1801) was the eldest child of Alexander Hamilton, the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, and Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton. He died at age 19, fatally shot in a duel with George Eacker. Birt ...

(1802–1884), lawyer, Judge Advocate (Navy Retiring Board), youngest son of Alexander Hamilton *

Philip Jeremiah Schuyler Philip Jeremiah Schuyler (January 21, 1768 – February 21, 1835) was an American politician from New York. His siblings included Angelica Schuyler, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, and Margarita Schuyler Van Rensselaer. Life He was the son of ...

(1768–1835), politician (House of Representatives and New York State Senate), brother of

Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton Elizabeth Hamilton (née Schuyler ; August 9, 1757 – November 9, 1854), also called Eliza or Betsey, was an American socialite and philanthropist. Married to American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, she was a defender of his works and co- ...

Angelica Schuyler Church Angelica Church (née Schuyler ; February 20, 1756 – March 6, 1814) was an American socialite. She was the eldest daughter of Continental Army General Philip Schuyler, and a sister of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton and sister-in-law of Alexand ...

and Margarita Schuyler Van Rensselaer.

Notable burials

Other notable individuals interred at the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery include: * Theodorus Bailey (1758–1828), politician (Member of the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

and

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

) * Stephen Baker (1819–1875), politician (Member of the US House of Representatives) * Jane Bolin (1908–2007), judge (New York City Domestic Relations Court) * Harvey G. Eastman (1832–1878), educator (founder of

Eastman Business College The Eastman Business College was a business school located in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. It operated from 1859 until it closed in 1931. At the height of its success, the school was one of the largest commercial colleges in the United St ...

) and politician ( New York State Assembly) *

James Emott James Emott (March 9, 1771 – April 7, 1850) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. Life He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1790, and commenced practice in Ballston Center. He was land commissioner to settle disputes of ...

(1771–1850), politician (Member of the US House of Representatives and New York State Assembly) * Margaret Hamilton (1902–1985), actress, played the Wicked Witch in '' The Wizard of Oz''Cremated. Her ashes were scattered at her estate in Amenia, New York. *

Frank Hasbrouck Frank Hasbrouck (January 4, 1852 – December 18, 1928) was an American lawyer and judge from New York. Life Hasbrouck was born on January 4, 1852, in Poughkeepsie, New York, the son of Dr. Alfred Hasbrouck and Margaret Ann Manning. He was desc ...

(1852–1928), lawyer, county judge, Superintendent of the

New York State Insurance Department The New York State Insurance Department (NYSID) was the state agency responsible for supervising and regulating all insurance business in New York State. istory, About Us, New York State Department of Financial Services, retrieved on March 5, 2012, ...

* Dustin John Higgs (1972–2021), American convicted murderer executed by the United States federal government * Charles Johnston (1793–1845), politician (Member of the US House of Representatives) * Anandi Gopal Joshi (1865–1887), first female Indian doctor, buried under the name "Anandabai Joshee" with the Carpenter family. * John J. Kindred (1864–1937), politician (Member of the US House of Representatives) * Henry A. Livingston (1776–1849), politician ( New York State Senate) *

Johnny Miller John Laurence Miller (born April 29, 1947) is an American former professional golfer. He was one of the top players in the world during the mid-1970s. He was the first to shoot 63 in a major championship to win the 1973 U.S. Open, and he ran ...

(1905–2008),

gyroplane An autogyro (from Greek and , "self-turning"), also known as a ''gyroplane'', is a type of rotorcraft that uses an unpowered rotor in free autorotation to develop lift. Forward thrust is provided independently, by an engine-driven propeller. Whi ...

pioneer,

test pilot A test pilot is an aircraft pilot with additional training to fly and evaluate experimental, newly produced and modified aircraft with specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques.Stinton, Darrol. ''Flying Qualities and Flight Testin ...

and airline pilot *

Samuel Neilson Samuel Neilson (17 September 1761 – 29 August 1803) was an Irish businessman, journalist and politician. He was a founding member of the Society of United Irishmen and the founder of its newspaper, the ''Northern Star''. Along with many other ...

(1761–1803), Irish nationalist *

Homer Augustus Nelson Homer Augustus Nelson (August 31, 1829 – April 25, 1891) was an American politician and soldier from the state of New York. He served one term in the U.S. House of Representative and was an officer in the Union Army during the first part ...

(1829–1891), politician (Member of the United States House of Representatives, United States Senate and

New York Secretary of State The secretary of state of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York who leads the Department of State (NYSDOS). The current secretary of state of New York is Robert J. Rodriguez, a Democrat. Duties The secre ...

) * Edmund Platt (1865–1939), politician (Member of the US House of Representatives) and member of

United States Federal Reserve The Federal Reserve System (often shortened to the Federal Reserve, or simply the Fed) is the central banking system of the United States of America. It was created on December 23, 1913, with the enactment of the Federal Reserve Act, after a ...

* Charles H. Ruggles (1789–1865), politician (Member of the US House of Representatives) and judge (Chief Judge United States Court of Appeal) * James Fields Smathers (1888–1967), inventor * William Wallace Smith I (1830–1913) and Andrew Smith (1836–1895), founders of

Smith Brothers The Smith Brothers were makers of the first cough drops produced and advertised in the United States, becoming one of the most famous brands in the country in its day. History William Wallace Smith I (1830–1913) and Andrew Smith (1836–1895 ...

Cough Drops * John Thompson (1809–1890), politician (Member of the US House of Representatives) *

Smith Thompson Smith Thompson (January 17, 1768 – December 18, 1843) was a US Secretary of the Navy from 1819 to 1823 and a US Supreme Court Associate Justice from 1823 to his death. Early life and the law Born in Amenia, New York, Thompson graduated ...

(1768–1843), Associate Justice

United States Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that involve a point o ...

and politician (

United States Secretary of the Navy The secretary of the Navy (or SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department (component organization) within the United States Department of Defense. By law, the se ...

) * Rip Torn (1931-2019), actor * Isaac Van Anden (1812–1875), publisher of the '' Brooklyn Eagle'' *

(1792–1868), brewer, merchant, founder of

Vassar College Vassar College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. Founded in 1861 by Matthew Vassar, it was the second degree-granting institution of higher education for women in the United States, closely foll ...

Notes

References

External links

* {{Official website, www.poughkeepsieruralcemetery.com
Friends of the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery
Cemeteries in Dutchess County, New York Poughkeepsie, New York Tourist attractions in Poughkeepsie, New York Rural cemeteries