| General Information |
| The OES visited Stonewall Cemetery on March 16, 2003. Also known as the Wilson Family Cemetery and the President's Burying Ground, this unique cemetery was founded in 1817. As early pioneers to Fairfield County, where the cemetery is located, Nathaniel Wilson and his son Gustin built the wall surrounding their family plot in 1838-39. It is the only structure of it's kind in the world, constructed by Blackhand sandstone and every angle cut into the stone. The arch directly above the entrance is aligned with the north star, Polaris. Nathaniel Wilson III willed the cemetery to President James Monroe and all future Presidents, so George W. Bush is the current owner. The cemetery cannot be transferred to anyone else, even though no Presidents have never been buried at the site. And of course with a cemetery like this, there is bound to be a legend. It is said that if one climbs atop the wall and walks around it thirteen times, the spirits will suck them into the circle. Perhaps, instead, you just get dizzy from walking in a circle thirteen times and fall in. Either way, this is definitely a cemetery worth checking out. | |
| Location Information: Inactive Cemetery [Safe] | |
| Stonewall is located on the west side of Stonewall Cemetery Road in Lancaster, Fairfield County. | |
| Photographs | |
The sign for Stonewall Cemetery. |
The engraving in the last picture states the following:
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THIS WALL |
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which encloses the family burying ground of |
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NATHANIEL WILSON (one of the early Pioneers of |
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the West) who emigrated from Cumberland County Pa and settled near this place |
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AD 1798, when all around was one continued and uninhabited |
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wilderness, was commenced by him AD 1838 & finished in the following year |
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by his son Gustin, the former having suddenly died on May 12, 1839. |
