CAZENOVIA — On Saturday, May 14, over a dozen members of Cazenovia Heritage and Cazenovia Preservation Foundation (CPF) completed the first stage of restoring the historic Farnham Cemetery off Grassy Lane Road in Cazenovia.
Cazenovia Heritage is a community organization that seeks to conserve the area’s cultural resources, including the historic architecture, neighborhoods, sites, and objects that contribute to Cazenovia’s unique sense of place and character.
CPF is a private, non-profit organization that works to protect the historical, agricultural, and natural resources in and around Cazenovia for the benefit of the community and the enjoyment of future generations.
Cazenovia Heritage member Eric Beyer inspired the idea for the restoration project last summer when he mentioned the cemetery’s existence to Cazenovia Heritage President Anne Ferguson.
The abandoned cemetery, which is located on land adjacent to Beyer’s property, had many fallen tombstones covered in years of accumulated leaves and vegetation.
According to Ferguson, Cazenovia Heritage thought the cemetery clean-up would be a good event for National Preservation Month, both in terms of preserving a historic site and providing recognition to some of Cazenovia’s earliest settlers.
“When Anne approached me and asked if CPF might be interested in helping with this project, I thought it was a great idea,” said CPF Executive Director Jen Wong. “CPF’s dedicated stewardship volunteers are accustomed to doing work on trails and completing other maintenance projects on our properties. This was an opportunity for them to put their skills to work and learn a little more about one of Cazenovia’s early families, while fulfilling an important aspect of our mission, which includes protecting the historical resources in and around Cazenovia for the benefit of the community.”
The first stage of work involved sweeping the flattened tombstones clean and removing wild raspberries, honeysuckle, and other invasive brush.
The second stage is scheduled for Oct. 16, 2022, when a few tombstones will be raised by a professional gravestone preservationist.
“The goal is not to restore the cemetery as a pristine site, but to maintain its rural character, raise and protect the stones from further damage, and to restore some dignity and honor to its occupants,” explained Ferguson.
Jonathan Farnham (1779-1851) purchased the land on which the cemetery is located (Lot #20) in 1812. Eventually, Farnham was buried there with his wife, their five adult children, and two of their children’s spouses.
Today, the cemetery can be found in the woods on its own unclaimed lot.
The 33 graves represent just 10 families.
“Most all of those buried here were either close friends or related to the Farnhams,” said Ferguson.
The earliest grave is that of Lodema Cowles Tillotson (1787 – 1814), wife of Ephraim Tillotson (1786 – 1864) who purchased the neighboring Lot #22.
Ephraim is buried with his three wives and his daughter Orange, who married George Atwell, grandfather of Christine Atwell (1887-1939), an author on Cazenovia history.
According to Ferguson, the oldest age represented in the cemetery is that of Rufus Lyon, 90, and the youngest is that of Laura Farnham, four months.
Ferguson also highlighted the following cemetery occupants:
Revolutionary War veteran Zenas Hays (1759-1837) and his wife, Sarah. Hays enlisted at age 17 as part of the Connecticut line and served nearly seven years.
John M. Reed (1775 – 1845), who arrived in Cazenovia in 1821, and his wife and daughter.
Lovisa Marsh (1793-1847), who was one of only 26 known babies born in the year of Cazenovia’s settlement.
To learn more about Cazenovia Heritage, visit cazheritage.org.
For additional information on CPF, visit cazpreservation.org.
