Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

Cemetery History

Woodlawn was chartered by the State of New York in 1858 and is comprised of 184 scenic acres. Its paths and avenues wind through hills and wooded areas with towering trees, family plots, mausoleums, lovely marble sculptures and hand carved memorial stones. Designed by noted architect Howard Daniels, it is part of the "rural cemetery" concept which created park-like cemeteries.  Daniels created designs for cemeteries throughout New York and Ohio and was a finalist in the competition for the creation of New York City's Central Park.  

The cemetery, with its wrought iron gates and fences, is a repository of Chemung Valley history and contains the stories of all those who have in ways large and small, known and unknown, contributed to the building of this wonderful place we call home.

Some of its famous residents include:

  • Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

  • Hal Roach, Pioneer Hollywood film-maker

  • John W. Jones, escaped slave and chronicler of Confederate dead from the Elmira Civil War Prison Camp

  • Ernie Davis, first black recipient of the Heisman Trophy

  • Ross Marvin, team member of Admiral Peary's North Pole Expedition

  • Matthias Arnot, Aviation pioneer, patron of the Arts

  • Oliver Smith, most decorated American set designer of 20th Century, winner of 8 Tony Awards

 Military and political leaders interred include:

  • John Arnot Jr., Mayor of Elmira 1864,1870,1874; US Representative from NY 1883-86

  • Major General Matthew Carpenter, Revolutionary War, War of 1812

  • General Alexander Samuel Diven, Civil War, NYS Senate 1858-59, US Representative from NY 1861-63

  • Jacob Sloat Fassett, NYS Senate 1884-91,US Representative from NY 1905-11

  • Thomas Schmeck Flood, US Representative from NY 1887-91

  • Hiram Gray, US Representative from NY 1837-39; Justice of NY Supreme Court 1847-60

  • General William M. Gregg, Civil War

  • Lewis Henry, US Representative from NY 1922-23

  • General Henry C. Hoffman, Civil War

  • Thomas Maxwell, US Representative from NY 1829-31

  • Governor Alexander W. Randall, State of Wisconsin during the Civil War; US Postmaster General 1866-69, US minister to the Vatican 1861-63

  • Governor Lucius Robinson, State of New York 1877-79; Member of NYS Assembly 1860

  • Hosea Hunt Rockwell, member of NYS legislature; US Representative from NY 1891-93

  • Horace Boardman Smith, State court judge; US Representative from NY 1871-75

  • John B. Stanchfield, Mayor of Elmira NY 1886-88; member of NYS Assembly 1896

  • Asher Tyler, US Representative from NY 1843-45

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