Union Cemetery was originally the family farm of early settler Bolser Hess. Hess, a Revolutionary War veteran, became the land’s first burial in 1806. Other family members followed over the years. However, Union Cemetery wasn’t officially established as a public cemetery for another 40 years.
Location
3349 Olentangy River Road
Years in Use
1806-Present
Size
128+ Acres
Burials
70,000+
Timeline of Events
December, 1806
Bolser Hess is buried in the last days of the month, becoming the first person to be buried in what would become Union Cemetery.
January 28, 1847
Union Cemetery is established when a small group of men purchases 1.3 acres from George and Eliza Beers. This tract does not include the land that the Hess family had been using. Instead, the site sits at the southeast corner of Olentangy River Road- then State Road- and the township road on the north now known as the cemetery’s Road 1.
December 27, 1862
An L-shaped tract of land is purchased from Charles Hess to expand the cemetery. This next tract includes the Hess family burials.
February 10, 1879
A 3-acre tract is added to the cemetery south and east of the existing site.
April 15, 1879
1 acre to the north of the cemetery is purchases for another expansion. Total burial space exceeds 500.
June 7, 1893
About 1.8 acres is purchased on the north side for expansion of 240 burials.
1912
About 2 acres of land is added to the north side of the cemetery, on both sides of what is now Road 4. There is space for 359 burials.
1914
A very small tract is added to the east side of the cemetery, space enough for just 23 burials.
1915
About 1.5 acres is added on the south and east sides of the cemetery, adding space for nearly 200 burials.
1917
A large addition, mainly to the north, increases the size of the cemetery by about 40%. These sections line present-day Road 5 and Road 6. The sections add space for more than 1,100 burials.
1918
Small strips are added to the cemetery on the east side, with enough space for 82 burials.
1924
Similar to 1918, 2 small strips are added on the east side, with space for 73 burials.
1946
A 75-acre plot is purchased to the northwest of the original cemetery on the west side of Olentangy River Road. Although separated from the original cemetery, it retains the Union Cemetery name.
A full list of burials can be found here.
