St. Rd. 56, at Laughery Creek Rd., Aurora, IN
River View Cemetery opened in 1869 on the west bank of the Ohio River, south of Aurora , bordered on the south by Laughery Creek and on the north by a range of Southern Indiana hills. These thirty acres, professionally designed, provide a beautiful and serene park for the burial of loved ones as well as a place to stroll and enjoy the beauty of rural Southern Indiana. The cemetery is a fine example of the Victorian Rural Public cemetery movement of the mid nineteenth century.
Visit River View today, a place that celebrates life as much as it honors the dead. Roads wind across the rolling cemetery terrain inviting you to enjoy the views and landscape which includes many native Indiana trees. Study the interesting and diverse monuments, perhaps search for an ancestor, or stroll to the Indian Mound, Soldiers' Circle, or the Site of the Lochry Massacre.
As you wander you will find newly developed circles where today's families can select a plot for their loved ones in this beautiful and peaceful setting.
W.
Tinsley, architect...
The architect of River View Cemetery, William Tinsley, was well known in his field in both his native Ireland and in the Cincinnati and Indianapolis areas. At the age of 47, he emigrated from County Tipperary to Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1851 he left Ireland to provide a better life for his large family in the growing Midwest.
He designed a number of academic and church buildings in this young area . Still in use are Christ Church (Episcopal) on the Circle in Indianapolis and Center Hall on the Wabash College campus in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Other buildings that bear his logo are Cavalry Church in Cincinnati, structures at Butler University, The University of Wisconsin, Kenyon College, Ohio Wesleyan University, and Indiana University.
Tree Varieties...
One of
the finest collection of trees found in Indiana can be viewed in River View Cemetery. Come
when
Lochry Massacre...
On August 23, 1781 a band of Pennsylvania militia men made their way down the Ohio River. Commanded by Colonel Archibald Lochry, they had planned to rendezvous with George Rogers Clark at present day Wheeling, West Virginia for an attack on the British at Detroit. Clark had gone on without the militia men, leaving a message for them to follow him down the river. When the militia men reached the mouth of Laughery Creek, they shot a buffalo and landed to prepare a meal. Without warning they were attacked by a group of Indians under the command of the legendary Chief Joseph Brant. Although the Indians were outnumbered, they had the advantage of surprise and superior fire power. Within minutes approximately forty of Lochry’s men had been killed. Several others, including Lochry, were executed later. Many of the survivors were taken to the British at Detroit and then sent to Montreal. A marker in the cemetery overlooks the battle site, and lists the men who took part.
Indian Mounds...
Two prehistoric archaeological sites are located within Riverview Cemetery, Sites 12D44 and 12D45. Site 12D44 is a mound located in the floodplain of Laughery Creek, just below the cemetery. Site 12D45 is a habitation site with a mound. Artifacts reported to have come from the site include some axes and "flints", or pieces of stone tools and the debitage that results from their manufacture. Black soil, probably representing a midden, was also reported on the site. About two feet was removed from the top of the mound during construction of the fountain at the cemetery.
Soldier's Circle...
The Soldiers' Monument and Circle were dedicated September 12, 1897 to honor members of the Grand Army of the Republic, veterans of the Civil War. Veterans of all conflicts since the Civil War may be buried here . You may also examine the artillery piece from World War I that is displayed. Services every Memorial Day are conducted by the various Veterans associations to honor those who have served our country in times of war.
For further
information contact :
River View
Cemetery Association ,
St. Rd. 56, at Laughery Creek Rd., Aurora, IN 47001
or telephone 812 926 1496.
Created by FX-Design,
Inc. with the support
and help of many others!
