There are many notable people buried and memorialized in Evergreen Cemetery including over 300 Civil War veterans, 13 Revolutionary War veterans, important players in the women's rights movement and civil rights movement and many local heroes.
Judge B. Burrows (Division 24, along drive)
Burrows was a distinguished criminal lawyer and judge. He also served as Mayor of Painesville.
John (Jack) Casement came to Ohio in 1850 to work for the railroads. Employed by the Lake Shore Railroad Company, Casement was sent to lay track by the Jennings’ farm. This was home to his future wife, Frances, who brought water to all of the workers. Jack and Frances married in 1857.
During the Civil War, Casement became a soldier and joined the infantry that gave Stonewall Jackson his only defeat. After the war, Casement then set out to help build the first transcontinental railroad and worked for the Union Pacific Railroad. The AMC tv show Hell on Wheels is loosely based on his character. Casement hired William F. Cody, also known as Buffalo Bill, to help him with the work. Their relationship continued to grow, so Buffalo Bill later brought Annie Oakley and the rest of his show to Painesville in 1901. Casement was also a trustee for Lake Erie College, focusing on the issue of installing lighting and heating for the buildings. Upon his death, Casement had laid more railroad track that anyone in the country.
Charles Eledge (Division 16, Lot 1)
Eledge was Corporal in Company C, 101st United States Infantry during the Civil War. He is one of two Black Civil War veterans in the cemetery.
Thomas Harvey (Division 17)
Harvey was the superintendent of Painesville schools and the state commissioner of common schools. He authored many widely used grammar books including Harvey’s Reader and Harvey’s Grammar. Harvey also founded the Northeastern Ohio Teachers’ Association (N.E.O.T.A.). Painesville's Harvey High School is named after him.
Joseph Linhart (Division 18, along Casement Avenue)
Linhart was laid to rest under the infamous “Not Guilty” grave, which has been featured on many tv shows about unusual stories and graveyards. As the story goes, after arguing over a cow, Linhart’s wife disappeared. He was later accused of his wife’s murder after she was found dead in a well. Linhart hired a prominent hot-shot lawyer, Homer Harper, who was said to have never lost a case. However, before Linhart could be tried he slit his throat with a razor. Many speculated that Linhart’s suicide was an affirmation of his guilt which meant that Harper had “lost” his first case. However, Harper had the words “Not Guilty” along with an inaccurate date of death, engraved on Linhart’s tombstone. Because Linhart’s death prevented him from being found guilty or innocent, Harper claimed that he still had not lost a case.
John Flavel Morse (Division 1, Lot 19)
Morse designed the Old South Church of Kirtland before becoming a State Representative. He later became Speaker of the House and a Senator. Morse was also a Captain during the Civil War and fought hardly for the abolition of slavery.
Eleazer Paine (Division 4)
The nephew of Edward Paine, after whom the City of Painesville is named, Eleazer Paine was a drummer boy in the Revolutionary War. After bringing his family to Painesville in 1803, he opened a supply store but died shortly after.
Joseph Adams Potter (Division 10)
A direct descendant of Samuel Adams, Potter was Captain in the Quartermaster’s Department during the Civil War, providing supplies to Union Soldiers.
Anson Sessions (Division 8, Lot 7)
Sessions fought in the Revolutionary War and was highly admired. In fact, Aaron Burr asked Sessions to go with him on an expedition; however, Sessions refused because he did not trust Burr. He later settled in Painesville.
Abraham Skinner (Division 4, Lot 22, Southeast Side)
Born in Connecticut, Skinner marched to Lexington during the Revolutionary War in 1775 in response to the Lexington Alarm. After coming to the Western Reserve with General Paine, Skinner erected a barn on the north end of the City which held the first court hearing in the County. Skinner Avenue is named after him.
Paul E. Tillotson (Division 24, Lot 85)
Tillotson was a pitcher for the Cleveland Indians and later became one of the founders of the Tillotson Oil Company.
Howell Burr Treat (Division 10, North Side)
Treat is the only Civil War veteran in a Lake County cemetery to receive the Medal of Honor. Bringing water to wounded soldiers very close to enemy territory, Treat went under heavy fire but managed to carry a wounded man to safety.
Edward Whiten (Division 7, Lot 90)
Born in Maryland, Whiten fought in the Civil War as part of Company H, 29th United States Regiment, Colored Troops. He is one of two Black Civil War veterans in the cemetery.
The Windeckers (Division 2)
Coming from a family of industrialists, Charles and Robert Windecker’s chemical plant, Clifton Products, was influential in the development of beryllium. Their father, Clifton, was a founder of Diamond Alkali. This company was integral to the development of many chemical products including soda ash, an essential component in the production of glass. In 1936, the company began to work with magnesium oxide. This endeavor translated into a partnership with the United States Army to produce bombs during World War II. Diamond Alkali became the Diamond Shamrock Corporation in 1996 and moved their plant from Painesville, Ohio to Dallas, Texas. The Windecker mausoleum features a beautiful stained-glass Tiffany window.