Greenhill Cemetery

=Green Hill Land Purchases =

In November 1857 the citizens of Amsterdam convened to form an Association for the purpose of procuring and holding lands to be used exclusively for a cemetery. John J. Schuyler was appointed Chairman and Samuel Belding Jr. Secretary. It was then resolved to form the Green Hill Cemetery Association. It was also resolved that the affairs of the Association were to be managed my a 9 member Board of Trustees. By ballot were elected John J. Schuyler, Derick W. TenBrook, Stephen Sanford, Hoel S. McElwain, S. Belding Jr., John McDonald Jr., Leonard Y. Gardinier, Charles Devendorf and Joseph W. Sturtevant. The Trustees immediately examined several localities in the vicinity for the lands of the Cemetery. Days were spent surveying, digging pits to test the quality of soil, opinions were sought and weighed. All of the results were submitted to Burton A. Thomas, Esq./Civil Engineer “a man of cultivated taste and large experience”. As a result, the Cemetery was located. A contract was then drawn for the purchase of 14 acres of land and the following advanced the Association the sums opposite their names for the purchase and ornamentation of the grounds:

D.W. TenBrook $200.00 John J. Schuyler $200.00J.W. Sturtevant 100.00 Chas. Devendorf 100.00S. Belding Jr. 100.00 Est of J. Sanford 200.00John McDonald 100.00 L.Y. Gardiner 100.00Wm. K. Greene, Jr 100.00 D.I. McMartin 100.00Alfred Birch 100.00 Alex. Scott 100.00D.P. Corey 100.00 A.V. Morris 100.00Adam W. Kline 100.00 Almarin Young 100.00Henry Marcellus 100.00 S. Pulver Heath 100.00Alex. Sheldon 200.00 Jas. Stewart 200.00Wm. Lambier 100.00 H.S. McElwain 100.00G.W. Brownson 100.00 Joseph Cornell 100.00Samuel Sweet 100.00 M. Mallery 100.00J.C. Duel 100.00 Chandler Bartlett 50.00John J. Gray 100.00 X. Haywood 50.00I.L. Bronson 50.00 Isaac C. Shuler 50.00A.W. Young 25.00 Geo. W. Striker 100.00Jno. McDonnell 50.00 T.J. Potter 25.00

The funds were to be refunded from the avails of the subsequent sales of lots. Early in the spring of 1858 the premises containing 14 acres were conveyed to the Association from Joseph Cornell for the sum of $2,800.00.

On October 31, 1865 the second parcel of land was sold to The Green Hill Cemetery Association again from Joseph Cornell. The property containing 22 and 87/100 acres of land was purchased for the sum of $7,218.00.

Deeds are recorded in the Montgomery County Clerks Office: Book 70 page 78 and Book 79 page 163