Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum

05/28/2026

Carillon Historical Park we would immensely enjoy the opportunity to have a digital copy of this photograph.

🌳 In May 1841 — 185 years ago this month — lot clearing began at Woodland Cemetery, one of the nation's oldest rural garden cemeteries.

🍂 Today, more than 3,000 trees shade the graves of some of Dayton’s most influential figures, including aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright, inventor Charles F. Kettering, poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, and humorist Erma Bombeck. They are also celebrated at Carillon Historical Park.

🧺 In the 19th century, Woodland became far more than a cemetery. Its rolling hills and landscaped grounds served as one of Dayton’s few park-like retreats, drawing families for Sunday picnics and outings. By 1867, officials had to restrict Sunday visits because crowds were damaging flowers and shrubbery.

✈️ Woodland also became deeply tied to the Wright family. When Wilbur Wright died in 1912, thousands lined Dayton’s streets for his funeral procession, and the city paused for three minutes of silence to honor one of the fathers of flight.

🏛️ Over the decades, Woodland expanded to more than 200 acres and evolved into both a historic landmark and an arboretum.

📸 Wilbur Wright funeral entering Woodland Cemetery on June 1, 1912.

✅ Become a member — keep the Dayton region's world-changing history alive for future generations! 👉 daytonhistory.org.

05/25/2026

In celebration and remembrance of America 250 we are honoring our Revolutionary War Soldiers resting peacefully at Woodland. Colonel John Grimes was born April 27, 1755 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Samuel Grimes of Pennsylvania. He served with distinction in the Revolutionary War under Colonel Chambers and honorably discharged by Lt. Col. Robinson in Trenton, New Jersey.

John moved west landing near Marysville, Kentucky. By 1804 he makes his way into Ohio at Chillicothe and eventually on to Dayton. In 1808, John Grimes ran a tavern on the east side of Main Street near Monument and First. It was a log building, one and one half stories high with a log barn and feed yard located near the back alley.

Col. John Grimes died on June 13, 1836 at the age of 81. Col. Grimes was originally buried in the Old Fifth Street burial grounds and later was reinterred at Woodland Cemetery on June 12, 1855. He is buried in Section 77 Lot 135.

The bronze marker was placed on his gravesite by the Richard Montgomery Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution on July 2, 1921.

05/25/2026

Lt. Guinn Whitehurst Mattern (1894 – 1918) Lt. Guinn Mattern was practicing "figure 8s" when his airplane went into a tailspin and fell 1500 feet into the San Diego Bay. He was practicing for his reserve military license, doing what was known as "second solo" work.

While all efforts were made to recover the young flier, his airplane sunk before rescuers reached it. It is believed that his body was carried out to sea. His parents were officially informed of the death of their son on April 18th.

Mattern graduated from Steele High School in 1913 and then attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where he was a well-known athlete. He had been an employee of the Dayton Evening Herald during his high school days and during breaks from college.

The marker for Lt. G. Mattern is known as a cenotaph. It denotes that he is buried in a different place than where the marker sets. In this case, the marker states: Asleep in the Deep meaning that the body of Lt. Mattern is resting at the bottom of the ocean.

05/24/2026

Join us on Memorial Day as we honor and remember those who have died during service in the U.S. military. It is a day of reflection, remembrance, and showing respect for the sacrifices of fallen service members. This program will take place at Woodland Cemetery in our Veteran’s Lot at 10am and is presented by Sherman Camp No. 93, Dayton, Department of Ohio and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

05/24/2026

On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, Commander -in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued an order appointing May 30 of that year for Grand Army services “for decorating graves of comrades who died in defense of our country in the late rebellion.” (Civil War)

In Dayton, the celebration of this first Memorial Day began with a salute of guns at dawn from the National Military Home. Through the morning there were ceremonies at all thirty-eight cemeteries in the county. At 1:00 p.m., the first Memorial Day parade passed down Main Street, about twelve thousand men and women marching. The parade moved to Woodland Cemetery, where appropriate ceremonies were held. General T. J. Wood and Reverend William Earnshaw were the principal speakers.

Memorial Day, or that should be Weekend, still reigns supreme in holiday activity. Full crews of grounds personnel and staff is maintained during the period. Effort is concentrated on assisting visitors in locating burial sites, in maintaining a safe and constant traffic flow, and despite the additional debris generated by boxes, wrappings, cuttings, etc., maintaining an attractive, uncluttered appearance.

In recent years, cemetery personnel have been posted at the entrances to distribute literature detailing updates on Woodland and assisting families who are visiting their loved ones. During this time, information is also available to request additional information concerning burial spaces and cremation.

05/23/2026

In celebration of America 250 we are honoring our Revolutionary War Soldiers resting peacefully at Woodland. John Elliott was born in New York. He served as a Surgeon’s Mate in a New York regiment until he was discharged at the end of the war in 1783. After the War ended, John was commissioned, in a document signed by George Washington, as a surgeon in the United States Army. He served in the west under Arthur St. Clair and Anthony Wayne. He was stationed for a time at Fort Washington, near Cincinnati, and he served with Wayne in the campaigns of 1794-1795, which resulted in the Treaty of Greenville. John was mustered out with the rest of his regiment, being honorably discharged on June 1, 1802.

In 1789, John married Anna Dorett (ca. 1774 – ca. 1794). Their children: Julia Ann, married Joseph H. Crane and Henrietta Eliza, married Joseph Pierce, were both born at the military post in Vincennes, Indiana. John was the first doctor in Dayton, Ohio.

John Elliott died on March 26, 1809. He is located in Section 77 Lot 24.

05/23/2026

In celebration of America 250 we are honoring our Revolutionary War Soldiers resting peacefully at Woodland. Captain Hugh Andrews was born on August 31, 1762 in Hanover Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, the son of James Andrews and Jane Strain (widow of John Strain). James Andrews was a Private under Captain James McDowell's Company, the 4th Battalion of the Chester County Militia. Hugh served in the 9th Battalion military company of Lancaster County under Captain James McCreight. He acquired his distinguished title of captain when he commanded a Light Horse Company in Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary War.

In 1797, he traveled down the Ohio River by flatboat and purchased considerable land holdings in Dayton, and although there were only about a dozen houses, he permanently settled here with his family in 1804. Hugh was first married to Anne Spear of Hanover Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania and later to Elizabeth Ainsworth in Hanover Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. He was one of the first cabinet makers in the area. Captain Andrews was one of the hundreds of removals from the Old Fifth Street (Presbyterian Church) Cemetery and relocated at Woodland although there is some speculation that his remains were not disturbed and remain where they were originally buried.

Captain Hugh Andrews died on May 17, 1811. He was laid to rest at Woodland on April 11, 1855. He is located in Section 8 Lot 463.

05/22/2026

In celebration of America 250 we are honoring our Revolutionary War Soldiers resting peacefully at Woodland Cemetery. Isaac Spinning was born on October 3, 1759 in Elizabeth, New Jersey and came to Ohio with his brothers, Mathias and Ichabod about 1796.

In 1803, Mr. Spinning was appointed one of the first two
Associate Judges in Ohio. Judge Spinning and his brothers served in the Revolutionary War; Isaac as a Private and Minute Man for New Jersey and when Judge Spinning died on December 24, 1825, after having served as judge for twenty-two years, he was carried to his grave by six Revolutionary War soldiers.

Isaac Spinning was also a successful farmer and a successful businessman, with family stores in Springfield, Middletown and Dayton. Judge Spinning was one of the original incorporators of the first bank in Dayton, The Dayton Manufacturing Company.

05/06/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to support us!