Friends of Greenlawn Cemetery Foundation

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Portsmouth, OH
Friends of Greenlawn Cemetery Foundation

Founded in March 2017, the FOGCF is dedicated to the restoration and preservation of Greenlawn Cemetery.

Historical Re-enactments, Easter Sunrise Services, Serenity Garden, Christmas Memorial Services, Tree Mapping, Beautification and much more. Immediate Goals:
*Digitizing records with mapping and genealogical information on website and smartphones
*Chapel restoration and proposed memory garden
*Fence and perimeter enhancement
*Security

01/12/2026

Monument Monday 🪦

Joseph (James) Tanner
Death - September 21, 1836

Taken from the monument of Joseph Tanner

“SACRED to the MEMORY of JOSEPH TANNER, HUSBAND of ELIZABETH TANNER. Who departed this life Sept. 21st. AD. 1836. Aged 35 years 5 Months and 7 Days whose death was caused by bursting of a cannon, being fired in honour of President Jackson’s landing in Portsmouth Ohio. He survived only 21 hours then departed to try the realities of a better world, we hope.

My friend once dear unto me
Our hearts so united in love
Were Jesus is gone we shall be.
In yonder blest mansin above.

Oh why than so loath we to part
Since there we shall soon meet again
Engraved on Immanuels heart
At a distance we cannot remain”

The following is an excerpt from the journal of Henry A. Lorberg as he wrote it.

“Monument in Greenlawn erected in memory of James Tanner who was killed while firing a Cannon in front of the United States Hotel in Honor of President Jackson’s visit to Portsmouth. Gen’l Jackson was en-route to the home Guards, Drum Corps and Sunday School Children, and amid the booming of Cannons. “Father” McDowell was in charge of the parade and colonel Peter Kinney and John R. Turner were on the Committee.

The reception according to S.R. Ross was held at Bigelow M.E. Church. Children strewed flowers in the pathway of the distinguished Guest.

Following an address, President Jackson shook hands all around, and kissed the babies and having been told of the Hannah Triplettes was escorted to the Hannah’s home and presented the newly born infants, named Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego-with $5.00 gold prices. (the Hannah Home was just below market on second St., -on the present Commercial Hotel Site.)

Bigelow Church was just east of Market, North Side. Henry Clay visited Portsmouth in 1849, as a Guest at the United States Hotel where President Jackson had dined. President Taylor was a Guest at the same hostelry in 1849.”

Others were killed as a result of this accident.

Mr. Tanner is buried in section 22.

01/10/2026

The sky's morning masterpiece.

01/05/2026

Monument Monday 🪦

Jacob P. Noel
Born - December 20, 1791
Death - March 26, 1872

Jacob P. Noel was born in Hampshire County, Virginia, on December 20, 1791, to Philip and Suzanne Putnam Noel. Philip and Suzanne moved to Adams County and took up farming and operated a hotel there. They were parents of thirteen children. They moved north of Portsmouth, and Philip was one of the first to clear the Scioto bottom land.

In 1806, at the age of fifteen, Jacob was working in Henry Sheeley’s brickyard in Portsmouth. In 1809, he was apprenticed to Elijah Glover to learn the hatter’s trade. Apprenticeship in those days meant the apprentice lived with the family of the Hat Master. Jacob married Mr. Glover’s daughter, Ann, in 1815.

After serving his apprenticeship with Mr. Glover, he enlisted in the Company of Captain David Roup to serve in the War of 1812. When Jacob returned from the war, he set up a hat shop of his own and was in business for many years.

In 1819, he became a member of the Town Council and was on the Committee of Streets with William Kendall. In 1821, he was elected Overseer of the Poor and Justice of the Peace of Wayne Township.

In 1827, he opened a grocery at Jefferson and Front Streets. Later, he and his nephew, John Glover, opened a dry goods store in Franklin Furnance.

In 1830, Jacob and Dr. John Glover, his brother-in-law, along with three others built the upper rolling mill, better known as the Ga***rd Mill.

Mr. Noel built several houses including the Sam Tracy home on Front Street. He later bought three acres of land where the Portsmouth Range Works was located and resided there for some time.

He was a trustee of the Methodist Church where he and his wife were lifelong devoted and faithful members. When Methodism was first organized in Portsmouth in 1813, Ann Glover was one of the first to enroll there.

In 1846, when the first Poor House Directors were chosen, Jacob P. Noel was one and served for three years. In 1848, he was a School Director of Portsmouth .

In 1850, he was elected an Associate Judge. He later served as a trustee of Wayne Township and was appointed as one of the City Infirmary Directors.

He moved to the country for several years but tired of rural life and came back to Portsmouth and opened another grocery business.

“He was a man of excellent judgement both in public and private affairs. Everyone had confidence in his honesty, integrity and Christianity.” His old age was filled with an ever present sense of duty.

Jacob P. Noel died March 26, 1872, of cancer with his wife dying just a few months later. They are buried in the Terrace section of Greenlawn.

01/04/2026

"Books have to be heavy because the whole world's inside them."

~Cornelia Funke

01/01/2026

"There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind."
- C.S. Lewis

Happy New Year!

12/31/2025

Someone has "borrowed" one of our angel flags and poles for the holiday season. We would love to have them returned to us so we can put them away with our set.

12/29/2025

Monument Monday 🪦

Herman Huels
October 31, 1834
March 27, 1927

Herman Huels was born in the Kingdom of Prussia on October 31, 1834.

He began to learn his trade at the age of fifteen, and afterward traveled through Switzerland, Germany and France. He worked in a great many small towns, which was customary in his country.

In 1834, he came to the United States, and located in Springfield, Illinois, for a brief period. He also worked a year in Cincinnati, before moving to Chillicothe. While in Chillicothe, he worked for a Mr. Dueber and later married his daughter, Pauline Dueber.

In 1870, they moved to Portsmouth, and he purchased the dye house of F. Zetsner, located on Third Street. He enlarged the business and put in machinery for dyeing with steam. “His work is of the highest order, and his prices correspondingly low.”

Mr. Huels was a successful businessman. He was a member of the German Benevolent Society.

Mr. and Mrs. Huels had five children.

Mr. Huels died at the age of 93 and is buried in the Holy Redeemer section of the cemetery.

In the 1800’s, steam dye houses were crucial industrial buildings, evolving from early methods to large scale operations. Using steam power for heating vats and drying, they became a widespread service, moving from luxury to commodity, with businesses handling both large scale and household dyeing. The buildings often had large vats, heating ovens, mangles for squeezing water and drying racks. Some places became famous for specific colors due to expert dryers and “secret” recipes. Being near rivers, like the Ohio, was crucial for water-powered machinery and wastewater, making riverfronts ideal for textile operations.

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas from the Friends of Greenlawn Cemetery Foundation!

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime."

~Laura Ingalls Wilder

12/22/2025

Monument Monday 🪦

Vincent Brodbeck
January 17, 1817
July 4, 1899

Vincent Brodbeck was born on January 17, 1817, in Germany. He was a son of Anthony Brodbeck. His mother passed away when he was eight years old and he was put in the care of an uncle where he had very limited schooling advantages. He lost his health, as a child, due to his hard work and ill treatment.

When he was fourteen years old he was hired out by the the season.

In 1835, he came to the United States with his father. They were fifty days at sea on the vessel, Bolivar. They landed at New Orleans in November, where Vincent worked in the carpenters trade for $1.75 a day.

They moved to Natchez, Louisiana, for a short time where he worked on the railroad.

They set out for Troy, New York, where an elder brother, who had proceeded him to America, resided. The canal was “broken?” so they had no choice but to stop at Portsmouth and decided to remain there.

Vincent went to work for the Ga***rd Rolling Mill until his father persuaded him to take charge of his boarding house.

In 1838, he opened a grocery store which he operated for over forty years. He retired in 1881, when he sold out to J.M. Wendlekin.

Mr. Brodbeck married Ottilia Mees, a native of Germany, November 2, 1838. They had three children. He was a member of the German Methodist Church.

He died July 4, 1899, and is buried in the Evergreen section near the Grant Street fence.

12/20/2025

Just five more days to add an ornament to our Angel Tree. The angels are located on the bench beside the tree at the Offnere St. entrance. 🌲

12/17/2025

Thank you Steve Hayes for your contributions to our organization and our community. May your retirement be full of everything you love-family, friends and new adventures. Wishing you all the best from the Friends of Greenlawn Cemetery. ❤️

Photo by Toni Dengel

12/15/2025

Monument Monday 🪦

Elizabeth Barnes Glover
July 29, 1813
May 30, 1892

Elizabeth Glover was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, on July 29, 1813. She was the eldest daughter of Elijah and Catherine Glover. She was a very welcome child being the first girl born into a family of six boys.

She finished her education at Doctor Lake’s School in Cincinnati.

She had many friends all through her life. She was very popular and much sought after in social circles. She had many admirers and numerous offers of marriage, but lived to an old age unmarried.

She was the life of many social gatherings, always surrounded by a circle of friends whom she attracted by her wit and brilliant conversation.

She was known for her beautiful curls. The fashion of hair dressing never changed with her as she kept her curls her entire life. It is said when age silvered them, they were even more beautiful than the original color.

She taught for many years in the public school and was loved by her pupils.
She was a devoted member of All Saints Episcopal Church. She was Chairman and Secretary of the Business Committee of the Soldier’s Relief Circle and served one year as Secretary of that Association.

Her sister, Mrs. (Anna Maria?) Kendall, moved to West Liberty, Ohio, in 1866, and Elizabeth followed her and resided with her until her death.

Her heart longed for her church and many friends in Portsmouth to the very end and her love for them never grew cold.

At the end of her life she lost her sight and could not read nor sew. She spent many lonely hours in her room with no companion but the “memory of other days.”

She died May 30, 1892, and was brought to her childhood home to lie in beautiful Greenlawn among those she loved and who had loved her.

The flag that she loved and honored was placed at her resting place each Memorial Day and covered with flowers on that occasion.

It was said that no one in Portsmouth left behind more friends or warmer ones.

Miss Elizabeth Barnes Glover is buried in the City East section near Garfield Street.

Address

PO Box 333
Portsmouth, OH
45662

Website

https://www.friendsofgreenlawncemeteryfoundation.org/

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