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African Cemetery NO. 2 Lexington, Kentucky

HISTORY OF THE CEMETERY NO. 2 LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY

Union Benevolent Society No. 2 in 1869 and 1875 purchased the land for the cemetery.  The last official document that indicated the society still owned and managed the cemetery was August 1934 when an easement for placement of storm sewers was granted to the City.

THE CEMETERY SITE HOLDS:

WILLIAM TUCKER, who died 1837.  Hannah, his wife, erected a tablet maker for him.  Tucker was emancipated in 1815; from 1823 to 1830, he secured the freedom of seven other persons including his sons and a daughter.  The couple had a thriving business which Hannah continued until her death in 1842.  Their home is still standing at South Upper Street.  Other members of free families of Oldham, Taylor, Buckner, Cromwell, Lytle, Spencer, Turner, Holmes, and Braxton are interned here.

ISSAAC MURPHY, on February 12, 1896 was the first jockey to win three Kentucky Derbies died and was buried in the cemetery.  His remains were later removed to the Man-O-War Memorial at the Kentucky Horse Parks, Lexington, KY.

CASSIUS TANKERSLY was among the 80 known individuals who developed the horse racing industry in Kentucky from 1865 to 1902.  His employer erected a monument for him in 1886.

There is over 6,000 men, women, and children.  1,065 gravemarkers commemorate 1,167 individuals and help connect direct and extended family groups.  They also reveal the esteem and love they held for their family members and friends.

ISAAC SCOTT HATHAWAY, on April 4, 1874 was born to Civil War Veteran, R.E. Hathaway and wife, Rachael.  He attended Chandler Normal School and went to study art at Boston MA and Cincinnati, OH.  Returning to Lexington in 1897 he taught school at Keene High School and later opened a studio at 208 Pine Street.  He remained in Lexington until 1907 when he went to Washington D.C. where he continued to expand his talents and skills.  By an act of Congress, August 1946, he received the commission to design the first commemorative coin for an African American.  The second commemorative coin was also designed by Hathaway.  Isaac Scott Hathaway died March 12, 1967 in Tuskegee, AL.  Isaac Scott Hathaways mother, Rachael and grandmother, Easter Jackson.

75 known veterans from the Civil War to World War II.  43 of them are veterans who served in the United States Colored Troop regiments of the Civil War. 10 men who served in the cavalry and infantry units of the Buffalo Soldiers.

54th MASSACHUSETTS VETERAN

G. T. PROSSER, is the only known veteran interned here who served in the 54th regiment of the Civil War.  The bravery and courage shown by the men during the battle of Ft. Wagner, NC became the epic movie Glory

THE CEMETERY SITE HOLDS:

Individual artists and craftspeople

Baker/Candy Maker

Blacksmiths

Bricklayer/Stonemasons  33

Carpenters  39

Caterers   2

Concrete Finishers   6

Fresco Artist  1

Painters   16

Physicians 2

Tailors/Dressmakers/Seamstress   17

Teachers 13

Ministers/Preachers 31

Soldiers  75

Porters  72

Jockeys/Horse Industry  87

Domestic Servants  624

Housekeepers   728

Laborers  1172

CHURCH LEADERS:

Founding and succeeding ministers and trustees of Main Street Baptist, First African Baptist, St. Paul AME, Gunn Chapel, Quinn Chapel AME, Second Street Christian, Asbury Methodist, Jonestown Baptist, Shiloh Baptist, and St. Andrews Episcopal churches.

A number of African American who, free prior to 1865, influenced and forged the economic, social, political and educational progress and development of African Americans that occurred in the years following the Civil War.

SOURCE BY: LAWRENCE E. WALKER FOUNDATION, 2004

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