While on our western Kentucky trip in October, Ritchey and I visited the Pioneer Cemetery in downtown Bowling Green, located at the corner of College and Center Streets, Warren County.  It is believed the first burial was in 1811, although there are no records to prove that fact.  It is known that many owners and their slaves are buried here.  This cemetery was filled to capacity by 1861 due to the high number of deaths from cholera, typhoid fever, whooping cough and railroad accidents.  More that 103 soldiers from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War and Civil War are buried here.  Many graves have no stones to mark the deceased names and dates.

We visited on a cold, blustery day.  Even with coats, hats and gloves we froze!  It was so overcast I wasn’t sure how the pictures would come out.  So many of the stones are so old it is difficult to read what is written on them.

Pioneer Cemetery

In memory of Mary Curd, consort of S. Curd, was born November 11, 1821, and died January 10, 1850.

This stone is very difficult to read, I cannot make out the name.   It was a little one, born in 1815, and died of cholera July 1, 1819.

Walkway through the cemetery.

Sacred to the memory of Mrs. S. E. Clark, wife of John B. Clark, born January 17, 1820, died March 2, 1862.

Sacred to the memory of John B. Clark, born September 25, 1813, died January 17, 1863.

Sacred to the memory of Harriet Reese, consort of Isaac Reese, who was born September 17th, 1788, and died August 18th 1831.

Henry Grider, Sergeant, Virginia Regiment, Revolutionary War.  May 9, 1755 – February 5, 1853.

John Mancy, born April 4th, 1787, died October 6th, 1818.  Margaret Nancy, wife of John Mancy, born January 3rd, 1789, died March 23rd, 1819.

Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Nelson Crawford, a man of color, who was born July 13, 1793, and departed this life October 23, 1862.

Sacred to the memory of Kitty Crawford, consort of the Rev. Nelson Crawford, who was born April 12, 1790, and departed this life September 7, 1862.