| GREENLAWN CEMETERY HISTORY |
Green Lawn Cemetery was founded in 1848. It is located just south of
interstate 70, near the current Columbus Clipper’s Stadium. The cemetery
became a popular cemetery after opening. The first person buried there
was Leonora Perry, daughter of Aaron F. Perry on July 7th, 1849.
There are over 360 acres in this very large cemetery. There are over
150,000 people buried there currently and the cemetery office says that
even though there are that many there already, they can continue at the
same rate of burials and have room for the next 100 years. The cemetery
is more than just a cemetery. It is considered a park, as was the intent with
cemeteries founded in the mid 1800’s. There are arbors, a butterfly
preserve and a pond on the grounds.
Many local notables are buried within the hundreds of acres, some of them are:
Former Ohio Governor James A. Rhodes
Lucas Sullivant, one of Columbus’s original residents, he laid out the city of Franklinton, which predates
Columbus. His body was moved from Franklinton Cemetery to Greenlawn in 1849
Eddie Rickenbacker, a flying ace and race car driver from the early 1900’s, also the name sake of
Rickenbacker Air Force Base
James Thurber, a writer from Columbus whose home is one of the most haunted homes in Columbus
Dr. Lincoln Goodale was Columbus’s first doctor. He donated the land for Goodale Park to the city. He
was moved from Franklinton Cemetery to Greenlawn
Alfred Kelly financed the establishment of the Ohio canal system by putting up his own house and
money as collateral
Simon Lazarus who founded the Lazarus stores
Pelatiah Webster Huntington, founded the Huntington National Bank in 1866. He donated the pipe
organ to Greenlawn
Gordon Battell, his money established the Battelle Memorial Institute, one of the nations leading
research institutions
Samuel Bush, President George H Bush’s grandfather. He was the president of Buckeye Steel Castings
Grace Bird Kelton, her ghost haunts the Kelton House in Columbus
Thurston the Magician, he was a very good friend of Harry Houdini and a famous magician. He is not
actually buried in Greenlawn, but the unaffiliated Greenlawn Abbey
The cemetery has several large family crypts and areas that have names such as Lullabye Land, where
stillborn and infants are now resting. There are 2 areas for war veterans, each for a specific war.
In 1902 the Mausoleum and Chapel were built and were later added on to. The stained glass in the
windows is from Tiffany Glassworks.
There are two well known haunted locations in the cemetery.
Hayden Mausoleum
This is the resting place of Charles H. Hayden, a banker from Columbus. No one is certain who the
spirit is that haunts the building, presumably it is Mr. Hayden or one of this family Members. Legend is
that if you knock on the door, a spirit will knock back.
The Ghost of Dr. James Howard Snook
Dr. Snook was a professor of Veterinary medicine with OSU and a horse surgeon. He was married, had
a child, and 2 Olympic Gold medals in pistol shooting. He also had a young lover with an insatiable
sexual appetite, Theora. Theora Hix was a young woman who had a shady past. She had a drug habit
and another lover. She was a wild woman of the times. All of these statements about Theora are from
Dr. Snook’s own mouth. On June 14, 1929 two 16 year old boys found Theora’s body. It had been
beaten and slashed. It was found at the rifle range on Fisher Rd, near McKinley. This was where Dr.
Snook did his practice. Dr. Snook was eventually convicted of her murder and was put to death in Ohio’
s electric Chair on February 28, 1930.
His body was laid to rest in Greenlawn Cemetery. His stone was concealed by his last name not being
placed on the stone. This was done to prevent vandals from defacing his grave. His headstone has
been located however, in section 87. It is said that his ghost appears near his headstone.
Former Ohio Governor James A. Rhodes
Lucas Sullivant, one of Columbus’s original residents, he laid out the city of Franklinton, which predates
Columbus. His body was moved from Franklinton Cemetery to Greenlawn in 1849
Eddie Rickenbacker, a flying ace and race car driver from the early 1900’s, also the name sake of
Rickenbacker Air Force Base
James Thurber, a writer from Columbus whose home is one of the most haunted homes in Columbus
Dr. Lincoln Goodale was Columbus’s first doctor. He donated the land for Goodale Park to the city. He
was moved from Franklinton Cemetery to Greenlawn
Alfred Kelly financed the establishment of the Ohio canal system by putting up his own house and
money as collateral
Simon Lazarus who founded the Lazarus stores
Pelatiah Webster Huntington, founded the Huntington National Bank in 1866. He donated the pipe
organ to Greenlawn
Gordon Battell, his money established the Battelle Memorial Institute, one of the nations leading
research institutions
Samuel Bush, President George H Bush’s grandfather. He was the president of Buckeye Steel Castings
Grace Bird Kelton, her ghost haunts the Kelton House in Columbus
Thurston the Magician, he was a very good friend of Harry Houdini and a famous magician. He is not
actually buried in Greenlawn, but the unaffiliated Greenlawn Abbey
The cemetery has several large family crypts and areas that have names such as Lullabye Land, where
stillborn and infants are now resting. There are 2 areas for war veterans, each for a specific war.
In 1902 the Mausoleum and Chapel were built and were later added on to. The stained glass in the
windows is from Tiffany Glassworks.
There are two well known haunted locations in the cemetery.
Hayden Mausoleum
This is the resting place of Charles H. Hayden, a banker from Columbus. No one is certain who the
spirit is that haunts the building, presumably it is Mr. Hayden or one of this family Members. Legend is
that if you knock on the door, a spirit will knock back.
The Ghost of Dr. James Howard Snook
Dr. Snook was a professor of Veterinary medicine with OSU and a horse surgeon. He was married, had
a child, and 2 Olympic Gold medals in pistol shooting. He also had a young lover with an insatiable
sexual appetite, Theora. Theora Hix was a young woman who had a shady past. She had a drug habit
and another lover. She was a wild woman of the times. All of these statements about Theora are from
Dr. Snook’s own mouth. On June 14, 1929 two 16 year old boys found Theora’s body. It had been
beaten and slashed. It was found at the rifle range on Fisher Rd, near McKinley. This was where Dr.
Snook did his practice. Dr. Snook was eventually convicted of her murder and was put to death in Ohio’
s electric Chair on February 28, 1930.
His body was laid to rest in Greenlawn Cemetery. His stone was concealed by his last name not being
placed on the stone. This was done to prevent vandals from defacing his grave. His headstone has
been located however, in section 87. It is said that his ghost appears near his headstone.
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