What a beautiful day on Monday, September 16th, 2019 turned out to be not only weather-wise but after waiting 23 years the work started on the Ramsey Paxton Cemetery located on Ramsey Drive in Loveland, Ohio.
The Rainey Tree Service started early that morning to remove the old rusted chain-link fence, started the clearing of bushes and trees. “We got the trees in the nick of time!” stated Steve Rainey, owner of the Rainey Tree Service, “Since the roots were pretty far gone due to rot, and damaged by ants. Most of the wild Cherry Trees we just pulled them out, roots and all.”The tree service company worked hard for three days to get the cemetery shipshape removing all the potential hazards that could harm the new fence, removing and grinding the stumps, and reworking the ground that was disturbed in the process.
Eads Fence Company started their work by installing the new fence on Thursday, September 19th and got much of the project finished. I arrived in the late afternoon on Thursday and I was astonished most of the project was finished and how wonderful the new fence looked? I could not help but look at the surrounding area imagining what the old Ramsey Farm must have looked like when the first interment took place in March 1813 with Lt. Col. Thomas Paxton the first permanent white settler in the Virginia Military Track.
We are waiting for the installation of a section of fence and setting the gateposts before the gate can be restored and put into place. We are hoping this part of the project will be completed by mid to late November 2019. The headstones are scheduled to be cleaned by October 22, 2019, by Cold Jet located on Wards Corner Road. I’m looking into how much it would cost to have a new marker placed on the weathered limestone slab of Lt. Col. Paxton’s grave having the same verbiage that was once etched depicting his contributions when he fought in the American Revolution and the Battle of Fallen Timbers. If the cost is substantial, we might have to wait for the next group of caretakers of the cemetery to take on that project? Hopefully, it won’t be another 23 years.
I could not help myself getting choked up a little to see what was accomplished in the last four days and how many people were involved to make this project a success! Everyone who was and is involved by donating money and or their time should come up to the cemetery see the great progress in preserving one of our great landmarks in the area!
We are hoping in the Spring of 2020 to have a formal rededication of the Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery. Please continue to look for additional updates with the Loveland Magazine publication.
Loveland Magazine is the Media Sponsor for the restoration of the Ramsey Paxton Cemetery.
You can make a charitable tax-deductible donation to the Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery Association, Inc. and mail it to the Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery Association C/O Rob Geiger, PO BOX 25, Loveland, Ohio 45140.
Rob Geiger is the President of the Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery Association
by Rob Geiger
Over the last 224 years since the first settler that entered the Greater Loveland Area, so many historical landmarks that were created have disappeared because of fire, floods, and development. Our oldest historical landmark of 206 years is well on its way to being preserved for another generation because of the generosity of so many people and having community support.
The Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery Association, Inc has received almost $12,487.00 with another $722.00 pledged to be given – bringing the total to $13,200.00. We are having faith that we will reach our goal of $14,200.00 very soon. We have a tentative date in which the work will start by removing trees, the old rusted chain-link fence, the installation of a new black aluminum industrial grade 4’ fence with an antique wrought iron gate in September.
The old rusted chain-link fence will be replaced with the installation of a new black aluminum industrial grade 4’ fence with an antique wrought iron gate in September.
The first internment was Lt. Col. Thomas Paxton in 1813 who contributed so much on the National, State and Local levels including being in the American Revolution along with his son-in-law Captain John Ramsey, who is buried in the cemetery with other family members. There is plenty of history on Paxton through the internet, the Loveland Museum Center (having the original land grant document for Paxton signed by President John Adams), and family members.
With partnerships formed it seems that the donations started to come and after our third attempt in 23 years to make capital improvements to the cemetery we will succeed this time!
This has been a frustrating project. Trying to get community support was hard until Loveland Magazine became our Media Sponsor and Kevin Egan, one of the owners of Paxton’s Grill and Ramsey’s Trailside restaurants came on board, including the Loveland Legacy Foundation (Steve Max). With partnerships formed it seems that the donations started to come and after our third attempt in 23 years to make capital improvements to the cemetery we will succeed this time!
I was at the Loveland Museum Center and held the original land grant certificate issued by President John Adams issued on April 13th, 1798 for 1,100 acres to Thomas Paxton.
The cemetery is owned by family members of the Paxton Ramsey family which serves as trustees. We do not receive any source of income like other municipality cemeteries that you see along roadsides in our community. We are very conscientious with financial expenditures so that we can preserve this historical site for years to come and look at other funding revenue to accomplish our mission “To preserve and restore the dignity and honor of the graves for the education of tomorrow’s citizens”.
The trustees are very grateful to Loveland’s City Manager, Dave Kennedy for showing his support early on with clearing vegetation on city property by the fence line, installing the Bicentennial Cemetery Sign at the cemetery, and waiving the fence permit.
Loveland’s oldest historical landmark is located in White Pillars subdivision on Ramsey Court.
We could not complete this project without the in-kind donations from our two contractors, Steve Rainy Tree Service, and Eads Fence Company! This project would normally have cost $32,200.00 but with their generosity, they have reduced the cost to $14,200.
Dale Eads also is donating the antique wrought iron gate that will be the focal point of the project. We were so excited when Paxton’s Grill (Ralph Dunnigan and Sandy Russell) Ramsey’s Trailside (John Zielke) had a benefit night, and so appreciative to Loveland Sweet Shoppe (Gloria Wilson), Bond Home Furnishings (Kevin Malof) and Bush Re Shea Insurance Agency (Bill Re).
There were so many individuals in the area along with the family members of the Paxton Ramsey Family that have donated almost half of the project cost and we appreciate their giving.
We are so pleased to have formed a partnership with the Loveland American Legion Post 256 with their enthusiasm and donations, not only for the present but for our future plans. We are looking forward to when Mike Henderson from the Legion will be cleaning the gravestones in the very near future.
There were so many individuals in the area along with the family members of the Paxton Ramsey Family that have donated almost half of the project cost and we appreciate their giving.
We have one more fundraising event that will take place August 21, at 7 PM at the American Legion Hall at 4618 River Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45204 on the Westside of Cincinnati. This will be a quarter auction type of event along with basket raffles. Please come out to this event or you can make a charitable tax-deductible donation to the Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery Association, Inc. and mail it to the Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery Association C/O Rob Geiger, PO BOX 25, Loveland, Ohio 45140.
In this LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video, Cassie Mattia talked with Steve Max and Rob Geiger last May about the history of the cemetery, who is buried there, and the announcement of the matching grant.
The Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery, located at Ramsey Court in the White Pillars Subdivision in Loveland, Ohio, needs funding in order to help preserve our local history.
The project will entail eradication of several dying trees, procurement of appropriate permits, site preparation, and erection of a nice 4’ aluminum decorative fence.
The Paxton-Ramsey Cemetery Association, Inc. is seeking $10,000 in funding. The local Clough Valley Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is sponsoring a grant proposal submission to their National Society.
The Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery originated in 1813 with the burial of Lt. Col. Thomas Paxton, a Revolutionary War Soldier, on land that he received for his military service. Paxton’s original land grant was 1,000 acres starting in Warren County and sweeping into Clermont County. In 1795 Paxton and his sons-in law came to claim the property and a year later sent for their wives and children to join them in their new home.
Lt. Col. Paxton (1739-1813) served with General George Washington at Valley Forge in 1777 and with General Anthony Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794.
Lt. Col. Paxton is considered the first permanent settler between the Little Miami River and the Scioto River in the Virginia Military Tract, credited with raising the first crop of corn, and was the founder of Loveland.
Lt. Col. Paxton is considered the first permanent settler between the Little Miami River and the Scioto River in the Virginia Military Tract, credited with raising the first crop of corn, and was the founder of Loveland.
Paxton’s involvement is quite extensive helping Lytle with surveying lands in Clermont County down to parts of today’s community of Hyde Park, having the first polling place in Clermont County and helping with the statehood of Ohio.
Captain John Ramsey, a son-in-law, was buried in the cemetery in 1847, along with other family members until 1913. Captain John Ramsey (1764-1847) was a Revolutionary War Patriot and one of the first settlers of Clermont County with other family members. He was considered a proficient hunter even though his leg was amputated as a result of carrying out military duties.
In 1997 the Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery Association, Inc. was formed and earned the status as a nonprofit (501c3) organization, and it is managed by a Board of Trustees. Much needed restoration of the cemetery took place with restoration of headstones, replacing the barbed wire fencing and removal of brush.
We are looking to form a grassroots partnership along with members of the community and area businesses to have an attractive historical point of interest site in Loveland.
The Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery is a hidden gem locally, State-wide and nationally! ” We are fortunate to have such a historical site right in our own thriving town,” stated Jan Beller, Director of the Loveland Museum Center (Greater Loveland Historical Society).
Rob Geiger, is President of the Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery Association and sixth generation grandson of Lt. Col. Thomas Paxton and fifth generation grandson of Capt. John Ramsey.
We are looking to form a grassroots partnership along with members of the community and area businesses to have an attractive historical point of interest site in Loveland. Our grant application submission date is December, 2018 and improvements will start in the summer of 2019.
Please consider a charitable gift to show your support of this historical preservation project by sending your tax-deductible contribution.
If you have any questions, want a tour of the cemetery or to contribute to Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery Association please contact us at Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery Association Inc., C/O Rob Geiger, President, PO Box 25, Loveland, Ohio, 45140, or email geigercounter@hotmail.com.
RP Diamond is the exclusive retailer of LOVELAND HIGH SCHOOL SPIRIT WEAR Welcome to RP Diamond Printing & Embroidery located at 370 Loveland Madeira Road.
by Rob Geiger,
The Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery, located at Ramsey Court in the White Pillars Subdivision in Loveland, Ohio, needs funding in order to help preserve our local history.
The project will entail eradication of several dying trees, procurement of appropriate permits, site preparation, and erection of a nice 4’ aluminum decorative fence.
The Paxton-Ramsey Cemetery Association, Inc. is seeking $10,000 in funding. The local Clough Valley Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is sponsoring a grant proposal submission to their National Society.
Lt. Col. Paxton (1739-1813) served with General George Washington at Valley Forge in 1777 and with General Anthony Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794.
Lt. Col. Paxton is considered the first permanent settler between the Little Miami River and the Scioto River in the Virginia Military Tract, credited with raising the first crop of corn, and was the founder of Loveland.
Paxton’s involvement is quite extensive helping Lytle with surveying lands in Clermont County down to parts of today’s community of Hyde Park, having the first polling place in Clermont County and helping with the statehood of Ohio.
Captain John Ramsey, a son-in-law, was buried in the cemetery in 1847, along with other family members until 1913. Captain John Ramsey (1764-1847) was a Revolutionary War Patriot and one of the first settlers of Clermont County with other family members. He was considered a proficient hunter even though his leg was amputated as a result of carrying out military duties.
In 1997 the Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery Association, Inc. was formed and earned the status as a nonprofit (501c3) organization, and it is managed by a Board of Trustees. Much needed restoration of the cemetery took place with restoration of headstones, replacing the barbed wire fencing and removal of brush.
The Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery is a hidden gem locally, State-wide and nationally! ” We are fortunate to have such a historical site right in our own thriving town,” stated Jan Beller, Director of the Loveland Museum Center (Greater Loveland Historical Society).
We are looking to form a grassroots partnership along with members of the community and area businesses to have an attractive historical point of interest site in Loveland. Our grant application submission date is December, 2018 and improvements will start in the summer of 2019.
Please consider a charitable gift to show your support of this historical preservation project by sending your tax-deductible contribution.
If you have any questions, want a tour of the cemetery or to contribute to Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery Association please contact us at Ramsey-Paxton Cemetery Association Inc., C/O Rob Geiger, President, PO Box 25, Loveland, Ohio, 45140, or email geigercounter@hotmail.com.
RP Diamond is the exclusive retailer of LOVELAND HIGH SCHOOL SPIRIT WEAR Welcome to RP Diamond Printing & Embroidery located at 370 Loveland Madeira Road.