Lakeview Cemetery

My next historic headstone visit is Lakeview Cemetery, in the lovely town of Patchogue. Located on the south shore of Long Island, Patchogue holds an enormous amount of history, including those laid to rest in the cemeteries created there.

(Lakeview Cemetery, Patchogue)

As you venture through the delicate gated entrance you are immediately drawn to the massive 22 ft. monument at the center of the gravel drive end. Lakeview is comprised of four additional cemeteries marked by signage on the property. The largest section was donated by Ruth Newey Smith, who erected this monument in 1909 in memory of her parents, Micah and Betsey Newey Smith, and three sisters. It has four life-sized statues representing Hope, Charity, Faith, and Liberty, and is engraved with the history of the Smith family, dating back to some of the first settlers in the Town of Brookhaven.

(Smith Monument)

Ruth and her family were quite prominent in Patchogue and are buried here in a large family plot marked by four stunning 20 ft. columns, one for her, and one for each of her sisters, Charlotte, Betsey, and Augusta.

(Columns for Ruth, Charlotte, Betsey and Augusta)

Near the entry way, stands a lovely statue surrounded by pavers and a bench. This too is a memorial for Micah and Betsey Newey Smith along with their four daughters.

(Smith Memorial Statue)

The Smith Family plot is quite beautiful. I was drawn to the gravestones as it is not often I see cradle graves. I imagined it would be nice to rest eternally under a bed of roses. I thought about how much work must have went into these burials, the upkeep, the time families would spend here. Yet as I looked beyond, wondered if others were laid here without a thought. I suppose that is why I walked each part of the grounds with care and read each stone after that.

(Smith Cradle Graves)

19th century poet, lecturer and woman’s rights crusader, Elizabeth Oakes Smith is also buried here along with her husband Seba. Seba Smith was one of the first American political satirists. They lived in a house which once sat on the very property of Lakeview Cemetery, which Seba took his last breath in on July 28, 1868.

(Headstone of Elizabeth Oakes Smith, 8/12/1806 - 11/16/1893, Age of Death 87)

(Headstone of Seba Smith, 9/14/1792 - 7/28/1868, Age of Death 75)

I have heard mention of paranormal activity being detected here in Lakeview. It’s quite a lovely and interesting place but after walking the grounds, I could see how your mind could wander in that direction after reading the stones and learning the history of those underneath them.

Some of the oldest gravestones date back to the late 1790’s. As I walked amongst them, many broken and illegible, I noticed quite a few sinking areas, as if there were graves under my feet with no stones at all. It was an odd feeling, so I tried to avoid them after tripping in the first one.

Many Veterans are buried here, including soldiers from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Spanish-American, and Civil Wars, World Wars I and II, as well as Vietnam. Their beautifully engraved stones showing gratitude for their service. I noticed many sailors as well, of course gravitating toward those sharing a love for the sea.

(Headstone of Thomas Warren Horton, DOB Unknown - April 1, 1855, Age of Death 22)

Members of two tragic shipwrecks off the shores of Long Island are also here. There are stones for each of the eight sailors of the Louis V. Place, which ran aground off the shore of Fire Island during a relentless winter storm in 1895. Only four are actually buried here, Lars Givby, Fitz Mard (articles spell Ward), August Olsen and Charles Allen. Captain William Squires is buried in Southold. There is a stone for the seventh sailor to perish that day, whose body was never recovered. The stone reads John Horton; however, many articles note that the seventh member was Charles Morrison. All but two froze to death that fateful night. Soren Nelson survived, only to perish several days later. Claus Stuvens was the only survivor to tell the gruesome tale of how he watched his fellow seamen freeze to death after their cries were muffled by hypothermia. Augusta, one of the Smith sisters, donated the plot and paid for the burials.

Next to them, lie five of the similarly doomed crew of the Nahum Chapin, which sunk off the coast of Quogue in 1897. All nine on board the vessel drowned in the freezing waters, but only Coy Anderson, Albert Lowe, Oscar Anderson, Victor Stevenson, and A. Lucyanich call Lakeview their final resting place.

(Headstones of sailors from the Louis V. Place, February 8, 1895 and Nahum Chapin, January 21, 1897)

There are also countless children and young adults buried here. I was quite surprised as I read the ages on the stones. One that caught my eye was a headstone for four children buried next to their parents, who sadly outlived them. What would take the lives of all four? Or the many other young lives here? I suppose without vaccinations, modern medicine, sanitation, refrigeration, and many other resources we have now, it was tough. Kids have it rather good now huh?

(Headstone of Sereno B., DOB Unknown - March 22, 1843, Age of Death 16, Charlotte M., DOB Unknown - March 29, 1843, Age of Death 14, Sarah E., DOB Unknown - March 16,1843 & Ruth E., DOB Unknown - February 16, 1840, Age of Death 1. Children of Messenger & Ruth Overton, all perished from disease)

Then there is the grave of Helen Tiernan. A simple stone, with just her name and date/age of death. You would not think much from the stone, but she has a very traumatic end. She was brutally murdered in 1937 by her own mother, who shares the same name. I will spare you the details as it is extremely grisly. Her mother also attempted to murder her younger brother but somehow, he survived the attack. He was sent to the hospital, her mother was sent to prison, and slain little Helen was laid to rest here, her grandfather being the only mourner on the day of her burial.

(Headstone of Helen Tiernan, 4/28/1930 - 5/16/1937, Age of Death 7)

The Cemetery Restoration Committee added a small bench and angel near her stone, as well as tending to the cemetery which has obvious signs of neglect. This group of volunteers work together to restore and maintain this piece of Patchogue’s history. I am grateful that these individuals see the beauty of the burial ground and are dedicated to preserving who and what lie behind Lakeview’s gates.

Subscribe and stay tuned for my next cemetery visit! Thanks for reading!