Famous Folks at Ferncliff: Remarkable Women
Ferncliff Cemetery & Arboretum was established in 1863 and holds a wealth of stories. Let’s take a look at just some of the Remarkable Women among the “Famous Folks at Ferncliff.”
The women remembered in this article are featured in the “Celebrating the Women of Ferncliff” self-guided tour.
Dr. Ada L. Adams
1835 – 1876 Section H, Lot 58
Dr. Adelaide (Ada) Adams was born in Washington County, NY in 1835. At age 13, Ada taught at her first school, maintaining that occupation until her marriage to Dr. Samuel Adams in 1852.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Ada assisted in the hospitals caring for the sick and dying. With medical experience from the war, Ada took to reading and practicing medicine. In 1868, both Samuel and Ada entered the practice of medicine at the renowned Pennsylvania House, here in Springfield.
In 1870, she received her Doctor of Medicine degree from the College for Women in Cleveland, being the first woman physician admitted to the State Medical Society. In addition to her medical practice, she was active in the Temperance movement and the Central ME Church. On April 6, 1876, Ada Adams died after giving birth to a newborn daughter.
Grave site information of Ada L Adams (1835 - 1876) at Ferncliff Cemetery in Springfield, Clark, Ohio, United States from BillionGraves
Dorothy Bacon
1912 – 1985 Section 28, Lot 64
The story of Dorothy and Jerome (Jerry) Bacon, their ancestors and descendants and their role in the history of Springfield, is an amazing story of resilience and fortitude.
Dorothy was born in 1912 to Blanche and William Evans on a farm outside of town. After her mother remarried, when Dorothy was just an infant, they moved to West Grand Avenue.
In the late 20’s she married Jerome Jerette Sunnyfield Bacon, an apprentice to Joe Mitchell’s Cleaners, who played trumpet nightly in Professor Vaughn’s Springfield Brass Band.
Following the Depression, when the family had moved to Columbus to find work with the WPA (Works Progress Administration), Dorothy and Jerry moved back to Springfield following the war where Jerry went to work at International Harvester and Dorothy got involved in the emerging movement for civil rights.
With his savings from International Harvester, Jerry opened his own business, Bacon’s Cleaning. Dorothy began to fight the segregation and injustice she saw in her community and became secretary of the NAACP, and Democratic committeewoman in her precinct. She fought for the desegregation of schools and helped Perrin Woods Elementary become the first desegregated school in Springfield.
Leaders in the early struggle to break the town’s color line, Dorothy and Jerry are buried here in Ferncliff in Section 28. The Bacons are also featured in the Trailblazers Tour of Prominent African Americans at Ferncliff.
Civil Rights activists Dorothy and Jerome Bacon of Springfield, Ohio
Anne Snodgrass-Benston
1923 – 2022 Anne Benston Lake is located in Section 56
Anne Snodgrass-Benston was born March 18, 1923 in Springfield, Ohio the daughter of Gustav and Helen (Hook) Burgstaller. She was a 1941 graduate of Catholic Central High School and attended Antioch College.
Anne was a history buff who was touted as a “memory keeper” for Clark County. She visited dozens of cemeteries, researched and wrote biographies, gave historical presentations and dedicated her time to preserving history. An active volunteer, Anne was a past president of the Clark County Historical Society and received the society’s prestigious Benjamin Prince Award for decades of outstanding service. She also served as past president of the Clark County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society and volunteered for the Heritage Center of Clark County.
Anne passed away on Dec. 2, 2022. Though Anne is buried in Calvary Cemetery, she holds a special place in the hearts of Ferncliff. Anne was the co-author of Beautiful Ferncliff, and “Anne Benston Lake” at Ferncliff Cemetery & Arboretum is named in her honor. When the lake was dedicated on Nov. 2, 2013, Mayor Warren Copeland declared it “Anne Benston Day.”
Anne Snodgrass-Benston: 1923 - 2022 ~ Anne Benston Lake is located in Section 56 of Ferncliff Cemetery in Springfield, Ohio
Sarah Gammon
1808 – 1902 Section F, Lot 92
Sarah Gammon and her husband, George, were activists in the Underground Railroad and owners of the Gammon House, a noted safe house at what is now 620 S. Piqua Place in Springfield.
Sarah and George displayed tremendous courage, risking imprisonment and fines while providing shelter to slaves on their journey to freedom. Sarah was remembered to have fed and clothed runaways in their home, waiting for pick-up and transport northwards to Urbana and Marysville.
Built in 1850, The Gammon House is one of the few existing safe houses in Ohio, and the country, that was owned by free people of color. Sarah and George lived in their home for 50 years and raised seven children there.
George and Sarah Gammon are interred in Section F of Ferncliff Cemetery. They are also featured in the Trailblazers Tour of Prominent African Americans at Ferncliff.
George and Sarah Gammon were activists in the Underground Railroad and owners of the Gammon House, a noted safe house.
Viola Tyler Goings
1899 – 1983 Section Y, Lot 118
Viola Tyler was born in Flushing, Ohio on Aug. 29, 1899. After graduating from Howard University, Viola went on to teach in North Carolina and serve as a principal in Maryland before marrying Frederick Goings, Sr. and settling in Springfield, Ohio.
While in Springfield, Viola continued her teaching career in the local schools and Frederick became employed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. She was involved in civic and social affairs when she served as president of the Friday Afternoon Study Club.
Viola is known as one of “The Five Pearls” who founded the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. She was among five coeds in 1920 who created the sorority with a vision that it would “directly affect positive change, chart a course of action for the 1920s and beyond, raise consciousness of their people, encourage the highest standards of scholastic achievement, and foster a greater sense of unity among its members.”
One hundred years later, more than 100,000 women are members of Zeta Phi Beta. On March 9, 1983, Viola passed away at the age of 83 and was buried alongside her husband. She is celebrated by fellow Zeta Phi Beta sisters annually on the sorority’s Founder’s Day. Viola is also featured in the Trailblazers Tour of Prominent African Americans at Ferncliff.
Viola Tyler Goings: 1899 - 1983 ~ Viola is known as one of “The Five Pearls” who founded the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.
Ernestine Lucas
1914 – 2005 Section 29, Lot 34
Ernestine Garrett Lucas was born on Nov. 20, 1914 in Richmond, Indiana. She attended Fisk University in Nashville, earning both a BA in Mathematics and Physics, Cum Laude, in 1935 and MA in Education in 1937. Ms. Lucas was a Golden Member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
In 1937, Ernestine married Robert M. Lucas of Springfield, and later gave birth to three children. As an educator, Ms. Lucas taught at the Tennessee State School for Delinquent Girls, the Sleighten Farm School in Pennsylvania, the Ohio State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and Springfield City Schools. She was also very active in the Springfield community, working with the Second Missionary Baptist Church, Girl Scouts, YWCA, Planned Parenthood and more.
After she retired from teaching, Ms. Lucas spent years researching the history of early Black Springfield families as well as the genealogy of her own family.
She taught Genealogy for the Community Schools, was active in the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, of which she was a charter member, with the American Family Research Association and with the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center of Wilberforce, Ohio. Ms. Lucas published two books, From Paris to Springfield: The Slave Connection, Basey-Basey, and Wider Window to the Past, African-American History from a Family Perspective exploring the genealogy of African American families around Springfield.
Ms. Lucas died June 24, 2005. She is interred at Ferncliff Cemetery and is featured in the Trailblazers Tour of Prominent African Americans at Ferncliff.
Ernestine Lucas: 1914 - 2005 ~ Ernestine was a teacher, community activist, author and local genealogy expert.
Addie Francella (Gray) McGilvray
1856 – 1935 Section R, Lot 33 (McGilvray Mausoleum)
Miss Addie F. Gray was known for her philanthropic activities, alongside her husband Charles McGilvray. Addie and Charles married in 1873.
In 1884 they came to Springfield, Ohio where Charles took charge of the shops of Robbins and Meyers Company Foundry. In 1900 J.A. Meyers and Charles McGilvray purchased the interest of Mr. Robbins. Charles was later elected city commissioner, later becoming mayor of Springfield. Charles died June 26, 1922. Prior to this death, plans were made to dedicate their home to the Y.M.C.A. for a new building site.
In 1929 Addie bequeathed the McGilvray home on N. Limestone St. to the “Y.” After the death of her husband, Addie built The McGilvray Mausoleum at Ferncliff Cemetery, a landmark building on the cemetery grounds. Addie died December 3, 1935.
Addie Francella (Gray) McGilvray: 1856 - 1935 ~ Addie was known for her philanthropic activities in the Springfield community.
Eliza Daniels Stewart
1816 – 1908 Section L, Lot 570
Eliza Daniels Stewart was born in 1816. While keeping house for her brother, who was postmaster here in Springfield, she was sworn in as his assistant under the administration of General Jackson. So far as is known, she was the first woman to ever hold such a position.
She was one of the original members of the WCTU, or Women’s Christian Temperance Union, and led the “Women’s Whiskey War.” Also known as “Mother Stewart,” she was a great crusader for this cause, even traveling internationally to promote it, and her speaking was known to draw large crowds to demonstrations and parades.
Mother Stewart died in 1908 and is buried in section L of Ferncliff Cemetery.
Eliza Daniels Stewart: 1816 - 1908 ~ Eliza, also known as "Mother Stewart," was one of the original members of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and led the “Women’s Whiskey War.”
Ann Aston Warder
1781 – 1871 Section C, Lot 14
Ann Aston Warder relocated to Springfield from Pennsylvania in the early 1800s with her husband, Jeremiah and their children. The family amassed a great fortune with investments in local businesses and land, including interests in the Warder, Mitchell & Co. which manufactured the Champion Reaper.
The Warders contributed greatly to philanthropic activities in the city, and Ann became an early leader supporting the Clark County Underground Railroad. In 1872 her son, Benjamin, donated land and money for the creation of a free library in honor of Jeremiah and Anne. That resource is now the home of the Warder Literacy Center.
Jeremiah and Anne Warder are buried in Section C of Ferncliff with other family members Get to know more of the remarkable women at Ferncliff by downloading our Self-Guided tour or picking up a tour map in the office.
Ann Aston Warder: 1781 - 1871 ~ Section C, Lot 14 Ann was an early supporter of the Clark County Underground Railroad and a well-known philanthropist.
