Evergreen Cemetery History
Information comes from an article by Jim
Reis published in
The Kentucky Post June 15, 1998
Newport records indicate
that as early as April 2, 1842, a committee consisting of James McArthur and Ira
Root was formed to meet with James Taylor, founder of Newport, and Richard
Southgate to discuss
other cemetery plans. The committee recommended the city continue to use the
Newport City
Cemetery site.
In 1847, however,
discussion resumed about a new site. The proposed site was a couple miles south
of Newport and included about 17 acres where the Evergreen Cemetery Chapel now
stands. The old cemetery in Newport remained in use while a one-story
caretaker's house was built in Southgate for $300. Southgate was still a rural
area. Plans were to assume occupancy of the new cemetery on
July 6, 1848. The first burial was not James Taylor who died in November
1848, but John E Harris who was buried September 16, 1849 in section 1 lot 10.
A later Kentucky
Journal newspaper account on July 20, 1894, noted the recent death
of Miss Emma Dennison Pagan. It said Miss Pagan was credited with suggesting the name
Evergreen Cemetery. Miss Pagan was the daughter of George Pagan, a long-time
cemetery president. The office of Evergreen Cemetery, however, remained in
Newport. An 1880 city directory listed the office at 192 Monmouth St.