Notable Graves, History of Oakwood Cemetery

OAKWOOD CEMETERY, Troy New York

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Many of Troy's outstanding citizens are buried in Oakwood Cemetery. The best known of these is "Uncle Sam" Wilson, who was born near Troy in 1766. During the war of 1812, Samuel Wilson was contracted to furnish the U.S. army with 300 barrels of beef packed in white-oak barrels. He was also appointed Inspector of Provisions for the army in the New York area. EA-US were the initials he stamped on the meat barrels. EA stood for Elbert Anderson, a contractor, and the US for the United States. But many who knew Sam Wilson fondly as Uncle Sam believed the "US" stood for that nickname. The allusion quickly grew and the "US" soon became a guarantee of excellence for meat passed through Sam's inspection. Soon the army would accept no meat but Uncle Sam's. Other contractors, in order to make their provisions more acceptable to the troops, began to announce "Uncle Sam" brands in all provisions. The Federalist Press throughout the country picked up the term in 1813 and it has been used as a national symbol ever since. By an Act of the 87th Congress of the United States in 1961, "Uncle Sam" Wilson of Troy was recognized as the progenitor of America's national symbol.

Many renowned 19th century persons are buried at Oakwood, including Mary Warren, who founded the first educational institute for problem children in the United States, Emma Willard, a pioneer in women's education, millionaire and financier Russell Sage, who built a fortune from wholesale groceries, banking, and railroad finance, and Amos Eaton, another visionary of higher education.

Notable Graves

Uncle Sam's Gravestone

Oakwood Cemetery
Troy, New York

Emma Willard's Gravestone Ms. Willard founded the Troy Female Seminary in 1814, known now as the Emma Willard School in Troy, New York. She advanced the ideas of educational reform and education for women and was a profound influence on the second wife of Russell Sage, Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage (1828-1918). Born in Syracuse, New York, Margaret was the daughter of Joseph Slocum, a promoter of American agricultural implements. He sent his daughter to Troy to be educated, and Ms. Slocum graduated from Emma Willard's new school in 1847. She taught for a time and became friends with both Russell Sage and and his first wife, Maria Winne Sage.

The unmarked mausoleum of Russell Sage Two years after the death of Maria, Russell Sage married Margaret Olivia Slocum, the woman who would become one of the foremost philanthropists of the day. It is said that wealthy businessman Sage did not advance the same ideas toward women as did his second wife or her mentor, Emma Willard. He was a businessman with little desire for philanthropy or for helping those who were "not helping themselves." Upon his death in 1906, however, Margaret Slocum Sage used her inheritance to further Willard's cause. In 1910 she built a new campus for the Emma Willard School, and in 1916 she converted the old campus into Russell Sage College, named after her husband but devoted to the ideas of Willard -- education for women. She respectfully sanctified her husband's remains in an unmarked mausoleum of classic design, seen here.

Inscription on the monument to the first Mrs. Sage Russell Sage's first wife is buried in Oakwood near her husband, with a large marker inscribed as such: Maria Winne, Wife of Russell Sage, Born July 4, 1819, Died May 7, 1867. An affectionate and devoted wife. Her virtues and deeds will ever be cherished by all who knew her. She believed and trusted in Jesus Christ and met death with resignation, peace, hope and joy.

Grave of Prof. Amos Eaton (1776-1842).

Amos Eaton, with Patroon Stephen Van Rensselaer, founded the Rensselaer School in 1824, later named Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. A philosopher of higher education, Eaton revolutionized instruction away from the liberal arts tradition into a laboratory method of applied preparation for solving society's problems. He was also a strong proponent of higher education for women.

See the Albany Times Union Community Pages for upcoming tours of Oakwood Cemetery. Walking tours may focus on industrialists such as John A. Griswold, Civil War generals like George Henry Thomas, The Rock of Chickamauga, or local well-know families such as the Eddys, the Vanderheydens, and the Lansings, including Abraham Jacob Lansing, founder of Lansingburgh.

Grave of Lansing.

Grave of General George Thomas.

Friends of Major General George Henry Thomas have devoted themselves to care for his gravesite, as seen here. If you or your group would like to adopt a site, please contact:

Oakwood Cemetery
50 101st Street
Troy, New York 12182
518-272-7520 or 518-237-2188

Further Reading
George M. Phelps: Inventor by John Casale
( http://www.members.global2000.net/~jcsl/telegraph/phelps/).

About Emma Willard on the Emma Willard School Website

Help us maintain these pages by sending comments to
history@oakwoodcemetery.org