Home Page

    Nannie Scott was born in Decatur, Ohio to Robert and Catherine Scott. On a train trip back to school, she met a man named Marshall Fields. He and she soon became a couple. 

     Known as Joe or Big Joe, Joseph Denk Willis was born in Coal Grove, Ohio on April 9, 1890. He was the son of Landon Taylor and Elizabeth Gates Willis.

     Osa Wilson was born Osa Drummond in Gallia County, Ohio on April 18, 1877. She was the daughter of James T. and M. Neals Drummond. Osa had two brothers and three sisters.

    Born in Mason Township, Lawrence County, Ohio on February 5, 1873, Scott W. Wilson made his adult home on 5th Street and Park Avenue. He was a real estate broker and insurance agent in Ohio since 1900. He resided in Ironton for thirty years. 

    Christian Yingling was born in Western Pennsylvania on the waters of the Youhiogheny on April 24, 1788. His father, Andrew Yingling, moved to “Alexandria” on the Ohio River near the mouth of the Scioto River in 1797. 
    In 1798, Christian moved to own home near Hanging Rock, Ohio. This house would remain his home until his death.

    In September of 1870, an ordinance was passed by the Ironton City Council to purchase land for a cemetery. The site for Woodland Cemetery was purchased by Dr. Orin C. Newton in February 1871. At that time, the land was called “Old Judge Newton Farm.” It included fifty-nine acres and cost $10,000.00. In the same month, Engineer Grove plaid out the plots for the cemetery. Woodland was dedicated in 1871.

            The Parrott Rifles were made in 1861 at the West Point Foundry in Cold Springs, New York. The guns were presented to the Ironton, Ohio Grand Army of the Republic Post 165 for memorials in 1882. Today, only fifty-seven Parrott Rifles still exist in America.

    Located in Section E of Woodland Cemetery, Woodland Abbey is a mausoleum built by the Chapel Building Company from Columbus, Ohio. The land for the abbey was purchased in 1929 for $10,000.00. The mausoleum was completed in 1929. The entire interior was built of marble. 280 crypts are located in the building. Originally, the crypts sold for $340 to $450 each and all of the crypts have been sold.

Joel Gillette
     To discuss the Rome Beauty Apple, one must discuss Joel Gillette. Joel Gillette came to Lawrence County (then Washington County) in the fall of 1816. Originally from Connecticut, Joel was the son of farmers. He developed a love of fruit trees that would serve him well later in his life.
     Joel and his family lived in Marietta, Ohio for three years. In Marietta, Joel began experimenting with apple trees.