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Richland City Cemetery
Thompson's Richland City Cemetery
Buena Vista Township, Richland County,
Wisconsin
USA
(Last Updated February 18, 2009)
Chaffee,
Solomon Bliss, Rev.
1799 1857 03-04-1799 03-25-1857
Married Eunice Pamelia Beech on June 16, 1836 in New York.
Married Clara Milly Hovey on October 25, 1849 in Lafayette Co., WI.
Married Annis Wellington on September 1, 1853.
Son of Nathaniel Bliss & Tabitha (Chubbuck) Chaffee.
Note: Rev Chaffee was a circuit pastor of the regional Presbysterian church.
Note: No present day marker - marker last reported seen in 1954.
Note: Eunice Pamelia Beech b.approx 1805 d.29-Jun-1844 buried Raymond, WI
Note: Clara Milly Hovey b.1818 Vt. d.22-Sep-1851 burial location unknown could be here!
"THE STORY OF THREE 12 YR. OLD BOYS TRYING TO DIG UP SOLOMEN CHAFFEE'S GRAVE IN
ABOUT 1938. AT THAT TIME THERE WAS THREE STONES STILL STANDING. THE SIDES OF THE
GRAVE WERE LINED BY SLABS OF ROCK. AFTER SEVERAL FEET DEEP THEY WERE SPOOKED AND
RAN TO THE RIVER AND SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY WAITING FOR THE GHOST TO GET THEM."
And another source on the Richland City cemetery and Rev. Solomon Chaffee was found in
HERE THEY SLEEP, a book published in the 1970's on Richland Counties cemeteries.
RICHLAND CITY
Old burial ground reviewed April 30, 1975 by Mervin Banker and H. A. Dieter. The nearest access to this
"lost cemetery" is by following U. S. 14 through Gotham to Sawmill Road, thence about 0.4 mile south of the
railroad crossing and immediately to the right at the high line clearing. It was reported that a number of grave
stones were left standing after the exhumation of certain burials and their removal to Button and Sextonville
cemeteries. There are no visible markers in the described area. It was also reported in 1954 that the last stone
to remain standing was that of one Rev. Solomon Chaffee, a circuit pastor of the regional Presbyterian churches.
A relative, John B. Chaffee, a one time resident of Richland City, served with the 4th Wis. 6th L. A. Battery,
Civil War. The total abandonment of this cemetery is matched only by the death of this history making river town.
Many factors, such as pioneers moving on to better things, routing of a railroad south of the Wisconsin River and
a nation divided by war with a dwindling economy to follow, were responsible for the passing of a brave community.
As if this were not enough, a new village to be named Gotham, was soon to spring up to the north. It was surveyed
June 3-4, 1891 by L. L. Appleby under the direction of M. W. Gotham. The new era of the 90's had come in to
supersede it's fading neighbor the south. History had again created, in retrospect "A Tale of Two Cities". The total
escape has carried with it data of much historical value. Somewhere, hidden away, may be a mere scrap of paper
telling us of the missing events left unrecorded. Plat books will guide us to that portion of history. Sand and pine trees
will lend their cover to the scenes while man must stand forever in the offing. P.S. A letter of May 26, 1975 from the
State Historical Society of Wisconsin, states there are no Richland County cemetery records on file there nor at the
Archives Department in our Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville, Wisconsin. Thus the
mystery deepens from year to year even as we grope for some light to illuminate the darkness backstage."
There is also this under Ithaca Township, Village of Ithaca in the HISTORY OF CRAWFORD AND
RICHLAND COUNTIES WISCONSIN 1884 page 1086.
"The first religious meetings in the town of Ithaca were held in the old building known
as "The Ark," by Rev. Chaffee, a Presbyterian minister. He organized a Presbyterian
class here, the following being among its first members: Charles Devoe and wife,
A H Bush and wife, Samuel Long and wife, Richard Struble and wife, Emanuel Allace
and wife, John Ingraham and wife and Mr. Fox and wife. Charles Devoe was elected
deacon. This class met for worship in "The Ark" until the school house was erected, and
then met there for a few years. Some of the leading members moved away, and finally
this class was united with the Congregationalists."
Married Eunice Pamelia Beech on June 16, 1836 in New York.
Married Clara Milly Hovey on October 25, 1849 in Lafayette Co., WI.
Married Annis Wellington on September 1, 1853.
Son of Nathaniel Bliss & Tabitha (Chubbuck) Chaffee.
Note: Rev Chaffee was a circuit pastor of the regional Presbysterian church.
Note: No present day marker - marker last reported seen in 1954.
Note: Eunice Pamelia Beech b.approx 1805 d.29-Jun-1844 buried Raymond, WI
Note: Clara Milly Hovey b.1818 Vt. d.22-Sep-1851 burial location unknown could be here!
"THE STORY OF THREE 12 YR. OLD BOYS TRYING TO DIG UP SOLOMEN CHAFFEE'S GRAVE IN
ABOUT 1938. AT THAT TIME THERE WAS THREE STONES STILL STANDING. THE SIDES OF THE
GRAVE WERE LINED BY SLABS OF ROCK. AFTER SEVERAL FEET DEEP THEY WERE SPOOKED AND
RAN TO THE RIVER AND SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY WAITING FOR THE GHOST TO GET THEM."
And another source on the Richland City cemetery and Rev. Solomon Chaffee was found in
HERE THEY SLEEP, a book published in the 1970's on Richland Counties cemeteries.
RICHLAND CITY
Old burial ground reviewed April 30, 1975 by Mervin Banker and H. A. Dieter. The nearest access to this
"lost cemetery" is by following U. S. 14 through Gotham to Sawmill Road, thence about 0.4 mile south of the
railroad crossing and immediately to the right at the high line clearing. It was reported that a number of grave
stones were left standing after the exhumation of certain burials and their removal to Button and Sextonville
cemeteries. There are no visible markers in the described area. It was also reported in 1954 that the last stone
to remain standing was that of one Rev. Solomon Chaffee, a circuit pastor of the regional Presbyterian churches.
A relative, John B. Chaffee, a one time resident of Richland City, served with the 4th Wis. 6th L. A. Battery,
Civil War. The total abandonment of this cemetery is matched only by the death of this history making river town.
Many factors, such as pioneers moving on to better things, routing of a railroad south of the Wisconsin River and
a nation divided by war with a dwindling economy to follow, were responsible for the passing of a brave community.
As if this were not enough, a new village to be named Gotham, was soon to spring up to the north. It was surveyed
June 3-4, 1891 by L. L. Appleby under the direction of M. W. Gotham. The new era of the 90's had come in to
supersede it's fading neighbor the south. History had again created, in retrospect "A Tale of Two Cities". The total
escape has carried with it data of much historical value. Somewhere, hidden away, may be a mere scrap of paper
telling us of the missing events left unrecorded. Plat books will guide us to that portion of history. Sand and pine trees
will lend their cover to the scenes while man must stand forever in the offing. P.S. A letter of May 26, 1975 from the
State Historical Society of Wisconsin, states there are no Richland County cemetery records on file there nor at the
Archives Department in our Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville, Wisconsin. Thus the
mystery deepens from year to year even as we grope for some light to illuminate the darkness backstage."
There is also this under Ithaca Township, Village of Ithaca in the HISTORY OF CRAWFORD AND
RICHLAND COUNTIES WISCONSIN 1884 page 1086.
"The first religious meetings in the town of Ithaca were held in the old building known
as "The Ark," by Rev. Chaffee, a Presbyterian minister. He organized a Presbyterian
class here, the following being among its first members: Charles Devoe and wife,
A H Bush and wife, Samuel Long and wife, Richard Struble and wife, Emanuel Allace
and wife, John Ingraham and wife and Mr. Fox and wife. Charles Devoe was elected
deacon. This class met for worship in "The Ark" until the school house was erected, and
then met there for a few years. Some of the leading members moved away, and finally
this class was united with the Congregationalists."
Thompson's Cemetery Guide
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