AREA HISTORY:  Prospect Hill Cemetery, York Borough, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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PROSPECT HILL CEMETERY – Page 569

The site of this delightfully located burying place for the dead was, for nearly 
a century, known as Willis’ Woods, owned chronologically by William, John and 
Samuel Willis.  A charter of incorporation was granted, a company formed, and 
the cemetery grounds purchased and laid out in 1859.  The remains of Capt. Enos 
Small were the first to be therein interred.  There are 10,000 bodies resting in 
this silent “city of the dead.”  It is tastefully laid off, and contains many 
fine and artistically-made monuments.  The one near the entrance gate, dedicated 
to the memory of the lamented dead who lost their lives during the civil war, 
was placed there largely through the influence and exertion of some patriotic 
ladies of York.  To the south side of the cemetery rest the remains of Philip 
Livingstone, a signer of the declaration of Independence, from New York State, 
who died while congress was in session in York.  His remains were first interred 
in the graveyard adjoining the Reformed Church.  They were taken to the cemetery 
soon after it was laid out, and a monument erected to his memory by Stephen Van 
Renselear, his grandson.  Toward the west end of the grounds is the tomb of the 
late Jeremiah S. Black, the distinguished jurist, publicist and statesman.

This cemetery, which now covers an area of seventy-five acres, is well taken 
care of by Mr. Morningstar.