Tucked behind the quaint New England-style village green of Vienna Center is the Vienna Memorial Cemetery. Informally established in 1805 upon the township’s first death, that of Abiel Bartholomew, a native of Waterbury, Connecticut, Bartholomew was killed while felling a tree with his son, Ira on January 4th of that year. In the winter following his death, a deed for the village green, as well as the corresponding land that the grave sat on was issued. However, it wasn’t until June 20, 1810, that the deed would be officially recorded by the Trumbull County Recorder’s Office. Given to the township by Connecticut Land Company proprietors Ephraim Root and Urial Holmes, the future home of the Vienna Memorial Cemetery was described in the document as “eight acres” of “cleared and improved land North and West of the Centre Point'.” Purchased by the Presbyterian Society, a non-religious, business-minded branch of the local Presbyterian Church for $20, the tract was soon divided up with six acres going to the Society, while two of the southernmost tracts surrounding Abiel’s grave formed the basis of the Memorial Cemetery.

The headstone of Abiel Bartholomew, the first in the Vienna Memorial Cemetery.

Faithfully serving as a resting place for Vienna Township’s dead for over 130 years, the original cemetery, or what is now known as the “Old Section” was closed to any new interments in 1938 with the addition of “Section 1” to the north. Giving the cemetery an additional 216 plots for use, it is this tract that is still in public use today. However, for this article, we will be looking at the Old Section, which naturally contains the remains of many of Vienna Township’s historical residents. To easily find the graves featured in this presentation, markers are listed in order of appearance as one walks through the cemetery, starting at the front gate, as well as photographs for easy identification. A view of the Vienna Memorial Cemetery looking towards the green. The steeple of the Presbyterian Church can be seen in the distance.