On March 6, 1855, the city of
Oshkosh purchased a land parcel from Maria Grignon for creation of a cemetery. The parcel was located on the east bank of the
Fox River and was named Riverside Cemetery. It was built as a replacement for the Locust Grove Cemetery, which was the first burial ground in Oshkosh and built in 1848. Between 1855 and 1869, the remains of those buried in Locust Grove were moved to Riverside Cemetery.[2]
In 1855, the Riverside Catholic cemetery was laid out north of the cemetery[3] and expanded further in 1875.[2] In 1868, a parcel was purchased east of the Riverside Cemetery by Masons. In 1882, the city purchased 38 acres (15 ha) in the north edge of the Catholic plots. In 1887, the city sold off 10 acres (4.0 ha) to the Catholic Church. In 1914, an additional 61 acres (25 ha) were purchased from H. C. Rogers, expanding the cemetery to 98.39 acres (39.82 ha), the current size today.[2]
Landmarks
Burr/End of the Trail Monument – erected by John Burr in 1929, the monument depicts an
American Indian and his weary horse. It is an interpretation of
James Fraser's sculpture End of the Trail.[2]