Voices from the Past: The Kelton Family Letters During the Civil War

Reenactment Performance At Green Lawn Cemetery

Sunday, June 1st,  2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Join us at the Grand Gazebo in historic Green Lawn Cemetery, the final resting place of Kelton Family members,  to witness a dramatic reading of the letters written between Oscar, his older sister Anna, and his loving parents during the years 1862 to 1866. Experience the insightful and detailed first hand descriptions of Oscar’s military experiences and ambitions, his candid conversations with sister Anna, and the parental concerns of Fernando and Sophia Kelton that are depicted in these compelling family letters.

About: Oscar Dwight Kelton was the eldest son of Fernando and Sophia Kelton, prosperous merchants and known abolitionists in Columbus. An abolitionist himself and a student at Kenyon College at the advent of the Civil War, Oscar very much wanted to serve in the Union Army. After obtaining his parents’ permission, Oscar was the first man to enlist in Company A of the 95th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted as a private and was quickly promoted to Orderly Sergeant. Oscar’s regiment saw battle in Tennessee and Mississippi and eventually joined the ill-fated Sturgis expedition at the Battle of Brice’s Crossroads where Oscar was tragically killed in action.

Guest arrival- 1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. accompanied by period music

Program starts promptly at 2:00 p.m.

Deluxe ticket holders with enjoy a guided walking tour to the Kelton Family plot with Green Lawn Association President Randel Rogers after the presentation.

A History of The Greenlawn Cemetery

On August 2nd, 1848, a group of local leaders met to form the Green Lawn Cemetery Association. Through the spring of 1849 a charter was granted, 84 acres were acquired from local ranchers, and landscape gardener Howard Daniels was hired to plan the cemetery. 

Over time Green Lawn would grow to its current 325 acres with over 160,000+ interments, making it Ohio’s second largest cemetery. The grounds feature a pre-European settlement mixed oak forest, many historic and artistic mausoleums and monuments, and it remains one of Columbus’ most important cemeteries. Green Lawn provides the final resting place of founding families, several U.S. presidential families, 5 governors, 5 Medal of Honor recipients, artists, actors, and all other walks of life. Over 6,000 veterans fill seven military sections and other sections represent Jewish, Greek, Black, and other communities or various religious, fraternal, governmental, or charitable organizations. 

Reservations required