Dating from 1795, the cemetery is Martins Ferry’s oldest pioneer landmark. It is the resting place of the Zane and Martin families, as well as veterans dating from the Revolutionary War.
A veteran of the Mexican War is buried there, with the date on this stone being 1849. The Betty Zane statue, at the entrance of the cemetery, is a reminder of the heroine of the last battle of Fort Henry. She was named the foremost American heroine by President Theodore Roosevelt for her famous run for gunpowder to save Fort Henry. The monument was financed by Martins Ferry school children and dedicated in 1928, a century after her death.
Ebenezer Zane carved Zane’s Trace through the wilderness and helped to establish at least three cities; Wheeling, Zanesville, and Lancaster.
When Captain Absalom Martin died in January, 1802, at the age of 43, he was buried in the upper end of a fine stand of black walnut trees on a bluff overlooking his farm on the bottomland beside the Ohio River. When his young son, Ebenezer, grew up and took over management of the farm, he continued to use that spot as a private burying ground for his relatives. However, the town he founded in 1835 had no public cemetery, so he surrounded the family area with a wall, and allowed the townspeople to bury in the open spaces of the grove.
Originally, Walnut Grove was 20 acres and contained around 100 trees. A tornado hit Walnut Grove in 1887 and only 17 trees were left standing. Today, it consists of one acre. Ebenezer and Minerva Zane Martin sold the cemetery’s land to the town of Martins Ferry in 1866 for $100.
The cemetery also contains a Civil War cannon used by the Confederate forces. A historical marker was dedicated there in 1999.
Wayne National Forest - Athens Ranger District - Athens Unit, Coal Township, OH, USA
Distance: 56.81 mi (straight line)
MoMBA, Union Road, Dayton, Ohio, USA
Distance: 59.48 mi (straight line)
Outdoor Experiences Fun and Sports
View Listing
Movies 10 - Fun Barn, U.S. 33, Nelsonville, OH, USA
Distance: 63.84 mi (straight line)
Fun and Sports Galleries and Venues
View Listing
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Deweese Parkway, Dayton, OH, USA
Distance: 65.50 mi (straight line)
Museums and Interpretive Centers
View Listing
Old Bridge Brewing Co., West Main Street, McConnelsville, OH, USA
Distance: 68.55 mi (straight line)
Little Fish Brewing Company, Armitage Road, Athens, OH, USA
Distance: 69.95 mi (straight line)
O'Betty's Red Hot, West State Street, Athens, OH, USA
Distance: 71.08 mi (straight line)
Living Word Outdoor Drama, College Hill Road, Cambridge, OH, USA
Distance: 73.84 mi (straight line)
Dickens Victorian Village, Wheeling Avenue, Cambridge, OH, USA
Distance: 75.83 mi (straight line)
Festivals and Events Guided Tours
View Listing
Cambridge City Parks, McFarland Drive, Cambridge, OH, USA
Distance: 75.98 mi (straight line)
National Museum of Cambridge Glass, South 9th Street, Cambridge, OH, USA
Distance: 75.99 mi (straight line)
Galleries and Venues Museums and Interpretive Centers Shopping
View Listing
Salt Fork State Park, Cadiz Rd, Lore City, OH, USA
Distance: 81.26 mi (straight line)
Food and Drinks Outdoor Experiences
View Listing
Stonelick State Park, Lake Drive, Pleasant Plain, OH, USA
Distance: 81.66 mi (straight line)
Outdoor Experiences RV and Camping
View Listing
Deerassic Park, Cadiz Road, Cambridge, OH, USA
Distance: 82.21 mi (straight line)
Museums and Interpretive Centers Outdoor Experiences
View Listing
Paul Bunyan Show, Old National Road, Lore City, OH, USA
Distance: 84.11 mi (straight line)
Festivals and Events RV and Camping
View Listing
Garst Museum, North Broadway Street, Greenville, OH, USA
Distance: 85.28 mi (straight line)
Museums and Interpretive Centers
View Listing
Seneca Lake Park, Park Road, Senecaville, OH, USA
Distance: 85.60 mi (straight line)
Outdoor Experiences Walks and Hikes RV and Camping
View ListingOur bi-weekly newsletter provides news, history, and information for those interested in traveling along along the Lewis & Clark Trail.