Flushing Cemetery was dedicated in August 1853. Samuel B. Parsons, a prominent horticulturist at the time gave the opening speech.
The dedication of the cemetery was so significant that the Flushing Journal dedicated the entire Sept. 3, 1853 issue to the event.
The first person buried there was Morris Theodore Wolfe of Strattonport/College Point.
The following are some stops that were made during previous walking tours of the cemetery conducted by the executive director of the Poppenhusen Institute. Future tours will be conducted. Participates will be driven throughout the cemetery aboard a vintage trolley and will disembark at the various gravesites pertaining to College Point. Please inform us if you would be interested in that tour which will likely be held in the Fall of 2020 or the Spring of 2021.
The following are some of the gravesites you will be visiting:
William Logan – owned the Strattonport Model home (in 1851), which stood where Innovations Beauty Salon is today.
Carl Ludwig – Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor recipient for bravery during the Battle of Petersburg. Listed as a farmer in an early census of Flushing.
Other College Point residents to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor – John Starkins and John Gibson.
William Ludwig – Carl’s brother William can be found on the southernmost part of the cemetery. Unlike Carl who was a rather short man only 5’6”, William was a tall gentleman at 6’4”.
He was wounded at the Battle of Spotsylvania on May 12, 1864 and Petersburg on June 22, 1864. William is listed as a gardener in the census of 1870.
Rev. August Eberdick (1838-1932) – third pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church of College Point.
Louis Armstrong – Although Louis was not a College Point resident, his resting place is along the route, so we can’t neglect stopping by. To bring his music to life – a recording of “What a Wonderful World” will be played.
Eliphalet Stratton – his family owned a large farm on the southern-most portion of the area now known as College Point. The Village of Strattonport would be developed on that land.
Jackson Nichols – in the 1850’s Strattonport, Flammersburg and College Point were being developed. A large segment of Flammersburg was developed on the old Nichols farm. (14th Rd. was originally called Nichols Road, then Second Ave., and eventually 14th Rd.)
Eliphalet Stratton father, Platt Stratton was born on May 9, 1787 and died at Strattonport on September 8, 1854. He had married Elizabeth Hewlett Jones on April 27, 1836. She was born in Woodbury, Long Island on August 12, 1813 and died at Strattonport on December 9, 1893.
Platt Stratton and Elizabeth had five children, Eliphalet Platt, Elizabeth Jane, William, Mary Victoria and Lewis. Elizabeth Jane married Captain John M. Graham. As far as our records show they did not have any children.
William Hoenig – College Point Civil War Veteran. His descendants still reside in College Point
Joseph Dockendorf – College Point Civil War Veteran – Enlisted in Company G of the 46th N Y Infantry, Sept. 3, 1861.Discharged July 28, 1865, member of Adam Wirth Grand Army of the Republic. Author & College Point Historian, James Haas is a descendant of this man.
Frederich Wilkens – enlisted in Company A of the 39th New York Infantry on May 17, 1861. Discharged June 24, 1864. He is believed to be the last surviving College Point Veteran. He proudly marched in the annual Memorial Day Parade and was given the honor of raising the American flag at the commencement of the parade.
Holding Vault – The body of Conrad Poppenhusen was held here from December 1883 when he died, until March 1884 when Caroline returned to their birthplace, Hamburg Germany. She had the body removed at that time. Conrad was then laid to rest there in a modest yet respectful mausoleum. In time, Caroline would be laid to rest next to her beloved. Conrad’s first wife Bertha is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, along with their daughter Marie.
Poppenhusen Family Plot – Several of Conrad Poppenhusen’s offspring were laid to rest at Flushing Cemetery, including Kate Poppenhusen Stone.
Note: Information on Civil War Veterans was obtained from the Poppenhusen Archives and from “This Gunner at His Piece – College Point, New York and the Civil War,” by James E. Haas