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Warren County, Pennsylvania, Genealogy

Westlawn Cemetery
Columbus Township


Home > Cemeteries > Westlawn Cemetery
Sign to Westlawn Cemetery, Columbus Township
Photograph contributed by Bimmy Urso

Westlawn Cemetery is a medium-size and active cemetery located in the village of Columbus. The cemetery is on level ground and very well maintained. There are some large stones, mostly spire-types. Many of the older gravestones are on the left side.

Driving directions from the Hickory Street bridge in Warren (about 28 miles; 40 minutes): drive west on Pennsylvania Ave W/US-6 (business route) along the Allegheny River. US Hwy 62 will join with US 6 before you leave Warren. The highways will become a free-access 4-lane. Drive approximately 26 miles on US 6 to Columbus - through Starbrick, west to Youngsville (where PA 27 will join with US 6), on to Pittsfield (where US 6 will split with PA 27and will bear north toward Corry).

As you approach the village of Columbus, you will cross a RR track. Watch for Erie Street on your right. Follow Erie Street north a short distance to PA 957. Turn left onto PA 957, then right on Market Street (or Plank Hill Road). It's not well marked, but if you come to a large car dealership on both sides of the road you have gone too far - turn around and take the next road to the left.

The cemetery will be on the right, very obvious from the road. There is one very nice gravel road that makes a large loop through the grounds.

View of the cemetery from Market Street
Westlawn Cemetery, Columbus, PA
Both photographs contributed by Penelope Repko

Some history of this cemetery is provided in the land agreement document:

Deed Book P, Page 35

The Burying Ground, Columbus
4 July 1850
John Judson of Columbus

To the Burying Ground Committee Chosen by the Public
Henry Stevens
Erastus Pierce
Hollis King

Westlawn Cemetery

Swears that having charge of the burying ground on the west side of the creek in Columbus, he will survey and stake out a burying ground on the westside of Brokenstraw Creek in the village of Columbus, east of the highway from Columbus Village to Jacob Tillotson’s place, by the home of William Byington and adjoining lands formerly owned by Erastus Johnson and now by William Weed, bounded north by William Weed, east by John Judson, south by John Judson and west by the highway leading by William Byingtons.

Said ground to be 164 feet north and south and 168 feet east and west and to be 104 lots 8 by 16 with alleys as per plan attached.

Judson agrees to grub and level at the rate of ¼ part until the whole is done, top seed it and fence it with a good fence of boards and sell lots at $2.00 per lot, reserving to himself the privilege of mowing until the lots are sold. When he sells a lot he is to give a receipt showing the number of lot and keep a record thereof.

In consideration, the Burying Ground committee, the said Henry Stevens, Erastus Pierce and Hollis King agree to pay him, the said John Judson one dollar ($1.00). Then the committee is to keep the said plot well and permanently fenced after he puts up the first one.

Witness

Jones Smith

 

The Westlawn Cemetery Land Agreement, above, was given to former Columbus Township helper Bimmy Urso by the cemetery sexton, Mike Wilshire.

 
Westlawn Cemetery -grouping of old stones
Photograph contributed by Penelope Repko
Older gravestones are on the north side of the Westlawn Cemetery

 

Almost 600 burials in this cemetery are listed on Find-A-Grave - Westlawn Cemetery, many with photographs of individual gravestones. Bimmy Urso added many of the entries several years ago.

 

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Contributions are always welcome by sending information to the Warren County coordinator.

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