MOUNT GREENWOOD — The history of the Mount Greenwood neighborhood begins at Mount Greenwood Cemetery.
The cemetery that later lent its name to the surrounding neighborhood celebrates its 135th anniversary this year and is now the subject of a book.
"Images of America: Mount Greenwood Cemetery" ($21.99) debuted earlier this month courtesy of Arcadia Publishing. The authors include Paula Everett, president of Mount Greenwood Cemetery since 1992, and Margaret Kapustiak of Beverly's Ridge Historical Society.
Howard Ludwig says the book highlights some of the oldest tenants of the cemetery:
The 127-page book features more than 200 historic pictures, maps and other images. The result is a visual journey that carries readers through the years with a series of detailed captions.
The bulk of the images were contributed by those with loved ones buried in the 79-acre cemetery at 2900 W. 111th St. in Mount Greenwood, Kapustiak said.
"That's why we decided to dedicate the book to the families of Mount Greenwood Cemetery," said Kapustiak, a resident of the western suburbs.
Everett, a Morgan Park resident, said visitors frequently tour the 60,000 graves at the cemetery, nearly 300 of which date to the Civil War.
The cemetery became a popular burial site for many reasons, the greatest being its proximity to railroad and streetcar lines. The sandy soil was also ideal for digging and land was cheap at the farthest reaches of Chicago, Everett said.
Other cemeteries quickly popped up nearby, including neighboring Mount Olivet Cemetery. In fact, the 19th Ward remains a popular place to be buried to this day. But Mount Greenwood Cemetery endures as one of the few remaining family owned cemeteries, Everett said.
The most famous folks buried in Mount Greenwood Cemetery are all profiled in the book, including Robert H. Haslam — also known as "Pony Bob."
Pony Bob rode for the Pony Express. Despite being seriously wounded by arrows, Pony Bob carried Abraham Lincoln's inaugural address 120 miles on the way to California at a record pace. The document was crucial in the state's decision on whether to stay with the union.
Kapustiak said the story of Cpl. George A. Rohloff captured her interest. Rohloff was shot under the heart by machine gun fire in World War I. He lived disabled for the rest of his life until age 49.
His son, Paul Rohloff suffered tremendous burns and shrapnel injuries in World War II when his tank was destroyed by enemy fire on Sept. 3, 1944. He returned home to teach at Mount Greenwood Elementary School.
Both father and son were injured just 60 miles apart near the border of France and Belgium, Kapustiak said.
Other residents have their names attached to more than just headstones. The namesakes for several public elementary schools on the Southwest Side including Barnard, Clissold, Kellogg, Sutherland and Vanderpoel are all buried at Mount Greenwood Cemetery, Everett said.
Their stories along with the tales of countless others are what made the book fun to write, Kapustiak said.
"Everyone had a story. These weren't people that just went to work and came home again," she said.
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