Oak Hill Cemetery

02/16/2026

Thursday, July 25, 1901. George Albert Young, 58 years old, of Ilion was MURDERED!
At 8 am, Mr. Young was in his son’s barber shop on Otsego Street getting ready for the day when Joseph Brown walked in demanding money that George had borrowed from him in December, telling him he would pay him back when he got his pension. George never paid. So when Joseph Brown went into the barber shop that day, he had on him a gun and when he confronted George Young, George had in his right hand a stick of about 3 to 4 feet long. Young came around the barber chair towards Brown and muttered something and swung the stick at Brown, hitting him. Before Young could pick the stick back up, Brown pulled out his revolver and shot Young twice in the chest. Brown went back out into the street and confessed he had shot Young but it was in self defense.
When the trial started, Brown pled not guilty and his attorneys would talk him into pleading for an insanity plea rather than self defense. However, District Attorney George Ward would state that this was premeditated murder and was looking to convict Mr. Brown of first degree murder. Brown bought the gun about a week before from J.M. Smith of Utica. However, when Mr. Brown’s wife took the stand, she had stated her husband was acting very weird that morning and talking to himself. It was also stated by Mr Defense Attorney Conklin that Mr. Brown’s Father died in the Utica State Hospital and he also suffered from sunstroke years ago and has acted strangely ever since.
In April of 1902 the trial commenced with Brown’s plea of second degree murder, which the District Attorney accepted.
Brown was sentenced to life in prison and sent to Auburn. Ten years after the trial, Joseph Brown died of senile dementia.
George Young was 58 years old when he was murdered. He left his wife, Mary and 3 sons. Mr. Young was also a Civil War veteran, joining Co. H 117th New York Infantry in Boonville in 1864 and was discharged in 1865. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery. He owed Joseph Brown $16 when he was murdered.

12/25/2025

12/14/2025

Wishing a Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate.

12/11/2025

William Patterson's life was tragically cut short on September 13, 1930, when he succumbed to injuries sustained in a bus repair accident. Born in Moose River to William and Susan Burt McCabe Patterson, he married Edith Cave from Ohio in 1895, and the couple relocated to Herkimer in 1904.
Mr. Patterson worked at Standard Furniture until 1914, when he established the first bus service in Herkimer County, operating between Herkimer and Cold Brook with stops in Middleville and Newport. In 1921, his nephew Merrill George took over the business.
Although the Pattersons did not have children, their home at 317 E. German St. in Herkimer served as a boarding house.
At 62, Mr. Patterson's life was cut short when a bus fell on him, crushing him after the supporting jack broke.

12/09/2025

While our regular crew has gone home until spring, the winter crew has come on to keep watch over all of your loved ones.

11/28/2025

It’s that time of year again. The signs are up, and the cemetery is now closed to the public for the winter. Anyone entering the cemetery is now doing so at their own risk, and will be held solely responsible for any injuries or property damage.

We would like to thank all visitors and patrons for their continued support which attributed to another successful year. It is an honor to be able to provide such an important service to members of our community and we look forward to continuing to do so for many years to come.

11/28/2025

Seldon Horatio Huyck, a 72-year-old resident of Dorf Street in Herkimer, passed away on July 4, 1929. Born on November 5, 1856, in Mohawk, he was the son of Amos and Margaret King Huyck. Mr. Huyck married Catherine Michels on December 2, 1879, and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary shortly before his passing. On March 11, 1893, while working at the paper mill, Mr. Huyck suffered a workplace accident involving machinery, which resulted in the loss of a finger. He was also employed on the Erie Canal. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife and a daughter, Mrs. Fred (Lula) Small. The graves of Mr. Huyck and his wife remain unmarked. Interestingly, his obituary, published in the Evening Telegram on July 5, 1929, mentioned that he was the former 'turkey' of the Herkimer County Jail during the administration of Sheriff Eaton. The question remains: was the term 'turkey' used correctly in this context, or was it a typographical error?