Highland's Cemetery is located at the LSU south exit. The plaque acknowledges Jacob Mueller as an early settler of that region.
Emeric Adam & Catherine Kleinpeter are Catherine Adam parents. She is the 2nd wife of Jacob Miller, Jr.
Paul Sharp married Catherine Ory, daughter of Nicolas Ory and Anna Strassbach. A Nicolas Ory and wife Christine was on the La Bretana, the ship that ship wrecked off the Texas coast with Jacob Miller & family.
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Purchase books at lulu.com
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Highland Cemetery has stories to tell (published in Magazine, Baton Rouge, October 25, 1992)
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No sightings of ghosts have been reported at Historic Highland Cemetery in College Town, but should any appear they would probably speak French, Spanish or even German and tell stories of early Louisiana history that would excite the most jaded of television viewers.
For instance take Anthony Peniston. “stabbed by a porgnard [a lightweight dagger] and survived the blow but ten minutes“ in a dispute over an election. He was on 30 years old.
Or consider the romantic tale of Josephine Favrot whose sweetheart, Louis de Grand Pre was shot defending the Fort of Baton Rouge in 1810. Josephine rushed to his side in time for him to die in her arms. The poem she wrote following his death is immortalized on a plaque on the wall of the Favrot family plot.
The oldest existing cemetery in Baton Rouge located on Oxford Avenue between Amherst and East Parker, is the final resting place for many of the city’s forefathers. A walk around the small burial ground is like taking a brief course in the history of Baton Rouge, thanks to the many informative markers place by the Friends of Historic Highland Cemetery.
Established around 1815 on what was once a part of the plantation owned by George Garig. Highland Cemetery was legally donated to the congregation of the local Roman Catholic Church of Baton Rouge in 1819.
Following Garig’s death in 1825 his plantation was divided into two sections, half being purchased by Robert Penny. Although the cemetery was consecrated by the Roman Catholic Church, in 1849 Penny, a Protestant, was conveyed a 16-acre piece of the Garig Plantation, which included the cemetery. In the agreement, he requested a 30-square foot plot for himself and his family. This corner of the cemetery is known as the Protestant section.
The cemetery is maintained by the Friends of Historic Highland Cemetery, an auxiliary board of The Foundation for Historical Louisiana.
“Before the last burial, which took place in 1939, the cemetery fell into disrepair,” said Larry Firmin, president of the trustees of Historic Highland Cemetery. “Under the inspiration and leadership of Dr. and Mrs. James A. Thom, and the dedication of many volunteers, beginning in 1968/69 the cemetery was reclaimed and gradually restored to its present state.”
Firman said one of the biggest problems is maintaining the cemetery is cleaning up after vandals.
Many of the names etched on the faded headstones are names seen today on streets and businesses around Baton Rouge and southern Louisiana.
Here lie the remains of Jean Baptiste Kleinpeter, a veteran of the War of 1812 who fought with Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans, and lather became a planter and banker.
Gabriel Armand Duplantier, born in France and who served as aide-de-camp to General Lafayette, left military service, married and became owner of Magnolia Mound plantation. The Duplantier family sepulcher [burial vault] fell into ruins and was replaced by an obelisk.
The final resting place of Charles Daniel Comeaux, a veteran of the War of 1812, is noted by a marker near the Favrot plot. Comeaux was killed by a stray bullet while sleeping. He had just returned home from the Battle of Port Hudson and flung his cap on one of the posts of his four-poster bed. A bullet hit the bed post, pierced the cap, then ricocheted, hitting and killing him instantly.
Not only does a walk through the cemetery conjure up scenes from early Louisiana history but it also reminds the visitor how fragile life was in the days before modern medicine and sanitation.
Many tombs are inscribed with messages that echo the sorrow of parents who mourned the loss of their children: “Budded on earth to bloom in heaven.” Or “He lived as lived a peaceful dove. He died as blossoms die.”
During the time of George Garig and Robert Penny, Historic Highland Cemetery was larger than its present size and extended over to what is now Amherst Avenue. When College Town was being developed in 1927, the developer drew an inaccurate map of the cemetery, omitting certain measurements when he filed for a new subdivision. As a result of the inaccuracies many of the tombs were lost or built over during the construction of homes. A wrought-iron gazebo was erected in the cemetery in 1976 dedicated to the memory of the more than 200 people who were buried there, but whose graves have been lost.
Information about walking tours of Historic Highland Cemetery or about becoming a member of Friends of Historic Highland Cemetery can be obtained by calling The Foundation For Historical Louisiana in Baton Rouge at 387-2464.
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Information below provide by B. Parker in 1999
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BURIALS IN HIGHLAND (PENNY) CEMETERY, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Because records were poorly kept by Catholic Church priests, and Protestant burials were not listed at all, the following list has been compiled from probates, funeral notices, family records and recollections, tombstone inscriptions and newspaper notices. There are still many omissions, so an unconfirmed list of possible burials follows the known ones. Researchers: Evelyn M. Thom and Barbara Strickland, September 1976.
Aubin, Aurelius Victorin, s/o Victorin, 1850-1885, no marker
Aubin, Elizabeth, w/o Victorin, 1825-1885, no marker
Aubin, Victorin, s/o Francois, 1825-1880, no marker
Aucoin, Albert Florestin, C.S.A., s/o J. Florentin, 1821-1863, no marker
Aucoin, J. Florentin, s/o Pierre Firmin, 1798-1847
Aucoin, Julia Zeolide Doiron, w/o A.F., 1831- ?, no marker
Babin, Balthazar, s/o Gregoire, 1814-1884, no marker
Babin, Martha Buckner, 1824-1884, w/o Balthazar, no marker
Brackin, “Nettie” Brunetta Stokes, w/o Albert D., 1868-1894, no marker
Buckner, George W., s/o Lewis, h/o Margaret Phillips, 1822-1855, no marker
Buckner, Susannah, d/o Margaret Buckner, ? -1857, no marker
Comeaux, Charles Daniel, 1817-1892, no marker
Comeaux, Charles Daniel, War of 1812, 1787-1850, no marker
Daigre, Alfred Huguet, s/o Denis Daigre, Junior, 1880-1891, no marker
Daigre, Benjamin M., husb/o Pauline Daigre, 1836-1914, no marker
Daigre, Carmelite Daigre, d/o Paul, w/o Oliver Francois, 1796-1855, no marker
Daigre, Denis Oliver, s/o Oliver Francis, 1820-1875, no marker
Daigre, Denis Oliver, Jr., 1853-1917, no marker
Daigre, Genevieve Buckner, w/o Denis O., Sr., 1821- ?, no marker
Daigre, Gordon, s/o Benjamin M., ? -1912, no marker
Daigre, Josie Huguet, d/o John S. Huguet, 1860-1884, no marker
Daigre, Mary Martha, d/o Denis & Genevieve, 1855-1858, no marker
Daigre, Olivier Francois, s/o Francois, 1793-1843, no marker
Daigre, Pauline Daigre, w/o Benjamin M., ?-1886, no marker
Daigre, Victor Templet, s/o Denis O. Sr., 1857- ?, no marker
Davis, Elizabeth Sharp, w/o Ersin Slaughter & Wm. Davis, ?-1825, no marker
Doiron, Henrietta Malvina, d/o J. V., 1847-1887, no marker
Doiron, John Villeneuve, s/o John Remi, 1821-1879, no marker
Duke, William Ensley, infant of Wiley, 7 mo., 1921-1921, no marker
Duplantier, Armand Allard, Continental Army, War of 1812, 1753-1827, marker
Duplantier, Augustin, son/o Armand, 1806-1860, no marker
Duplantier, Constance Rochon, w/o John Joyce & Armand Duplantier, 1766-1841, marker
Duplantier, Didier, s/o Armand, 1809-1834, marker
Duplantier, Fergus, War of 1812, s/o Armand, 1783-1844, marker
Duplantier, Guy, War of 1812, s/o Armand, 1790-1835, no marker
Duplantier, Joseph, s/o Alberic, 1844-1884, no marker
Duplantier, Josephine Joyce, w/o Fergus, 1791-1859, marker
Duplantier, Matilda Brown, 2nd w/o Alberic, 1844- ?, no marker
Duplantier, Nicholas Alberic, s/o Armand, 1806-1891, no marker
Edmonston, Lillie E. Aucoin, w/o J. Walter, 1861-1893, no marker
Edmonston, Mary Zilda Aucoin, w/o Wm. Louis, ? – 1919, no marker
Edmonston, Sam, s/o Wm. Louis & Zilda, 1872-1883, no marker
Edmonston, William Louis, Jr., husb/o Zilda, ? – 1912, no marker
Favrot, Pierre Joseph, Galvez Expedition of 1779, LA Legislature, 1749 - 1824, marker
Foreman, John C., hsb/o Nancy Garig, 1806 - 1870, marker
Foreman, John M., infant s/o Oscar H., 1862 - 1870, marker
Foreman, John M., s/o John C. & Nancy, C.S.A., 1838 - 1905, no marker
Foreman, Linda F., d/o Oscar H., 1863 - 1866, marker
Foreman, Nancy Garig, d/o George Garig, w/o John C., 1812 - ?, no marker
Foreman, Oscar Heady, Jr., 1868 - 1872, marker
Foreman, Oscar Heady, Sr., 1833 - 1905, no marker
Foreman, Therese Addie Rowley, w/o Oscar H., 1840 - 1913, no marker
Fortin, Adele Duplantier, w/o Joseph J.G. George Fortin, no dates, no marker
Garig, George, s/o Adam, h/o Mary Barbara Thomas, ? - 1825, no marker
Garig, Guilliame, s/o George, 1815 - ?, no marker
Garig, Henrique, s/o George, 1798 - ?, no marker
Garig, Juan, s/o George, 1795 - ?, no marker
Garig, Maria, d/o George, 1801 - ?, no marker
Germany, Aurelia Ann Foreman, w/o Henry James, 1833 - 1898, marker
Hodges, Aurelius B., s/o I.B.A. Hodges, 1832 - 1854, marker
Huguet, John Stephen, M.D., s/o Juan, C.S.A., 1825 - 1891, no marker
Huguet, Mary Elvira Kleinpeter, w/o John S., 1832 - 1899, no marker
Huguet, William Pike, s/o John S., 1852 - 1853, no marker
Joyce, William, s/o John, c 1790 - 1846, marker fragment
Kleinpeter, Andrew, s/o Joseph, 1801 - 1853, marker
Kleinpeter, Benjamin Franklin, s/o John Bapt. & Rose, 1845 - 1858, memorial marker
Kleinpeter, John Baptiste, s/o George, 1797 - 1861, no marker
Kleinpeter, John J., infant s/o Andrew, 1847 -1847, marker
Kleinpeter, John L., s/o Joseph, c 1797 - 1837, no marker
Kleinpeter, Mary Rose Bouillion, w/o John Baptist, 1805 - 1878, no marker
Kleinpeter, Oscar Andrew, s/o Andrew, 1844 - 1858, marker
Kleinpeter, Zachary Pinckney, s/o Andrew, 1849 - 1857, no marker
Lener, Mary, 1887 - 1888, no marker
Lopez, Anna Euphemie, d/o Joseph Onieda, 1879 - 1884, no marker
Lopez, Henri, s/o Joseph Onieda, 1875 - 1876, no marker
Lopez, Joseph Onieda, s/o Joseph Adonis, 1845 - 1896, no marker
Lundquest, William, no dates, no marker
Lundquest, John, no dates, no marker
Maurison, Mary V., 1871 - 1885, no marker
McGehee, Ann Scott, d/o Abraham & Mary C., 1831 - 1836, marker
McGehee, Mary C., 1809 - 1836, marker
Neilson, Capt. John James, s/o James, U.S.A., ? -1813 at Baton Rouge Fort, no marker (1st husband of Pauline Gras)
Neilson, James, h/o Elizabeth, f/o Capt. John, ? - 1831, no marker
Parker, Nan Pecue, d/o John Pecue, w/o Mack Parker, no dates, no marker
Pecue, (Picou, Picaud), John Baptiste Jr., h/o Odile & Victoria Aucoin, 1829 - 1905, no marker
Pecue, Odile Elizabeth Aucoin, w/o John, 1835 - 1865, no marker
Peniston, Anthony, hsb/o Euphemie Duplantier, c 1800 - 1826, marker
Peniston, Euphemie Duplantier, w/o Anthony, 1804 - 1826, marker
Penny, Matilda G., w/o Burns & Robert Penny, ? - 1846, no marker
Penny, Robert H., s/o James, ? - 1849, no marker
Phillips, Isabella Foreman, w/o Albert, no dates, no marker
Phillips, Plaisant, Jr., 1838 - 1859, no marker
Phillips, Plaisant, Sr., husb/o Elizabeth Babin, ? - 1845, no marker
Phillips, Theodore, s/o Plaisant Sr., 1845 - 1861, no marker
Piker, Fluvia, d/o John F., c 1864 - ?, no marker
Piker, John F., s/o Frederick, 1817 - 1869, partial marker
Piker, Mary C. Foreman, w/o John F., 1830 - 1903, memorial marker
Pilant, George Zitzman, s/o Wm. Jr., 1912 - ca 1920, no marker
Pilant, Sarah Clair, d/o Wm. Jr., 1909 - ca 1920, no marker
Pilant, Marie Julia LeBlanc, w/o Wm. Sr., 1837 - 1920, no marker
Pilant, William Sr., ? - 1899, no marker
Randolph, Catherine Kleinpeter, w/o John, 1786 - 1847, marker
Randolph, Ellen M. Smith, w/o George, 1834 - 1856, marker
Randolph, John, s/o John, 1818 - 1856, marker
Randolph, John, War of 1812, 1777 - 1837, marker
Riviere, Anne Marie Renee Aime Douezan, w/o Jean Baptiste Riviere, 1766 - 1849, marker
Roberts, Constance Kleinpeter, w/o Gilbert Comeaux & Stephen Roberts, d/o George Kleinpeter, ? - 1851,
.....no marker, Kleinpeter, George, ? - 1851, no marker
Smith, Jacob, 1814 - 1857, no marker
Smith, Mary Barbara Thomas, w/o Jacob, 1813 - 1872, no marker
Staring, Kathryn J. Hillman, 1st w/o George H. Staring, 1870 - 1898, memorial marker
Stokes, James, s/o William & Nettie, 1872 - 1903, marker
Stokes, Sidney, s/o William & Nettie, 1878 - 1896, marker
Stokes, William, s/o Alexander & Virginia, 1873 - 1912, C.S.A., marker
Stokes, Willie F., s/o William & Nettie, 1870 - 1896, marker
Thomas, Antoinette Caroline, d/o Jefferson P., ? - 1857, marker
Thomas, Buffington J., s/o Jefferson P., no date, marker
Thomas, Elizabeth, widow/o Benj. Parker Thomas, d/o Gen. Philemon Thomas, mother/o Jefferson P., ? - 1841,
.....no marker
Thomas, Florence, d/o Jefferson P., ? - 1857, marker
Thomas, William E., s/o Jefferson P., no dates, marker
Trousdale, Kleinpeter, Randolph, Mary Catherine, w/o Andrew Kleinpeter, 1822 - abt. 1874
Unconfirmed And Possible Burials
Aucoin, Elizabeth Verdon, w/o J. Florentin, no dates
Bills, John A., husb/o Mary Garig, ? - 1841
Bills, Mary Garig, w/o John A., c. 1812 - 1860
Comeaux, Florestine Sylvannie Tullier, w/o Chas. D. Jr., 1825 - ?
Comeaux, Mary Carmelite Hebert, w/o Chas. D. Sr.
Daigre, Francis Paul, s/o Denis O. Daigre, Sr., 1850 - 1892
Daigre, Jean Baptiste Bouvier, s/o Olivier, c 1810 - 1840
Daigre, Mrs. Mary C., w/o Gilbert, ? - 1879
Davis, William, War of 1812, h/o Elizabeth Sharp, ? - c.1825
Doiron, Alzie Daigle, w/o Francis G., ? - c.1910
Duplantier, Marguerite Mary Lopez, w/o Augustin, 1815 - ?
Edmonston, J. Walter, C.S.A., husb/o Lillie E. Aucoin
Fulton, Helene de Grand Pre, d/o Gov. Carlos de Grand Pre, 1782 - 1855
Fulton, Col. Samuel, husb/o Helene, ? - c.1827
Garig, Elizabeth, d/o George & Mary B., c.1809 - ?
Garig, George, s/o George & Mary B., 1807 - 1868, C.S.A.
McDonald, Mary Barbara Thomas, w/o Joshua McDonald & Geo. Garig, 1777 - 1852
Neilson, Elizabeth, widow of James Neilson who d. 1831
Neilson, William, s/o James & Elizabeth, ? - c.1833, bachelor
Parker, Mack, husb/o Nan Pecue
Pecue, Victoria Coralie Aucoin, w/o John Pecue, 1842 - 1921
Penny, Marian A., d/o Robert & Matilda, c. 1840 - 1846
Penny, Ann W., d/o Robert & Matilda, 1835 - 1850
Penny, Lucy Ann, d/o Robert & Matilda, c 1839 - c 1846
Phillips, Elizabeth Babin, w/o Plaisant, Sr.
Randolph, George, husb/o Ellen M. Smith, (m. 5-13-1852)
Randolph, John, 17?? - 1822, father of John (1777 - 1837 )
Sharp, Joseph, husb/o Pauline Gras, Widow Neilson, ? - 1820
Sheppers, Pauline Gras, widow of Neilson & Joseph Sharp, w/o Louis Sheppers who survived her and m.
.....Her sister, Olympia, 1796 - 1822
Thomas, Benjamin Parker, husb/o Elizabeth Thomas, son-in-law of General Philemon Thomas, 1782 - 1835
Thomas, Caroline E. Trager, w/o Jefferson Plummer Thomas, d/o John Trager & Julia Kleinpeter, c 1827 - c.1871
Thomas, Jefferson Plummer, grandson of General Philemon Thomas, s/o Benjamin Parker Thomas,
.....father of 4 children buried in Highland