Brookfield in Waukesha County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Oak Hill Cemetery
Brookfield
Photographed by Paul F, July 13, 2010
1. Oak Hill Cemetery Marker
Noted grave: Nathan Hatch, Revolutionary War soldier who came west with sons, Hiram and Edmund, in 1840s. Remains possibly moved from earlier family burial ground.
Operated by Brookfield Cemetery Association from 1851; by Oak Hill Cemetery Association from 1905.
Erected 1971 by Waukesha County Historical Society. (Marker Number 02-05.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1851.
Location. 43° 4.978′ N, 88° 8.695′ W. Marker is in Brookfield, Wisconsin, in Waukesha County. It is on Brookfield Road half a mile south of Capitol Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Brookfield WI 53045, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin and in Greater Milwaukee. It is also in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Revolutionary War Veteran (within shouting distance of this marker); City of Brookfield (approx. 2.1 miles away); Pioneer Cemetery (approx. 2½ miles away); Woodside One-Room School Bell (approx. 3.3 miles away); The William Donaldson House (approx. 3.3 miles away); The Dousman Inn
this page online
Additional commentary.
1. Additional History
Land was purchased by Mr. & Mrs. Clark Brookins before a cemetery was established on that land in 1854 by the Oak Hill Cemetery Association. Some burials were done earlier than that. The name of the cemetery was Brookfield Cemetery until 1905 when it was changed to Oak Hill Cemetery. There are between 150 to 200 people buried there. Originally, digging and filling graves cost $1.50. By 1877 it was raised to $2 with a lot of four graves costing $4. Old record books show some names and addresses of what appear to be lot owners, but there is no attempt to identify owners with graves or lots.
Many military veterans are buried at Oak Hill. The most famous person is Nathan Hatch, who was a Revolutionary War soldier. He had come to Brookfield in the 1840s with his sons and died on Nov. 10, 1847 at 90 years old. Veterans representing every war through World War II are buried here. The only exceptions is the Spanish-American War. There are a total of 15
Photographed by Paul F, July 13, 2010
2. Oak Hill Cemetery Marker
A newspaper article from 1957 talks about how the cemetery had fallen into ruins helped along by vandals. Nobody had been maintaining the cemetery for many years, and it was basically forgotten. Since that time, many different groups have worked to bring the cemetery back to a beautiful place once again. Now the Oak Hill Cemetery Association is responsible for its maintenance. The cemetery is located on Brookfield Road just south of Capitol Drive in Brookfield.
— Submitted March 2, 2012, by Linda Hansen of Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Photographed by Paul F, July 13, 2010
3. Nathan Hatch Grave Marker
Photographed by Paul F, July 13, 2010
4. Nathan Hatch Grave Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,036 times since then and 50 times this year. Last updated on June 20, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 13, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
