The dog symbolizes loyalty, fidelity, watchfulness and vigilance.
The most famous dog at Woodland is the one found atop the monument of Johnny Morehouse, one of the most well-known and visited monuments at Woodland.
There are more than one hundred thousand of Dayton’s finest citizens buried at Woodland Cemetery, but no tombstone or monument commands as much respect and attention as “The Boy & Dog.”
The monument, with 5 year old Johnny and his large canine friend, has been at Woodland for over 155 years. The stone is still in excellent condition. A number of years ago, a large tree nearby fell during a storm and knocked the head off the dog. It was quite an undertaking but the head was re-attached by then Woodland horticulturist, Jim Sandegren, and the monument was once again, as good as new.
For visitor attraction, perhaps the “Boy & Dog” has caused more tears and aroused more interest than any other at the cemetery. The monument, faithful in detail, shows Johnny’s top and his ball, his mouth harp and his little cap. On the base of the monument is the inscription, “In Slumber Sweet.” The monument stands about five feet high, has the dog, perhaps an Irish setter, watching over his sleeping master and Johnny’s head is gently resting against the body of his pet.
Little Johnny Morehouse lived at the SW corner of East Third and June Streets. The truth concerning the death of Johnny and his pet are not known. Two accounts have been speculated. One account speaks to how Johnny, who was five years old, had fallen into the river and the dog jumped in and saved his little master’s life by pulling him from the river. Walter W. Morehouse, a relative of the little boy, and former Director of the City Water Department, believed that the story was true, at least that he always heard it was true. The second account, whether truth or legend cannot be said, is that the boy was drowning and the dog also perished trying to save him, and that the ball, jacks, toy top and the and the mouth harp that are represented on the stone in granite, supposedly were in the boy’s pockets when he was recovered from the water. Investigators trying to trace the truth of this legend, in spite of their detailed search, have found no evidence to support either account. Friends of the family interviewed during the later 1890s say merely that the monument only symbolizes the deep love between the child and his pet. Johnny Morehouse died on August 14, 1860 at five years of age. He is located in Section 82 Lot 546.
Another story passed down is that the dog, still faithful to his master, would come to the cemetery and lay at the grave site of Johnny. Local artist and sculptor, Daniel La Dow, who is also buried at Woodland was the creator of the beautiful and peaceful monument. Many people who come to visit “The Boy & Dog” bring a gift for both Johnny and his canine friend such as small toys, pennies, candy and even biscuits for the dog.
Woodland Cemetery, founded in 1841, is one of the nation’s oldest rural garden cemeteries and a unique cultural, botanical and educational resource in the heart of Dayton, Ohio. Visit the cemetery and arboretum and take one of the many tours Woodland offers free of charge. Most of Dayton’s aviation heroes, inventors and business barons are buried at Woodland.
Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street near the University of Dayton Campus. The Woodland Office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm. The Cemetery and Arboretum are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The Mausoleum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information, call 937-228-3221 or visit the Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum website.
Frederick Olt was born in Dayton on September 25, 1874. He was the son of John and Philipena (Linxweiler) Olt. After becoming a partner in the butchering business with his father, Fred decided that office work was more to his suiting and obtained employment with the Schantz Brewery as a bookkeeper. Frederick’s sister, Mary, was married to Adam Schantz. In 1904, he advanced to the position of cashier and in 1906, he decided to go into the brewery business with his brothers and started the Olt Brothers Brewing Company. Mr. Olt married Laura H. Greve on April 6, 1902.
someone else has visited the grave to pay respect.
aul Laurence Dunbar receives the most coins. The coins are picked up periodically and are deposited to the Woodland Arboretum Foundation to care for the grounds and gardens of the cemetery.
with distinction in the Revolutionary War. In 1808, John ran a tavern on the east side of Main Street near Monument and First streets. It was a log building, one and one half stories high with a log barn and feed yard located near the back alley. The large living room of the house became the popular place for many of the socializing events of that day. The bell in the belfry rang twice for meals as was the custom at taverns in those days. When the town meeting was called to discuss building a free-bridge across the Mad River, the meeting was held at Col. Grimes tavern on January 27, 1816. At that time, the town’s people were crossing the river by ferry boats. The building of the bridge was a major advancement in early Dayton history. Col. John Grimes died on June 13, 1836 at the age of 81. Col. Grimes was originally buried in the old 5th St. burial grounds and later was re-interred at Woodland Cemetery on June 12, 1855. His final resting place is in Section 77 Lot 135.
This industrious son of Col. John Grimes, Alexander Grimes, served in the War of 1812. Alexander was a Dayton merchant who worked in close association with Steel and Peirce under the name of Grimes & Company. In 1828, Alexander was one of Dayton’s fire wardens and formed the fire-guards to provide protection and security around fire areas. Mr. Grimes was elected to the State Legislature in 1827 and 1830 and was cashier from 1831 to 1843 of Dayton’s first bank. He also served as the Auditor of Montgomery Country. Mr. Grimes was married twice. His second wife was the sister of Charles Russell Greene, Marie Antoinette Greene. Alexander Grimes died January 12, 1860 at the age of 69. He is located in Section 77 Lot 136.
P.F.C. Charles Greene Grimes – Ohio Militia Civil War
John Doren was born in Athens, Tennessee in 1834. Early on he displayed marked journalistic ability, and at nineteen years of age, under Gov. Samuel Medary’s leadership, became managing editor of the Ohio Statesman. In 1857, he was made official reporter of the Ohio House of Representatives, and in 1861 received the appointment as private secretary to Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase, in Washington, D. C., in the cabinet of Abraham Lincoln. He graduated from the Cincinnati Law School in 1865, and that same year he succeeded G. M. D. Bloss as editor of the Cincinnati Inquirer, a position which he retained until shortly before he became a resident in Dayton in 1870. He then became Editor and Owner of the Dayton Daily Democrat, the predecessor of the Daily News.
What do you love most about Dayton?
The beehive was often used by the Freemasons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. It symbolizes human industry, faith, education and domestic virtues.
In 2016, a group of high school students participated in a Work, Earn and Learn program at Woodland. Eight girls worked 16 hours per week for 10 weeks and did the care and upkeep of several gardens, established a new garden in a highly visible area of the cemetery with a focus on design and plant selection, learned the workings of the cemetery from the front office to grounds maintenance, received several tours learning the history of Woodland, its establishment and the people resting peacefully within and also worked on the restoration of several monuments, including the “Beckel Beehive.”
This window depicts the words written in the Negro dialect associated with the antebellum South by Dayton poet and author, Paul Laurence Dunbar, in the poem A Death Song published in 1913. You can also find the poem on the bronze plaque at his grave site in Section 101.
This week is the Grand Opening of Style Encore
Early Christians used the anchor as a disguised cross and as a marker to guide the way to secret meeting places. It is a Christian symbol of hope, it is found as funeral symbolism in the art of the catacombs. It is also an occupational symbol in sea-faring areas or the attribute of St. Nicholas, patron saint of the seaman, it symbolized hope and steadfastness. An anchor with a broken chain stands for the cessation of life. Anchors are also a Masonic symbol and often found on Mason’s graves as they were a symbol for well-grounded hope.
Libby Ballengee, President of the Dayton Ballet Barre and a local music promoter through her own music production company, 
Thomas Staniland was admitted as a partner in Dayton Marble and Granite Works in 1865. The business was established in 1860 by H. Houghtelin. When Thomas became a partner, the company changed its name to Houghtelin & Staniland and continued under the direction of Mr. Houghtelin until his death in 1873. In 1875, Ira Crawford bought half the interest in the company and the name changed to Staniland & Crawford. The business did monumental work in all kinds of marble and granite and handled all sorts of marble, both foreign and domestic. Their granite work was all done at the quarries, except for the lettering. Mr. Staniland designed all the work and always personally supervised all of it. In December 1881, Mr. Crawford retired and Thomas continued the business on his own.
The Mead monument was once the tallest obelisk at Woodland Cemetery. Today, just a few short feet away from the Mead family lot stands the tallest obelisk, that of John Alexander Collins. During a search through the Wright State University Archives, a series of photographs were found of storm damage at Woodland involving the Mead monument. On the back of each photo was written “Storm Damage July 1944.” I did some checking with the local National Weather Service office in Wilmington and found out that there was a heat wave and drought in the summer of 1944. On July 11th the temperature was 100 degrees; on July 12th the temperature dropped to 83 degrees. The local office did not have written records dating back that far other than a few statistics but stated that with a dramatic drop in temperature, it was possible that a storm had blown through.
Maryland Avenue revealed a Wednesday, July 12, 1944 page 1 short article titled, “Lively Shower Brings Relief from Heat.” The first paragraph states, “Residents of Dayton and vicinity Wednesday were given at least a temporary respite from the prevailing high temperatures with the first break coming shortly before 10 am Wednesday when the city was visited by a shower which peppered down right lively for about 10 minutes. It is estimated that about one-hundredth inch of rain fell.”
Most Dayton and Miami Valley residents know that the wind can pick up in an instant in the area and knock a few trees down. Perhaps the answer to what happened was truly blowing in the wind.