The cemetery was founded in 1807, but received a major redesign in the 1880s to bring it into the then-popular rural cemetery style, with winding lanes and landscaping.

The 100-acre (40 ha) is notable for its large number of specimen plants, which is second in the state to the Arnold Arboretum in Boston.

[2] The cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

[1] It is the burial place of Medal of Honor recipient John Phillip Riley (1877–1950).

Reverend Jacob Stroyer (1848–1908) is buried there too.