Bunker Hill Universalist Church / Bunker Hill Cemetery

The Bunker Hill Society was organized about 1845 and fellowshipped in 1854. A frame meeting house, capable of seating 300, was dedicated in 1855. Thirty people united with the church during the 1859 Annual Meeting. The membership suffered greatly during the Civil War, many enlisting in the Union Army. Some members, Like John G. Agnew, were Peace Democrats (Copperheads). Agnew withdrew from the church on July 5, 1863 saying, “I feel the course I am and have been pursuing does not comport with the Christian character. Nor do I think that I can be better while this war lasts. I do not wish to be a reproach upon the church.” The church was re-fellowshipped in 1900. The last sermon was delivered October 23, 1910. Fire destroyed the building May 8, 1924.

[Side B]: This site was part of purchases made at the Cincinnati Land Office by James Deneen in 1804 and Obadiah Welliver in 1811. Welliver found a Native American burial ground near this marker. In 1855, the Universalist Church obtained a building lot and cemetery grounds with the Welliver burial ground. The vacant land around the Deneen Cemetery was purchased for additional burial plots. The last burial was in 1918. There are numerous unmarked graves. Veterans of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War and Civil War rest here. Four sons from the Bressler family fought in the Civil War. John M., who died for the Union cause, and Jonathan, a Confederate (Alabama) artillery officer are buried here. The site became a county historical park in 1964.