Early settlers called the Highland Road area,
"HILL OF THE FOUNTAIN",
because of the many water springs here.
PLAQUES IN CEMETERY
I never seen so many historical plaques in one cemetery in my life which only testifies to the historical significance of this once forgotten place, what else can I say, I don't have the vernacular to speak of this place, I have no adjectives. It is the pioneers, settlers, and path-blazers themselves that give honor to Highland Cemetery through their character, belief in themselves and faith in the God of the Bible, and their desire to make a better live for themselves.
It is located just outside the South gates of Louisiana State University on Oxford Street.
National Society of Colonial Dames
Plaque reads:
HIGHLAND CEMETERY
Oldest surviving cemetery in Baton Rouge. Dedicated by George Garig as a burial ground in 1813 and deeded to St. Joseph Roman Catholic Parish in 1819. This cemetery holds the remains of American Revolutionary War soldiers Armand Duplantier and Pierre Joseph de Favrot and their descendants as well as many veterans of the War of 1812.
.
Plaque reads:
GEORGE GARIG
This was in 1794 - 1825 the 800 arpent* plantation of George Garig a German settler from Maryland, "a resident of well known honesty and one of the most skillful builders of cotton gins and presses in this territory."
Because families had been burying on this high spot for years, in 1819 he donated the one arpent graveyard under lease to the Catholic congregation. He was buried here himself in 1825. Cemetery was enlarged by later plantation owners, last burial 1939. Restored 1976
*One arpent (french measurement) equals 191.8 ft.
Note: Planter George Garig and Zachary Taylor (then future 12th Pres. of USA) were friends who exchanged paintings of themselves.
Taylor moved into Spanish Commandant's quarters* near old Fort San Carlos' in Baton Rouge with his family (wife and child[ren] during his millitary career; he himself was a planter with a plantation in Mississippi. A painting of Zachary Tayor
Plaque reads:
March of Galvez
Not far from here is the route taken from Manchac to Baton Rouge by the Spanish forces of Bernardo De Galvez in Sept. 1779 in their historic ouster of the British from this territory and the beginning of 30 yrs. of Spanish domination, 1779 – 1809. Buried here is at least one participant and many descendants.
Synopsis:
"Because" (of, names given and their characters) ...may the name of Grand Pre' be remembered for the sterling qualities and nobility of character personified by these two men of history."
[Note: Father De Grand Pre' was the civil and military governor of Spanish West Florida, his son, a 16 year old officer, was in command that day at the fort in 1810 when the forces with General Philemon Thomas rushed and capture the Spanish fort San Carlos in Baton Rouge near the Pentagon Barracks.]
(alternative, DuPlantier)
1781 Aid-de-camp to General Lafayette* in Continental Army.
The above is disputed, and it is claimed that a man by the name of Lieutenant Colonel Jean-Joseph Sourbader de Gimat was the aid-de-camp to the Marquis de Lafayette.
*General Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette
1825 [or about] Agent of the United States Congress in land selection for land in Louisiana granted to Lafayette by said congress.
Her writing is in regard to the loss of her brother and finance in death.
Plaque reads:
What pains we take in the acquisition of learning, of events, which shall be buried in a grave, that a little earth shall rob from a world which shall not retain even it's memory! At the last hour virtues which we have practiced shall not survive us, all follows us in the eternal night, all goes like us into oblivion. What discouragement in the idea of the nothingness of all that we have been.
How great our gratitude to the Supreme Being who has deigned to create in us an immortal soul which escapes the destruction of our whole being! Oh my God! I thank you having given me a soul which shall outlive me, for a soul capable of lifting itself up to you, which feels the benefits of Your favor, and trusts in Your power for everything: virtue is not an empty name when it is from You that its reward shall come.
WRITTEN BY JOSEPHINE FAVROT (1785 - 1836), whose Fiance was killed in the capture of the Baton Rouge fort in 1810 and whose brother was killed in a dual with sabres in 1822. [End]
[The grief stricken Josephine never married. Source]
MONUMENTS-GRAVES-PLOTS-GENERAL PHOTOS
DUPLANTIER FAMILY PLOT AND MARKER
Historic Highland Cemetery
(A rootsweb.com page) The format is not very good, but there is some interesting real old stuff on the site.
Blog Post: Back Yard Cemetery 7/01/07
Keeper of the grounds 1/19/07
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