HISTORY

Hillside Cemetery & Arboretum: A Place of Peace, History, and Honor

For more than two centuries, Hillside Cemetery has been the final resting place for Wilton’s founding families, veterans, and residents. Established in 1818 when the land was deeded to the Wilton Congregational Church, it remains the town’s largest and most historically significant cemetery. From its beginning, Hillside has welcomed families of all faiths—a tradition that continues today.

Spanning 27 serene acres, Hillside offers a peaceful landscape of rolling green hills, mature trees, and thoughtfully maintained grounds. Its natural beauty reflects the dignity and heritage of those buried there, with each season revealing a new expression of pastoral charm.

Originally known as “Joe’s Hill” for its early landowner, Jonathan Middlebrook, the cemetery's oldest section holds burials dating back to the late 18th century. Among the earliest known graves are those of Martha St. John and her son Elijah, who died in 1788 and 1789. The earliest marked headstones belong to Michael and Abiah Middlebrook, who died in 1791 and 1795.

South of this original parcel, a separate cemetery was opened in 1853 by Ebenezer Betts. That land later passed to Virginia Middlebrook Wilkinson, who donated it to the church in 1918. In 1936, the church expanded Hillside with the purchase of an additional four-and-a-half acres. The largest expansion came in 1950, when a generous gift from Charles Dana enabled the purchase of 19 adjacent acres from the Gregory family.

Conveniently located at 165 Ridgefield Road in Wilton, Hillside Cemetery is a link to the town’s storied past. Generations of Wilton’s prominent families—including the Betts, Comstock, DeForest, Gilbert, Godfrey, Gregory, Hurlbut, Keeler, Lockwood, Middlebrook, Olmstead, and Sturges families—are interred here.

Hillside also stands as a place of remembrance and gratitude for those who served. It is the final resting place of Wilton’s Revolutionary War veterans, including Major Samuel Comstock and Captain Daniel Hurlbutt, as well as veterans from the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Each year, the cemetery hosts Wilton’s Memorial Day remembrance ceremony—a solemn tribute to those who gave their lives in service to the nation.

NOTABLE PEOPLE BURIED AT HILLSIDE

Major Samuel Comstock (1739–1824) Revolutionary War Officer

  • Served as Captain in Silliman’s Regiment of the Connecticut Militia (1776).

  • Later served in the 8th and then 5th Connecticut Regiments until 1783.

  • Part of Wilton’s founding Comstock family, which played a significant role in the town's early history.

Dr. Joseph Edward Turner (1822–1889) Medical Innovator & Treatment Pioneer

  • Known for progressive views on alcoholism during the 19th century.

  • Proposed establishing a treatment facility (a hotel) specifically for women alcoholics in Wilton — a visionary concept for the time.

David Hermon Van Hoosear (1844–1921) Wilton Town Historian

  • Chronicled Wilton’s early history and genealogy.

  • A member of one of Wilton’s prominent families.

  • instrumental in preserving Wilton's historical records and narratives.

Edward Sanford Martin (1856–1939) Writer, Editor, Humorist

  • First literary editor of Life magazine.

  • Founder of The Harvard Lampoon, Harvard University's influential humor publication.

  • Noted for his wit and influence on American satire and journalism.

Mary Emma Woolley (1863–1947) Educator, Women's Rights Advocate

  • First woman to attend classes at Brown University; later awarded an honorary doctorate by Brown as one of its first female graduates.

  • Served as the 11th President of Mount Holyoke College (1900–1937), transforming it into a respected liberal arts college.

  • Prominent peace activist and supporter of women's suffrage. Advocated for education as a means to empower women to participate fully in civic life.

  • Delegate to the Conference on the Cause and Cure of War and appointed by President Hoover to the U.S. delegation at the 1932 Geneva Disarmament Conference.

Ruth Campbell Bigelow (1896–1966) Entrepreneur, Tea Industry Pioneer

  • Founder of Bigelow Tea Company.

  • Invented "Constant Comment®" tea in the 1940s, blending black tea with orange rind and sweet spices.

  • Her innovation changed American tea culture and established a legacy that continues with the family-run business today.

Griffith Evans Hubbard (1892–1950) Journalist, Local Historian

  • Founder of The Wilton Bulletin, Wilton’s local newspaper.

  • Committed to documenting and supporting community life in Wilton.

  • Remembered for his civic engagement and historical interest.

Benjamin Kimberly Prins (1902–1980) Illustrator, Commercial Artist

  • Born in Leiden, Holland; moved to the U.S. to study at the New York School of Fine and Applied Arts and the Art Students League.

  • Known for his cover illustrations in Saturday Evening Post, McCall’s, Good Housekeeping, and Reader’s Digest.

  • Lived and worked in Wilton for most of his career, contributing to mid-century American visual culture.

Sperry Andrews (Charles Sperry Andrews III) (1917–2005) Painter, Preservationist

  • Trained at the National Academy of Design and Art Students League.

  • Along with his wife Doris Bass Andrews, preserved and promoted the legacy of Weir Farm in Wilton.

  • Their stewardship helped Weir Farm become a National Historic Site in 1990, celebrating the American Impressionist tradition.

Founding Families of Wilton

  • Hillside Cemetery is also the final resting place for many of Wilton’s founding families, including the Comstocks, Hurlbutts, Middlebrooks, Keelers, and Olmsteads, whose names appear throughout Wilton’s early records and landmarks.