Almost any long-term resident of Madison has seen the Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Whether it was seen at a glance while playing on the old Madison Primary School playground, or in passing on your way to North Florida Community College, this cemetery is nearly as old as the community itself.
Oak Ridge Cemetery was founded in 1800. It is located on approximately 11 acres of land towards the center of the county, in the northern part of the city of Madison. Madison Livingston and Daniel G. Livingston donated the land to the city.
Oak Ridge Cemetery is the final resting place of hundreds of people. Buried in Oak Ridge are war heroes, soldiers, politicians, mothers, fathers and children.
World War II hero, Colin P. Kelly, Jr. is buried at Oak Ridge. The 23rd governor of Florida, Cary Augustus Hardee, was laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. Daniel G. Livingston, benefactor of the land at Oak Ridge Cemetery, is also buried there.
There are multiple infants buried at Oak Ridge. Some were less than one day old when they passed away. There are monuments located throughout the cemetery, dedicated to family members and loved ones. John W. Jones, a Woodman of the World, was laid to rest at Oak Ridge. His tombstone resembles a stack of logs.
Willie L. Humphrey, W.P. Wheeler and John W. Jones, two more Woodman of the World, are also buried here. Their tombstones all resemble a tree stump.
William Archer Hammerly, the architect behind the Wardlaw-Smith Mansion, located in downtown Madison, is buried at Oak Ridge.
Paul and Golden Mosier are both buried in Oak Ridge. They were greyhound breeders. Their headstones are accentuated with a greyhound sculpture.
Also buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery are 31 Confederate soldiers who were killed at the Battle of Olustee. This was the largest battle in Florida during the American Civil War. There were 93 Confederate soldiers killed in this battle, a third of which are buried at Oak Ridge.
