The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-29
PASSION FOR ToMBsToNEs.
Hobby of a Queer Character Who Has a
Lot Filled with Grave Stones of Strange
Designs.
(From the Chicago Chronicle. }

Designs.
(From the Chicago Chronicle.)
Henry G. Woodbridge. an old resident
of Mayfeld, is one of the most interesting
characters in Kentucky. He has pas
sion for tombstones. "Unole Henry" as
he is Familiarity known to everyone, was
born in Middle Tennessee, November 30,
1922, and was the youngest of family of
eight children. His father, died when he
WAS hut two years old, and his mother
died fifteensyears later. His four broth
ers and three sisters are all dead now,
leaving him the sole survivor Of that
large family, and the "last of his race"
When he was twenty-one years old he
moved to Kentucky and has residedssin
Mayfield ever since. T About five years ago
he purchased lot in the Mayfleld ceme-
terry and had marble shaft erected to
mark .his grave when he should be buried
there. On this shaft he had the date of
his. birth, Masonic emblem and a horse
chiseled, leaving space for the dateiof
his death to be carved thereafter. He was
not pleased with a single monument ..as
witness to his burial and ordered a mar
BILE statue, of himself from Italy, will be
erected with the shaft.
He was particularly fond of his line
hunting horse Fop, and he next ordered
statue OF himself, mounted on this
horse, and this he placed in the group.
He next gave orders for a marble
sarcophagus to be erected on his lot, and
upon this he had the likeness of his trusty
gun chiseled.
"UncIe Henry" was never married,
never having experienced thrill of love
for the fair sex, hence his affections were
conferred in his dumb animal friends. In
his younger days he was q great hunter,
and many buck has felt the sting of
death from his unerring gun; He was
alsosfond of fox chasing and had fine
pack of. fox..hounds at his home at all
times. Mounted uponshis hunting HORSE
Fop, with his favorite fox hound Bob in
the lead, he has spent many night in
theTchase. His deer hound Ioehead was
an especial favorite of his, and together
with Bob, their statues are placed in
front Of his mounted statue-a deer in
the act of running being placed In front
of Toehead, and fox in front Of Bob.
Thus does he do homage to his friends of
the chase in his earlier days.
He had a dear little girl friend, Minnie.
who attended his bedside while very sick,
and he has caused to be erected statue
of herewith his collection. He next turned
his attention to his family, and the first
to be remem bered Wasihis mother. Her
statue stands to the right of his two, and
that of his father directly in front OF his
mother. Then. his favorite niece, Maude
Reir, was remembered by granite stone
on his lot.
The statues Of his three brothers-John
H., William.F and Alfred N. Woodbridge
were the last work of his sculptors, and
have Just been erected on the left side of
his lot. All these statues and monuments
are erected on lot is by 30 feet, and in
closed by substantial iron fence.
The old man is not yet satisfied with
the silent guards he will have stationed
above him while he sleeps the long, last
sleep. and will enlarge his lot soon to
have the statues of his three sisters and
other brother erected with the familyfand
friends.
is unique ana peculiar, and it is rare
thing that stranger visits Mayfield with
ont Going out to see the wonderful COLLEGE
tion which stands upon Mr.. WOolbrldge's
lot, His lot is situated on the brow OF
small hill to the left of the entrance OF
the cemetery ana can pe seeA Bfefto Auis-
lance from the place
"Uncle Henry wants every person
and every creature he loved represented
in his collection Of statues, and says he
will have them all there if he lives long
enough to carry out his ideas. While he
is sI having e1cellens:health for one SO old
he is constantly prepar,ng 81 Tor the final nal
summons, and has purchased his metallic
casket and burial robe in which to be
laid to rest when his spirit has passed
away.
ipnuch more at his command, being very
W He hassno near relatives
living to whom.hs will bequeath his es-
tate, and it is his greatest desire ,, to have
by him in death. He lives at his own
home and has his .housekeepers to keep
the house in order; He is I'D driven asaa.s out
every day to see his lot IN inc cemetery e.
prooresSod.