Riverside Cemetery
Why it's listed
Riverside Cemetery is a 3.68-acre burial ground on the north side of County Route 60, about two miles east of Lowman in Chemung County, New York. Graves date from the 1790s onward, with most markers from the nineteenth century, and the oldest stones include that of Margaret Beidelman, who died in 1799. Eleven Revolutionary War soldiers lie here, several of whom were present at the Battle of Newtown during Sullivan's Campaign in 1779. Other burials include settler Jacob Lowman, Seymour Lowman, who served as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, and state senator John B. McDowell. The markers show changing tastes, from slate tablets with rounded tops to sandstone and marble tablets carved with willows or urns, and later granite obelisks and sarcophagus forms. A memorial boulder with a bronze plaque, erected in 1941 by the Sons of the American Revolution, honors the soldiers. Mature conifers, a ca. 1900 gate archway and a later metal fence complete the site, which reflects the area's settlement and growth.
Significance in brief: The cemetery is argued to be significant as an intact settlement-period country cemetery reflecting the history of the Lowman-Chemung area of the Chemung Valley. It illustrates the development of small vernacular cemeteries and the styles of modest and middle-class grave monuments through the nineteenth century. It is one of the earliest surviving cemeteries in the county and holds the graves of early settlers and Revolutionary War veterans.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 12000953, listed November 21, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Cty. Rd. 60, Lowman |
|---|---|
| County | Chemung County |
| Listed | November 21, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000953 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | ca. 1790 - 1941 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still functions as a cemetery; historic iron gates are in storage and a modern metal fence incorporates a ca. 1900 gate archway. |
| Acreage | 3.7 |
| Coordinates | 42.03133, -76.67550 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 12000953.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q22025375
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.