photo by Mark Peebles
HISTORY OF VILLENOVA CEMETERY
AUGUST 2000
One hundred eighty-nine years ago the first burial was made in the Villenova Cemetery that is used for the people of South Dayton and vicinity. In the eastern end of the old part there is a slab of native stone on which appears the following inscription" "John, son of Eli Arnold, died Nov. 2 1811, Age 15 years. the first to die in this town and the first to be buried in this grave ground."
Rev. Eli Arnold was one of the first settlers of the Town of Villenova coming to this vicinity in 1810. The cemetery is located on the farm settled by him and his log cabin stood about a stone's throw from the grave of his son John.
Rev. Arnold was the minister here for nearly fifty years, dying in 1857. The Town of Villenova was first settled in 1810 and the cemetery begun the next year and has been made more beautiful each year.

Shortly after the burial of John Arnold there were other deaths in the Town and permission was given to have them buried near the grave of John Arnold. Eventually this became known as the Villenova or Wrights Corners Cemetery.
data from the Chautauqua GenWeb
http://www.rootsweb.com/~nychauta/

Back Lot of Graves

Front Right Section of Cemetery

Veterans Monument, Villenova Cemetery