Clara Barton's Grave

Clarissa “Clara” Barton was born on December 25, 1821 in North Oxford, Massachusetts.  She worked in the US Patent Office in Washington D.C when the Civil War began, she helped to collect bandages and other supplies for the war effort.  Her efforts she realized were better suited on the front lines of the fields where she tended to the wounded, cooking for them, bandaging them up, and caring for them. 

After the war, she traveled to Europe, where it was she was made aware of the Switzerland based Red Cross, which called for international agreements to protect the sick and wounded during wartime.  When she returned home to the US, she was convinced that the United States should also be participating in the global efforts of the Red Cross.  Clara founded the American Red Cross in 1881 and served as the president of the organization until 1904.

She passed away on April 12, 1912. Her grave can be found in a family plot in the North Oxford Cemetery. In addition to her gravestone, there’s a monument dedicated to her in the shape of The Red Cross, which was constructed by Olaus Berggren, a local mason. 

The family plot is located in the  right corner of the main entrance of The North Oxford Cemetery.