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Otterbein Cemetery is located just west of OH-3 on Walnut Street in Westerville, Ohio (Blendon Township, Franklin County). The coordinates are 40° 7' 17.31" N, 82° 56' 5.58" W.

Otterbein Cemetery is a fairly large cemetery that is still active and used for burials. The oldest section is located on the west side. Most of the gravestones are in excellent shape, and it appears that the broken ones are being restored. It is in excellent shape.

The most famous person buried at Otterbein Cemetery is Benjamin Hanby. His grave is easy to find since there is an Ohio Historical Marker in front of it. Hanby was an 1858 graduate of Otterbein college, and he was also the minister at the United Brethern Church in Westerville. But most know him for his accomplishments as a songwriter. Some of his songs include "Darling Nellie Gray", "Who is He in Yonder Stall?", and probably the most well known, "Up on the Housetop" - a popular Christmas tune. Hanby and his family in Rushville, Ohio (Fairfield County) were also known abolitionists during the Civil War.

Otterbein Cemetery is also rumored to be haunted. I haven't heard who haunts the cemetery, but many people have reported seeing shadowy human figures that suddenly vanish while walking through the cemetery. Most of the activity seems to occur near the big mausoleum.

A big thank you to Bryce Waters for telling me about this cemetery, and for visiting it with me!

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