Currently, the Old Washington Cemetery in Washington Court House has 106 burials listed on "Find A Grave." Forty-eight of them do not have tombstone photographs posted.
Sadly, most gravestones at this pioneer cemetery are unreadable or fast becoming so.
Over the years, I'm sure there have been several visitors who have walked the old burial grounds of the Old Washington Cemetery in downtown Washington Court House, and more will come.
Many have taken tombstone photographs and did their best to hand transcribed the disappearing inscriptions that were skillfully etched by local stone carvers who lived so long ago.
Gail Allen visited the Old Washington Cemetery on November 2, 2012 and took photos of some of the upright markers.
Thank you for sharing your pictures with us Gail.
Below is a picture of an upright stone marker that Gail took during her visit. The inscriptions on the stone, for the most part, are unreadable.
Fortunately, in August of 2008, Gene Wilt also visited the Old Washington Cemetery and found the same stone. He was able to discern that this old crumbling grave marker was erected for William Stockdale.
Afterward, Gene posted a "Find A Grave" memorial for William Stockdale with gravestone photographs.
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Below is a reference to a "William Stockdale" that I located online via "HeritagePursuit":
SOURCE: HeritagePursuit.com:
HISTORY
OF
FAYETTE COUNTY,
TOGETHER WITH
HISTORIC NOTES ON THE NORTHWEST,
AND
THE STATE OF OHIO.
GLEANED FROM EARLY AUTHORS, OLD MAPS AND MANUSCRIPTS,
PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE, AND ALL OTHER AUTHENTIC SOURCES.
PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE, AND ALL OTHER AUTHENTIC SOURCES.
By R. S. DILLS.
ILLUSTRATED.
1881.
ODELL & MAYER, PUBLISHERS,
DAYTON, OHIO.
"UNION TOWNSHIP - 543"
"... N. F.
Jones, as secretary, notified the board of directors of the county agricultural society, to meet at
the court house on the 15th of November, 1854. L. P. Reid was the landlord of the " National
House," and Joshua Holmes was caterer in " Washington Hall," previously known as "
Stockdale's Hotel," in which latter building Jesse Millikan preceded William Stockdale as
hostelry keeper. The Herald, under Mr. Lindsey's management, disseminated Whig doctrine."
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Now, we'll turn our attention to another gravestone at the Old Washington Cemetery that is shown below.
Thanks to Gail for sharing with us her photograph of this deteriorated gravestone that is, at least, still standing.
As of this writing, I have not been able to discover for whom this early upright marker was erected. The stone's layered front side is now severely flaked away.
The worn smooth surface remains and causes us to stare and wonder if the identity of this person will forever be a mystery to us.
