Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio

Dedicated to cemetery preservation in the great state of Ohio


"A cemetery may be considered as abandoned when all or practically all of the bodies have been Removed therefrom and no bodies have been buried therein for a great many years, and the cemetery has been so long neglected as entirely to lose its identity as such, and is no longer known, recognized and respected by the public as a cemetery. 1953 OAG 2978."

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Sharing a Recent Story about the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Amelia, Clermont County, Ohio

Sharing a story published online May 9, 2013 at "Cincinnati.com," written by Keith BieryGolick, about the village of Amelia's plans to not only restore the Odd Fellows Cemetery but also to construct a veterans' wall to honor their fallen war heroes.  

Additionally, over 100 employees of Home Depot volunteered their time recently helping to restore many of the broken tombstones.  

The Odd Fellows Cemetery, AKA Amelia IOOF Cemetery, has 712 interments listed for it on "Find A Grave."


Monday, May 27, 2013

Spotlighting the Fairview Cemetery in Mesopotamia, Trumbull County, Ohio



(Linus Tracy served under Captains C. Benedict and D. Hines in the Ohio Militia during the War of 1812.)
 Joseph and Lucinda Easton - close up photograph of inscription
  Longer shot view of the Joseph and Lucinda Easton stone


(Thanking R. Luciano for sharing the above photographs taken May 27, 2013.)

My Memorial Day Visit to All Saints Cemetery in Northfield, Summit County, Ohio

I visited All Saints Cemetery in Northfield, Summit County, Ohio on this Memorial Day, 2013 looking for veterans stones to photograph.  Of course, there are more there than I could easily count, but I chose a few of them to photograph and share today.  They are all in Section 4.

Only one interment was posted on "Find A Grave" of those markers that I photographed, and it was missing the tombstone photograph.  So I was able to add the picture of it to the memorial today. 


Sunday, May 26, 2013

Flags Flying Over Flat Red Granite Markers at the All Souls Cemetery in Chardon, Geauga County, Ohio

Gravesites decorated with American Flags ready for Memorial Day, 2013 
(Photograph Courtesy of R. Luciano) 



Sharing from the "Mansfield News-Journal" - Mansfield, Ohio -- Cemetery Tour Today at the Mansfield Cemetery

I apologize for the late notice as I just learned about the tour today.  

Please click on title to read the newspaper story published on May 24, 2013 to learn more about the tour of the Mansfield (Richland County) Cemetery today as well as news of other nearby cemetery tours coming up soon!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanking "History in Stone"  (click on "History in Stone" to link to their Facebook Page).  

Also, you will find a link (on the right column) on this blog  for "History in Stone" -- the blog -- a fantastic blog to follow!
 
"History lives at Mansfield Cemetery"

"Tour a colorful way to visit the past"

by Todd Hill of the "Mansfield News Journal"

 Excerpted from story:

"The tour, scheduled for 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the cemetery at 389 Altamont Ave., is part of a series of events this year commemorating the bicentennial of the founding of Richland County in 1813."


"Admission to the event is free, no reservations are needed and parking will be outside the cemetery. No restroom facilities will be available."

thill@nncogannett.com
419-521-7283

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

William Limes (1778 - 1863) - Find A Grave Memorial - Buried at Walnut Creek Cemetery, Perry Township, Fayette County, Ohio


Remembering my early  pioneer Limes ancestor, William Limes, who was born in 1778 and died in 1863. He led a colorful and adventuresome life.  In death, he created some controvery about his Will amongst his children.

He was the Limes' family's only known direct ancestor that served in the War of 1812 where the soldiers brought their own rifles with them when they went to serve.   He owned land in Ohio that straddled two counties and land in Kansas, I later learned, that he never settled himself.

I've tried to learn as much as I could about William Limes and his family,and have shared some of it on his Find A Grave memorial.  He and his wife, Athaliah (Doster) Limes were buried at a Quaker Cemetery; Walnut Creek in Perry Township, Fayette County, Ohio.  Today, across the street from Walnut Creek Cemetery is the sprawling Buckeye Hills Golf Course.

We can only imagine the hardships he endured during his lifetime which was considerably more primitive in many aspects than what ours is today.
 The original stone for William Limes that was donated to the Fayette County Historical Society in Washington Court House, Ohio.  A scanned image of a drawing of his protrait sits in front of it. 

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Looking Back to 1908 and Memorial Day Activities in the Greenfield, Ohio Area

"The Greenfield Republican" May 21, 1908 -- This was "back in the day" when families routinely took their young ones to visit their local cemeteries where they taught the children respect for the departed family members and friends.

The "Limes Cemetery" mentioned in the right-hand column is better known today as "Sheep Pen" Cemetery (straddles the county line between Highland (Madison Twp.) and Fayette (Perry Township.) Many members of the Henry Limes family were buried at "Sheep Pen" Cemetery. Henry's older brother, William Limes and some of his descendants, were buried at the nearby Walnut Creek Cemetery in Perry Township, Fayette County (across from Buckeye Hills Golf Course.)

I like how they published the names of those who were 'detailed to decorate the outlying cemeteries" and how the first named person would be the chairman of his committee (we notice it was always a 'he'). But, if there was more of this type of family and group activity today, how much better our outlying cemeteries would look.

Below are "Find A Grave" links to the cemeteries mentioned in this article:

Crispin Cemetery - Highland County (Misspelled as "Crispen" in the story) 




Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Posting Some Memorial Day Activties in Ohio


Some Memorial Day 2013 Commemorations around Ohio:

Memorial Day Masses at Cleveland area Catholic Cemeteries



Lakeview Cemetery - Cleveland, Ohio

"MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONIES"
- An Honor!
Monday, May 27 - 10:30 am
Celebration begins with a parade to the Garfield Monument, Veteran’s program,
keynote speaker and is followed by a spirited band concert. 
At 1:30pm a ceremony will be held at the James A. Garfield
Monument to honor each person interred at The
Lake View Cemetery within the past year. FREE

A tribute long due; 6 veterans' unmarked graves get headstones - morningjournal.com

A tribute long due; 6 veterans' unmarked graves get headstones - morningjournal.com

I apologize as I did not see this story when it was first published.  But, it is so appropriate for Veterans' Day!

Cemetery Complaints Encouraged This Memorial Day

Spotlighting All Saints Cemetery in Northfield, Summit County, Ohio

Sharing photographs taken on May 19, 2013 at All Saints Cemetery in Northfield, Summit County, Ohio.  These are all in the same section, Section 8.  







Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Sharing "Mark Their Graves" -- Petition to Make It Easier to Order Government Headstones

Sharing "Mark Their Graves"

Supporters include:  The Civil War Trust

Abstracted from "Mark Their Graves"

"The Problem: A year ago, the VA, in effect, shut down its program, which has been in existence for more than a century, to mark the graves of veterans whose graves were unmarked. It ended that program by redefining “applicant” for a marker so narrowly that only direct descendants, rather than historians, cemeteries, museums, veterans associations, and concerned researchers, may apply for a marker. This is wrong.

The Solution: Speak out now. Protest! Sign our petition. And spread the word. Call your members of Congress and tell them to support legislation to change this. Help us “Mark Their Graves!”

Monday, May 13, 2013

Sharing the Latest Update from "Clean Up Floral Hills Memory Gardens" in Huntington Township, Ross County, Ohio

"Filed a complaint with the International Cemetery and Funeral Association today..they have Lawyers and Organizations that hopefully can help in a resolution for us ...Hang in there and stay strong, If it was easy it would have already been done. We will get through this and Floral Hills Memory Gardens will once again be a place to be proud of. Stay strong and Stand Up with us !!"

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Friday, May 10, 2013

Reminder from "Clean Up Floral Hills Memory Gardens" -- Clean Up Scheduled for "Clean Up Circleville" will be on May 18th, beginning at 9:00a.m.


"Clean up for Circleville will be on May 18th.
It is still needed and all help will be appreciated. 

Chillicothe location will not have anymore volunteer scheduled events until we are sure of your safety."

"
The Circleville address is 17544 Little Walnut Road, Circleville, Ohio. It will be at 9am."

Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Circleville has 320 interments listed for it on "Find A Grave" with 16 outstanding gravestone photograph requests.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

"Cemeteries and the Family Historian" -- Ohio Historical Society - Saturday, May 11, 2013 -

(Click on the title to link to the enrollment page for this presentation.)


There is still time to register for Cemeteries and the Family Historian


"Cemeteries are thought of as very peaceful places. It is easy to go in, snap a couple of pictures, and leave. Like any other record, tombstones require evaluation; further, they can give clues when taken in context with the neighboring grave markers around them. Come find out how to collect biographical details that go beyond birth and death dates carved into stone."


Date: May 11, 2013
Time: 10 AM – 12 PM
Register online here or call 614-297-2510.

Iowa's Pioneer cemeteries getting some much-needed help


We here in Ohio can learn so much from this story!  It is well worth the time it takes to read it for so many reasons from tombstone restoration to searching for your family's burial records.

Sharing an Update Regarding the Baptist Cemetery in Sugarcreek Township, Stark County, Ohio


I am pleased to share this message regarding the Baptist Cemetery in Sugarcreek, Stark County, Ohio from Mr. Mark A. Phillips, Fiscal Officer:

May 8, 2013

Linda,


"The township trustees discussed the cemetery you are referring to at their meeting on Monday.  The cemetery was at some point in time abandoned, and its care has since become the responsiblity of the township.  The township makes an effort to keep up with the cemetery.  Several fallen trees have been cut and removed from the plots.  The grass is mowed several times per year.  The trustees always make sure the site is mowed and accessible for Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Labor Day.   With the limited resources available to the township and no direct funding source for cemtery maintenance, the trustees believe they are properly caring for the cemetery with the resources available.  Again, the trustees appreciate your concern and thank you for voicing that concern to them."
MP

Mark A. Phillips
Fiscal Officer
Sugarcreek Township
P (330)767-3500
F (330)359-3033
sugcrktwp@hotmail.com


Currently, there are 21 interments listed on "Find A Grave" at the Baptist Cemetery with 3 outstanding tombstone photo requests. 

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Announcing: "Cemetery Workshop 2013 Restoration 101; June 1 workshop at Red Bank Cemetery" -- Genoa Township, Delaware County, Ohio - 9:00a.m. to 3:00p.m.

Click on title to read about an upcoming Cemetery preservation workshop to be held June 1, 2013 at the Red Bank Cemetery in Genoa Township, Delaware County, Ohio. The workshop will be conducted by Misti Spillman.  

"Spill­man said the Beginner’s Ceme­tery Restora­tion Work­shop is lim­ited to 20 par­tic­i­pants, so pre-registration is required.

Reg­is­tra­tion is $15 and poten­tial par­tic­i­pants may pay online by going to  OhioHistory/register and fol­low the work­shop link."

To pay by mail go to the web­site and fol­low the instruc­tions. The reg­is­tra­tion dead­line is May 17."

The newspaper account is from the "Sunbury News" and was written by Lenny C. Lepola, News Assistant Managing editor.
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Currently, the Red Bank Cemetery has 165 interments listed for it on "Find A Grave."

WKEF-TV ABC 22 News :: News - Top Stories - Volunteers Needed to Clean Up Dayton's Oldest Cemetery

WKEF-TV ABC 22 News :: News - Top Stories - Volunteers Needed to Clean Up Dayton's Oldest Cemetery

Friday, May 3, 2013

Floral Hills Cleanup - May 4 and May 5, 2013

(Click on title to view Video)

"A few months ago, David Robertson's mother passed away. 

When Robertson decided to visit her grave in the Floral Hills Memory Gardens, near Chillicothe, a few weeks ago, he was disheartened to find the deteriorated condition of the cemetery. 

After finding a trash pile, leftover vaults strewn around the property, unkept grass and an empty and dilapidated maintenance building, Robertson decided it was time to find out who was responsible for the care and up-keep of the property. For more about the cleanup, check out the Sunday, May 5, 2013 edition of the Pike County News Watchman and at pikecountydaily.com"