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, July 25, 2013

Scott Andersen's Summer 2013 Update for the Dean Cemetery, South Salem, Ross County, Ohio

Scott Andersen reports on his continuing cleanup and probing / searching for sunken gravestones at the Dean Cemetery in Ross County, Ohio.  

He has posted all of the interments at the Dean Cemetery on "Find A Grave.

Posted below are some photographs from Scott's most recent trip to the Dean Cemetery this July.  He also shares some of his comments describing his discoveries.:

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 (Above) 

Panoramic view of the Dean Cemetery with sunlight streaming down through the trees on the cemetery's landscape.  

Scott remarked that he has not seen this much sunlight at the Dean Cemetery since he started visting it. 

(Above)

Scott just 'unearthed' this tombstone for Elizabeth McGinnis
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"The latest and greatest is of Elizabeth McGiness's monument.  She died in 1817.  This tiny stone had fallen forward in the dirt, and I have simply stood it back up.  It was covered with weeds and a layer of dirt, and just happend to see a corner of it protruding.  Doesn't appear to have been broken off, but rather just a short, little stone.  Wish they were all this easy!   I've posted the photo on Findagrave."

(Above)
 
 "This will be the toughest part of the search.  

Story goes that about 25 years ago, the township trustees were sent into the cemetery, to clean it up.  

They inadvertantly knocked down many stones, and they piled them all up in this area.  They have for the most part started disappearing into the ground.  

The large broken stone about half way up the photo on the right side is that of Mary Brackney 1806-1827."


 (Above)

 "The larger stone in the row further back in this photo (above) belongs to Mary Polly DePew Dickey 1791-1816, the first wife of my 5th Great Uncle.  

The two large stones up front belong to James and Hannah Dean, who are also relatives."


"I thought this photo (above) was interesting.  
Compare it to the photo from September of 2011 (below), taken in the same spot, from a different angle.

 


Thank you, Scott, for your dedication to cleaning up the Dean Cemetery and finding more gravestones with each visit that have been hidden from sight for so long.  
 
The "before" and "after" photographs  -- from September, 2011 and July, 2013 -- clearly show the progress you have made. 

Thank you for sharing your results with us!