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."

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Spotlighting the Claus Cemetery on Lake Road (U. S. Route 6), Brownhelm Twp., Lorain County, Ohio

Sharing below my photos (taken while standing outside of the fence) at the Claus Cemetery on March 26, 2018:
 
 
  
*********************************
Daniel Brady's blog "Brady's Lorain County Nostalgia" has done a great job of documenting the history of the Klaus (Claus) Family and the story of the little Pioneer Cemetery also known as the Claus Cemetery that is squeezed in on a steep grassy knoll on Lake Road just east of the former Lorain Ford Plant that is located on Baumhart Road. 
**********
~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~
Also,

"Located on West Lake Road, between the Ohio Edison power plant and the former Lorain Ford Production Plant, on the corner of Fairlane Road, this family cemetery is somewhat obscured by a fence surrounding it; although it can be seen from the road. Originally established in Brownhelm Township, the cemetery is the burial site for five people - one adult and four children who died during their infancy.
The only adult who is buried here is Lucy Morgan, who came here to Brownhelm Township from England in early 1855 to visit William Hershing, who was either a member of her family or a close family friend. 
According to the story, that was passed through the family, during her visit she somehow fell on the porch of Hershing's farm house (on what is now the former Ford Plant property) and broke her hip, from which she never recovered. She died on April 9, 1855 at the age of 80. Her tombstone is still standing.
The other four who are buried here are children who died during their infancy. 
The other tombstone that is still standing is that of Anna M. Heideloff. She was the daughter of Cn & CC who was born (gest in German) 31 Juli, 1866. She was 11 mo. 24 d. old. when she died (July 24, 1867). The other partially standing stone is for Armine Klaus (Americanized Claus), daughter of Bernhardt & E., who died from mysterious causes (back then) on May 26, 1866. She was 21 days old.
The other two burial sites, whose tombstones are no longer standing and gone, are for two boys: (1) William Henry Hirsching (Hershing), who was six months old - April 15, 1860 to October 17, 1860. ; and (2) Carl H.A. Braun - sohn ( German - son) Reinhardt & Magdalena - 8 December, 1860 to 12 May, 1862. 1 jare (German - year), 5 mo., 4.d.
This family plot is being cared for by the Brownhelm Township Historical Society. William Hershing sold the property to Adam Claus, who subsequently passed the property rights to his son Bernhardt and then went to his grandson, Henry. It remained in that family from that time on."

The Claus Cemetery on Lake Road (U. S. Route 6) is tiny and not easily noticed by motorists who speed by whether driving east or west on this busy national highway.  However, it is well remembered and visited by those who care about its grounds and the gravesites of those long ago souls who found peace and rest at this unique burial ground. 


Monday, March 26, 2018

Taking a Thought-Provoking Look to Answer the Question of Cemetery Security Across America Today

"Thefts, 
Vandalism of Love Ones' Final Resting Places Hard to Prevent" 
by Marty Roney
of the
"Montgomery, Alabama Advertiser"


The title catches our eye with its large print meant to capture our attention and gain our interest.  Sadly, the subject is one many of us already know about first hand.  
It resonates with us.  It encourages us to spend more time learning how others with the same or similar problems have adopted measures that have helped to resolve them. 

The reports of thefts reflect on the real 'sense of violation' that overwhelms those who visit the  gravesites of their loved ones and friends only to see their flowers thrown out early or momentos broken or missing.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Extending congratulations to the cemeteries that have reduced the occurrences of thefts and vandalism. We need to read more of their stories!
 Let's take the time to read and learn from those who have taken the necessary steps and implemented them.  
More cemeteries and gravesites will remain peaceful resting places if we follow the lead of others who have found ways to reduce thefts and vandalism.  

Monday, March 19, 2018

Summer 2018 Cemetery Preservation Events Planned for Green Lawn Cemetery and Ohio History Connection

"Sat. Aug. 25, 2018. 10 am – 3:00 pm" 
$80, $65/Ohio History Connection member.
Advanced registration required by Sat., Aug. 18.


"Come and learn cemetery preservation practices with archaeologist, Krista Horrocks. 
This one day class will discuss cemetery recordation, preservation practices, and research techniques in the morning and in the afternoon you will join us for a hands-on gravestone cleaning workshop at Green Lawn Cemetery."


*"Lunch is included with registration. 

Registration closes Saturday, August 18th.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Be Sure to check out the Ohio History Connection's "Ohio History Learning Lab" Tab on the OHC website for information for upcoming workshop events."

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus Shares Vintage Videos of Past Ceremonies and 150th Anniversary Celebration

If you are a fan of Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio and its history, please be sure to check out the Videos Section of the cemetery's Facebook Page.  Some of the early videos have recently been digitized and posted.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I attended Green Lawn Cemetery's celebration of their 150th Anniversary - 1848 - 1998 on Saturday, September 26th, 1998.  
I donated a binder of family information for my Duvall and Limes ancestors who were buried at Green Lawn Cemetery that I had compiled for that wonderful event.  I was so pleased to hand deliver it.  

(Map of Green Lawn Cemetery)

Now, 20 years later, I learned that the binder was given to the Columbus Metro Library for their collection.  

Thanks to Loraine M. Wilmers, the contents of my binder have been scanned and placed online at the library.:
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Below are some of my photos I took during the 150th Anniversary celebrations at Green Lawn Cemetery, and the brochures and flyers that were distributed for it.
 
 
 
Above photo:  
 my friend, Rose Roundhouse of Circleville, who
accompanied me to the 150th Anniversary celebrations
at Green Lawn Cemetery)
 
 
 
 
(Above copy of Original Record
of Burials on the Lot for Benjamin Penn Duvall

Friday, March 9, 2018

"Anderson Twp. veterans' headstones disturbed, but it's not what it seems"


Sharing this news story 
by Cameron Knight.


~*~*~*~*~*~

Abstracted from the news article.:
"Pictures surfaced on social media Thursday showing headstones belonging to veterans strewn across the grounds of Hillcrest Cemetery in Anderson.

Todd Mayer, a member of the cemetery 
board, said the photos show that someone 
recently tried to move the headstone, but that
 those stones had never been in place on
 graves.

The Hillcrest Cemetery has had a troubled 
history. Unfortunately, no one knows where
 the soldiers, whose headstones were in the 
photos, are buried."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Spotlighting a New Update from "Past Lives Photography" that also Brought Back a Memory and a Sad Discovery for me.

Beth Wilson Shoemaker and her "A Grave Sight Cemetery Photographs by BAWS" posted a new link on Facebook, on March 3, 2018, connecting to her Past Lives Photography Blog (a link for it is also included in this blog) with an update detailing her visit to the almost lost and forgotten Mastin Family Cemetery in Clay Twp., Scioto County, Ohio.  

Learning of Beth's discovery led to my own recollection of someone who helped me in 1997 with documenting a relatively obscure Ohio cemetery --- the Friends (Quaker) Cemetery in North Lewisburg, Champaign County Ohio.  

I am writing about surveyor, Mr. James L. Murphy, who, himself, had paid an earlier visit to the Mastin Cemetery.  Thankfully, he shared his research results on the USGenWeb site on November 16, 2007.  He provided his listing of the inscriptions on the gravestones he found at the Mastin Cemetery.  His work included surveying the little cemetery for the Ohio Historic Inventory . The cemetery information was added to the official records at the Ohio Historical Society (now the Ohio History Connection).  The OHI number for the Mastin Cemetery is SCI0046813.

So, while searching for information on the Mastin (Mastin Family) Cemetery in Scioto County, I decided to do a "Google" search for James L. Murphy who I had not communicated with for several years following our exchanges regarding the Friends Cemetery.  
Sadly, I learned that he had passed away on October 8th, 2012.  

I dedicate this blog post to James L. Murphy whose assistance helped me complete the first Ohio Historic Inventory Form that I finished in 1997.  Over the years, I completed seven more OHI forms for other early Ohio cemeteries.

Sharing James L. Murphy's "Forgotten" Cemeteries and the Ohio Historic Inventory publication.  

Please take a moment to read it, and if you feel so inclined, contact the Preservation Office of the Ohio History Connection to learn more how these forms can help protect Ohio's almost forgotten cemeteries.  



Thursday, March 1, 2018

Ashland County research aid for Sullivan Township now available from Ashland County Ohio Genealogical Society


"Researched and written by Thomas S. Neel, executive director of the OGS Library in Bellville, the new book celebrates Sullivan Township’s bicentennial (1817-2017) and includes transcriptions of all cemetery tombstones, burial records for Southview Cemetery through 1965,"