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."

Sunday, March 27, 2022

Sharing burial information for The Gist Settlement Cemetery in Highland County, Ohio - a research project of the 2006 class of Washington Court House taught by Social Studies teacher Mr. Paul LaRue.

Thanking now retired Washington Court House High School Social Studies teacher, Mr. Paul LaRue, for so kindly sharing the burial listing and burial map for the Gist Settlement Cemetery in Highland County, Ohio that was compiled by the students who participated in his 2006 Research History Class Project.: 



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Additional References: 

This important study became a multi-year project conducted in collaboration with the Ohio Valley Archaeology, Inc
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Sharing this link to a downloadable PDF document about the "Gist Settlement Cemetery Project" posted online by the Ohio Local History Alliance.
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Also,

The Gist Settlement Cemetery as posted on the website: "Find A Grave".

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Offering a tribute and thank you to Darlene Small Gilligan - Author of the Blog: "Two Quaker Cemeteries - Freeport Township, Harrison County, Ohio"

Although I have not met or corresponded with Darlene Small Gilligan, I have found myself drawn to her posts reflecting her in-depth research work published through her blog that I recently discovered.:

 "Two Quaker Cemeteries". 

Maps and Charts Page

Here is a link to Darlene's Author Page.

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Darlene's publicly contributed family history and genealogical research extends beyond her own blog. She also contributed burial information for the Boone-Sears Cemetery in Freeport Township, Harrison County, Ohio on the usgwarchives website.  Please take a moment to read her introduction titled.: "Actual Burials at the Sears Farm Site" to learn valuable historical details.

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Sadly, Darlene Small Gilligan passed away April 8, 2021.  

On May 5, 2021 the Amsterdam, New York newspaper "The Recorder" published a poignant life story obituary for Darlene.  

Here is a link to Darlene Small Gilligan's obituary.

Darlene Small Gilligan indeed led an active life in so many ways, not the least of which is reflected through her tremendous research work.  

Thank you Darlene for sharing your in-depth results derived from your discoveries in such a lasting way that has helped countless researchers.  

Your "Two Quaker Cemeteries" blog is one to be admired for its factual content, well organized design and presentation, and your personalized messages that appeal to those who visit it and linger awhile like I have.  I'm sure others, like myself, feel they have gotten to know you although they haven't met you.  

Darlene, your warm heartfelt writings so smoothly intertwine with the historical accounts you share with readers - we are so grateful for both!  Thank you!

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Also,

The Boone-Sears Cemetery on Find A Grave

Saturday, March 12, 2022

A link to the Hardin County, Ohio W.P.A.Cemetery Plat Maps has been added to the right sidebar of the blog

The W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps for Hardin County, Ohio have been added to the right sidebar of the blog.  

The images are PDF conversions into photos; facilitating posting and sharing.

The format of the maps follow the familiar arrangements found with those we've seen in other counties in Ohio.
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Below is the Grant Cemetery in Pleasant Township. This cemetery has also been known as the Pleasant Township Cemetery. A non-W.P.A. map and drawing were named as such.  All three images are seen below.:  



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Of particular note is the burial listed for Alethea M. Clark. She was laid to rest at the age of 35 in Lot 1, Grave 6.  

The war service designation is Number 31 which corresponds with World War I, known at that time as the "Great War".  It was the latest war that occurred during the years of the Works Progress Administration when these plat maps were drawn.

The Find A Grave memorial for Aletha May Clark.
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The military records from "Ancestry" for Aletha (Alethea) May Clark.:

Name: Alethea M. Clark
Birth Date: 11 May 1885
Birth Place: Roundhead Ohio
Enlistment Date: 10 Feb 1918
Discharge Date: 26 Jan 1921
Death Date: 1921
Burial Place: McDonald Twp.: Hardin, Ohio, USA
Cemetery: McArthur
Rank: Nurse
Branch of Service: Army
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These cemetery plat maps serve as companion records for the individual veterans graves registration cards that are commonly found at county recorder's offices. Both records are helpful resources for researchers who seek to learn the locations of veteran burials in Ohio.

Thursday, March 3, 2022

Sharing exciting news from the "Friends of the Old Burying Ground" ("OBG") in Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio

 A dedicated group of hearty volunteers of The Greenfield Historical Society in Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio have been actively involved cleaning, repairing, and resetting grave markers to ultimately preserve the village's pioneer cemetery for decades to come - The Old Burying Ground, locally and lovingly, referred to as "The OBG". 

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Greenfield's other cemeteries include the newer Greenfield Cemetery and the Saint Joseph's Catholic Cemetery

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The historical society has always welcomed serious-minded volunteers to join them with their hands-on work, and now they are at the point where documentation of burials will be a focus for finishing up this restoration and preservation work.

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The "OBG" does have its own website the volunteers have created for it called "Friends of the OBG" that can be referenced at any time. 
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An aerial image of the Old Burying Ground has been created that shows by number the location of individual gravesites. 
See Below.:
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Here is a link to the online master listing of burials at the Old Burying Ground as it stands thus far. 
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Here is a link to the Old Burying Ground on "Find A Grave."
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Below is a photo taken August 10, 2018 by Michael Lee Anderson.  
Michael Lee has been a regular volunteer working alongside John King, as well as Scott and Venus Andersen, and Jackie Doles doing the needed repairs during the monthly work sessions at the OBG.  This photo gives a view of the work in progress at the Old Burying Ground, which is adjacent to the Travellers Rest built by Noble Crawford in 1812. 
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A tremendous amount of respect and history have been restored to the Old Burying Ground and for those interred in it because of the interest and devotedness of the volunteers with the Greenfield Historical Society!