Sharing "Then & Now" Photos from Scott and Venus Andersen - Scenes from the Dean Cemetery - Buckskin Twp., Ross County, Ohio - 2011 - 2018

From 2011 to present, Scott and Venus Andersen have been regularly visiting and conducting grounds and gravestone restoration and preservation work at the Dean Cemetery in Ross County. 

They have now totally transformed the relatively small size cemetery from its forlorn and forgotten appearance into being a peaceful and pristine sacred place worthy of those who found eternal rest there when Ohio was a young state.  

Early on, several trees, overgrown weeds, and even poison ivy were removed.  During many visits, gravestones were cleaned, repaired, and reset when needed.  There were discoveries!  Once long hidden gravestones were uncovered during the course of their work.
  

The heavy duty digging is no longer required, but regular maintenance of the grounds are ongoing. 

Extending deep-felt congratulations to Scott and Venus Andersen for their tireless efforts in preserving and restoring the Dean Cemetery to its original appearance and condition - reviving the respect and relevance to the community that it truly deserves.

Sharing with permission

All photographs by Scott Andersen

 (Above)
October 4, 2013

A exciting discovery!

When a long buried gravestone was unearthed

after being under another gravestone

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

(Above)
2011 - 2014 photographs 

By Scott Andersen

Dean Cemetery

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

(Above)

September 2011 top two photographs

April 30, 2018 bottom two photographs

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

(Below)
Four scenes from the Dean Cemetery

Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio

April 30, 2018

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

The Dean Cemetery / The Old Presbyterian Cemetery

Find A Grave 

Then & Now at the Dean Cemetery, Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio

The photographs below:
The top photo is a panoramic view (a composite of five - 4" x 6" photos) of the Dean Cemetery as it looked in September of 2011 prior to any work being done to remove trees and underbrush; clean, repair and reset gravestones; and the unearthing of buried gravestones -- of which there have been several discovered since that time.

The second photo is a side-by-side comparison of how the Dean Cemetery looked in September of 2011 (left photo) and how the cemetery looks today (photo to the right taken November 11, 2015).

The bottom two photographs of the Dean Cemetery were taken November 11, 2015. 

 ~*~*~*~*~*~

 Once fallen over gravestones are now standing straight in a cleaned and repaired condition.  The markers pristinely dot the green grass landscape.

An environment of eternal rest now made more peaceful for those buried at this early family graveyard in Ross County, Ohio has come about through the dedicated work of Scott and Venus Andersen.

   ~*~*~*~*~*~

  All photographs are courtesy of Scott Andersen.

  Dean Cemetery in Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio.

 

Sharing the Latest Marker Discovery at the Dean Cemetery, Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio

 Photographs courtesy of Scott Andersen

D. Simmermon - Find A Grave Memorial

D. Simmermon - Find A Grave Memorial

Photographs below taken by Scott Andersen

Venus Andersen probed, discovered, and unearthed the D. Simmermon marker.  

Although broken, overall the early undated marker was found in remarkably good condition. 

 

Robert Dickey (1745 - 1817) - Find A Grave Memorial

Robert Dickey (1745 - 1817) - Find A Grave Memorial

(Photograph by Scott Andersen)

Unearthing a Double Base for the Grave Markers of Alexander Brown Dickey & His Wife, Jane Henry Dickey - At the South Salem Cemetery in Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio

Scott Andersen has recently been repairing and re-setting his Dickey ancestors' gravestones at the South Salem Cemetery in Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio.  

While digging, Scott made an unexpected discovery of the double base that was in place for both markers that had sunken out of sight and had been below ground.

Below are 4 photographs from Scott that show his progress of the re-setting work done thus far for the gravestones of Alexander Brown Dickey and his wife, Jane Henry Dickey.

From Scott:
"That base was already there, I just didn't know it. I went to the cemetery today, planning on straightening Jane's stone, and resetting Alexander's. Alexander's stone had been reset in the wrong spot by the township trustees. Started digging around Jane's stone and found it in that base, and it kept getting bigger and bigger. What a surprise to find a dual base like that. Anyway, got it back above the grade and leveled, and reset Alexander's stone."

 

Sharing an Update - Dean Cemetery, Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio

     Scott and Venus Andersen have spent 3 years routinely working at the Dean Cemetery in Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio where some of his ancestors are buried.  

     The photographs below illustrate the dramatic progress that has been made both with the clean up of the cemetery's grounds and the gravestones that they have located, cleaned, repaired, and re-set during that time.  

 

     Thanking Scott Andersen for sharing his most recent photographs taken at the Dean Cemetery:

From Scott Andersen (September 17, 2014):
     "Today, I finally got around to digging up Mary Lawhead's foot stone. We've known where the broken off base was located for some time now, and recently, Venus had located what we have assumed was the rest of the stone buried several inches down, just next to the base. Well, I dug up the whole thing, got the base out of the ground, and the part that had been hidden. What we found though was that pieces were still missing. 

     But, after taking a close look at what we had, I realized that at least some of the missing pieces were over in the "junkyard". 

     The piece that is the top of the stone, with the rounded edge had been lying over there in the pile. So that was quite a thrill, to match up one of those orphaned fragments with a "known" stone. 

     But, there was still a pretty substantial piece of the puzzle missing. After a few minutes of probing the area around the foot stone's location, we found the small piece that you see in the photo."

  

  (Above - Photograph courtesy of Scott Andersen)

Fragments for Mary Lawhead's footstone.

(Above - Photograph courtesy of Scott Andersen)

All of the found fragments of Mary Lawhead's footstone. 

 

 (Above - Photograph courtesy of Scott Andersen)

September 17, 2014 longer distance view of the Dean Cemetery 

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Below are photographs taken at the Dean Cemetery in September of 2011 courtesy of Scott Andersen

  (Scott Andersen above at the Dean Cemetery in September, 2011)

(Below are two random views of the Dean Cemetery in September, 2011)

 

Update from Scott Andersen - Resumed Clean Up Work at the Dean Cemetery - South Salem, Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio.

Scott Andersen and his wife, Venus, have resumed their work at the Dean Cemetery near South Salem in Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio.  He has an update with new photographs to share that show the progress they have made thus far.  

Thanks to their new work clearing away the overgrowth, they uncovered a gravestone that had been hidden:

"More stones show up all the time.  Only one has been easy to identify.  It belongs to a Mary McArthur, who died in 1818 at age 66.  I posted the picture and made a memorial for her on FindaGrave."

Below are photographs thus far from his October, 2012 working trips to the Dean Cemetery: 

Above: A. W.

Above: J. W.

 Above: photo was taken at the front of the cemetery looking to the rear.

 Above: photo was taken at the front of the cemetery looking to the rear.

Above: Collins?

 Above: This picture was taken in the rear of the cemetery looking toward the front.

 Above: This picture was taken in the rear of the cemetery looking toward the front.

*********

Thank you so much, Scott, for sharing the photographs and we look forward to viewing many more!

Currently, The Dean Cemetery lists 27 interments on "Find A Grave."

Dean Cemetery - South Salem, Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio - Progress Report from Scott Andersen

Per "Find A Grave" -- Dean Cemetery:  

"Cemetery notes and/or description:
This cemetery is located east of the center of Lyndon, on a farm once owned by James Dean, then Will Stinson, and then Morton Titus. The cemetery is over grown, and is on the edge of a field currently used for farming."

**********************************

Scott Andersen has been photographing the gravestones during his working visits at the Dean Cemetery since 2009.  

He has posted all of the currently documented burials at the Dean Cemetery on the website "Find A Grave."  Most memorials include a gravestone photograph.

Here is Scott's latest report on his project to restore the grounds at the Dean Cemetery:

July 25, 2012:

"Made it out to the cemetery today.  Things have grown up a bit, but its all soft stuff in the areas that we cut last fall.  So, I was able to clear it back out without much difficulty using a weedeater.   I ran out of string after about 20 minutes of work, so I'll have to go out again later in the week and finish up.  In that 20 minutes I cut down about what it took us all day to get through the first time.  So all the work we did last fall wasn't for naught.   Getting it trimmed back to that level will be fine for now, and I'll make another big push when the weather cools off, and perhaps I can burn some of the brush in the adjoining field."  

Scott

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Regarding the photograph below:

"The photo was taken in an area that I didnt get to cut today. We did have this spot cleaned out last fall. Grows fast!  But, it trims back easy."

Per the publication, "Ohio Cemeteries 1803 - 2003", by K. Roger Troutman, Editor, published by the Ohio Genealogical Society in 2003, on page 559, the Dean Cemetery is listed as: "Dean-Old Presbyterian (10341) Cond: N. Owner F. Location:  South of Lyndon.  From SR 28 at Lyndon go 0.6 mile south on Lyndon Salem Road to just north of Buckskin Creek.  East of Lyndon Salem Road 0.4 mile."  

The Condition "N" designates "neglected" to describe the current status at the Dean Cemetery.  The full definition for "N" is found on page 4 of the "Ohio Cemeteries 1803 - 2003" book:  

N:  "Neglected.  These cemetries suffer from benign neglect.  They probably have not been cleaned up or restored in the last ten years or more.  They are slowly disappearing for lack of human intervention to maintain them.  The term abandoned, used previously in the OGS cemetery books and in other publications, is now included in the term neglected."  

Scott deserves acknowledgement and thanks for his returning to the Dean Cemetery on a regular basis to remove the overgrowth; and to locate, clean, and photograph the gravestones.  

He has shared his gravestone pictures on the "Find A Grave" memorials he has created which greatly benefit those who are interested in learning more about the early area pioneers who are interred at the Dean Cemetery.  

I'm confident that in the future, the description of the condition at the Dean Cemetery will be upgraded from "N" to "R" -- meaning it has been Restored -- restored because Scott took the time and effort, on behalf of all of those buried at the Dean Cemetery, proving that indeed someone does care. 

Update on Dean Cemetery - Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio - Maps and More.

Scott Andersen has submitted additional photographs and details from his September, 2011 trip to the Dean Cemetery in Ross County. He and his wife, Venus, worked to clear weeds and other overgrowth from the Dean burial ground.  

Scott placed pieces of paper with numbers by the stones he found and wrote the corresponding numbers on a handrawn sketch he created as a preliminary map for the Dean Cemetery. 

Below are some of his results:

Above is a panoramic view of a portion of the Dean Cemetery

Above is Scott's preliminary sketch of the Dean Cemetery

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

Dean Cemetery

South Salem, Ross County, Ohio

From an exploration in September, 2011

By: Scott Andersen

1. Group of field stones along the south fence line.

These are not headstones, but they are cut or hewn stones.

2. Katherine Mark, 1807-1896.

This headstone has a poem on it, which I was not able to completely transcribe.

Katherine Mark

Died Nov 5 1896

In her 19 Year

“Remember Friends as You Pass….”

3. R. P. (Possibly this is Rachel Pummil 1779-1823)

4. John Milton.

John Milton

Daniel & Sa

Died Sep 22

In his 10 yr

This headstone is broken, and I believe that it should read:

John Milton son of

Daniel and Sarah

Died Sep 22 18XX

in his 10 year of age

5. Tall square marker, with “P. C.” inscribed upon it.

Also has a set of wings, and possibly a date.

6. Mary Brackney, 1778-1853. This headstone is in poor condition, cracked it two, and laying on the ground. There is more written on the stone beyond Benjamin Brackney’s name, but I was unable to transcribe it.

Mary

Wife of

Benjamin Brackney

7. Mary M. Lawhead, 1803-1833.

This headstone is on the ground, but is in good condition.

Mary M.

Wife of Thomas

Lawhead died Feb 11

1833 aged 30 years

8. William Lawhead, 1755-1823.

This headstone is in good condition, but is on the ground.

In memory of

William Lawhead

Who died Sep 29

1823 in his 66 year

9. Agnes Cunningham, 1757-1841.

This stone is in good condition

(Written as inscribed)

In memory of

Agnes wife of

Robert Cunning

Ham who departed

This life Aug 5th

1841 Aged 84

Years and 6 months

10. Samuel Cunningham, 1778-1845.

This headstone is in good condition

(Written as inscribed)

Samuel Cunning

Ham died June 9

1845

Aged 57 yrs 8 mo.

11. Small stone, broken off at the surface behind Samuel Cunningham’s stone.

12. R:C

Broken in two pieces, and on the ground.

13. Portion of a headstone, no writing visible. On the ground.

14. A D

This stone is in good condition, but is just laying around loose.

It was leaned up against Abraham Dean’s headstone when discovered.

15. Abraham Dean 1763-1806, Revolutionary War Veteran.

This headstone is in good condition, but is leaning severely.

In Memory of

Abraham Dean

Who died May 10

1806

In his 43 year

16. Group of cut fieldstones

17. Group of flat square stones, possibly the top of a grave.

18. Broken off headstone. No writing. On the ground.

19. Long rectangle of stone. No writing on exposed side. Another similar sized block abuts it, but is mostly buried.

(No. 20 - none)

21. H D

Stone in good condition, but has been broken off from its base.

22. Hannah Dean 1799-1828. This headstone is in good condition.

In

Memory of

Hannah wife of

John Dean

Who died April 19

1828 in her 29

Year

23. J. H. D. This small headstone is just in front of James H. Dean’s headstone. It is in good condition, standing up, but leaning.

24. James H. Dean 1822-1840. This headstone is in good condition.

James H. Dean

DIED

August 14th 1840

Aged 18 years 4 mo

& 16 days

25. Stones in a plot. One piece appears to be a finial.

26. Mary Polly Depew Dickey, 1791-1816. This headstone is in excellent condition.

In Memory of Mary Dickey

who died May 2 1816

In the 25 year of her age

-------------------------------

Ye young & gay come & see

The silent bed that waits for thee

Time was like you, we life possess’d

And time will be when you shall rest

27. Broken stone with no visible writing.

28. Alexander Wallace, 1803-1828.

This headstone is in good condition.

IN

Memory of Alexander

Wallace who

died Sept the 4th 1828

Aged 25 years

29. John Wallace, 1765-1832.

This headstone is in overall good condition.

Difficult to read because of moss growth. Leaning back.

IN

Memory of John Wall

Ace who died Feb 17

1832 Aged 67 Years

30. No visible writing. Otherwise, in good condition.

31. No visible writing. Otherwise, in good condition.

32. No visible writing. Somewhat 'pock marked.'

Headstone is leaning back, and could possibly have something written on its south side.

33. Headstone broken of near the surface.

34. Headstone fallen to the ground. No visible writing on exposed side.

35. M. D. Headstone is lying on the ground, but appears to be in good condition.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Below are photographs of some of the gravestones with identifying numbers:

#2 Above

#3, #4, and #5 Above

#7 Above

#8 Above

#9 Above

#15 Above

#26 Above

#28 Above

#30 Above

~~:):):):)~~

The Dean Cemetery currently has 26 memorials posted for it on "Find A Grave."

Update on Dean Cemetery in South Salem, Ross County, Ohio on "Find A Grave"

Scott Andersen has posted more gravestone photographs on "Find A Grave"  that he took during his September, 2011 trip to the Dean Cemetery.  Click on title here to view them. 

There are currently 26 interments posted for the Dean Cemetery on "Find A Grave." 

Expressing thanks again to Scott and his wife, Venus, for all of their hard work at the Dean Cemetery, and for documenting so many of the markers there before they either disappear or become completely unreadable. 

Wrap-Up Report for Clean-Up Work at Dean Cemetery, Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio by Scott Andersen

Scott Andersen and his wife, Venus, have wrapped up their clean-up work for this visit at the Dean Cemetery on Thursday, September 22, due to rain at the cemetery on Friday.  

He sent more photographs, including one of himself and Venus, while they were at the Dean Cemetery.

I thought it would be nice to share these photographs and some of Scott's comments. 

September 20, 2011 - Scott Andersen kneeling by broken pieces of stone markers. (See last three photographs for more about these stones.)

September 22, 2011 - Venus Andersen brushing off a broken gravestone

Leaning gravestone for Abraham Dean - Revolutionary War Veteran

Leaning gravestone for James H. Dean

Gravestone for Mary Polly Depew Dickey, wife of  Rev. James H. Dickey

Broken partial gravestone for John Milton, son of Daniel and Sarah who, per Scott, could actually be John Milton Robbins. 

Full inscription: Died September 22, 1840, in his 10 year of age.

Per Scott, the initials "R P" are inscribed on this tall stone marker of undetermined purpose.

Per Scott, the initials "P C" are inscribed on this tall stone marker.  He thought it could stand for "Presbyterian Church."  He says: "This cemetery is the site of the original Presbyterian Church of South Salem." 

Wrap-Up Remarks from Scott:

"I spent my last morning at the cemetery trying to document as much as I could.

I numbered all of the stones we had found, and tried to take as many pictures as possible.

It was so wet, I don't know how well they really came out.

I drew a little map of the cemetery, and will clean it up, and make it into something presentable when I get home.

There are so many stones out there! You find them lying half buried as you cut along.

 

As far as finding "all" of the stones in the cemetery, I think that we have really just scratched the surface."

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

Thank you Scott for sharing your photographs and interesting details about your work at the Dean/Old Dean Presbyterian Cemetery.

 

Until your recent visits and now 2011 clean-up work at this remote burial ground, it had been neglected and forgotten; but thankfully no more!