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, September 9, 2018

Vandalism strikes at Sheep Pen Cemetery yet again but this cemetery will return to its restored dignity and respect


It is with great sadness that I present this report of recent vandalism at Sheep Pen Cemetery (that is also known as Gustin Cemetery or Limes Cemetery) in Highland County.  
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This cemetery was almost completely vandalized in 2011.  A major restoration took place afterward and again further restoration was conducted for the gravestones and monuments in June of 2016.  

However, now there are some gravemarkers cracked in half  lying on the ground that were intact just 24 months ago.  Personally, I don't think the damage was caused by careless groundskeepers.  At least I pray not or it will get worse with every mowing and weedwhacking .  

Sharing some of the photos that were provided to me by a local person who recently visited Sheep Pen Cemetery.  She was quite impressed with it due to its uniqueness despite the downed gravemarkers.  
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 (Above)
Two broken gravemarkers:
Matthew Kelley and Julia Ann (Aber) Yohn
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I refuse to believe that this will be the end of the story for Sheep Pen Cemetery.  I know there are local people who care about it as I do.  There are angels who watch over it.  Sheep Pen Cemetery will recover and be the historic burial ground it has always been. 

Remembering Revolutionary War veterans in Pandora, Bluffton


We need more veterans organizations for honoring deceased veterans of all of the wars to help mark their graves or to replace worn and no longer readable markers.  There are still too many that are left without flags at their gravesites as well.  

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Ohio Genealogical Society meeting set for Setp. 9


The Belmont County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society meeting is Sunday, Sept. 9 at 3 p.m. in the Genealogy Room, at Barnesville Hutton Memorial Library, 308 E. Main St., Barnesville. 
Program will be a review of the story of the History and Mystery at Founders’ Cemetery by Rick Booth from Now and Then magazine. 
Meeting is free and open to the public. Come join in the excitement of finding your family’s history. Whoever would like to be in First Family or Pioneer Family application will be accepted until Aug 1, 2019. They will have the First and Pioneer Family Banquet on Oct. 11, 2019. 
Go to our website on Facebook to see pictures and event of BCC OGS or e-mail: Belmont County Chapter–OGS bccogs@outlook.com or the Web site: http://www.belmontccogs.org/