USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana, from its earliest settlement to the present time; with Biographical Sketches and Reference to Biographies, Volume I > Part 75
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During the year 1842 the following pioneers were added to the colony in the forests of Jackson : Israel Bickell, who settled in section 21; David Flynn, in section 20; Jacob Myers in section 28; David Kemp, John Flynn, David Bickell, Henry Bickell and William Frush in different parts of the township. In 1843, David McCauley located on the present site of Galveston; Elza Garrett, also William Stanley, Isaac Windom, James Bell, William Dale, in section 28; Daniel Fickle in section 32; Christian Howdyshell, Wm. Murphy and James Wind in other sections.
The year 1844 and following years witnessed a large influx of settlers, to wit: Absalom Boring, Daniel Bell, John Kemp, Abraham Widener, Charles Townsend, James Hayworth, David Fickle, the Gray family, Samuel B. Sprinkle, David Griffith, William Tracy, Robert Mc Williams, James Graves, Joseph Graves, N. Jump, I. V. Canine, Dr. J. C. Loop, Dr. T. Baldwin, R. S. McWilliams, Joshua Barnett, Charles Jump, Franklin Griffith, Wm. McGaughey, John Lee, John Emery, David Kemp, John Campbell, Simeon Spurgeon, John Dorson, Samuel McDan- iel, Albert Dow, A. J. Rodabaugh, Henry Foy, William Morgan, H. Beal, James Stanley, Hezekiah Frush, Geo. E. Douglass, Noah Weaver, Anthony Enasley, Thomas Mallaby, Anderson Mabbit, George Sprinkle, Wm. F. Speece, Richard Irwin, Joseph Mccarthy, Philip Yakey, Frank- lin Griffith, Wm. H. Sprinkle, Henry Fitzpatrick, John Thomas.
Settlers began to locate in this township several years before it was formally opened to settlement and the land placed upon the market by the government, which was not until the year 1847. The following are some of the earliest land entries in 1847: Isaiah Nail in section 3; James Stanley in section 5; N. S. Moon in section 10; N. Jump, section 18; Christopher Howdyshell and Henry Newman, section 19; Wm. F. Speece, Israel Bickell and R. S. Mc Williams in section 21; Joseph Graves, section 22; Wm. H. Sprinkle, section 30; George Gwinn, section 32; J. Roda- baugh, section 33. In 1848 the following entries, to wit: Samuel Dollar- hide, section 6; Thomas Logan, section 7; Hezekiah Frush, section 8; Isaac Flynn, section 8; Levi Bickell, James Bell in section 10; A. A. Emsley, Wm. Frush, Nelson F. Howard, section 17; Chas. Jump, section 18; Geo. Sprinkle and A. J. Forgy, section 20; I. V. Canine, section 21; Daniel Terflinger, section 28; Caleb Hyatt and Daniel Kemp, section 20.
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ORGANIZATION
The township was laid out by the commissioners on March 5, 1845, but not formally organized until June 6, 1847, and soon after an election was held at the cabin of Peter Frush at which a Mr. Thomas acted as inspector. The first trustee was Richard Howard and the first justice of the peace was Daniel Kemp. (See Com. Rec. 2, page 490.) vol. I-38
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INDUSTRIES - MILLS
The first industry was a sawmill erected about 1845 on Deer creek by Caleb Hyatt. It was run by an old-fashioned water wheel and while only a small affair yet did quite a business and manufactured lumber for the neighborhood for a number of years. About 1846 John Sprinkle built a sawmill northwest of Galveston on the south branch of Deer creek. He operated it for several years and sold out to other parties. Hiram Price ran the mill for a time; John Hicks purchased the mill and added a corn cracker attachment and ground corn meal. The mill was operated until about 1866 when it was closed down.
A steam sawmill was built by Jacob Hite about 1860 on the southeast corner of section 25, three miles west of Galveston and locally known as saw town.
SCHOOLS
The pioneers of Jackson township were not unmindful of the value of education and long before the township was organized they took measures to instruct their children in the rudiments of an education. The first schoolhouse was built about 1844, on the farm of Wm. Stanley. This was the usual type of the pioneer round log cabin, everything made of wood and not a nail or other metal article, or even glass was used in its construction. There was, however, a stone fireplace with stick and mud chimney and oiled paper windows. John M. Jackson was the first teacher in this primitive temple of learning and well did he wield the birch, for in those days a teacher's efficiency was estimated by the number of scholars he whipped each week.
The second schoolhouse was a hewed log building erected near the site of Galveston about 1845 and Samuel Lambert and Daniel Kemp were the early teachers. - There were only three schoolhouses reported in the town- ship when the new law became operative in 1852. In 1854, four schools were reported and the following year eight .. These were all hewed log buildings.
Prior to the adoption of the new constitution in 1852, and even for some years after, there was but little or no public school fund and each district or neighborhood erected its own school buildings, hired their teachers and paid them by subscriptions, but gradually the school system was evolved until in the seventies the trustees assumed entire control of the township schools and placed the schoolhouses at equal distances throughout the township. In 1877 Jackson township had eleven school- houses : No. 1 at Galveston ; No. 2 located in the S. E. 1/4 Sec. 29; No. 3 on the S. E. corner of N. W. 1/4 Sec. 36; No. 4 on the S. E. corner of the N. E. 14 Sec. 13; No. 5 on the S. E. 1/4 Sec. 19; No. 6 on the west side of Sec. 22; No. 7 in the center of Sec. 10; No. 8 near the center of Sec. 6; No. 9 near Lincoln; No. 10 in the S. E. 1/4 Sec. 24; and No. 11 in the N. E. 1/4 Sec. 5. These schools had been located by the neighborhoods to please individuals of influence and the trustees took steps to arrange them systematically and at the same time to recognize the growing impor- tance of Galveston and Lincoln as educational centers; and in 1900 there were only seven schools, four having been abandoned, being Nos. 2, 4, 5 and 6 as enumerated above. No. 3 was moved north one-half mile to southeast corner of Sec. 25; No. 10 moved east one-half mile to the south- west corner of Sec. 18; No. 8 to the southwest corner of Sec. 6; No. 7 to the northeast corner of Sec. 9 and No. 11 was not changed. Since the improvement of roads, making travel easy, the schools have been still more consolidated and today there are but three schools outside of Lin- coln and Galveston, they being Nos. 3, 8 and 7; all the others are aban
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doned, and four wagons are employed by the township to haul the scholars to the . central schools at a cost of $2.50 per wagon per day, and the trustee reports the consolidation of the schools as eminently satisfactory from every viewpoint. The school buildings are all'substantial brick structures; the one in Lincoln'consists of two rooms and was erected in 1889. There are five teachers employed outside of Galveston and an enumeration of 335 pupils of school age. Galveston employs eight teach- ers and 160 pupils reside within the town limits, making 485 in the en- tire township with a corps of 13 teachers.
GALVESTON SCHOOLS
The first school in Galveston was taught in an old log house that had been used as a residence, located southeast of the town, on the Ramsey or Lewis farm, by William McGaughey, about 1845. Some of the other early teachers were: Daniel Kemp, Jacob Fox, Henry Bruner, Manning- ton Fickle, Dr. Alford, Iren Eaton, Miss Hathaway and Henry Kirkpat-
GALVESTON HIGH SCHOOL
rick. About 1865 a new frame schoolhouse was erected at a cost of $2,500 and George Gates was the first teacher in the new building. He was an excellent teacher, with long experience. He still lives in Galveston and in 1907 his old pupils of fifty years ago organized a society and hold annual reunions at the home of Mr. Gates, now an octogenarian yet as bright as when he wielded the birch sixty years ago. In 1883 a new brick school- house was erected by Mahlon Bell as trustee at an expenditure of $6,000 and one of the first teachers in the new building was Moses Lairy now judge of the state appellate court. In 1911 this building was superseded by the present commodious two-story brick structure, fitted up with all modern improvements and representing an expenditure of $27,000.
The school board as now constituted consists of F. H. Thomas, presi- dent; W. S. Sines, secretary, and Dr. J. F. Cornell, treasurer. Galveston has a complete system of graded schools up to and through a four-year course in the high school. The latter is a commissioned high school, and the past year had an attendance of nearly 100, with an enrollment of 258 in all the grades. Prof. I. S. Hahn heads the school and is ably assisted
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by seven other teachers and Galveston and Jackson may take just pride in her system of public schools which have been gradually evolved from the first round log cabin schoolhouse of seventy years ago, with a term of two or three months where only the three branches were taught, up to the present high school building with a graded course and a nine months' term of school where the student can, at his home, receive an education equal to a college course of fifty years ago.
The following is a list of the township trustees from 1865 to 1913, with the date of elections or service: M. B. Knowlton, 1865; Thomas Morgan, 1868; Samuel L. Stauffer, 1869; H. A. Wooley, 1871; Mahlon Bell, 1880; F. H. Thomas, 1884; Dr. J. B. Wills, 1886; John W. Smith, 1888; David Darling, 1890; John M. Wilson, 1894; W. W. Connor, 1900; O. M. Shirley, 1904; W. B. Lake, 1908-14.
CHURCHES
The pioneers of Jackson township were devout Christians and we find them holding religious meetings in their cabins as soon as two or three could be gathered together in one meeting place.
It is reported that the first religious meeting in the township was held in 1842 in the cabin of Richard G. Howard, the great hunter, and Elder George Smith of the Christian church officiated. In the following year, Rev. Doolittle of the United Brethren denomination held meetings in private houses in the midst of the almost impenetrable forests. The Methodists, however, were the first to form an organization, in the later forties.
SPRINKLE CHAPEL (METHODIST)
This was the first church organization in the township, the exact date, however, and the charter members are not obtainable. A log church was erected about 1849, on land donated by George Sprinkle, but the deed was not executed until June 3, 1857, when he conveyed one acre of ground situated in the northwest corner of the southwest 14 Sec. 20 to John Kemp and James Atwood, trustees of the church. About this time the old log church was replaced by a frame house of worship which con- tinued to be occupied until Lincoln and Galveston grew and erected churches-when it was abandoned and finally torn down about 1886 and nothing remains to mark the spot where the first church in Jackson town- ship stood, except the cemetery which is still maintained and is known as the Sprinkle graveyard.
GALVESTON UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH
This is the oldest religious society in Galveston and was organized in 1856 by Revs. Fletcher Thomas and Eli Hoover with the following charter members : Daniel Myers, Allen Crissler, Crole Crissler, Noah Ault, James Cooper, Wm. Ault, Jesse Ault, Elizabeth Christler, Jane Christler, Jacob Emerick, Elizabeth Emerick, Mary McCree, Geo. Weaver, Richard Swank, Jane Swank, Mrs. Geo. Weaver, Katharine Myer, Delilah Cooper, Simeon Bunger, David and Lewis Davidson and families. Meetings were held in the schoolhouse until 1857 when a commodious frame church 40x50 feet was erected in the western part of the village at a cost of $900. This old frame building was replaced in 1901 by the present hand- some brick church with an expenditure of $5,000.
A Sunday school was instituted in 1858 which has been maintained to the present time and has been a great aid in building up the church. A Ladies' Aid Society and Young People's Christian Union are also in
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successful operation. The church has made a steady growth and is wielding a mighty influence for good in the community. The present membership is 151.
The following list of ministers have served the congregation in a pastoral capacity : Fletcher Thomas, 1856-7; Eli Hoover, 1858; J. Sim- mons, 1859; Joseph Terrill, 1859-62; Noah Surface, 1863-4; H. A. Schnepp, 1864-6; Aaron Cummings, 1866-8; Joseph Bartimus, 1869; J. P. Wells, 1869-71; D. M. B. Patton, 1872; Joseph Myers, 1873; Reu- ben Lung, 1875; Robert Cummin, 1876; John Brown, 1876; John Sur- ran, 1877-8; Elliott Martin, 1879-80; J. F. Keisey, 1881-2; Q. S. Cleaver, 1883; J. N. Martin, 1884; W. H. York, 1876; J. A. Farmer, 1877-91; H. E. Butler, 1891-3; F. P. Overmeyer, 1894-7; J. W. Hindbaugh, 1898- 9; Rev. Brown, 1899-1900; O. F. Landis, 1901-04; W. H. Fetro, 1905; C. A. Sicafoose, 1906-09; S. O. Goodrich, 1910-12; G. H. Trinkle, 1913.
OTTERBINE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH
This organization was first known as the Walton class but the name was changed in 1887 to "Otterbine," commonly known in the neighbor- hood as "Seven Foot" church. The organization was perfected in the spring of 1881 in what is known as Simpson schoolhouse, the Rev. Evans officiating, with the following seventeen charter members: Adam and Sarah Surface, John Bechdol, sister Bechdol, J. E. and Sarah Farley, J. S. Paulina and Lulu Simpson, W. H. H. Simpson, A. J. Tritt, Pau- lina Tritt, Curtis Martin, Mollie Martin, H. M. Gatrel.
Meetings were held in the schoolhouse until 1887 when a neat frame house of worship was erected on the northwest corner of the south half of the northwest 1/4 Sec. 4, Jackson township. The original cost of the building was $800.
A Sunday school was instituted at the time of the church organiza- tion and later a Ladies' Aid Society, both of which are doing noble work in the Master's cause. The active church membership in 1912 was 65.
The following pastors have had charge of the congregation: Alton Cunningham, 1881; M. Lowe, 1882; D. M. B. Patton, 1883; W. M. Adaf- fer, 1884; H. Clark, 1885; W. H. York, 1887; J. A. Farmer, 1888; H. E. Butler, 1891; F. P. Overmeyer, 1892-6; J. W. Hindbraugh, 1897; H. W. Brown, 1898; O. F. Landis, 1900; H. Fetro, 1904; C. A. Sickafoose, 1905; S. O. Goodrich, 1909; G. H. Trinkle, 1912-13. Superintendent of the Sunday school at present is Wallace House.
GALVESTON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The existence of Methodism in Galveston has been coeval with the town itself. It came with the first settlers and has shared the joys and sorrows, the successes and reverses of the people.
Rev. Burns was probably the earliest Methodist missionary in this vicinity, long before Galveston was laid out. The first meeting of Methodists was held in the Kemp cabin, two miles west of Galveston, on the creek in 1845 and Rev. A. B. Rule first held meetings here when Jackson township was an unbroken wilderness.
From this humble beginning the work was carried on by the ever faithful and irrepressible itinerant Methodist preacher, who often pro- claimed the riches of the gospel to the tune of the woodman's ax. Irreg- ular meetings were held in the settlers' cabins until about 1853 to 1855 when a Methodist class was organized by Nathan Shackleford. The charter and early members of this class were Benj. F. Binney and wife, W. H. Harbert and wife, Mrs. Marie Strock, Jacob Fox and wife, Mrs.
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Ramsey, Mrs. Anna Radabaugh, Mrs. Scott, A. B. Rule, Geo. W. Davis and wife. Meetings were held at private residences, in the old log school- house and later in the frame schoolhouse, and after the United Brethren built their church in 1857 or 1858, the Methodists often occupied that church, until 1874 when the congregation became strong enough to erect a temple of worship of their own. This was a brick structure, 36x54 feet, with a lofty spire and represented a capital of $4,345, with a seating capacity of 350. The society rapidly increased in numbers and influence. The church walls have echoed with those old-time revival songs that inspired many a devout Christian to shout to the world His message of good tidings of great joy.
The material progress of the church was such that in 1889 it was made a station and has the undivided service of a pastor, and in 1899 the church building was remodeled and modernized and the church took on renewed energy and was working in perfect harmony when on August 8, 1901, a disastrous fire completely destroyed their handsome and com- modious house of worship.
No disaster, however, could chill their ardor, but from the ashes and debris of the former structure has arisen a new edifice far eclipsing the old in beauty of design. The cornerstone of the new church was laid September 29, 1901, by Rev. L. J. Naftger, of Kokomo, and was dedi- cated to the triune God, February 9, 1902, by Rev. W. D. Parr, D.D., as- sisted by Rev. T. J. Johnson and the pastor, Rev. Arthur Cates.
The present new church is constructed of stone and brick with an auditorium 38x55 feet and a lecture room 22x30 feet, connected with the auditorium by a rolling door, giving a combined seating capacity of 500. The cost of the new church complete was $9,500. The church is prosperous and has a membership of 175.
A Sunday school has been in successful operation since 1871. Ladies' Aid and allied societies are also maintained. The officers of the church during the rebuilding were : Class leaders, G. W. Davis and H. R. Bean; trustees, Z. U. Loop, J. I. Davidson, Samuel Meeks, A. H. Thomas and H. C. Streetor.
Pastors who have served the congregation are: N. D. Shackleford, 1853; J. C. Layton, W. K. Hobach, James Black, C. E. Disbro, M. Way- man, Chas. Martindale, J. S. Ramsey, W. H. Smith, A. J. Lewellen, J. H. McMahan, Thos. J. Elkins, H. C. Clingle, A. J. Carey, W. M. Van Slyke, A. D. Atkinson, E. S. Preston; J. B. Cook, 1877; - Cooper, 1879; J. W. Scurry, 1880; S. J. Naftger, 1882; J. H. Jackson, 1884-7; J. D. Belt, 1888-90; C. H. Wilkinson, 1889 ; A. A. Pittinger, 1890; J. W. Pas- chall, 1891; Edward Trippen, 1897; G. W. Green, 1898; R. S. Semens, 1899; Arthur Cates, 1901; J. W. Bowen, 1902; S. C. Poor, 1904; Her- bert Boase, 1907-11; J. B. O'Conner, 1912-13.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF GALVESTON
Prior to the year 1865, the Baptists never held any meetings in Gal- veston. In that year Father Hewit L. Thomas and his two sons, Mere- dith H. and William H. Thomas with their families located in the town and soon after united with the Deer Creek Baptist church, but in the spring of 1866 through the efforts of Father Thomas, a few of the faith- ful began to hold meetings in the schoolhouse of the village with Rev. B. R. Ward as their minister. In November, 1867, Rev. Ward and family moved to Galveston after which meetings were held regularly until July 12, 1868, an organization was perfected; Elder Ward acting as moderator; Wm. Thomas, clerk; John Emery and M. H. Thomas, deacons, with the following charter members, in addition to the above: Catherine
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Emery, John and Mattie J. Cook, Pauline Morgan, Annie Hensley, Nancy Speece, Sarah and Susan Frush, Ann Thomas, Harriet A. Thomas, H. L. Thomas, Charlotte Thomas, Sallie B. Boring, B. R. Ward, Rebecca Ward, Kate M. Eisenbrey, Mollie Cook, M. J. Eisenbrey, Mollie A. Lytle, Phoebe Weigle, Sampson L. Ward, Geo. Silvers, Nancy Silvers, James Read and Nancy Read. On August 29, 1868, a council composed of delegates from the churches at Bunker Hill, Deer Creek, Logansport, Sharon, Antioch and Alto formally recognized the new church. Steps were at once taken to erect a house of worship and a building committee was appointed with Hewit L. Thomas as its leader. During the summer of 1869 a substantial brick church was built costing, including furniture, $4,503.75. The church was dedicated on the first Sunday in January, 1870, by the Rev. Harry Smith, of Indianapolis, assisted by the pastor, B. R. Ward. The church has prospered and the congregation has gradually increased in numbers, requiring a larger building, and in 1903- 4, the old church was replaced by the present handsome brick and stone house of worship at an outlay of about $14,000. The dedicatory sermon was delivered by Rev. Myron W. Haynes, of Chicago.
A Sunday school was organized in November, 1867, with M. H. Thomas as superintendent.
A Woman's Missionary and Ladies' Aid Societies were formed many years ago and have been actively maintained. The church has a mem- bership at present of 147 and is a potent factor for good in the town and surrounding country. Of the original charter members but two remain, Mrs. Harriet Thomas and Pauline Morgan (1911).
The following ministers have had pastoral charge : B. R. Ward, 1867- 71; Philip McDade, E. J. Delp, H. R. Todd, Wm. Debolt, John R. Rari- don, Allen Hill, E. J. Shouse, C. S. Davisson, C. W. Alexander, W. G. Markland, J. B. Albert, G. H. Jayne, John Chandler, G. W. Tupper, T. C. Probert, L. F .. Taylor, S. H. Bayless. E. B. De Vault, present pastor, 1912.
GALVESTON UNIVERSALIST CHURCH
The Universalists of Galveston and vicinity held occasional meetings in schoolhouses and halls for some years but in 1894 an organization was perfected, the meeting being held in the furniture store of John Thomas and Rev. J. Frosher, officiated. The following persons signed the charter roll : John Thomas, Alvin Hill and wife, Elias Young, Alvin Laird, John Betts, John McIlwain, John Bigger, Joseph Walker. From this small beginning the church prospered and in 1896 the present neat little brick church was erected at a cost of nearly $10,000. The congregation has steadily grown and now numbers 90.
A Sunday school was organized January 1, 1896, and is maintained with a Ladies Aid Society and Young People's Union.
The following pastors have administered to the spiritual wants of the congregation : Rev. J. B. Frosher, 1894; Rev. D. A. Patrick, 1895-05; Rev. H. C. Beckett, 1905-1912.
LINCOLN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
This church is an outgrowth of, or rather the successor to, Sprinkle chapel, the latter having been built a mile and a half to the southwest of Lincoln long before that town was laid out. After Lincoln began to grow, school and other interests located there on the railroad, steps were taken to organize a class and erect a church. Some of the early mem- bers were James Baker, C. H. Sprinkle, Mrs. Catherine Stauffer and hus-
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band, Michael Bell. The records show that on May 1, 1858, A. Howard deeded lots Nos. 67 and 68 in the town of Lincoln to the trustees of the church but the church building was not erected for some years later; probably the later sixties or early seventies, a neat little frame church edifice was built and Sprinkle chapel was abandoned and torn down. The Lincoln class prospered and in 1906 a larger building became neces- sary and the present handsome church made of cement blocks was erected at a total cost of $6,500 and dedicated December 23, 1906, by Rev. Wm. Amoss.
The pastors of the Walton church also serve this congregation and Rev. Wm. Amoss is the present pastor. The trustees at this time are: Michael Bell, Jacob Pearey and Charles Peck.
CEMETERIES
Jackson township was heavily timbered and a long distance from Logansport and the early settlers suffered great hardship, especially when sickness and death entered the pioneer cabin, and he had to be content to bury his dead in rude boxes in the virgin soil under the dense forest trees that covered that township in 1841.
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OLD GALVESTON, HANSBERRY OR LEWIS CEMETERY
This is said to be the oldest burial ground in Jackson township. It is situated about one-half mile southeast of Galveston in the northwest 1/4 Sec. 34.
Daniel C. Flynn entered this land in 1848 and Thos. H. Hans- berry bought it October 27, 1848. On May 12, 1853, Hansberry sells to Wm. Ramsey and in the deed reserved one-half acre as a burial ground -and in all subsequent deeds this reservation has been made, but this burial ground has never been conveyed to any individual, trustee or cor- poration. It was used as a burial ground years before the land was entered.
This graveyard is located on a knoll on the east side of the road but prior to 1849 the interments were made on the west side of the wagon road and the first burial was the body of Jacob Myers in the winter of 1843. He was a hunter and lived just west of Galveston on the old Fickle farm. This was a heavy wooded country and abounded in bears, wolves, deer, mink and other wild animals. Mr. Myers went south to Wild Cat creek on a hunting expedition, where Kokomo now stands and purchased some "tanglefoot." That and the excessive cold overcame him on his return, three miles from home where he froze to death in the depths of the forest. His dog came home alone, which aroused the suspicions of his family and they instituted a search; the dog pointing the way and Mr. Myers was found, covered with sleet and snow, frozen to death, and was buried in the woods, about twenty rods west of the present ceme- tery on the west side of the road. Here also were buried, two of the McCombs family and Sarah, wife of Joseph Walters prior to 1849. Quite a number of other interments were made here but when Mr. Hans- berry bought the land in 1848 or 1849 he set apart the beautiful knoll, the present cemetery site, and some of the persons buried west of the road were removed, but many still sleep in their original forest graves, oblivious to the tread of the plowman.
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