Pioneer
Cemeteries and Their Stories, Madison County, Indiana |
aka Beal/Beals/Davis
Location: west side of CR 200W, between SR 28 and CR 1300N
The Lily Creek Cemetery once surrounded one of the earliest churches in Monroe Township, the Lily Creek Christian Church organized in 1831 by area pioneers including Micajah Chamness, Sr., the first to enter the land that is now Alexandria. Church member, Mrs. Heritage, a granddaughter of Micajah, was interviewed in the early 20th century:
"They [the congregation] held meetings before the Lily Creek Church was built. They met from house to house. You know they did not have tables in those days. They took a chair and turned it upside down and placed a Bible on it to read the scripture. They met at the homes of Amelia Jackson's, Leah Stroud's and James Ellis...After the meeting they all shook hands and asked their friends home to dinner.
"No, there were not many [members], but I can tell all the charter members of this early church. They were Granny Jackson, James Ellis and his wife Caroline, Moses Cole and his wife Jane, Daniel Black and his wife, William Cole and his wife, and Daniel Franklin was the preacher."
When enough money was raised and volunteers enlisted, church members built in 1840 a log house of worship in the middle of the present site of the cemetery. Evidently, from the death dates on several gravestones, the ground was used for burials before the log church was built. Infant Hiron Cole died on February 21, 1839, less than two months old, and adult Susan Gorden was probably one of the earliest burials. She died in 1834 at fifty-four years of age. Perhaps, the owner of the land had already donated a portion to be used as a neighborhood graveyard. Mrs. Heritage continues:
"Why, I can remember the first time I went to the Lily Creek Christian Church [building]. I was three years old. Now this was in 1844. My father [Micajah Chamness, Jr.] took me, and it was my grandmother's funeral, and Daniel Franklin preached the funeral sermon. I know about my...grandmother... It was very lonely here for my grandmother, and for three years she saw no white person besides her family. The Indians...were very friendly however."
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In addition to Hiron, mentioned above, who died in 1839, the Cole family had another early burial: Eliza Anne, left, whose tablet states in script that she was aged "28yrs 8ms 6ds" when she died July 31, 1842. Eliza's marker is granite, one of the hardest of stones, and for this reason is still intact. |
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Not to be confused with the child, this Susan Gorden, at right, was "54y 5m 20d" old when she died December 1, 1874. She was the wife of James Gorden who lived to be ninety-six. Susan's pretty lyre-shaped stone with medallion is unique for the area. (The topknot may be from a neighboring marker.) At left, Lydia Gorden died March 7, 1884, when she was eighty-six years old. This would make her birthday around 1798
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The congregation steadily grew and in 1871 built a frame church more than a mile north of the cemetery. By 1880, the number of members had swelled to over 100. The cemetery also continued to grow, filling in where the log church once stood. Families, represented here who settled on the northwest sections of Monroe Township, have the names of Gorden, Ellis, Davis, Black, Sutton, Oldfield, and Young.
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George K. Black, left, son of "Daniel & Eunice Black, died Nov. 6, 1853, 22y 10m 6d." George's simple tablet sits near the center of the cemetery. Other members of the Black family, right, have more imposing and costly squared pillars, located in the northwest corner, from later in the century. |
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At left is the stone for Margaret Judd who died February 26, 1867 when she was forty-two years old. |
At right is the base for William Pence's missing column. William lived to be fifty-six years old; he died December 22, 1878. |
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Among these early settlers is an interesting area developer, Nathan Lowry, who died in 1880 at fifty-four years old. In 1876, Mr. Lowry owned the land where Chief Pipe's Delaware village had, according to tradition, been located. Perhaps capitalizing on the spot's fame, Nathan established a station as a point west of Alexandria for the Lake Erie & Western Railroad. At first he named the little town Lowry Station, and it appears on the 1876 plat map for the township as such. However, shortly after that, the name was changed to Orestes. There are two theories as to the origin of the town's name. One tale says that the name honors Orestes McMahan, a local farmer. Another says that Lowry, himself, renamed the village after the Greek character Orestes, son of Agamemnon, in Aeschylus's play Oresteia. If the latter is the truth, then Mr. Lowry was indeed extremely well-read for his time. (For more on Orestes, go to the Monroe Township page; for more on Chief Pipe, go to the Pipe Creek Township page.)
From family genealogist Steve Malone, Boise, Idaho (2020):
"...it is probably worth noting that the cemetery is located on the property of Micajah W. Jackson, which he had patented on 15 Mar 1837 while he was still residing in Fayette County, Indiana (suggesting that he had likely donated a small part of it for the church and cemetery). That only makes sense, given than his widow Amelia and daughter Caroline Elizabeth (Jackson) Ellis were charter members [of the Lily Creek Christian Church] and are buried there, as are two of his sons, who are found in the same household as Amelia in the 1850 Census."
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The two columns on one base with connecting arch, right, represent Mr. and Mrs. Young. This style of stone was popular for married couples in the late 1800s. William died first in 1853, and wife Jane died in 1878. The stone was erected by their family after Jane's death. The column, at left, represents the Fisher children: an infant who lived to be only five days old and four month old William. |
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ID | Names | Birth Date | Death Date | Cemetery |
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1742 | ATHAM, SARAH ALMARINE | 2Y. 1M. 9D. | SEP. 1, 1853 | LILYCREEK |
1744 | ATHAN, SARAH | 2Y. 1M. 9D. | SEP. 4, 1853 | LILYCREEK |
4811 | BLACK, (INFANT SON) | APR. 10, 1881 | LILYCREEK | |
4815 | BLACK, ANNON | 56Y.or 66Y. 29D. | MAR. 13, 1885 | LILYCREEK |
4823 | BLACK, DANIEL S. | 20Y. 2M. 29D. | FEB. 20, 1812 | LILYCREEK |
4827 | BLACK, ELIZABETH | 45Y. | FEB. 11, 1886 | LILYCREEK |
4828 | BLACK, ELIZABETH | 8Y. 10M. 9D. | DEC. 25, 1844 | LILYCREEK |
4832 | BLACK, EUNICE | 71Y. 1M. 18D. | NOV. 14, 1875 | LILYCREEK |
4838 | BLACK, GEORGE K. | 22Y. 10M. 6D. | NOV. 6, 1853 | LILYCREEK |
4858 | BLACK, MILES E. | 29Y. 8M. 4D. | OCT. 16, 1890 | LILYCREEK |
4865 | BLACK, SAMUEL H. or M. | 19M. | DEC. 19, 1849 | LILYCREEK |
4866 | BLACK, SAMUEL S. | 20Y. 2M. 29D. | FEB. 28, 1842 or 47 | LILYCREEK |
4869 | BLACK, SUSAN S. | 1850 | 1923 | LILYCREEK |
4873 | BLACK, WILLIAM | 36Y. 10M. 27D. | JAN. 30, 1892 | LILYCREEK |
4874 | BLACK, WILLIAM | 36Y. 1M. 28D. | JAN. 30, 1892 | LILYCREEK |
8623 | BWOMEBUCK, MILES E. | 29Y. 8M. 4D. | OCT. 16, 1890 | LILYCREEK |
11603 | COLE, ELIZA ANN | 28Y, 8M. 26D. | JUL. 31, 1842 | LILYCREEK |
11615 | COLE, HIRON | 1M. 5D. | FEB. 21, 1839 | LILYCREEK |
14795 | DAVIS, ELI | 1M. | JUL. 15, 1856 | LILYCREEK |
14794 | DAVIS, ELI | JUL. 18, 1853 | LILYCREEK | |
14856 | DAVIS, GEORGE C. | 20Y. 10M. 25D. | APR. 13, 1864 | LILYCREEK |
14859 | DAVIS, GEORGE G. | 20Y. 8M. 25D. | APR. 13, 1861 | LILYCREEK |
15048 | DAVIS, MARY C. | 6Y. 6M. 21D. | DEC. 24, 1862 | LILYCREEK |
18146 | ELLIS, ALBERT | JUN. 24, 1958 | JUL. 27, 1862 | LILYCREEK |
18165 | ELLIS, ELIZABETH | 65Y. or 55Y. 6M. 5D. | DEC. 3, 1876 | LILYCREEK |
18164 | ELLIS, ELIZABETH | 50Y. 6M. 15D. | AUG. 3, 1876 | LILYCREEK |
18187 | ELLIS, JAMES | 59Y. 8M. 20D. | JAN. 17, 1875 | LILYCREEK |
18189 | ELLIS, JAMES H. | 50Y. 8M. | JAN. 25, 1875 | LILYCREEK |
18200 | ELLIS, MARGARET J. | 16Y. 4M. 21D. | JUN. 3 or 31, 1862 | LILYCREEK |
18208 | ELLIS, MARY E. | 12Y. 3M. 18D. | JUN. 12, 1865 or 62 | LILYCREEK |
18225 | ELLIS, THOMAS | MAY 23, 1865 | LILYCREEK | |
18226 | ELLIS, THOMAS J. | 15Y. | MAY 2, 1869 | LILYCREEK |
19900 | FISHER, (INFANT SON) | 5D. or 8D. | APR. 13, 1870 | LILYCREEK |
20057 | FISHER, NANCY E. | 35Y. 6M. 2D. | APR. 9, 1875 | LILYCREEK |
20100 | FISHER, WILLIAM H. | 4M. 11D. | AUG. 3, 1875 | LILYCREEK |
21068 | FOX, VIRGIL | DEC. 13, 1897 | APR. 12, 1901 | LILYCREEK |
23493 | GORDEN, (INFANT DAU.) | SEP. 13, 1852 | LILYCREEK | |
23494 | GORDEN, (INFANT SON) | SEP. 14, 1865 | LILYCREEK | |
23497 | GORDEN, ANDERSON | 25Y.or 75Y. 11M. 23D | AUG. 9, 1863 | LILYCREEK |
23499 | GORDEN, JAMES | 96Y. | 1809 | LILYCREEK |
23503 | GORDEN, LYDIA | 86Y. 5M. 2D. | MAR. 7, 1884 | LILYCREEK |
23508 | GORDEN, SUSAN | 54Y. | DEC. 4, 1834 | LILYCREEK |
23536 | GORDON, SUSAN | 54Y. 5M. 20D. | DEC. 1, 1874 | LILYCREEK |
24186 | GREGORY, WILLIAM | 7M. 19D. | OCT. 14, 1866 | LILYCREEK |
26377 | HARRIS, LOUCETTA | 22Y. 5M. 11D. | MAR. 25, 1851 | LILYCREEK |
26378 | HARRIS, LOUGETTA | JAN. 25, 1854 | LILYCREEK | |
31866 | JACKSON, FRANKLIN B. | 27Y. 7M. 18D. | JAN. 5, 1854 | LILYCREEK |
31900 | JACKSON, JEFFERSON | 18Y. 5M. 13D. | JAN. 27, 1851 | LILYCREEK |
32041 | JAMES, CATHERINE | 63Y. 2M. | OCT. 22, 1872 | LILYCREEK |
33705 | JUDD, JOANNA | 27Y. 8M. 26D. | FEB. 16, 1882 | LILYCREEK |
33712 | JUDD, MARGARET | 42Y. 1M. 14D. | FEB. 26, 1867 | LILYCREEK |
33718 | JUDD, THOMAS S. | 30Y. 2M. 28D. | DEC. 31, 1877 | LILYCREEK |
34977 | KING, EARL | DEC. 18, 1897 | LILYCREEK | |
34983 | KING, ELLA | MAY 31, 1897 | LILYCREEK | |
34985 | KING, ELLA M. | MAY 31, 1897 | LILYCREEK | |
35598 | KNIPE, GEORGE W. | 2Y. 2D. | OCT. 4, 1850 | LILYCREEK |
35599 | KNIPE, WILLIAM J. | 9yr. 11mo. 15da. | JUL. 17, 1856 | LILYCREEK |
36168 | LAFFINGWELL, AMANDA | 10M. 12D. | JAN. 1855 | LILYCREEK |
37449 | LEGG, EMERY G. | 1Y. 2M. 6D. | SEP. 26, 1890 | LILYCREEK |
38529 | LONG, MARY | 34Y. | NOV. 1, 1896 | LILYCREEK |
38787 | LOWRY, CAROLINE | FEB. 14, 1842 | JUN. 10, 1893 or 98 | LILYCREEK |
38790 | LOWRY, NATHAN | 54Y. 5M. 20D. | JUN. 14, 1880 | LILYCREEK |
43843 | MOLES, HENRY | 26Y. 9M. 12D. | SEP. 18, 1865 | LILYCREEK |
44540 | MORGAN, NETTIE | 21Y. 14D. | JUN. 8, 1866 | LILYCREEK |
46887 | OLDFIELD, CELIA | 75Y. 8M. 1D. | MAY 8, 1874 | LILYCREEK |
46888 | OLDFIELD, CHARLES E. | 5Y. | JUN. 30, 18__ | LILYCREEK |
46893 | OLDFIELD, LILIEY | 17Y. 6M. 12D. or 2D. | JUL. 28, 1850 | LILYCREEK |
46898 | OLDFIELD, SALEY | 17Y. 6M. 11D. | JUL. 27, 1850 | LILYCREEK |
46900 | OLDFIELD, SELCY | 13Y. | JUL. 20, 1860 | LILYCREEK |
46903 | OLDFIELD, WILLIAM | 50Y. 1M. 2D. | AUG. 20, 1870 | LILYCREEK |
46902 | OLDFIELD, WILLIAM | 21Y. 1M. 12D. | AUG. 20, 1870 | LILYCREEK |
46904 | OLDFIELD, WILLIAM C. | 41Y. 3M. 27D. | APR. 7, 1850 | LILYCREEK |
46905 | OLDFIELD, WILLIAM G. | 41Y. 5M. 17D. | APR. 7, 1880 | LILYCREEK |
48339 | PENCE, WILLIAM | 56Y. 7M. 3D. | DEC. 22, 1878 | LILYCREEK |
49202 | PLACKARD, EUNICE C. | 32Y. 7M. 18D. | MAY 28, 1885 | LILYCREEK |
49212 | PLACKARD, WILLIAM | LILYCREEK | ||
53726 | RUSSELL, CLARENCE C. | 2Y. 5M. 24D. | AUG. 10, 1876 | LILYCREEK |
53729 | RUSSELL, CLYDE | 3Y. 1M. 2D. | OCT. 10, 1878 or 28 | LILYCREEK |
53731 | RUSSELL, DAVID | (INFANT) | JUN. 10, 1869 | LILYCREEK |
59837 | STEVENS, EVA E. | 2Y. 1M. 1D. | JAN. 21, 1822 | LILYCREEK |
59845 | STEVENS, JAMES W. | 23Y. 1M. 5D. | FEB. 4, 1892 | LILYCREEK |
59854 | STEVENS, MARTHA J. | MAR. 7, 1841 | NOV. 13, 1912 | LILYCREEK |
59870 | STEVENS, WILLIAM B. | 14Y. 7M. 4D. | DEC. 19, 1888 | LILYCREEK |
59873 | STEVENS, WILLIS C. | AUG. 5, 1838 | LILYCREEK | |
61049 | SUTTON, JOSIAH | 9Y. 11M. 2D. | MAY 1, 1879 | LILYCREEK |
61048 | SUTTON, JOSIAH | 79Y. 11M. 2D. | AUG. 1, 1829 | LILYCREEK |
61050 | SUTTON, LAURA | 74Y. 4M. 15D. | JUN. 15, 1881 | LILYCREEK |
63484 | TROWBRIDGE, CHARLES E. | 7Y. 8M. 15D. | DEC. 31, 1861 | LILYCREEK |
64812 | VINSON, FREDDIE | 1Y. 5M. 5D. | JAN. 28, 1888 | LILYCREEK |
66151 | WEAVER, LOVIGA F. | 42Y. 6M. 28D. | FEB. 12, 1867 | LILYCREEK |
66174 | WEAVER, WILLIAM | 59Y. 3M. 15D. | AUG. 28, 1878 | LILYCREEK |
66524 | WELBORN, NANCY | AUG. 2, 1826 | OCT. 25, 1907 | LILYCREEK |
67640 | WILBORN, NANCY | AUG. 2, 1826 | OCT. 25, 1907 | LILYCREEK |
70151 | YOUNG, CHARLES C. | 5M. 18D. | FEB. 12, 1864 | LILYCREEK |
70162 | YOUNG, ELIZABETH | MAR. 29, 1832 | MAR. 9, 1914 | LILYCREEK |
70178 | YOUNG, GEORGE W. | 30Y. 9M. 15D. | SEP. 24, 1869 | LILYCREEK |
70198 | YOUNG, JANE | 73Y. 4M. 29D. | MAY 31, 1878 | LILYCREEK |
70200 | YOUNG, JEORRE | 3Y. | DEC. 5, 1869 | LILYCREEK |
70230 | YOUNG, ROBERT | MAR. 2, 1829 | MAR. 11, 1877 | LILYCREEK |
70248 | YOUNG, WILLIAM | 59Y. 1M. 7D. | NOV. 15, 1853 | LILYCREEK |