Pioneer
Cemeteries and Their Stories, Madison County, Indiana |
aka Reason/Manis
Location: north side of CR 900N, between CRs 500W and 575W
Picturesque in its setting, the Howard Cemetery is visible from CR 900N. It is situated on a beautiful hill next to the Etchison Ditch which eventually flows into Pipe Creek. This pioneers' burial ground was started in the 1840s and continued to be used into the 20th century. Family genealogists still place flowers on the graves of their ancestors here. |
The Howard Cemetery is the resting place for many of Pipe Creek Township's first settlers. In 1834, Joseph Miller and family from Wayne County, Indiana, were close behind the Shells and Siglers in pioneering the farmland along Pipe Creek. Actually arriving before any improved roads, Joseph, in fact, was the area's first blacksmith, an indispensable position among pioneers.
|
Before medical knowledge and improvements, women giving birth were among the most frequent casualties in the 19th century. It was not uncommon for stalwart husbands to have in succession two or three wives. "Isabella, Wife of Joseph Miller Died June 27, 1854 Aged 30 yrs. and his Infant's With her," explains that Joseph's wife and baby both died during childbirth. From the previous generation, possibly the father-in-law of Isabella, a Joseph Miller is listed below as dying in 1871 at eighty-six years old. |
Henry Plummer is safe-guarded at the Howard as well. He was born in Randolph County, North Carolina, in 1806. He decided to homestead in Madison County in 1836, after having previously resided in Wayne and Rush counties. Only five years after arriving, Henry started in local government, being elected as county commissioner in 1841. He also served as township assessor and trustee. Samuel Hardin, county historian from the 19th century, knew him personally:
"Mr. Plummer is a prominent member and exhorter in the Christian Church. He is regarded as a number one man, plain and unassuming in his manners, and a Christian gentleman. He resides two miles north of Frankton, where he owns a fine farm. The writer first met him while gathering material for this work, when he tarried overnight with him and received the hospitalities of his family."
|
Although Henry Plummer does not have a stone memorial, his wife Perlina has a well preserved obelisk. She was "64y 10m 18d" when she died February 10, 1875. Henry died nine years later at seventy-seven years old according to the mid 20th century transcription of the grave markers at the Howard. |
Also represented here are the Johnson, Ebert, and King families, all of whom had members residing in the township before 1840. The families of Tharp, Worley, Douglass, Hagerty, and Griffee, etc., soon followed.
Below right is the obelisk for settler Daniel King who was "55y 5m 21d" old when he died February 24, 1876. Below left is the marker for younger relative Washington King who was twenty-two years old when he passed away in 1871.
|
|
|
|
Above left is the memorial for Isabel wife of Edmund Johnson. The Edmund Johnson family is recorded as early homesteaders to Pipe Creek Township. The clasped hands at the top represent the partnership of this married couple. Isabel was born February 23, 1812, and died August 23, 1870.
Above right is the large base for Dr. William H. Ebert. The importance of medical professionals in an agricultural community cannot be overstated. The "good doctor" must have been influential spiritually as well since on the side of his stone is the symbol for the bible. Dr. Ebert died December 19, 1896, when he was seventy-nine years old. A "W.H. Ebbert" is listed as an early settler.
|
Pipe Creek Township was indeed fortunate. It had a second doctor in this immediate area. While the original column completing this monument has fallen off, the base still proclaims "Dr. Robert R. Douglass." Since he died May 23, 1863, one has to wonder if perhaps he was in the Civil War and died as a result of military conflict. |
The large Tharp family is well-represented here. "Francis wife of Smith Tharp" still has a beautiful stone from the 1850s. George W. and Martha A., children of John and Minerva Tharp, have a combined gravestone, maybe because they died only one day apart. The inscription at the bottom is also remarkably preserved. |
The Worley family has some of the earliest legible stones in the entire cemetery. William, left, died in "April 10, 1848," and son James has a stone that clearly states that he "died Aug. 22, 1848, aged 1yr. 6m. & 27d."
|
|
Although not listed as early settlers, Aaron and Elizabeth Pickenpaugh must be the oldest couple having legible gravestones at the time the transcriptions for this cemetery were made.
Aaron, below left, died October 30, 1866, at "70y 3m 4d," making his birth year around 1796. Elizabeth, center left, was born around 1795 since she died January 31, 1864, at sixty-nine years of age. From the next generation, Henry Pickenpaugh, far right, is recorded on the burial list below. Possibly a son, he died five months before Aaron and was forty-one years old. William, center right, has a stone that, other than the name, is illegible.
|
|
|
|
The harsh pioneer life certainly took its toll on the female members of families. Many of the well-preserved gravestones in this cemetery are for women. One of the earliest is that for Minervia Ridegway, left, who died January 4, 1849. Another woman who died in her twenties was Sophia Messner, right. By contrast in the middle, Sarah Allen, who died March 24, 1857, lived to be sixty years old; she was born around 1797.
The three stones below illustrate the high death rate of children during the 19th century. The average rate was one out of four. When disease was more prevalent, one out of three died. Omitted from the burial list by some oversight, at left is the stone for "Phebe J. Dau. of Thomas & M. Halpin died Jan. 31, 1865..." and at right "Nancy E. dau. of W & S.A. Denney died Mar. 1, 1862..." Center is the stone of another child of the Denney couple. James M. is recorded as passing away "Feb. 8, 1861." He was just eleven days old. The lamb at the top of the Denney stones symbolizes the innocent young. Sometimes only the stones for the children who have died represent the family who attempted homesteading in an area from which the parents later moved on. No Halpin or Denney adult is known to be buried at this cemetery.
|
|
|
|
Mary's pretty Victorian stone represents her well. She was the daughter of Emmanuel and Barbary O??--another couple who is not recorded as buried here. Mary died March 28, 1860. At the top, the rose represents love for the departed. The curved letter fonts are also typical of the Victorian era. |
|
These worn stones are for two young adults, one from the Griffee family and one from the Hagerty. Left is the almost indiscernible monument for "Mary E. wife of Oliver Griffee died Nov. 2, 1868 aged 20y 9m 5d." The transcription of gravestones, done in mid 20th century by a committee of the Madison County Historical Society, is indeed invaluable. Samuel Hagerty's stone, right, can be read as to name, death date and age. The three lines in the middle, though, are indecipherable--alas. |
|
The burial ground, itself, is fortunate: it is well-preserved with many stones from the 1840s and '50s still intact. This is in spite of the fact that it has not been protected by a modern cemetery association, business, or church. The Howard is a jewel among pioneer cemeteries. Its pristine condition is to the credit of surrounding land owners and the township trustees.
The stone for Thomas Wood, right, is still sharply incised. Born around 1804, Thomas lived to be "91y 8m 29d." His wife is buried beside him. The picture, left, is looking east with the Etchison Ditch to the left. |
|
Beautiful in any season, the well-kept Howard takes its name from Samuel Howard who purchased this land in section 30 after arriving in 1835. D. Manis owned the land in 1876, and so the cemetery was later referred to by that name. The line of trees in the background borders the steep bank of the Etchison Ditch. |
ID | Names | Birth Date | Death Date | Cemetery |
---|---|---|---|---|
597 | ALEXANDER, MOLLIE M. | JAN. 3, 1877 | MAY 3, 1898 | HOWARD |
812 | ALLEN, MARTHA J. | 15Y. 4M. 2D. | JAN. 19, 1875 | HOWARD |
842 | ALLEN, ROSA A.C. | 1889 | 1896 | HOWARD |
850 | ALLEN, SARAH | MAR. 21, 1857 | HOWARD | |
878 | ALLEN, WILLIE | 7Y. 9M. 7D. | MAY 29, 1875 | HOWARD |
8987 | CAMPBELL, MARGARET E. | 37Y. 2M. 20D. | JAN. 25, 1868 | HOWARD |
10032 | CHALFANT, SARAH M. | 24Y. 2M. 24D. | MAR. 2, 1880 | HOWARD |
11886 | COMBS, ELVESTA G. | MAY 25, 1875 | HOWARD | |
12903 | COVERSTON, MARY C. | 1Y. 1D. | APR. 2, 1860 | HOWARD |
12996 | COX, ELIJAH | MAR. 30, 1817 | JAN. 10, 1894 | HOWARD |
13001 | COX, ELIZABETH | SEP. 29, 1825 | APR. 13, 1888 | HOWARD |
14777 | DAVIS, DOTTIE | HOWARD | ||
14906 | DAVIS, JAMES | HOWARD | ||
15125 | DAVIS, RILLIE L. | HOWARD | ||
15867 | DENNY, JAMES M. | 11D. | FEB. 8, 1861 | HOWARD |
16736 | DOUGLASS, ROBERT R. (DR.) | DEC. 29, 1816 | MAY 23, 1863 | HOWARD |
16995 | DRUSILER, (INFANT) | 5M. 2D. | HOWARD | |
17575 | EAST, CHARLES | APR. 9, 1836 | SEP. 12, 1915 | HOWARD |
17579 | EAST, ELIZABETH | 66Y. 7M. 15D. | NOV. 2, 1881 | HOWARD |
17587 | EAST, JOHN | 87Y. 2M. 25D. | JUN. 11, 1883 | HOWARD |
17591 | EAST, LORENA | 10Y. 1M. 22D. | NOV. 31, 1892 | HOWARD |
17595 | EAST, MATTIE MYRTLE | FEB. 1, 1884 | JAN. 18, 1903 | HOWARD |
17670 | EBERT, ________ | JAN. 18, 1890 | OCT. 23, 1893 | HOWARD |
17669 | EBERT, ________ | 1Y. | NOV. 7, 1872 | HOWARD |
17676 | EBERT, EDWIN EUCLID | 5M. | MAR. 19, 1852 | HOWARD |
17687 | EBERT, HESTER | 29Y. 7M. 18D. | AUG. 3, 1879 | HOWARD |
17690 | EBERT, JENNIE | 1Y. 7M. | MAR. 18, 1876 | HOWARD |
17700 | EBERT, OSHA M. | JAN. 4, 1901 | JUN. 12, 1902 | HOWARD |
17705 | EBERT, WALDO E. | NOV. 24, 1837 | OCT. 25, 1893 | HOWARD |
17707 | EBERT, WILLIAM H. DR. | 79Y. 10M. 12D. | DEC. 19, 1896 | HOWARD |
17708 | EBERT, XINNA M. (JONES) | 30Y. 5M. 14D. | AUG. 10, 1890 | HOWARD |
17709 | EBERT, ZELINDA M. | HOWARD | ||
18703 | ETCHISON, HENRY W. | FEB. 2, 1843 | MAR. 13, 1906 | HOWARD |
18794 | ETCHISON, WALTER E. | 11M. 5D. | DEC. 2, 1866 | HOWARD |
22274 | GARRISON, SARAH | 52Y. 7M. 11D. | APR. 4, 1881 | HOWARD |
23392 | GOODMAN, ARLIE | 2Y. 27 ? | SEP. 27, 1880 | HOWARD |
23631 | GOVERSTON, MARY E. | 1Y. 1D. | APR. 2, 1860 | HOWARD |
24214 | GRIFFEE, JULIA A. | 77Y. | JAN. 1, 1897 | HOWARD |
24216 | GRIFFEE, MARY E. | 20Y. 9M. 5D. | NOV. 2, 1868 | HOWARD |
24219 | GRIFFEE, SAMUEL | 77Y. | DEC. 8, 1887 | HOWARD |
24221 | GRIFFEE, WILLIAM D. | 20Y. 10M. 19D. | MAY 14, 1879 | HOWARD |
24986 | HAGERTY, HANNAH | OCT. 21, 1790 | FEB. 19, 1853 | HOWARD |
24987 | HAGERTY, JOHN B. | SEP. 20, 1787 | SEP. 8, 1850 | HOWARD |
24990 | HAGERTY, SAMUEL D. | AUG. 2, 1828 | OCT. 25, 1854 | HOWARD |
25714 | HANKINS, KISH | 1870 | 1902 | HOWARD |
25996 | HARDY, SARAH | 60Y. 2M. 15D. | APR. 21, 1876 | HOWARD |
26408 | HARRIS, SALOMA L. | 2Y. 4M. 29D. | APR. 30, 1872 | HOWARD |
29236 | HOLDER, JACOB | 62Y. | MAR. 5, 1875 | HOWARD |
29241 | HOLDER, NANCY | 66Y. 11M. 12D. | NOV. 16, 1893 | HOWARD |
30146 | HOWARD, LOUISA E. | 46Y. 11M. 27D. | JUN. 8, 1875 | HOWARD |
31218 | HURST, ALIDA | 1891 | 1898 | HOWARD |
31221 | HURST, BENNET | 13Y. | SEP. 5, 1852 | HOWARD |
31227 | HURST, FRANCIS E. | 23Y. 11M. 13D. | MAR. 10, 1860 | HOWARD |
31229 | HURST, GEORGE W. | 21Y. 8M. 23D. | JUN. 1, 1861 | HOWARD |
31238 | HURST, MARTIN V. | 10Y. 2M. 20D. | AUG. 30, 1861 | HOWARD |
31244 | HURST, SABRINA | 83Y. 2M. 7D. | FEB. 6, 1894 | HOWARD |
31245 | HURST, SARAH J. | 17Y. 1M. 26D. | JUN. 11, 1866 | HOWARD |
32487 | JOBB, MARY ANN | 15Y. 11M. 27D. | AUG. 20, 1873 | HOWARD |
32488 | JOBE, A. J. | 17 IND INF CO G | HOWARD | |
32573 | JOHNSON, (INFANT DAU.) | JUN. 25, 1855 | HOWARD | |
32646 | JOHNSON, EDMUND | OCT. 12, 1812 | AUG. 12, 1878 | HOWARD |
32719 | JOHNSON, ISABEL | FEB. 23, 1812 | AUG. 23, 1870 | HOWARD |
32821 | JOHNSON, MILTON | 130 IND INF CO K | HOWARD | |
32824 | JOHNSON, NANCY | 12Y. 11M. 11D. | DEC. 5, 1849 | HOWARD |
33026 | JONES, AVIE C. | 1888 | 1889 | HOWARD |
33652 | JORE, CATHERINE | 1839 | 1919 | HOWARD |
33653 | JORE, FRANCIS M. | 1838 | 1897 | HOWARD |
34940 | KING, ARENDA J. | 29Y. 8M. 17D. | JAN. 29, 1879 | HOWARD |
34955 | KING, CHARLOTTE | 2Y. 4M. | SEP. 29, 1869 | HOWARD |
34966 | KING, DANIEL | 55Y. 5M. 21D. | FEB. 24, 1876 | HOWARD |
35019 | KING, JOSEPH J. | 19Y. 8M. 29D. | SEP. 3, 1870 | HOWARD |
35049 | KING, OZRO | 8Y. 8M. | MAY 5, 1871 | HOWARD |
35058 | KING, REBECCA | 31Y. 6M. 5D. | AUG. 21, 1853 | HOWARD |
35066 | KING, SARAH | MAY 19, 1777 | JAN. 14, 1872 | HOWARD |
35067 | KING, SARAH | 2M. | OCT. 2, 1853 | HOWARD |
35075 | KING, THOMAS | 47Y. 19D. | MAY 21, 1864 | HOWARD |
35082 | KING, WASHINGTON | 22Y. 1M. 16D. | APR. 21, 1871 | HOWARD |
35095 | KING, WILLIAM SOLON | 2M. 29D. | APR. 11, 1857 | HOWARD |
38317 | LITTLE, CHARLOTTE | 41Y. 1M. 14D. | DEC. 22, 1886 | HOWARD |
42684 | MESSNER, GEORGE C. | 2M. 12D. | AUG. 13, 1801 | HOWARD |
42685 | MESSNER, MARGARET | HOWARD | ||
42686 | MESSNER, SOPHIA | 26Y. 2M. 19D. | JUL. 1, 1863 | HOWARD |
43048 | MILLER, ELIZABETH | 20Y. 12D. | AUG. 22, 1849 | HOWARD |
43129 | MILLER, ISABELLA | 30Y. | JUN. 27, 1851 | HOWARD |
43165 | MILLER, JOSEPH | 86Y. ?M. 10D. | MAY 9, 1871 | HOWARD |
43242 | MILLER, MINOR W. | 1Y. 6M. 22D. | SEP. 28, 1859 | HOWARD |
43251 | MILLER, NICY | MAR. 11, | HOWARD | |
43350 | MILLER, WILLIAM R. | 16Y. 2M. 22D. | FEB. 28, 1849 | HOWARD |
46966 | ONEAL, (INFANT SON) | 1D. | MAY 15, 1855 | HOWARD |
46969 | O'NEAL, DAVID | 2Y. 6M. 4D. | SEP. 30, 1847 | HOWARD |
46975 | O'NEAL, MELVILLE | 10M. 18D. | SEP. 4, 1854 | HOWARD |
47370 | OWENS, MARY J. MILLER | 1836 | 1894 | HOWARD |
47641 | PARKER, CHARITY | 61Y. 2M. 4D. | APR. 19, 1864 | HOWARD |
47676 | PARKER, JAMES | 70Y. 9M. 4D. | NOV. 4, 1862 | HOWARD |
48419 | PERDIEU, MARY LOUISA | 7Y. 8M. 2D. | SEP. 19, 1849 | HOWARD |
48973 | PICKENPAUGH, AARON | 70Y. 3M. 14D. | OCT. 30, 1866 | HOWARD |
48974 | PICKENPAUGH, ELIZABETH | 69Y. | JAN. 31, 1864 | HOWARD |
48976 | PICKENPAUGH, HENRY | 41Y. 3M. 2D. | MAY 1, 1866 | HOWARD |
49277 | PLUMMER, HENRY | 77Y. 11M. 26D. | MAY 4, 1884 | HOWARD |
49294 | PLUMMER, PERLINA | 64Y. 10M. 18D. | FEB. 10, 1875 | HOWARD |
51067 | REEDER, CYNTHIA | 88Y. 1M. 17D. | AUG. 3, 1894 | HOWARD |
51071 | REEDER, ENOCH | 42Y. 6M. 29D. | AUG. 6, 1856 | HOWARD |
51082 | REEDER, JOHNATHAN | 71Y. 23D. | DEC. 20, 1877 | HOWARD |
51999 | RIDGEWAY, MINERVIA | 23Y. 6M. 23D. | JAN. 4, 1849 | HOWARD |
52005 | RIDOEWAY, MARY ELLEN | 1Y. 1M. 10D. | DEC. 14, 1859 | HOWARD |
52260 | RING, (INFANT DAU.) | JUL. 1850 | HOWARD | |
52259 | RING, (INFANT DAU.) | APR. 1846 | HOWARD | |
52261 | RING, (INFANT DAU.) | JUN. 16, 1861 | HOWARD | |
52270 | RING, E. W. | 69Y. 1M. 26D. | DEC. 2, 1890 | HOWARD |
52272 | RING, ELIJAH | 1M. 27D. | JUN. 11, 1854 | HOWARD |
52274 | RING, ELLA S. | 17Y. 1M. 14D. | APR. 11, 1880 | HOWARD |
52276 | RING, JAMES E. | MAY 22, 1818 | OCT. 26, 1898 | HOWARD |
52283 | RING, JONATHAN | 6M. & | FEB. 25, 185_ | HOWARD |
52284 | RING, JOSEPH C. | 1Y. 16D. | SEP. 5, 1849 | HOWARD |
52288 | RING, MAGGIE | 2Y. 17D. | SEP. 13, 1871 | HOWARD |
52289 | RING, MALVINA | MAY 27, 1826 | SEP. 7, 1899 | HOWARD |
52291 | RING, MARY | APR. 2, 1859 | HOWARD | |
52295 | RING, MARY EVANGELINE | JUN. 6, 1841 | AUG. 31, 1852 | HOWARD |
52296 | RING, MARY J. | 28Y. 8M. `19D. | FEB. 7, 1864 | HOWARD |
52302 | RING, SOPHIA | 40Y. 2M. 17D. | MAY 2, 1864 | HOWARD |
52309 | RING, WILLIAM F. | 4Y. 4M. 10D. | AUG. 14, 1868 | HOWARD |
56279 | SHIPLEY, CAROLINE | 1M. 10D. | AUG. 15, 1855 | HOWARD |
56280 | SHIPLEY, CASANDER | 3Y. 4M. 19D. | NOV. 20, 1859 | HOWARD |
56297 | SHIPLEY, JOHN T. | 5Y. 1M. 11D. | FEB. 18, 1852 | HOWARD |
56299 | SHIPLEY, LEAH | FEB. 9, 1821 | APR. 10, 1896 | HOWARD |
56310 | SHIPLEY, NELSON | APR. 2, 1813 | APR. 29, 1902 | HOWARD |
56314 | SHIPLEY, SAMUEL | 55Y. 11M. 11D. | NOV. 8, 1865 | HOWARD |
56316 | SHIPLEY, SARAH F. | 7Y. 5M. 3D. | SEP. 6, 1853 | HOWARD |
56318 | SHIPLEY, SYNTYCHE | 19Y. 9M. 14D. | JUL. 2, 1842 | HOWARD |
56321 | SHIPLEY, WILLIAM W. | 6Y. 10M. 6D. | NOV. 22, 1859 | HOWARD |
56917 | SILVEY, RENA B. | 1885 | HOWARD | |
56926 | SILVEY, WILLIAM E. | 1857 | 1894 | HOWARD |
58032 | SMITH, MARTHA M. | 59Y. 7M. 5D. | OCT. 9, 1899 | HOWARD |
61879 | TAYLOR, RATHBONE | 1Y. 11M. 6D. | SEP. 11, 1856 | HOWARD |
62126 | THARP, ANNA | 36Y. 3M. 22D. | FEB. 18, 1847 | HOWARD |
62135 | THARP, CHARLEY | 7Y. 5M. 20D. | APR. 26, 1877 | HOWARD |
62146 | THARP, GEORGE W. | MAR. 1895 | HOWARD | |
62147 | THARP, GEORGE W. | 5Y. 7M. 20D. | APR. 18, 1856 | HOWARD |
62150 | THARP, JAMES | 84Y. 3M. 26D. | MAR. 14, 1888 | HOWARD |
62165 | THARP, MARTHA A. | 3Y. 10M. 11D. | APR. 19, 1856 | HOWARD |
62181 | THARP, WASHINGTON | 24Y. 5M. | APR. 12, 1856 | HOWARD |
62182 | THARP, WILLIAM H.P. | 1Y. | JUL. 15, 1868 | HOWARD |
63264 | TOWNSEND, DAVID | APR. 6, 1874 | HOWARD | |
63266 | TOWNSEND, IDA M. | 11M. 29D. | DEC. 8, 187_ | HOWARD |
63277 | TOWNSEND, SAAG | 71Y. 11M. 2D. | JUL. 2, 1887 | HOWARD |
66041 | WAYMIRE, LYDIA | 65Y. 7M. 22D. | JUL. 8, 1881 | HOWARD |
66419 | WEELER, ELIZABETH | DEC. 1, 1819 | OCT. 31, 1881 | HOWARD |
69282 | WOOD, ANNE | 62Y. | AUG. 23, 1876 | HOWARD |
69397 | WOOD, THOMAS | 91Y. 8M. 29D. | OCT. 14, 1895 | HOWARD |
69628 | WORLEY, HENRY CALBERT | 25Y. 7M. 20D. | MAY 2, 1877 | HOWARD |
69632 | WORLEY, JAMES | 32Y. 8M. 28D. | SEP. 22, 1854 | HOWARD |
69633 | WORLEY, JAMES MARKS | 1Y. 10M. 17D. | OCT. 8, 1855 | HOWARD |
69639 | WORLEY, LUCINDA | FEB. 6, 1848 | JAN. 27, 1901 | HOWARD |
69649 | WORLEY, WILLIAM | 6Y. 16D. | OCT. 16, 1855 | HOWARD |
69648 | WORLEY, WILLIAM | 30Y. 8D. | APR. 10, 1848 | HOWARD |