LICKING COUNTY, OHIO - HELPHREY CEMETERY ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ===================================================================== ===================================================================== File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Dee Helphrey Stamper the1mother@allegan.net June 23, 2002 ===================================================================== HELPHREY CEMETERY Here we present the final resting-place of many of our ancestor's. It is a truly beautiful and serene place that sits on a high ridge over looking the valley where my 3rd great grandfather grew to manhood. While the cemetery is shown on the Licking County Map as the Helphrey Cemetery, it is not marked at the road. It is located 1.1 miles west of Utica, Ohio (from the junction of 13 & 62) on Highway 62 (also known as the Johnstown-Utica Rd.) There is access through a lane that is to the right of Farm Credit Services, 3910 Johnstown-Utica Rd. It is 0 .2 miles along the farm lane (between fields) to the top of the ridge and 0 .3 miles toward the left to the cemetery. A 4 wheel drive vehicle is very helpful to get there and in the rainy season this is not a good place to go. Stay along the top of the ridge, which has a few trees and shrubs, until you see across the clearing, a grouping of trees that is enclosed by a rickety old fence. To the casual observer, it would appear to be just a few trees in a field. The cemetery is quite overgrown with briers and berry bushes, and only one tall stone can be seen, until you are inside the fence. The cemetery stands in the middle of what is now a corn field but had been in the past a cattle pasture. It would appear that the cattle liked to use the tombstones as scratching posts. There are only 2 stones still standing, the family group stone of Daniel II, and the stone for William Lee. The rest have been broken off over the years and are placed haphazardly, leaning against trees, other stones, and some just lying on the ground. Many are difficult to read, some with the wear of time, and some with chips and pieces missing from them. While the cemetery was on Helphrey property, the 1st burial with a readable date of 1824 and the last burial in 1895 were members of the Lee Family. The property was owned by R.J. Watson as early as 1881, however there were at least 2 more burials after that time. Elizabeth Helphrey died in 1889, and James Lee in 1895. There are 11 members of the Helphrey Family, and 10 members of the Lee Family buried here. There are at least 2 stones that have no visible markings. The original placement of the stones is unknown to the current descendants. Betty Rose who was at the cemetery in the early 1970's stated the Helphreys were buried on the south and the Lees on the north side. The relationship of the Helphreys and the Lees is unknown at this time. We only know that the Lees lived a few farms over, and like the Helphreys, came from Virginia. In 1983 the cemetery was "logged" by Harold P Lupher of Utica. He stated, "in many instances where there are initials on a small stone that it is probably a foot marker and the large stone with the name the "head marker". It was common practice then to use the foot marker." My daughter and I 1st visited this lonely place in March 2001. At that time, some of the stones found by Betty Rose and Harold Lupher were no longer found. They may have been buried under the briars, or may no longer exist. And we found one they had not seen. Several of them have poems on the bottom, but we have only been able to decipher 2 of them. I have put Harold's description of the stones in italics and my comments in ( ). We took many photos of these stones, so in future years as the elements take their toll, there will be a record of them. Anyone interested can e-mail me for a copy. June 22, 2002 Dee Helphrey Stamper the1mother@allegan.net Helphrey, Daniel In Memory of Daniel Helphrey who died Jan. 1, 1832, Aged 76 years & 1 month & 23 days. Medium sandstone, leaning against tree. ___________ In Memory ____________________ 35, Large, sandstone broken off of base and leaned against tree, large part of reading not legible, and part broken off but 35 is very clear. (We believe this was Daniel's wife Barbara, Jan. 22, 1835. We could not find this stone in 2001.) H, B. Small round top sandstone, broken off of base. (This is the only stone we found relating to Barbara.) Helphrey, Sharlott Daughter of John D. & Ann Helphrey Died Oct. 10, 182_ Aged 1 year 10 months & __ days. (John is the 1st child of Daniel and Barbara. This stone was leaning against a tree.) Helphrey, Daniel Died Sep. 30, 1871 Aged 75 Y & 4 M Inscription on south side of tallest standing tombstone, white. (This is the 6th child of Daniel and Barbara, and the one who remained on the family farm.) Helphrey, Elizabeth Died Sep. 27, 1889 Aged 90 Y & 9 M Inscription on south side of tallest standing tombstone, white. (The wife of Daniel II.) Burgess, Catharine Died Feb. 15, 1871 Aged 93 Y & 4 M Inscription on west side of tallest standing stone, white (The mother of Elizabeth Helphrey.) Helphrey, Hezekiah H. In Memory of: Private of Co. C, 96th Reg. O.V.I. Died in Regimental Hospital in Camp at Millikens Bend, LA. April 11, 1863 Aged 19 Y & 7 M & 12 D Inscription on east side of tallest standing tombstone, white. (The 11th child of Daniel II. Has a poem we have been unable to decipher.) Helphrey, Molancy Youngest daughter of D. & E. Helphrey Died Dec. 2, 1862 Aged 24 Y & 1 D Inscription on north side of tallest standing stone, white. (The 10th child of Daniel II. Has a poem we have been unable to decipher) English, Rachel Wife of Nathaniel English Died Sep. 13, 1851 Aged 35 Yr & 4 Mo & 9 D Large stone broken off base, leaning against tree. (The 2nd child of Daniel II.) English, Daniel R. Son of Nathaniel & Rachel English Died Jan. 8, 1854. Aged 1 year, 4 Mo & 8 d (Weep not for me my parents dear, I am not dead but slepeth here, My life was short by this your eyes, Prepare for death and follow me.) Helphrey, Elizabeth In Memory of Elizabeth Eva. daughter of Jacob & Catherine Helphrey who died Mar. 19, 1827 Aged 2 Mo & 13 days Medium size sandstone, broken off of base. (Jacob is the 8th child of Daniel and Barbara.) Benjamin Lee Died ______ 1857 Aged 81 years 5 months & 16 days. (This was seen by Betty Rose is 1970, but was not found in 1983.) Lee, Elizabeth Wife of Benjamin Lee. Gray stone, badly broken up, parts missing yet. (This stone was not found in 2001.) Lee, Margaret In Memory of Margaret Daughter of Benjamin & Elizabeth Lee who died Oct. 23, 1824 Aged 3 years, 6 months, 14 days. Medium size sandstone, broken off of base and leaning against tree. Lee, Benjamin In Memory of Benjamin H. Son of Benjamin & Elizabeth Lee who died June 10, 1826 Aged ____ years & 3 months & 15 days. Medium size sandstone, broken off of base. Lee, Calvin In Memory of Calvin: Son of Benjamin & Elizabeth Lee who died Feb. 14, 1826 Aged 2 years & 8 months & ______ days. Medium size sandstone broken off of base. Lee, James 1812 - 1895 Curved top, low height with inscription on topside. (This stone was not found in 2001.) Lee, Elizabeth Wife of James Lee Died May 7, 1873 Aged 58 Y. 7 M. 21 D. White stone monument broken off of base but standing yet. (Has a poem we have been unable to decipher.) Lee, Benjamin Harvy Son of James and Elizabeth Lee died Oct. 28, 1844 Aged 8 weeks Medium size sandstone, broken off of base. (Here beneath this ______, My infan_ body _____. My ____ ___ earth ___ spent, My soul to Christ has went. The blanks are spots were the stone has been chipped away.) Lee, Wm L. Born Feb. 9, 1846 Died Apr. 2, 1881 Aged 35 Y & 2 M & 20 D Upright small gray stone monument on a base. L, S.E. Small rectangular sandstone. ______________ Smallest sandstone, no markings. _____________ Gray stone, rectangular, no inscription visible.