PUTNAM COUNTY OHIO - Pioneer AKA United Brethren of Old Indian Cemetery *************************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. *************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Laura Wilson-Perry LAWPerry@aol.com May 6, 1999 *************************************************************************** Report on the Status of the Pioneer Cemetery, AKA The United Brethren of Old Indian Cemetery, Located at Ottawa, Ohio Laura Wilson-Perry July 1998 Introduction The Ottawa, Ohio, Pioneer, United Brethren, or, Old Indian Cemetery has been in a state of considerable disrepair for the better part of half a century, perhaps longer. Since at least 1971, members of the Stauffer, Carroll, and Beckman families, along with many other supporters, have tried to get a restoration project underway. However, every such effort has "run out of steam" or been found to be simply too difficult to tackle -- an overwhelming project. This summer, my husband and I have been able to come to Ohio for a much- needed two-week vacation. It has somehow turned into a pseudo-archaeology expedition. For most of our vacation we have been over behind Lexington Arms cutting down trees, moving brush, weed-whacking, and locating headstones and stone fragments. This has been a considerable task, but a fun one. With the demolition of each batch of poison ivy or scrub trees there has come a surprise lurking in the brush -- usually a fragment of yet another long-lost cemetery marker. Most of the markers found to date have not been enumerated on any cemetery enumeration I have been able to locate -- true treasures. This paper has been undertaken in the hopes that the hard work of two out-of-towners will not go to waste. What we have started with our own sweat and determination I sincerely hope will be continued by the people of the town for whom this is most valuable. The area needs to be properly fenced and maintained the veterans buried there honored, and the headstone fragments retained -- and, if possible, put back together like some giant jigsaw puzzle -- a puzzle missing the box top and accompanying picture. Laura Wilson-Perry Background on the Cemetery When Ottawa was founded and populated by some of the first white men and women of this region, most of the area surrounding the town site was covered with dense vegetation and muck from the Great Black Swamp. Living here was hard work and took its toll on even the hardiest of the settlers to the region. Many died from fevers and ague, and many died from accidents trying to clear the area to become what is now rich farmland and the site of thriving industry. Of necessity, land had to be set aside for the burial of these casualties of time and hardship, and when, in the mid-1830's, John Huber died, it fell to Stansbury Sutton's father to select a site to receive the body. In the Pioneer Reminiscences, Book One, originally published in 1878, Stansbury Sutton writes, "The first death that occurred in Ottawa Township, was John Huber, an old gentleman who lived in the north part of the township. Judge Cox and myself made the coffin. My father requested to select the place of interment and he selected the place known as the old Grave Yard, north of the Tawa run" (Putnam County Pioneer Reminiscences, Putnam County Historical Society, 1981 reproduction, p. 40). It is assumed that the property to which they are referring is the site of the Pioneer Cemetery, as no other cemeteries are known to have existed in Ottawa on the north side of Tawa. It is interesting Sutton and Cox chose the site of an "old" graveyard for a new burial. Even thought the Indians were being rapidly pushed from the area, the sacred nature of a burial ground of these people was recognized and these settlers did not choose to build upon this site, although they built immediately to its west, on the old Ottawa "Green". In the same book of Pioneer Reminiscences, Margaret Myers remembers an early visit to an Indian graveyard, located about four miles east of Ottawa (not the one at Tawa Run), and just "below" their house. Margaret states that there had "recently been an Indian buried there. They buried their dead by digging a grave about two feet deep and lining the sides and ends with puncheons. They then laid the corpse in with all the ornaments, covered it with another slab, then a pen of poles about two feet high and cobbed off to a point. Bark was then put over the pen and pinned down, so as to be secure. At the time I speak of my sister and I took a stick and pushed the bark to one side, so as the see in, when a very large black snake ran out. Or course we ran too…" (Putnam County Pioneer reminiscences, Putnam County Historical Society, 1981 Reproduction, p. 51). It is not mentioned whether any mounds or markers indicated the burial locations of the native inhabitants, but it is significant that the graveyard at the Pioneer Cemetery is the only one known in Putnam County that is not currently farmed or built upon. Many burials followed, and included some of the most prominent propel amongst the early settlers -- Ridenours, Adgates, Rows, and Galbreaths, among many others. At least "two veterans of the War of 1812 [are] buried in this cemetery" (Carroll, Audrey S., unpublished manuscript "United Brethren Cemetery or Pioneer Cemetery -- Ottawa, Ohio", 8 August 1983, p. 2). It is not known at this time whether veterans of any other armed conflicts of the United States are buried at the Pioneer Cemetery. At the cemetery became more crowded, the Pomeroy, or Ottawa, Cemetery was established in South Ottawa on June 12, 1857 under the name of "Ottawa Cemetery". According to a newspaper article from May 9, 1952, "The property was deeded to the association by C.T. and Julia Pomeroy, and was recorded the following year by William Alt, recorder of Putnam county." ("Pomeroy Cemetery Association To Meet", Putnam County Sentinel, May 9, 1952. Burials continue to be performed at the Pioneer Cemetery up through at least the end of the 1800's. It is possible that the people of the Village chose to close their Pioneer Cemetery to coincide with the closure of the Pioneer Cemetery in Glandorf, Ohio (Carroll, Audrey S., unpublished manuscript "United Brethren Cemetery or Pioneer Cemetery -- Ottawa, Ohio", 8 August 1983, p. 1). However, at some point earlier -- the date is not certain -- the EUB Church in Ottawa began using the Pioneer Cemetery as ground for burials from their sect. The Pioneer Cemetery came to be known around this time by the third of its formal names, the United Brethren Cemetery, although it is not known if the cemetery was reserved solely for EUB members. The WPA Cemetery Plat Book for Putnam County, Ohio, officially listed the cemetery as the United Brethren Cemetery (Carroll, Audrey S., unpublished manuscript "United Brethren Cemetery or Pioneer Cemetery -- Ottawa, Ohio", 8 August 1983, p. 2). The site appears to have been abandoned -- perhaps coincidentally -- at roughly the same time the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Ottawa disbanded. It may be possible to trace some of this information through the Methodist Church, since, when the United Brethren disbanded, their church membership was incorporated into the Ottawa United Methodist Church. According to Reverend Jim Miller of the Trinity United Methodist Church, normal church protocol would have demanded that the records of the EUB church should have been sent to the United Methodist Archives Center when the churches merged; it is not known whether this action was taken, however. The current location (1998) of the United Methodist Archives Center is at Beezhly Library on the campus of Ohio Weslyan University. Susan Cohen was the curator in 1998, and the hours of operation of this center are weekdays from 9:00 2:15 p.m. Phone: 614-368-3285, fax: 614-368-3222. ************************************************************************ 1894 Map of Ottawa courtesy of Putnam County Surveyor's Office ************************************************************************ ************************************************************************ "United Brethren Church, Ottawa, O. 1899" Photo courtesy Putnam County District Library ************************************************************************ The original church building for the EUB Church -- the first church built in Ottawa -- still stands on Route 65, also known as Elm Street. It is in commercial use, but has no identifying marker and there has been no mention in Putnam County of the origin of the building. The building, built in 1848, located between 3rd and 4th Street on elm, is home to the local offices of Time-Warner Cable. It has also been used as a needlework shop, the offices of Center Corp., and a private residence. In the1899 photo reproduced here, the building was in an obvious state of decay. The Putnam County Pioneer Association Centennial History 1873-1973 indicates "The first church organized in Ottawa was the United Brethren in 1837. A frame church was erected in 1846 on Elm Street between Third and Fourth Streets. It was still in use in 1915 but the date of abandonment has not been determined." (Putnam County Pioneer Association Centennial History 1873-1973, pp. 85-86). However, in 1934, this building was not being used for services. (Sommers, Ed, Putnam County Centennial History 1834-1934, p. 23). Over the years since it was last used for burials, the Pioneer Cemetery has fallen into neglect. For many years, the title to the property was unclear, and until this technical matter was cleared no work could progress on the property, no matter how well intentioned or well-organized the efforts. The poor state of the cemetery was outlined by Audrey S. Carroll on December 4, 1971: Photos taken in 1971 by Audrey Stauffer Carroll, in possession of Laura Wilson-Perry (p. 4) The cemetery has a few forest trees remaining in it, but mostly, the cemetery is a tangled mess of scrub growth, briars, fallen trees, intertwined honeysuckle and wild grape vines. No one, from any road or street, would ever guess that a cemetery is located here. For how many years it has been totally neglected, I would hesitate to venture a guess. I took some slides of the cemetery and copied what inscriptions I could make out. Children have built "houses" and hide-a-ways in the cemetery. There are several long, rather deep holes, overgrown with vines and weeds, where graves must have been removed 50 or 60 years ago. There is not a single stone standing erect. There are remnants of perhaps 15 stones scattered throughout the area. Others are partially covered by debris. (Unpublished notes from 1971 of Audrey Stauffer Carroll, currently in the possession of Alice Stauffer Wilson) The forest growth and vegetation described by Mrs. Carroll in 1971 had, by 1998, become large-diameter saplings, very thick grape vines entwined with honeysuckle, and dense -- at times practically impassible -- ground cover and poison ivy. Before the current restoration project began, the Lexington Arm Apartments could not be seen from the rear of the property, even though the distance was 110 feet at the minimum, and 185 feet at the maximum. Sunlight did not reach the ground in summer at all, and a person walking in the underbrush was as likely as not to bark shins against fallen trees and upended tombstones. In addition, elongated pits pocked the property, most between 1 and 2 feet deep, and probably located where graves had subsided over the years. This surface pitting has been a constant source of injury, and it seems surprising no bones have been broken in falls into them. In two locations it appears digging has taken place, possibly leading to the removal of grave contents; one of the two locations even contained the remains of an old shovel, along with assorted accumulated junk. Broken bottles, beer and soda cans, and discarded rubbish including used condoms and bedsprings littered the site. The houses and hideaways mentioned in Mrs. Carroll's narrative were to the west of the actual boundaries of the cemetery, but still exist today. There is indication that many of the children's "fortifications" are of recent construction, as well as those, which continue to deteriorate from a considerably earlier time. There is also evidence of makeshift bonfires in both the cemetery and the surrounding properties. To the west of the cemetery, between the railroad tracks and the western cemetery boundary, are several interesting structures. In a very large, old tree, approximately 100 feet up, is what remains of a tree house of indeterminate age. A ladder had at one time been hammered into the tree with discarded rail spikes, and while most of the board rungs climbing to the house are no longer present, the spikes remain in the tree, testament to children's ingenuity and determination. In Mound at southwest corner of cemetery, addition, earthworks can be readily December 1997 seen in the fall and winter months. These earthworks are in the form of two side-by-side squares with interiors sunken perhaps 2 feet into the ground. A review of early maps shows that Standard Oil had what appear to be two large oil tanks present on the property. Other structures which may be associated with the Standard Oil bulk facility on the south side of the Tawa, nearly due south of the earthworks, include a long raised area of ground which leads from the area of the earthworks and ends very close to the Run. There is also what may be a sluice or perhaps abutments for a small bridge just west of the southwestern most point of the cemetery. At southwest corner of the cemetery there is a mound, nearly 4 feet high, of shattered bricks. Inside this mound is a recessed area of mortar and brick construction. Its previous use is not currently known. 1908 J. T. Maidlow Map of Ottawa, O. courtesy of the Putnam County Surveyor's Office (p. 6) In the above map, note the cemetery, the structures to the west and south of the cemetery, and the location of the United Brethren Church, shown as a long horizontal box at the alley between Third and Fourth Streets east of Elm. Note the changes from the previous map to the cemetery and structures surrounding the cemetery. The structure which had been the UB Church is still noted as such, though it is known that the building was not in use as a church at this time. 1949 Map of Ottawa, Ohio, courtesy of the Putnam County Surveyor's office. Audrey Carroll, in her December 4, 1971 description, states, "the cemetery is bordered on the north by the Lexington Arms Apartments and an open field, extending beyond the apartments to the west to the Baltimore and Ohio R. R. tracks. On the east, there is an open field, which borders St. R. 109 on Locust Street. On the south, is St. Peter's and Paul's parochial school. To the west, are the B & O R. R. tracks." The actual cemetery boundaries were found by going to the 1984 survey and finding the survey pins, which were in place at that time. It has been found that the cemetery is smaller than many of the people who have worked on it in the past believed, and it is probable that many have perceived an overwhelming sense of the size of the job based on the larger boundaries described in Audrey Carroll's report. Indeed, this perception has likely been one of the main causes for the failure of previous restoration projects to get off the ground. In actuality, the cemetery is approximately ¼ the size it appears to be at first glance. It is bordered on the north by Lexington Arms and an open field. However, the west side of the cemetery does not extend to the railroad tracks; the property line is actually 80 feet east of the right-of-way for the B & O Railroad. The south boundary basically follows the top of the ravine, which marks the flood plain of the Tawa. The east boundary is most quickly found at this time as being a few feet east of the east side of the Lexington Arms' dumpster enclosure. The cemetery had not been completely forgotten in the intervening years, however. Copy of 1984 survey courtesy of the Village of Ottawa, Clerk-Treasurer's Office, 1998. (p. 8) After a failed attempt to renovate the cemetery for the nation's Bicentennial year, interest was renewed in the rehabilitation of the cemetery with a 1983 Letter to the Editor written by then-student Melissa Beckman, and a Sentinel Opinion response to her letter. As she stated, The shocking thing about this graveyard, which is located in the small woods between the Saints Peter and Paul School and the Kreinbrink apartments, is the fact that it is being desecrated daily and nobody seems to care, if they even know about it. Headstones have been pushed over and broken apart. There are even signs that somebody tried to dig one of the graves up. If any of these acts were to be done in a church cemetery it would be charged as a felony, punishable by a find, yet it goes unpunished in this cemetery… (Putnam County Sentinel, August 10, 1983) The Sentinel supported Ms. Beckman's strong call with the following statement: …In spite of the plea, and a halfhearted start, which got nowhere during the 1976 Bicentennial year, nothing has ever been done. The problem appears to be that in spite of the interest, everyone wants someone else to do the restoration work. The graveyard has been abandoned for generations, and neither the Putnam County, Ottawa Township nor the village of Ottawa really wants to take responsibility. The restoration work probably would take more muscle than money to accomplish. Possibly it is time that those who want to see it done get together and do it. (Putnam County Sentinel, Wednesday, August 10, 1983) By September of 1983, Ms. Beckman's letter has attracted the interest of the Village Council, according to a Putnam County Sentinel article: …The VFW has expressed an interest in cleaning up the old pioneer cemetery located off Locust Street behind Sts. Peter and Paul School. Mayor Macke read a letter from Lila Stauffer requesting a commitment from the village to maintain the site if the work was done. Macke requested Frank Sunderhaus of the VFW to appear before council to discuss the project. The cemetery was given by the Hubbard family with a right of way across the railroad tracks. There were no tracks at that time. (Putnam County Sentinel, 28 September 1983, p. 1) In December of that same year, the Village Council agreed to accept the deed to the cemetery. Plans were made for the VFW to proceed with rehabilitation plans. Frank Sunderhaus did appear, along with "George Miller, state commander, and several members...to discuss the proposed restoration of the site. The VFW was willing to clean up the cemetery and place a rail fence around it…Dennis Kreinbrink has granted the VFW access through the Lexington Arms apartments grounds for the clean up work, but Kreinbrink feels it would be a problem for his tenants to allow the general public to use the driveways to the site. Councilman Charles Bruskotter suggested a foot path across the railroad on the original right of was from Defiance Street, if that right of way meets an existing street or alley…" (Putnam County Sentinel, 14 December 1983). A review of early maps of the Village shows that the right-of-way from the cemetery does appear to meet with the alley abutting the railroad tracks between Sixth and Seventh Streets. According to the records, in January 1984, the deed to the cemetery property was finally and officially handed over from the United Methodist Church to the Village of Ottawa, in whose ownership it currently resides. However, none of the plans expressed in 1983 took shape. In 1985, Dave Westrick of the Sentinel revisited the issue in his article of September 4 of that year on the historical significance of Putnam County cemeteries. He introduced the Pioneer Cemetery in the following language: Probably the most disturbing example of neglect and vandalism is the United Bretheren (sic) Cemetery located almost in the heart of Ottawa. The oldest cemetery in Ottawa, it is the resting place of several of the community's first citizens. Only about four stones remain and most of them have been toppled. Located between Lexington Arms apartments and Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic church, the wooded area is lined with several footpaths used by children. Broken toys and the remains of a tree house attest to the use of the area as a secret playground. Vandals have demonstrated a contempt for the tombstones which would enrage a genealogist. The dates of birth and death have been scratched off almost all the remaining stones… (Putnam County Sentinel, 4 September 1985). On April 26, 1988, Audrey Stauffer Carroll contacted then-Mayor Edelbrock to "ask him what happened to his effort and Frank Sunderhaus' effort and the VFW to restore the first cemetery in Ottawa, O.; the cemetery where the families of Ottawa's founders in 1933-34 were buried…In 1984 on the occasion of the 150 anniversary of the settling of Ottawa…the VFW, under the leadership of Edelbrock and Sunderhaus were going to clean up this cemetery and put a fence around it so it could no longer be vandalized…Mr. Edelbrock said on Tuesday, April 26, 1988 that he didn't know what happened, that the project ‘just kinda ran out of steam'…Mr. Edelbrock [suggested] that the Kiwanis might take it as a project…" (Unpublished notes dated April 26, 1988 of Audrey Stauffer Carroll, currently in the possession of Laura Wilson- Perry) Once again, the restoration project was left in limbo. Then, in 1989, Lila Stauffer wrote an article -- one in her continuing series about Putnam County and it's history -- about the Pioneer Cemetery. In it she gave a clear history of the cemetery's recent restoration blues. She also called for the acknowledgement of the cemetery's veterans, of which there are three known to exist, including a veteran of the War of 1812. (Stauffer, Lila, "They Also Served", Putnam County Sentinel, May 24, 1988). Once again, nothing was done, and in June 1996 Lila Stauffer passed away, six months before her sister, Audrey Stauffer Carroll. Both had hoped so seriously and had lobbied so strenuously for something to be done. These two elderly women would have done to great lengths to see this project completed, yet they never even saw it off the ground. The restoration efforts have passed to yet another generation of folk. After years of neglect, a couple from Tennessee decided to add some brawn to the mix and spent their two-week summer vacation clearing the cemetery. Alex and Laura (Wilson) Perry (Laura is the granddaughter of Alice Stauffer Wilson of Ottawa and the grand-niece of the late Lila Stauffer and Audrey Stauffer Carroll) worked 4 to 7 hours a day doing the heavy work of clearing the cemetery of years of accumulated underbrush and junk -- everything smaller than the diameter of Laura's wrist was cut down and moved to the perimeter of the area. As a result, it is now, as of July 1998, cleared to bare ground across the entire cemetery, excepting a tiny segment in the northwest corner, and portions of the extremely dense ground cover in the southwestern corner. More stones than have ever been know by current generation to exist have been uncovered. Much work remains to be done, but the worst is in the past now. It is up to the people of Ottawa to finish the job. Synopsis of the Current Efforts When the current (1998) efforts were undertaken to clean the cemetery grounds, village officials were informed of the effort and the Ottawa Police were made aware activity would be occurring on the property. It should also be taken into consideration that future workers should also be cognizant of the questions and concerns of surrounding property owners. It should be noted that the current access to the property, off the back parking lot at Lexington Arms Apartments, is on private property, and permission should be sought by the property owner before further extensive work progresses on the cemetery. It will be important to the future of this cemetery to both maintain good relations with the property owner at Lexington Arms and to create as little disturbance as possible to the tenants residing there. Temporary access via the parking area has not been a problem to this point, and the owner of the Lexington Arms has been very kind to allow access in small doses. However, until permanent access is established, this will be a source of ongoing concern for all parties. Volunteer work began on Tuesday, July 7, 1998, with the establishment of the surveyed boundaries of the cemetery proper, as taken from the January 1984 survey of the cemetery. Stakes from a prior survey were located in the northwest, northeast, and southeast corners. However, the spike for the southwest corner could not be found, and the point was determined by compass and angle references against the other survey points. In order to run colored twine from each of the boundaries, saplings and underbrush had to be cleared from the property lines, mainly by hand saw and brush clippers. Once the boundary was established it was determined that the first thing to be done was to drag all fallen logs and loose brush to the edges of the property, creating a "natural" fence, clear demarcation of the property, and light deterrent to vandals. A previous fence of wood post and wire was found in place on the ground along the north side of the cemetery, and there was indication in at least one of the larger trees on the south property line that a line of some fashion had been wrapped around it many years earlier. The temporary entrance to the cemetery was artificially placed on Wednesday, July 8, behind the Lexington Arms apartments near a light post as further deterrent to unwanted activity. After the brush was cleared, the next thing that had to be done to the cemetery grounds was to remove all saplings and trees with diameters of less than approximately 4 inches, as well as all dead trees. This was undertaken on Thursday and Friday, July 9 and 10. As trees and bushes came down, more and more headstones and headstone fragments were found, scattered throughout the cemetery. Whenever possible they were left in place where they were found, to be mapped at a later time. On Saturday. July 11, work progressed on clearing undergrowth from the area, and orange spray paint was used to circle every headstone fragment unearthed. Throughout this time, only two people worked on this project, mostly with hand tools, although a chain saw was donated to the effort and an electric weed trimmer and blower were placed in service on Saturday. Between 150 and 200 trees, bushes and saplings were removed to make movement around the property practicable. Little work was done on Sunday so as to give the tenants at the Lexington Arms apartments a rest from the activity and noise of the project. Monday through Wednesday were spent clearing the ground cover from the site, with the exception of the heavily-covered southwest portion. The rough work was done with rakes and pitchforks, followed by a leaf blower to clear the ground. It was with these implements that additional headstones were located. Three headstones were found underground, completely covered by dirt. One was found by clunking against it with a pitchfork, one by tripping over a small exposed corner of it, and one by blowing the loose dirt from it's face. Of these, one was completely and wholly intact; the other two were large fragments of stone with some writing. It is highly probable that additional stones can and will be found as the surface dirt weathers, and others will likely be found through the use of a sounding instrument (low-tech method -- poke a rod with a metal end into the ground every 6 inches or so, listening for the clank of metal against stone -- a pitchfork would work nicely). Thursday was spent recording what information could be gleaned from the stones, and writing this report. Headstones Found in Cemetery The following headstones and headstone fragments were found in the cemetery proper. Other fragments are likely to be located outside the bounded area. Adgate, James F. and Sarah Adgate Stone -- 1996 Adgate Stone -- 1998 (p. 11) In 1996 a large log was rotting across the top of this stone and could not be moved. However, in the work accomplished in July 1998, the log was removed from the face of the stone and enabled the stone to be read in its entirety. Note the poison ivy to the bottom left of the 1998 photo -- a liberal spraying for poison ivy would be a huge help to future cleanup efforts. This stone reads: JAMES F. ADGATE DIED AUG. 23, 1851 AGED 55 YRS 10 MOS 3 D *** SARAH HIS WIFE DIED JAN 26 1858 AGED 39 YRS 6 M According to the 1880 Putnam County, Ohio Atlas, p. 193, "Ottawa Township, organized the first Monday of Marsh 1835. The first officers were: Trustees -- George Agner, William Galbreath, and James Adgate…" The Putnam County Pioneer Reminiscences give additional information of James Adgate: In the spring of 1834, William Galbreath, Michael Row, Henry Ridenour, Jonathon Nicholas, James F. Adgate and others moved into the township… In the spring of 1835, I [Stansbury Sutton] was employed by James F. Adgate to hew puncheons. He was a bachelor; his stock of bread having been exhausted, he tried his hand at baking. When I was called to dinner he had all things ready, neatly and tidily arranged on the clapboards laid on two sleepers. The bread consisted of a loaf about 2 ½ inches thick, having been baked in a dutch-oven. We took our seats, he then took the bread to break it and had around, this he failed to do, then reaching for his butcher-knife, he placed the loaf against his breast, with knife in one hand he tried to cut it with all the force he could use, he only marked it. Looking at it for a moment with considerable astonishment, he coolly remarked, "I'll bust you." Suiting his action to his word, he laid the loaf on the sleeper, taking his chopping axe, with an over-handed blow, he sunk the bit halfway through and it parted; looking at it he remarked. "If I had known what you was I should have saved you for a grindstone." Shortly after this occurrence, he found a lady who became his wife, who baked the bread to the satisfaction of all concerned. (Putnam County Pioneer Reminiscences, Book One, 1981 Reproduction, pp. 38-39). No background information other than this offhand reference to baking skills could readily be found for Sarah. However, a second stone at the site appears to also be for Sarah, wife of James Adgate. Many people have erroneously assumed this stone to be for a daughter of James Adgate: This stone reads: SARAH Wife of J.F. ADGATE DIED Jan 26, 185_ Aged 39 y 6 m 1 d The break in this stone is Fully split as of 1998 and Has grass and weeds growing Through it. (p. 12) Galbreath, Chester, Ulysses, and Willie S. (photo, p. 13) This stone, made of heavy solid granite, is approximately 3 ½ feet tall. It is extremely difficult for two people to move; whether there are inscriptions on all sides has not been determined. The inscriptions which have been found are: WILLIE S. ULYSSES CHESTER SON OF GALBREATH GALBREATH T. J. & S. DIED DIED GALBREATH OCT. 29, 1867 NOV. 11, 1888 DIED AGED AGED MAR 26, 1867 3 Y. 8 M. 6 D. 20 Y. 9 M. 20 D. AGED 4 M. 19 D. We all fade as the leaf… . According to the 1880 Putnam County Atlas, p. 200, William B. Galbreath was born to Thomas J. and Sarah A. (Morris) Galbreath on November 6, 1866. Ulysses was born on February 14, 1864. Chester, however, lived to become a young man, and on page 48 of the 1895 Putnam County Atlas is listed as having graduated from the Ottawa High School Class of 1887. His name is listed as Chester K. Galbreath, and he was born on January 23, 1868. Galbreath, William and Mary (photos, p. 14) From left to right: left side -- William Galbreath; face -- Mother and Father; right side -- Mary Galbreath This stone is severely damaged, most likely by vandals. However, most of the pertinent information is legible: WILLIAM MARY GALBREATH Wife of DIED W. GALBREATH SEPT 21, 1877 DIED AGED OCT. 2, 1874 83 Y __ M AGED 78 YEARS According to Audrey Stauffer Carroll, the Putnam County Pioneer Association's First Secretary's Book contains the following brief synopsis of William Galbreath's life: "William Galbreath, born 18 June 1794, in Westmoreland Co., Pennsyvania; came to Putnam County, Ohio (Ottawa) 16 November 1834; died 21 September 1877 and is interred in the Old Cemetery of Ottawa; he was a soldier (of the War of 1812) under General Harrison." (Carroll, Audrey S., United Brethren or the Pioneer Cemetery -- Ottawa, Ohio, p. 8). William Galbreath's story in the Pioneer Reminiscences is a long and fascinating one. He tells of leaving Fort Findlay and taking two days to reach Ottawa with a team of four horses and two oxen. William had to cut his way through dense brush and miring mud, and arrived in Ottawa to find that he had to make temporary lodgings in a "red man's house". Additional information on William Galbreath can be found in the 1880 Putnam County Atlas on page 20 under Thomas Galbreath's biography, and, in the 1895 Putnam County Atlas on pages 188 and 193. Mary Galbreath is listed under her son's biography as having the maiden name of Morris (1880 Putnam County Atlas, p. 20). No other mention could be found of her. Row, Hannah M. (photo, p. 15) This severely damaged stone was only located with this (1998) cleaning effort; it is broken in three places and is lying on the ground. It reads: HANNAH WIFE OF MICHAEL ROW DIED JUNE 17, 1870 AGED _2 Y 1 M 22 D According to the 1880 Putnam County Atlas, p. 205, Michael and Hannah Row were the parents of Nelson Row. Hannah's maiden name here was listed as Galbreath. On page 193 of the same atlas, appears the following information: Ottawa Township, organized the first Monday of March, 1835, held the first election at Michael Row's, April 6, 1835. The first officers were: …Treasurer: Michael Row; …Supervisors: Michael Row and William Galbreath; …Fence Viewer -- Michael Row and Samuel Runyon… The first hewed house in Ottawa was built by Michael Row and the first frame house by William Williams, the siding being made of clapboards neatly shaved and jointed… The 1895 Putnam County Atlas adds the following information from page 33: Michael Row built the first house in which he opend the first tavern, (a hewed-log house) located on lot No. 57, in the fall of 1834, this was the centre of the town plat. Mr. Row came to Ottawa with his family in the spring of 1834. From the time of their arrival until the time that they moved into their new house, they resided in the old Tawa Council House, located on what is known as Indian Green, north of Tawa creek… …The first election was held at Michael Row's tavern… The Row House still stands today, on its original site. No other information could be found about Hannah Row, wife of Michael Ro. However, Michael Row is mentioned in passing in Book One of the Pioneer Reminiscences. Talbott, Orlando (photo p. 17) This stone was newly-discovered on Wednesday, July 15, 1998 near the artificially-placed entrance to the Pioneer Cemetery. It was completely buried at the beginning of the clearing project. However, by the Wednesday a tiny portion of the top of the stone weathered out and tripped one of the workers. It is only newly-discovered stone to be found intact. Little is known about the Talbott family to which this child belonged. The stone reads as follows: (photo p. 17) (lamb carving) ORLANDO Son of E. W. & S. TALBOTT Died Oct. 20, 1868 AGED 1 Yr 2 M 13 D Williamson, Mary R. (photo p. 18) This stone fragment was located on Wednesday, July 15, 1998, when the electric leaf blower which was being used blew the loose dirt from the reverse side of the stone. It was near another grouping of stones which had been previously enumerated, just off one of the main paths. However, the undergrowth was quite thick in the area and obscured its position. It reads: MARY Daut of T. & E. Williamson DIED (J)an 13 ____ ___pbell (photo p. 19) This difficult-to-read was found in the middle of a grouping of other stones. However, it had not been turned over, and flipping it revealed the following information: ___PBELL died Feb 1 1851 (?) Aged 78 Yrs 6 M 18 Days Mary E and __SEPH C. (photo p. 19) These stone fragments were found side by side in deep leaves and underbrush on Thursday, July 9, 1998. The only information legible on them at this time is MARY E and __SEPH C. Mary E. may be the daughter of Thomas and Sarah Galbreath. That Mary was born Nov 3, 1869. Additional Fragments Found May 16, 1860 Aged 6 Ms. (photo p. 20) H & M H.R _3 Yrs 4 Ms. & 3 Ds. SMR Ottawa, O M. R. W. Missing Stones Many other stone fragments were found, as well as additional bases without stones. The following burials are known to have occurred at this cemetery, but no stones have been found for them at this time. Some of the following information is from previous enumerations: Galbreath, Ezekial (photo p. 20) Died Jul 27, 1858 Aged 27 Y 10 M 20 D Found by Audrey S. Carroll in 1971. Galbreath, Thomas (Hand pointing heavenward) Found by Audrey S. Carroll in 1971. Huber, John Listed as the first white man buried in this cemetery -- it is not known whether a stone existed for him. Ridenour, Henry The following information on Henry Ridenour was taken from Audrey Stauffer Carroll's handwritten notes in the possession of Laura Wilson-Perry: Henry Ridenour, son of John and Christina Ridenour U. B. Cemetery, Ottawa, O Lot No 17 Grave No. 2 Marker upright in 1957, according to Ruth (Mrs. Russell) Rumbaugh, 2775 Hadsell Road, Lima, O. No trace of this stone 1971 Henry Ridenour, War of 1812 Enlisted: 7 May 1813 Discharged: 5 Sept 1813 Branch of Service -- Army Rank -- Lieutenant in Captain Richard Hooker's Co. b. 17 March 1788. Father -- Rev. War soldier John Ridenour and family came to Putnam County (according to 1880 Atlas) in 1826. Henry Ridenour is buried in the U. B. Cemetery, Ottawa, O. Henry Ridenour is a son of John Ridenour, b. 17 March 1788, d. 17 Sept. 1846, Putnam County, O. John Ridenour is Mrs. Russell Rumbaugh's great- grandfather. She has not been able to find where John Ridenour is buried. Mrs. Ruth Rumbaugh gave me [Audrey Stauffer Carroll] the above picture of Henry Ridenour's gravestone. Row, Hannah M. Dau of N & EA Row Died Aug 2, 1862 Aged 2 y 2 m 6 d Found by Audrey S. Carroll in 1971 Not to be confused with the Hannah Row stone mentioned earlier. Simms, A J Listed in the Soldiers' Burials list on microfilm at the Putnam County District Library Army, buried in Lot No 35