Simpson Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery

Today's Walk Through the Tombstones is at Simpson Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery in Bloomington, Indiana.  It is located just off of North State Road 37.

GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 39.28004, Longitude: -86.52478

This cemetery is located around the Simpson Chapel Methodist Church and was established in 1857.   There are just over 500 interments for this cemetery.  We visited on August 23, 2015.  The oldest section of the cemetery is the part closest to the church and it radiates out from there.

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Our first stop is at the grave of Corporal John Emery Bastin.

Born: December 15, 1838, Adair County, Kentucky
Died: April 24, 1892, Monroe County, Indiana

His parents were Hiram H. Bastin (1814-1872) and Mary Ann Loveall Bastin (1822-1891).  They are both buried in Simpson Chapel Methodist Cemetery.  Their last name is spelled Bastian on the headstone.

He had at least two siblings, of which he was the oldest:
Johnathon Harvey Bastin (1841-1911) - buried in Simpson Chapel Methodist Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana.
Sarah E. Taylor (1843-1919) - buried in Mount Olive Fairview Cemetery, Morgan County, Indiana.

He was married to Mary Jane Holsapple Bastin (1839-1918).  She is buried in Simpson Chapel Methodist Cemetery as well.

They had at least one child:
Ulysses Grant Bastin (1868-1936) - buried in Hindustan Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana.

His headstone says that he served in the Civil War in the 87th Indiana Infantry, Company B, as a Corporal.  Unfortunately, I have not been able to find his name in any of the records for the 87th Indiana Infantry.  I have found reference to a John E. Bartin in the 67th Indiana Infantry.  It is possible that his name was spelled wrong in the records.  Since his brother served in the 67th Indiana Infantry it is likely that this entry would be for John Emery Bastin.  He is listed as having mustered in on August 19, 1862 and then out on July 19, 1865.

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Here we have the grave of Johnathon Harvey Bastin.

Born:  January 22, 1841, Kentucky
Died: May 11, 1911, Monroe County, Indiana

His parents were Hiram H. Bastin (1814-1872) and Mary Ann Loveall Bastin (1822-1891).  They are both buried in Simpson Chapel Methodist Cemetery.  Their last name is spelled Bastian on the headstone.

He had at least two siblings, of which he was the oldest:
John Emery Bastin (1838-1892) - buried in Simpson Chapel Methodist Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana.
Sarah E. Taylor (1843-1919) - buried in Mount Olive Fairview Cemetery, Morgan County, Indiana.

He was married to Minerva Jane Williams Bastin (?-?).  I am unsure as to where she is buried.

They had at least two children:
Sarah Elizabeth Bastin Cook (1866-1939) - buried in New Salem Baptist Church Cemetery, Morgan County, Indiana.
Ed Bastin (1879-1956) - buried in Scottsburg Cemetery, Scott County, Indiana.

He served in the 67th Indiana Infantry, Company B, in the Civil War.  He is listed as having mustered in on August 19, 1862 and then out on June 30, 1865.  He had the rank of Private.

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We now stop at the grave of Doctor Henry V. Creagar.

Born: April 7, 1871
Died: November 7, 1892

He was the son of William Henry Creagar (1844-1929) and Lucinda Smith Creagar (1852-1932).  They are both buried in Payne Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana.










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Here we have the grave of Louisa A. Dearmin.

Born: unknown
Died: March 1, 1874

She was the wife of Doctor John Dearmin (?-?).  I am unsure as to where he is buried or whether or not they had any children.










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Here is the grave of Stephen R. Elliott.

Born: Unknown
Died: Unknown

He served in the Civil War in the 67th Indiana Infantry, Company B, as a Private.  He mustered into service on August 19, 1862 and out on July 19, 1865.










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Here we have the grave of Hiram Fox.

Born: August 1804
Died: September 5, 1896














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This is the grave of Mary A. Gaskins.

Born: unknown
Died: August 4, 1880

She has an open book on the face of her headstone which would imply that she was a religious person.











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Here is the grave of Hosea Gaskins.

Born: July 17, 1841
Died: March 12, 1885

He may be the husband of Mary A. Gaskins (?-1880) who is buried near him.  

There is a flag next to his grave, but I haven't found any notation that he was in the war.








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This is the grave of John Hupp.

Born: November 30, 1812, Kentucky
Died: November 23, 1889


He was the husband of Maria H. Ewing Hupp (1822-1890).  Her name is carved into the other side of the headstone.










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Here is the grave of Francis P. Long.

Born: unknown
Died: April 6, 1871














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Here we have the McNeely headstone.

On the left of the headstone is Maranda Ellett McNeely.

Born: March 24, 1827, Indiana
Died: July 5, 1901, Monroe County, Indiana

On the right is her husband, Andrew Jackson McNeely.

Born: February 2, 1820, Washington County, Indiana
Died: 1884, Monroe County, Indiana.  

His parents were Robert McNeely (1774-1858) and his mother was Susannah Evans McNeely (1778-1838).  They are both buried in Prowsville Cemetery, Washington County, Indiana.

He had several siblings of which he was the youngest:
Rebecca McNeely Phipps (1797-1868) - buried in Saltillo Cemetery, Washington County, Indiana.
Rachel McNeely Scott (1800-1887) -  buried in Hazelwood Cemetery, Greene County, Indiana.
William McNeely (1803-1874) - buried in Old Simpson Chapel Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana.
Frances L. McNeely Stewart (1817-1892) - buried in Marengo Cemetery, Crawford County, Indiana.

I found it interesting that both of their burial sites are surrounded by roofed iron fences.  I am not sure of the significance of these structures.

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Here is the grave of Charles N. Smith.

Born: 1888
Died: 1960

He was a member of the State Militia in 1906.

There is a lovely dove carved into the top of his headstone.










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Here is the grave of George L. Smith.

Born: October 24, 1845
Died: December ?

The dates for his death are rubbed off and hard to read.  It almost looks like they were carved after the fact and not as deeply into the stone.  

His wife, Emily Stone (?-1879), is shown on the opposite side of the stone.

There is a flag next to his grave, but I am not sure about his service.




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Our final stop today is at the grave of John A. Smith.

Born: January 1836
Died: 1906, Monroe County, Indiana

He was the son of William Robert "Billy" Smith (1796-?) and Sarah Bracken Smith (1797-?).  His father is buried in the Old Simpson Chapel Cemetery, but his mother's burial location is unknown.

He had several siblings:
Betsy Smith Sheppard (?-?) - unknown
Minerva Smith Warsing Fisher (?-?) - unknown
James M. Smith (1820-1897) - buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana.
Thomas Smith (1822-?) - unknown
William Smith (1823-?) - unknown
Jefferson Smith (1824-?) - unknown
Mark R. Smith (1828-?) - unknown
Mary A. Smith Robinson (1831-?) - unknown 
Asbury Smith (1834-?) - unknown
Rachel Smith McLemore Martin (1838-1878) - buried in Hindustan Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana.
Sarah Smith McPike (1840-?) - unknown

He was married to Euphemia Ann Wright Smith (1849-1927).  She is buried in Simpson Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery near him.

They had eight children:
William F. Smith (1869-1872) - buried in Simpson Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana.
Cora A. Smith Barnes (1871-1947) - buried in Hindustan Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana.
Minnie B. Smith Hathaway Fesler (1874-?) - unknown
Edgar B. Smith (1876-?) - buried in Simpson Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana.
Robert Oscar Smith (1879-1862) - buried in Hindustan Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana.
Grace K. Smith Houston (1885-?) - unknown
John A. Smith (1888-1957) - buried in New South Park Cemetery, Morgan County, Indiana (he is listed as having worked at the Ford Motor Company in Detroit, Michigan sometime after 1910).
Clarence E. "Pete" Smith (1896-1989) - buried in Simpson Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana (he was a World War 1 Naval Veteran)

He served in the Civil War in the 67th Indiana Infantry, Company B, as a Private.  He mustered into service on August 19, 1862 and out on July 19, 1865.

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I hope that you have enjoyed your walk through Simpson Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery.

If you have any questions or information on any of the graves listed here, please let me know.

Visit the listing at Find-A-Grave.