Beech Grove Cemetery

 Today's Walk Through the Tombstones is at Beech Grove Cemetery in Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana.

GPS Coordinates:  38.85860, -86.49580

This is a large active cemetery just outside of downtown Bedford.  I haven't been able to figure out when it was established or, really, much information at all about the history of the cemetery.  It is a very lovely cemetery for the area that we drove around.  It was busy that day, so we didn't stick around for very long.  I took a few pictures near the entrance of the cemetery and the chapel.

The chapel is a bit of a mystery.  It was thought to have been a WPA project in the 1930s to be used as a public building.  Others have suggested that it may have been built during World War 1.  At this time, there is no concrete history of the building and the Lawrence County History Center is asking that anyone with any information to please contact them at president.lchgs@hpcisp.com.

Near the chapel is a very large, triangular shaped war memorial.  I snapped photos of the memorial, but not the single graves so I will be doing entries for as many as I can read.  As I noted earlier, it was busy that day and I didn't want to be in the way.

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Our first stop is at a series of markers in the Veterans Memorial area. These are not burials, but instead markers to honor those that served and died.   Unfortunately, since these are only cenotaphs, there may be no information about them at all.

The first marker (furthest right) is for William Holt.  Next to him is Robert E. Harrell and next to him is Lyman Coen.  I can find a listing for a burial in Beech Grove for a William Asa Holt, but I am not sure that this is him as that particular burial doesn't show anything about any war service.  There are no listings in Beech Grove for either Robert E. Harrell of Lyman Coen.

This series of markers is for (farthest right to left): Garth C. Davis, Guy K. Davis, Gerald Woodruff, and William Groseback.

Guy K. Davis

Born: January 1, 1894, Oolitic, Lawrence County, Indiana

Died: November 2, 1918, France

He was awarded the distinguished service cross for his actions during World War I.  A letter from the President dated July 9, 1918, posthumously awarded this cross to Guy Davis for the following: "After his platoon sergeant had become a casualty, he assumed command and led his men with marked personal bravery and skill, advancing under fire until he was mortally wounded."  He served as a Corporal in Company F, 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, American Expeditionary Forces in Villers-devant-Dun, France.

This series of markers is for (farthest right to left): Gerald Woodruff, William Groseback, Roy W. Barton and Grover Baldwin.

Grover Baldwin

Born: September 20, 1895, Mitchell, Lawrence County, Indiana

Died: October 14, 1918, France

His burial site is Freedom Cemetery, Mitchell, Lawrence County, Indiana.

This corner memorial is for Harley Halber Pope.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find any information about him at all.  

This series of markers is for (farthest right to left): Curtis E. Bex, Dewey L. King, Fred Eugene Bosh.

There is no information for any of them.

This series of markers is for (farthest right to left): Sherman R. Hawk, Charles E. Head.

Unfortunately, I didn't take the picture at a very good angle, so I can't read the last three stones. 

From left to right: John O. Nelson, Noble Blackwell.

Noble Blackwell

Born: April 22, 1896, Orleans, Orange County, Indiana

Died: October 7, 1918, Bret, Bretagne, France

He was the son of Robert Blackwell (1875-1961) and Lucy Dell Hall Blackwell (1872-1944).  His siblings included: Charlotte Mildred Blackwell Fender (1898-1979), Paul Francis Blackwell (1900-1974) and William Blackwell (1905-1980).  He entered into service on June 28, 1918 in the Radio Signal Corps, receiving his training at Purdue University.  He was assigned to the 13th Service Company.  While on board the ship, travelling across the Atlantic, he contracted influenza and died upon landing in France.  

From right to left: Carl Edward Anderson, Noble Bridges, Maurice Fish, Chester Tucker.

Sergeant Carl Edward Anderson

Born: August 30, 1893, Clear Creek, Monroe County, Indiana

Died: December 18, 1918, Yaphank, Suffolk County, New York

His actual burial is in Clear Creek Cemetery, Clear Creek, Monroe County, Indiana.

Private Noble Bridges.

Born: February 20, 1896, Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana

Died: October 7, 1918, Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio

He was the son of William Edgar Bridges (1869-1938) and Flora Wood Corbin Bridges (1873-1901).  His siblings include: Amy Gladys Bridges (1894-1894) and Freeland Bridges (1900-1979).  He was married to Ethel Grace Hainey Terrell (1897-1961) in 1915.  Noble was an employee of the Southeastern Railway Company before he entered service.  He was sent to Camp Sherman, Ohio where he was assigned to the 24th Company, 6th Training Battalion, 158th Depot Bridgade.  Before ever leaving Ohio, he contracted pneumonia and died.

From right to left: Roy E. Harding, Scott Wilbur Harvey, Paul Martin.

I didn't include the furthest right memorial as it is listed above.

From right to left: William Calomiris, John Johnston, Harry Alexander Niles, Hank M. Laux, R. N. Gyger

These are the photos that I took the day we were there.  So many of these men that served and died for our freedom are lost to memory.  Who were they?  Did they have families?  What did they enjoy doing in their free time?  We may never know.

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Here is the memorial stone for Lieutenant Martin.

Born: unknown

Died: unknown

The stone is so weathered and worn that it is almost impossible to read.  It appears to say Lieutenant J.W. Martin, but I can't be sure.  It is likely a Civil War stone, but the company and regiment are worn down.  I searched through the cemetery records, but couldn't find a Martin buried there that served in the Civil War.

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We now stop at the grave of Ann Oran Davis Batte Beaty.

Born: September 10, 1819, Franklin County, North Carolina

Died: April 21, 1880

She was the daughter of Susan Parker Kitchen Davis (1791-1863) and Wylie Oran Davis (?-?).  She is buried in Ferguson Cemetery, Lawrence County, Indiana, but I am not sure where he is buried.

She had one sibling that I found:

Lieutenant Colonel Henry Davis (1812-1887) - buried in Green Hill Cemetery, Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana (he served in both the Mexican War and the Civil War)

She had four children, though none with the husband listed below:

Orlando Batte (?-?) - burial unknown

Anastasia/Anastatia "Annie" O. Batte Short (1844-1922) - buried in Beech Grove Cemetery, Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana

Thomas Batte (1848-?) - 

Rinaldo H. Batte (1847-1924) - buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Oakland, Alameda County, California (he served in the Civil War, Company C, 82nd Indiana Infantry)

She was married on February 4, 1858 to James Beaty (1799-1874).  He is buried in Ferguson Cemetery, Lawrence County, Indiana and was his third wife.

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Buried next to her is her daughter Anastasia/Anastatia "Annie" O. Batte Short.

Born: July 16, 1844

Died: December 17, 1922

She was married to Hiram Short (?-?) on September 23, 1868 in Lawrence County, Indiana.

She had one daughter that I found:

Edith Short (1880-1904) - buried in Ridge Cemetery, Fremont, Douglas County, Nebraska (she is buried in a plot owned by the McPherson Women's Relief Corps; her mother is listed next to her, though she is not buried there.)

Her siblings are listed above.

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Here is the grave of Carrie Belle Lee Giles.

Born: December 3, 1862, Indiana

Died: January 19, 1947, Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, Florida

She was the daughter of Gilead P. Lee (1828-1889) and Eliza Jane Finley Lee (1829-1905).  Both are buried in Beech Grove Cemetery.

She had a couple of siblings:

Merrill Sylvester Lee (1857-1935) - buried in Johnson Cemetery, DeLeon Springs, Volusia County, Florida

Laura Lee Giles (?-1881) - buried in Beech Grove Cemetery, Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana

She was married to Judge Joseph Giles (1848-1928).  He is buried in Beech Grove Cemetery, Lawrence County, Indiana with his family.

They had two children that I found mention of:

Leah G. Giles McCoy (1883-1974) - buried in Columbus City Cemetery, Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana.

Mrs. Avis Griffley (?-?) - burial unknown

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This is the grave of Judge Joseph Giles.

Born: June 9, 1848, Lawrence County, Indiana

Died: July 24, 1928, Miami-Dade County, Florida

He was first married to Laura Lee Giles (?-1881), whose name is listed below his on the headstone.  She was Carrie's sister.

His second wife was Carrie Belle Lee Giles (1862-1947), whose name is listed on the reverse of the headstone.

He and Carrie had two children:

Leah G. Giles McCoy (1883-1974) - buried in Columbus City Cemetery, Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana.

Mrs. Avis Griffley (?-?) - burial unknown

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Here is the grave of Gilead P. Lee.

Born: December 18, 1828, Indiana

Died: June 13, 1889, Indiana

He was married to Eliza Jane Finley Lee, whose name is listed below his on the headstone.

Born: September 24, 1829

Died: May 9, 1905, DeLand, Vulosia County, Florida

They had three children:

Merrill Sylvester Lee (1857-1935) - buried in Johnson Cemetery, DeLeon Springs, Volusia County, Florida

Carrie Belle Lee Giles (1862-1947) - buried in Beech Grove Cemetery, Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana

Laura Lee Giles (?-1881) - buried in Beech Grove Cemetery, Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana

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This is the grave of Robert "Bobbie" E. Malott.

Born: April 1860

Died: June 23, 1864

He was the young son of Thomas Hiram Malott (1838-1911) and Rachel Ann Campbell Malott (1839-1875).  She is buried in Beech Grove Cemetery while he is buried in Abilene Cemetery, Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas with his second wife.  He was the founder of Citizens Bank along with his son Michael.

He had several siblings:

Volney Malott (1863-1896) - buried in Abilene Cemetery, Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas 

Michael H. Malott (1865-1952) - buried in Abilene Cemetery, Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas

Nellie B. Malott (1869-1891) - buried in Abilene Cemetery, Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas

Mrs. Jessie Malott Davis (1872-1907) - buried in Las Animas Cemetery, Las Animas, Bent County, Colorado (she died of tuberculosis)

Conner Malott (1877-1949) - buried in Abilene Cemetery, Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas

Rachel Malott Fisher (1879-1963) - buried in Grandview Cemetery, Maryville, Blount County, Tennessee

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We now stop at the grave of Michael A. Malott.

Born: March 25, 1809, Jefferson County, Kentucky

Died: October 17, 1875, Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana

He was the son of Hiram Malott (1775-1838) and Mary Hawes/Hause Malott (1776-1857).  They are both buried in The German Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery in Jeffersontown, Jefferson County, Kentucky.

He had several siblings:

Eli Williams Malott (1797-1847) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Salem, Washington County, Indiana

Otho W. Malott (1799-1882) - buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas

Mariah Malott Batman (1804-1838) - buried in Talbott Cemetery, Mitchell, Lawrence County, Indiana

Mary "Polly" Haws Malott Duncan (1807-1887) - buried in Leatherwood Cemetery, Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana

Benjamin Franklin Malott (1811-1881) - buried in Jeffersontown Cemetery, Jeffersontown, Jefferson County, Kentucky

William Henry Malott (1813-1845) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Salem, Washington County, Indiana

Andrew Jackson Malott (1818-1845) - buried in Erie Cemetery, Erie, Lawrence County, Indiana

Hiram Malott, Jr (?-?) - burial unknown

He was married To Elizabeth "Eliza" Mooney Malott (1810-1887).  She is shown on the other side of the monument. 

She was the daughter of Thomas Mooney (?-?) of Derry, Ireland.  He married Mary Care Mooney (?-1820) of England on October 14, 1807 at Canterbury, England.  Elizabeth was born in Woolwich, England.  

She had three siblings:

Ann Mooney (?-?) - burial unknown

Charlotte Mooney (?-?) - burial unknown

Thomas Mooney (?-?) - burial unknown

They had several children:

Judge Newton Franklin Malott (1831-1888) - buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, Vincennes, Knox County, Indiana

Alonzo Anderson Malott (1834-1896) - buried in Beech Grove Cemetery, Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana

Thomas Hiram Malott (1838-1911) - buried in Abilene Cemetery, Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas

William P. Malott (1840-1919) - buried in Green Hill Cemetery, Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana

Mary Ann Malott Barnes (1842-1893) - buried in Abilene Cemetery, Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas

Elizabeth M. Malott Gardner (1844-1887) - burial unknown

Charlotte "Lottie" E. Malott Northcraft (1846-1922) - buried in Abilene Cemetery, Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas

John E. Malott (1852-1927) - buried in Beech Grove Cemetery, Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana

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Here is the grave of Michael C. Malott.

Born: January 8, 1818

Died: unknown

He is listed next to his brother, Andrew H. Malott.

Born: unknown

Died: unknown

They are buried near the grave for Michael and Elizabeth Malott, though I didn't find their names in any of the records for them, so I am not sure if they are their children that died in infancy or not.

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Our final stop is at the memorial for Private James H. Peel.

Born: February 7, 1900

Died: July 28, 1930

He was the son of Charles Fletcher Peel (1878-1964) and Laura May Smith Peel (1879-1914).  They were married in 1899.  He is buried in Beech Grove Cemetery, nearby, while she is buried in Breckenridge Cemetery, Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana.

He had many siblings:

Claude Charles Peel (1902-1940) - buried in Beech Grove Cemetery, Bedford. Lawrence County, Indiana

Paul Peel (1904-1904) - buried in Breckenridge Cemetery, Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana

Ruby M. Peel George (1905-2000) - buried in Liberty Cemetery, Norman, Jackson County, Indiana

Marjorie May Peel Meadows (1909-1995) - buried in Cresthaven Memory Gardens Cemetery, Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana

John R. Peel (1912-1970) - buried in Magnolia Park Cemetery and Mausoleum, Warner Robins, Houston County, Georgia

Charles Fletcher Peel Jr. (1921-1990) - buried in West Jamestown Cemetery, Jamestown, Steuben County, Indiana

Mercedes Peel Voorhies (1924-1943) - buried in Mount Pleasant Regular Baptist Cemetery, Silverville, Lawrence County, Indiana

Lois Jean Peel Allen (1929-2014) - buried in Cresthaven Memory Gardens Cemetery, Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana

Edward Peel (?-?) - burial unknown

Vera Ann Peel (?-?) - burial unknown

He was married to Eva D. Peel (1900-1921).  She is buried in Mount Zion Cemetery, Burns City, Martin County, Indiana

He served as a Private in either the 150th or 152nd Infantry in World War 1.  

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Thanks for joining me at Beech Grove Cemetery in Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana.

You can read more about it at Find-A-Grave.