Today's Walk Through the Tombstones is at a section of Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis that we discovered when we were driving around in March - The Indianapolis Home For Aged Women.

There is an entire section with small headstones with names and some dates on them, starting with the earliest that I found in 1899.  I think that they went up through the 1950s, but my camera battery crapped out so I didn't get a lot of pictures.  

The Indianapolis Home for Aged Women was also known as the Indianapolis Home for Friendless Women or the Indianapolis Home for Aged and Friendless Women.  Before this post, I had never heard of this organization, then again, I don't know a whole lot about the history of Indianapolis as I don't live in the area.  But, it's places like this that I found so fascinating.

According to a 1920s pamphlet from the organization (you can read the entire pamphlet here) :

"The Indianapolis Home for Friendless Women was organized February 18, 1867 and was incorporated March 11, 1867."  The pamphlet includes the location of the building as being on Tennessee and Ninth streets, which was destroyed by fire in 1870 but rebuilt on the same site.  The name was then subsequently changed to the Indianapolis Home for Aged Women in 1913.  The majority of the pamphlet are the articles for the care of the citizens and a form at the end that appears to be a contract of some sort.  

A newspaper article dated May 11, 1930 shows a large brick home, noting that it was located between 17th and 18th on Capitol Avenue.  The article reinstates most of what is stated in the pamphlet but in a less legalese format and in a more welcoming tone.  It mentions the names of the people of the board who were in charge of the operations and the names of the matrons.  Unfortunately, there are no mentions of the women who lived in the home, beyond a note of one woman who lived there for 25 years.  

In 1875 appears that the city of Indianapolis brought suit against the Home for Friendless Women stating that they could not receive benefits or public funds as they are considered a private corporation.  At least, I think that's what it says.  I will link it here.

Unfortunately, finding records on the citizens of the home seems to be impossible.  I can't say due to privacy rights as these records would have been long before any privacy laws were enacted.  They may have just been lost to time are in an archive somewhere.  I did find a bit of information about some of the founders of the organization.

Jane Chambers McKinney Graydon was born on July 16, 1802 in Wilmington, Delaware.  In 1822, she was married to Alexander Graydon, an iron manufacturer.  They moved to Indianapolis in 1843.  During the Civil War, she served as a nurse in Tennessee.  After the war, along with another nurse, Catharine Merrill, she organized a charitable group that established the Home for Friendless Women.  The purpose was originally to provide refuge for women and girls left widowed or fatherless due to the war.  By the end of the 19th century, they were caring for an estimated 400-500 people.  In 1936, it was renamed the Indianapolis Home for the Aged and then reorganized so it could accept male patients.  The name was changed again in 1976 to the Indianapolis Retirement Home.

Jane was also an abolitionist and her home was purported to be on the Underground Railroad.  She passed away on March 30, 1891 and is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, though I don't know if she is buried near the women that she worked so hard to help.

Catharine Merrill was born on January 24, 1824 in Corydon, Indiana to Samuel and Lydia Jane Anderson Merrill.  She was one of ten children, all educated, though her education seemed to take her beyond what was normal for a woman of the time.  She was a student in her own home school established by her father and located in their family home in Indianapolis, later becoming an instructor there.  She attended the Indianapolis Female Institute.  Just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, she and her sister travelled to Europe where they studied in Germany.  But upon the outbreak of the war, she returned and served as a nurse in Indiana and Kentucky.

Catharine, Kate to those who knew her best, was also a prolific writer, her travel logs having been published in the Indianapolis Journal and the Lafayette Journal.  After the war, she wrote "The Solider of Indiana in the War for the Union", a two volume set documenting the soldiers' wartime experience.  This was done at the request of Oliver P. Morton, governor of the state at the time.  However, she did not attached her name to the publication as she did not want to overshadow the names and stories of the soldiers.

She taught at Butler University for many years, only one of two female professors in the United States at the time, resigning her post in 1883.

During all of these other things, she was also a community servant, involving herself in many civic groups, giving public lectures and serving on various committees.  One of these committees was the creation of the Indianapolis Home for Friendless Women in 1867 with Jane Chambers McKinney Graydon.  She included those women that were considered destitute, including penniless widows and prostitutes.  She served on the board for many years, helping as many as she could.

She passed away in her Indianapolis home on May 30, 1900 and is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery.  

It is because of the kindness and foresight of these two women that the below residents had a home and were taken care of.

Lucy A. Waters.

Born: unknown

Died: 1916

Sophia Larchy Baker

Born: March 8, 1844, Maryland

Died: April 12, 1916, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Mary L. Williams

Born: unknown

Died: 1916

Amanda Edwards

Born: February 14, 1849, Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio

Died: January 24, 1917, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

(though there is some speculation that she is not buried here but with her husband and daughter.  I am not sure, but her headstone is with the burials for the Home, so I will leave her here.  And her death certificate says that she is buried here and there is no husband listed.)

Rebecca Roberts Burk

Born: September 23, 1835, Franklin County, Indiana

Died: June 23, 1917, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

She was the daughter of Timothy Roberts (?-?) and Elizabeth Stroler Roberts (?-?).  She was buried to Lemuel Burk (?-1902).  He is listed as being buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, but his grave is not with hers.

Emily Russell Dunn

Born: 1831, Marion County, Indiana

Died: 1917, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

She was the daughter of John Russell (1804-1846) and Malena Kelly Russell (1804-1863).  She had two siblings that I have found: Grandison Russell (1834-1853) and Sarah F. Russell (1840-1863).  They are all buried in a family plot in Round Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.

Adeline Tanguey

Born: unknown

Died: 1918

Mary Matkin

Born: unknown

Died: 1919

Martha McKnight

Born: unknown

Died: 1919

Lizzie Benson

Born: May 10, 1854

Died: July 31, 1920, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Margaret Grimes Rupe

Born: August 30, 1830, Indiana

Died: September 28, 1921, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

She was the daughter of William Grimes (1786-1853) and Effe Meek Grimes (1791-1849).  She had at least two siblings: Alexander Grimes (1815-1844) and Nancy Jane Grimes Druley (1822-1849).  They are all buried in Boston Cemetery, Boston, Wayne County, Indiana.  Her mother and sister both died from a cholera outbreak. She was married to Hamilton Null Rupe (1828-1903) in 1847.  They had one child: Cassie L. Rupe Lamb (1848-1927).  Her husband is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, though I don't think he is buried near her, while her daughter is buried in Economy Cemetery, Economy, Wayne County, Indiana.

Prudence Sabes

Born: unknown

Died: 1922

Cynthia Brandt Mitchell

Born: September 18, 1838, Versailles, Ripley County, Indiana

Died: 1914, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

She was the daughter of David Brandt (1803-1854) and Mary Ann Skeen Brandt (1817-1845).  She had at least two siblings: Mary Elizabeth Brandt (1844-1845) and William Brandt (1848-1848).  They are all buried in Cliff Hill Cemetery, Versailles, Ripley County, Indiana.

Mary Jane McChesney

Born: January 20, 1835, Indiana

Died: May 19, 1914, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

She was the daughter of Sarah G. Wilson McChesney (1813-1893).  She is buried with her granddaughter, Jennie, in Crown Hill Cemetery.

Eunice J. Tedrow

Born: unknown

Died: 1914

Rebecca Brittain Gulic

Born: 1835, Indiana

Died: November 17, 1912, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

She was the daughter of Melinda L. Ballenger Wilkinson (1810-1896) and Alfred Brittain (?-?).  Melinda is buried in Spiceland Friends Cemetery, Spiceland, Henry County, Indiana, but I have no information for Alfred.  She was married to John F. Gulich (?-1897).  He was born in Holland and his last name has been spelled at least three different ways: Gulic, Gulick, Gulich.  His burial is listed as bring in Crown Hill Cemetery.  They had one daughter, Lillian Gulick Weller (1866-1933).  She is buried in Floral Park Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.

Lucinda Bradford Gibson

Born: 1819, Ohio

Died: June 12, 1911

She was the daughter of Isaac Bradford (1784-1849) and Shuah Jordan Bradford (1788-1867).  They are both buried in Moore Cemetery, Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio.  He is descended from some of the people who came over on the Mayflower.   She had a few siblings: Sarah Bartlett Bradford Bishop (1807-1872), her burial place is unknown;  Clement Jordan Bradford (1808-1878),  buried in New Liberty IOOF Cemetery, New Liberty, Owen County, Kentucky; Joseph Bradford (1815-1873), buried in Williams Bradford Cemetery, Martinsville, Morgan County, Indiana; and Mary Bradford Grubb (1824-1907), buried in McDill Cemetery, Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio.

Emma Crandell

Born: unknown

Died: 1911

Mary J. Painter

Born: unknown

Died: 1905

Martha M. Gilbert

Born: unknown

Died: 1899

M.L. Butler

Born: unknown

Died: unknown

Sarah Caldwell

Born: unknown

Died: 1897

Nancy Munden

Born: unknown

Died: 1896

Mary J. Cottle

Born: 1828, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio

Died: March 22, 1893, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

She was married to Rodman H. Cottle (1822-1888) and they had one son named William Cottle (1851-1889).  They are both buried in Crown Hill.

Mary's obituary states that she was the first to enter the house and the first to die there, leaving all of her possessions to them, having paid for her stay out of her own funds.

 

Their also appears to be another set of monuments at Crown Hill dedicated to the Home for the Aged, aka the Home for Friendless Women.  I did not see these monuments in this section of the cemetery, so I am not sure where they are at, but I did find them on Find-A-Grave.  I will list the names below, but you can view the stones here. (The monuments that photographed are in Section 37 while the ones listed below are in Section 31).

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Apsey

Born: 1828

Died: October 25, 1891

Willie Barnett 

Born: unknown

Died: unknown

Donald Benham 

Born: unknown

Died: unknown

Robert Bess

Born: unknown

Died: unknown

Anna Trafton Beswick

Born: December 9, 1819, Bangor, Penobscot County, Maine

Died: April 2, 1906, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

She was the wife of the Reverend Phillip Isaac Beswick (1818-1878), who is buried in Greencastle City Cemetery, Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana

Helen Boop

Born: unknown

Died: 1897

Gwindaline Campbell 

Born: unknown

Died: 1877

She has a small headstone nearby that says "My Gwindaline", which leads me to believe that she may have been a child.

Marcie Campbell 

Born: unknown

Died: 1902

Sarah Case

Born: unknown

Died: 1904

Infant Coone 

Born: unknown

Died: unknown

Sarah Stutesman Dilts

Born: 1811

Died: January 23, 1901

Maud Dinsmore 

Born: unknown

Died: 1902

Sadie Dragger 

Born: unknown

Died: December 26, 1900

Her father was named George.  At some point she was married, because she had a son named George Otto Dragger (1881-1975).  He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Augusta, Butler County, Kansas.

Lulu Fisher 

Born: unknown

Died: 1896

Infant Frye

Born: 1896

Died: 1896

Hannah Jones

Born: unknown

Died: 1907

Mary Keeley

Born: unknown

Died: 1910

Dorris Keeper

Born: unknown

Died: 1899

Alice Meek 

Born: unknown

Died: 1878

Matilda Mills

Born: unknown

Died: May 19, 1900

It's possible that her name is Mahalia, but it's unsure.  Her father's name was listed as William Mills (?-?).

Mary Mulbarger Mount

Born: September 6, 1818

Died: March 12, 1902

She was the daughter of John Mulbarger (?-?) and Sarah Mulbarger (?-?).  I have no information on them.  She was married to Joseph Mount (?-?), but I know nothing else.

Margaret Wehol Pressel

Born: December 25, 1842

Died: July 4, 1905

She was the daughter of David Wehol (?-?) and Francois Wehol (?-?).  Her husband was Thomas Pressel (?-?).  There is no burial information for any of them.

Infant Preston

Born: unknown

Died: 1898

Hannah Shafer

Born: August 3, 1847, Metamore, Franklin County, Indiana

Died: November 6, 1910, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

She was the daughter of Adam Shafer (?-?) and Sarah Downing Shafer (?-?).  I don't have information for their burials. She was never married.

Ann Martin Smith

Born: unknown, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland

Died: November 2, 1903, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

William H. Smith

Born: unknown

Died: 1897

He has a nearby memorial stone that states he was a member of the Veteran Reserve Corps.

Sarah Williams 

Born: unknown

Died: 1899

Sylvester Windsail

Born: unknown

Died: 1899

As you can see from the list above, there are some infants and some male residents, which is interesting as it was noted that they didn't start accepting male residents until 1936.  But it's hard to verify without having a full lists of residents, which I doubt we will ever have.

I hope that these residents all found some sort of peace in their lives after their families all passed on.  I hope that they found joy and happiness, or at least contentment.  RIP residents of the Indianapolis Home for Aged Women.

~~~

I hope that you enjoyed your walk with us today.

 This month's grave spotlight of the month is about Elsworth "Elzie" Easton, a young man murdered in Stinesville on Christmas Eve in 1889.

According to an article titled "Double Murder, Terrible Shooting Affair" in the December 27, 1889 edition of the Republican Newspaper the Bloomington Telephone, Elsworth "Elzie" Easton, son of William and Jennie Easton was shot and killed by George Buskirk.

The article goes on to say "Elzie Easton and James Douglas had been at Gosport during the afternoon and while there became more or less under the influence of liquor.  Shortly after 6pm, they boarded a work train and came down to their home at Stinesville.  Soon after arriving they went to the saloon of George Buskirk, a little frame building on the south side of the main street of the town..."

At this time, people in the town were getting themselves together to attend the "Little church on the hill" where the annual Christmas tree had been erected.  Town was quiet, young and old were preparing for the holiday.  Meanwhile, at the saloon of George Buskirk, a terrible tragedy was about to occur.  

As far as the newspaper article states, there had been some words of a quarrelsome nature between Buskirk and Easton, but it is not known what the quarrel was actually about.  Regardless of what these words were, Buskirk ordered Easton to leave, not Douglas, just Easton.  When Easton refused to leave, Buskirk picked up a double barreled shotgun and fired, killing Easton instantly.  

Most of the patrons of the saloon ran.  Douglas stayed.  Buskirk ordered him to leave, which Douglas started to do, begging him not to shoot.  For some reason, he did anyway, hitting Douglas in the arm and the left side.  

Douglas was dragged from the scene.  Buskirk fled.  But by this time, the whole town of Stinesville had heard the shots.  

A few hours later, Douglas was in the care of Doctor Stansifer when a reported from the Bloomington Telephone called on him.  Doctor Stansifer informed him of the following:

"The first of the whole matter, I went into the saloon of George Buskirk with Easton and was standing by the beer boxes.  Young Hargis was in there and started pushing Easton to one side.  A few words passed between Easton and Buskirk; Easton wanted to fight and pulled a revolver from his pocket...Easton said he could whip Buskirk, Hargis or all of us.  I took Easton's revolver away from him ten minutes before the shooting.  Buskirk knew Easton did not have the revolver when he was threatening to whip him just before the shooting."

According to Milton Hargis, Buskirk told Easton to get out twice, Easton asking him to put down the gun at the same time.  It didn't take long for gunfire to erupt after that.  

Many of the townsfolk stated that Elzie Easton was a pleasant and honorable young man...when not drinking.  James Douglas, his friend that was with him when they entered the saloon, was said to be more of a troublemaker.  He had, at one point, owned a barber shop in the town, in which he had been allowing gambling.  George Buskirk, however, was said to have been a hard character and ran a disreputable establishment.  

The county coroner, Doctor Maxwell, Jr. told the telephone that he had heard enough of the evidence to justify the belief that Buskirk was not justified in his shooting of Easton and that there was no excuse for his attack on Douglas.

Meanwhile, Buskirk was on the run.  It was said that he had initially wanted to turn himself into the sheriff but was afraid of being attacked and killed by a mob.  Instead, he chose to run.  He mounted his horse and made his way south.  It was only a few days later that it was reported in the Bloomington Republican Progress. on January 8, 1890, that George Buskirk had been captured in Sanborn in Knox County, Indiana at the home of a relative, though not by the Knox County Sheriff, who refused, but instead by the marshal located at Gosport.  George Buskirk was arrested without incident.

A month later, as reported in the Bloomington Republican Progress on February 5, 1890, a crowd gathered at the courthouse to hear the trial.  George Buskirk testified on his own behalf.  He stated that Elzie came into the saloon and demanded that another patron, a man named Lee Wampler, buy him drinks.  Wampler didn't want to and Elzie threatened him.  Buskirk ejected him from the bar but he came back, angry and cursing and demanding beer.  When Buskirk refused to serve him, Elzie left, prompting Buskirk to bar the door.  Elzie started throwing rocks at the door and threatening to kill the saloon owner.  It is assumed that Elzie was already well into his cups by this time, but this also goes against the fact that it was said earlier that Elzie and Douglas were coming home Gosport around 6pm and the shooting happened not long after.  

Buskirk states now that later in the evening, Elzie came back with Douglas and demanded to be served again.  He drew his revolver and threatened Buskirk with hit, stating that if he drew the shotgun that was sitting there, he would kill him.  It was then that Buskirk fired, hitting Douglas by accident.

This statement of facts goes against what Doctor Stansifer told the paper and what Douglas said about when they came back from Gosport.

After all of the facts were stated, Buskirk was sure that he was going to be charged.  The Judge noted the law stated that a person could defend their domicile if needed.  The case was turned over to the jury and the next day they came back with the verdict of Not Guilty, a surprise to everyone there.  But shortly afterward, George Buskirk had to attend a bond court appearance and it was here that the jury decided instead that he was guilty and he was fined for assault, a fine of $500.

After this, George Buskirk disappears for a while.  It is assumed that he decided to make his way elsewhere to find work and start a new life.  Indeed, he is not heard from again until 1899 when it was reported that he killed a native Central American Man.  This reason for this murder is unknown, but those that captured him wanted to burn him at the stake for what he did.  A judge ordered him tied to a tree, apparently for safekeeping, until they could decide what to do with him.  During the night, he untied the rope and disappeared into history.

The subject of our story was laid to rest in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Stinesville, Indiana.  As a side note, this is one of my favorite cemeteries, as it is set in a beautiful wooded setting and is laid out in such as way that one needs to walk around an explore.  I photographed his grave in 2015, not realizing at the time what his cause of death had been.

Listed on the headstone with Elzie, are his parents, hotel-owners William G. Easton (1826-1894) and Delila Virginia "Jennie" Williams Easton (1836-1909).  Buried a few miles away were three of his brothers, Millard Lindsey Easton (1856-1934), William Perry Easton (1857-1911) and John W. Easton (1862-1926), all buried in Chambersville Cemetery.  One further brother, George Brinton McClelland "Clell" Easton (1864-1922), is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.

I haven't found where James Douglas is buried as he also just disappears from the records after the shooting.  I have found a man by this name and within the right timeframe buried in Valhalla Memory Gardens, but I have no idea if this is him or not.

Elsword "Elzie" Easton was a young man who was killed in an instant of anger.  RIP Elzie.

~~~

REFERNCES

Hoosier State Chronicles - Bloomington Telephone

Monroe County History Center - The Murder of Elsworth "Elzie" Easton

Hoosier State Chronicles - Bloomington Republican Progress

 Today's Walk Through the Tombstones is the final section of the Pioneer Cemetery at Crown Hill in Indianapolis, Indiana.  This is the relocated Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery.

The original cemetery was located in Castleton, Indiana and was established in 1841. With the expansion of I-69 and I-465 in 2007, the cemetery needed to be relocated and Crown Hill was chosen.  A memorial stone and dedication was done in 2008, with about 100 people in attendance.  In total 33 graves were re-interred with their original headstones.

The monument on the far right side of the entrance into the Pioneer Cemetery, which stands just to the side of the burials, reads: 

"Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery

Established 1841

This monument honors the memory of the Wright-Whitesell-Gentry families who were buried in a small cemetery located on the Wright family farm in Lawrence Township beginning in 1841.

In 2008, twelve adults, fourteen children and seven infants were reburied in this final resting place at Crown Hill Cemetery.

Members of the Wright family headed by the Reverend James T. Wright, founder of the Church now known as the Castleton United Methodist Church, and extended family members of the Whitesell, Gentry, Easterday and Gates families were buried in the small cemetery with the last burial taking place in 1905.

Also interred is Civil War Private John W. Gentry, who served in the 26th Indiana, Co "I" from March of 1864 until the unit was disbanded in January, 1866.

This memorial is a fitting tribute to the pioneering families who were among the first settlers in Marion and Hamilton Counties."

The back side of the monument shows a map with the burials listed.  I did not spend time noting as to whether or not the burial map matched the layout of the current burials to see if, when they were re-interred, they matched them up to the original cemetery.  I would imagine that they did.  In fact, an Indianapolis Star article dated June 4, 2008, says that they laid them out exactly as they had been.

To the right of the above monument sits the small cemetery, with all of the stones neatly arranged as they had been before they were moved.  You can go to the Indiana Memory Collections to see the cemetery as it had been in Castleton, right next to the highway.  The Genealogical Society of Marion County has an incomplete burial list on their website.  Unfortunately, no one has added these burials to Find-A-Grave, so I will attempting to do so as I go along.

And now, on to the burials.

Our first grave is that of James B. Wright.

Born: unknown

Died: 1853

He was the young son of Reverend James T. Wright (1787-1859) and Ruhamah  McAnally Wright (1788-1858).  They are both reinterred nearby in Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery.  

He had several siblings:

Charles W. Wright (?-?) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

John M. Wright (?-1837) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Josiah W. Wright (?-1852) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Elizabeth M. Wright Hair (1811-1892) - buried in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Paulina J. Wright Gentry (1817-1863) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Jesse Wesley Wright (1823-1897) - buried in Crownland Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Margaret C. Wright Armentrout (1825-1885) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Eliza Isabella Wright Whitesell (1831-1868) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

~~~

This is the grave for John M. Wright.

Born: unknown
Died: 1837

He was the son of Reverend James T. Wright (1787-1859) and Ruhamah  McAnally Wright (1788-1858).  They are both reinterred nearby in Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery.  

He had several siblings:

Charles W. Wright (?-?) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

James B. Wright (?-1853) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Josiah W. Wright (?-1852) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Elizabeth M. Wright Hair (1811-1892) - buried in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Paulina J. Wright Gentry (1817-1863) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Jesse Wesley Wright (1823-1897) - buried in Crownland Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Margaret C. Wright Armentrout (1825-1885) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Eliza Isabella Wright Whitesell (1831-1868) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

~~~

Next is the grave of Ruhamah McAnally Wright.

Born: November 28, 1788, Stokes County, North Carolina

Died: January 5, 1858

She was the daughter of Jesse McAnally (1760-1800) and Elizabeth Morgan McAnally (1764-1844).  They are both buried in the McAnally Family Graveyard, Meadows, Stokes County, North Carolina.  Jesse was a Revolutionary War Soldier and served as Justice of the Peace in Stokes County, North Carolina.

She had several siblings:

Mary Polly McAnally Booth (1784-1861) - buried in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Charles McAnally (1786-1844) - buried in McAnally Family Graveyard, Meadows, Stokes County, North Carolina

Jesse McAnally (1794-1866) - buried in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Elizabeth McAnally Davis (1796-1858) - buried in Davis Graveyard, Danbury Township, Stokes County, North Carolina

Mercy McAnally Mitchell (1798-1877) - buried in Mitchell Cemetery, Dillard, Stokes County, North Carolina

She was married to the Reverend James Thomas Wright (1787-1859).  He is buried nearby in the Wright-Whitesell- Gentry Cemetery Section of the Pioneer Cemetery at Crown Hill.

They had several children that I had found:

Charles W. Wright (?-?) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

James B. Wright (?-1853) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Josiah W. Wright (?-1852) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

John M. Wright (?-1837) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Elizabeth M. Wright Hair (1811-1892) - buried in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Paulina J. Wright Gentry (1817-1863) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Jesse Wesley Wright (1823-1897) - buried in Crownland Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Margaret C. Wright Armentrout (1825-1885) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Eliza Isabella Wright Whitesell (1831-1868) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

~~~

This is the grave of Charles W. Wright.

Born: unknown

Died; September 15, ??

He was the son of Reverend James T. Wright (1787-1859) and Ruhamah  McAnally Wright (1788-1858).  They are both reinterred nearby in Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery.  

He had many siblings:

James B. Wright (?-1853) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Josiah W. Wright (?-1852) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

John M. Wright (?-1837) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Elizabeth M. Wright Hair (1811-1892) - buried in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Paulina J. Wright Gentry (1817-1863) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Jesse Wesley Wright (1823-1897) - buried in Crownland Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Margaret C. Wright Armentrout (1825-1885) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Eliza Isabella Wright Whitesell (1831-1868) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

~~~

We now stop at the grave of Joseph W. Wright.

Born: unknown

Died: September 3 or 8, 1852

He was the son of L. Wright (?-?) and A.B. Wright (?-?).  I am not sure who they are or where they are buried.  

I don't have any further information about him.

~~~

We now come to the grave of Eliza R. Gentry Easterday.

Born: 1838

Died: November 30, 1858

She was the daughter of Thomas Piner Gentry (1815-1854) and Paulina J. Wright Gentry (1817-1863).  They are both buried nearby in the Wright-Whitesell-Gentry section of the Pioneer Cemetery at Crown Hill.

She had several siblings:

James Thomas Gentry (1841-1899) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

William Gentry (1842-1880) - buried in Arcadia Cemetery, Arcadia, Hamilton County, Indiana

Margaret Rebecca Gentry Aldred (1844-1918) - buried in Crownland Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Private John Wesley Gentry (1846-1866) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Mary E. Gentry Compton (1849-1937) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Isabella Gentry Berg (1850-1885) - buried in Arcadia Cemetery, Arcadia, Hamilton County, Indiana

Joseph H. Gentry (1850-1918) - buried in Arcadia Cemetery, Arcadia, Hamilton County, Indiana

She was married to Luther Reck Easterday (1829-1893) in 1855.  He is buried in Fall Creek Union Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, with, I believe his second wife.

They had at least two children:

Flora Rebecca Easterday Mowrey (1856-1928) - buried in Fall Creek Union Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Eliza Clementine "Clemie" Easterday (1858-?) - buried in Fall Creek Union Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

~~~

Here we are at the grave of John Everette Gentry.

Born: January 3, 1865

Died: September 29, 1868

He was the young son of William B. Gentry (?-?) and N.J. Gentry (?-?).  I am not sure where they are buried or the names of any of his siblings.

~~~

This is the grave of Private John Wesley Gentry.

Born: May 12, 1846, Lawrence, Marion County, Indiana

Died: May 7, 1866, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

He was the son of Thomas Piner Gentry (1815-1854) and Paulina J. Wright Gentry (1817-1863).  They are both buried nearby in the Wright-Whitesell-Gentry section of the Pioneer Cemetery at Crown Hill.

He had several siblings:

James Thomas Gentry (1841-1899) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

William Gentry (1842-1880) - buried in Arcadia Cemetery, Arcadia, Hamilton County, Indiana

Margaret Rebecca Gentry Aldred (1844-1918) - buried in Crownland Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Mary E. Gentry Compton (1849-1937) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Isabella Gentry Berg (1850-1885) - buried in Arcadia Cemetery, Arcadia, Hamilton County, Indiana

Joseph H. Gentry (1850-1918) - buried in Arcadia Cemetery, Arcadia, Hamilton County, Indiana

He served in the Civil War in the 26th Indiana Infantry, Company I.  His entry on Find-A-Grave states that he was in Company O, but there was no Company O for this particular regiment.  According the roster he was in Company I.  He lived in Castleton, mustered in on March 30, 1864.  He is listed as mustering out on January 15, 1866.    

~~~

We now to stop at the grave of Paulina J. Wright Gentry

Born: 1817, North Carolina

Died: July 6, 1863, North Carolina

She was the daughter of Reverend James T. Wright (1787-1859) and Ruhamah  McAnally Wright (1788-1858).  They are both reinterred nearby in Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery.  

He had several siblings:

Charles W. Wright (?-?) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

John M. Wright (?-1837) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Josiah W. Wright (?-1852) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Elizabeth M. Wright Hair (1811-1892) - buried in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Jesse Wesley Wright (1823-1897) - buried in Crownland Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Margaret C. Wright Armentrout (1825-1885) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Eliza Isabella Wright Whitesell (1831-1868) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

She was married to Thomas Piner Gentry (1815-1854) on December 11, 1934 in Stokes County, North Carolina. He is buried near her in Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery section in the Pioneer Cemetery at Crown Hill.

They had several children:

James Thomas Gentry (1841-1899) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

William Gentry (1842-1880) - buried in Arcadia Cemetery, Arcadia, Hamilton County, Indiana

Margaret Rebecca Gentry Aldred (1844-1918) - buried in Crownland Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Private John Wesley Gentry (1846-1866) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Mary E. Gentry Compton (1849-1937) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Isabella Gentry Berg (1850-1885) - buried in Arcadia Cemetery, Arcadia, Hamilton County, Indiana

Joseph H. Gentry (1850-1918) - buried in Arcadia Cemetery, Arcadia, Hamilton County, Indiana

~~~

This is the grave of Thomas Piner Genry.

Born: October 10, 1815, Stokes County, North Carolina

Died: April 30, 1854, Lawrence, Marion County, Indiana

He was the son of Richard L. Gentry (1773-1931) and Rebecca Lindsey Barnett Gentry (1779-1858).  She is buried in Burch Cemetery in Kirksville, Monroe County, Indiana.  There is a photo of his headstone, though he is also listed as having been cremated, so I am not sure which is correct.

He had many siblings:

William Barnett Gentry (1797-1870) - buried in Neeley Cemetery, Owen County, Indiana

Nancy Gentry (1798-1880) - burial is unknown

Eliza Carmichael Gentry Sillivan (1800-1853) - buried in Tarkington Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana

James Gentry (1802-1889) - burial is unknown

Ira Ellis Gentry Sr. (1804-1883) - buried in Mount Olive, Stokes County, North Carolina

Harriet Jane Gentry Baker (1806-1855) - buried in Burch Cemetery, Kirksville, Monroe County, Indiana

Richard Jones Gentry Jr. (1808-1893) - buried in Gentry Family Cemetery, Huntsville Township, Rockingham County, North Carolina

Francis "Fannie" Gentry (1810-1831) - burial is unknown

Joel Ayres Gentry (1813-?) - burial unknown

Rebecca Linzey Gentry Burch (1820-1906) - buried in Burch Cemetery, Kirksville, Monroe County, Indiana

John Thornton Gentry (1821-1873) - burial unknown

He was married to Paulina J. Wright Gentry (1817-1863) on December 11, 1934 in Stokes County, North Carolina.  She is buried near him in Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery.

They had several children:

James Thomas Gentry (1841-1899) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

William Gentry (1842-1880) - buried in Arcadia Cemetery, Arcadia, Hamilton County, Indiana

Margaret Rebecca Gentry Aldred (1844-1918) - buried in Crownland Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Private John Wesley Gentry (1846-1866) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Mary E. Gentry Compton (1849-1937) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Isabella Gentry Berg (1850-1885) - buried in Arcadia Cemetery, Arcadia, Hamilton County, Indiana

Joseph H. Gentry (1850-1918) - buried in Arcadia Cemetery, Arcadia, Hamilton County, Indiana

~~~

Here is the grave of Eliza Isabella Wright Whitesell.

Born: June 7, 1831

Died: February 26, 1868

She was the daughter of Reverend James T. Wright (1787-1859) and Ruhamah  McAnally Wright (1788-1858).  They are both reinterred nearby in Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery.  

He had several siblings:

Charles W. Wright (?-?) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

John M. Wright (?-1837) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Josiah W. Wright (?-1852) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Elizabeth M. Wright Hair (1811-1892) - buried in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Paulina J. Wright Gentry (1817-1863) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Jesse Wesley Wright (1823-1897) - buried in Crownland Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Margaret C. Wright Armentrout (1825-1885) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

She was married to Wilson Whitesell (1821-1902) in 1851.  He is buried with his second wife in Fall Creek Union Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.

They had a couple of children:

Jesse P. Whitesell (1853-1857) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery Section), Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Sarah R. Whitesell (1855-1944) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

~~~

Our final stop is at the grave of Jesse P. Whitesell.

Born: October 10, 1853

Died: October 14, 1857

He was the son of Wilson Whitesell (1821-1902) and Eliza Isabella Wright Whitesell (1831-1868).  She is buried near him in the Wright-Whitesell-Gentry Cemetery and he is buried in the Fall Creek Union Cemetery in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.

He had several siblings, some half:

Sarah R. Whitesell (1855-1944) - buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

John Wilson Whitesell (1870-1846) - buried in Sutherland Park Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Anna E. Whitesell Kuhn (1872-1949) - buried in Highland Cemetery, Fishers, Hamilton County, Indiana

Maude Whitesell Fryberger (1875-1945) - buried in Crownland Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

Lutelles Crigler Whitesell (1877-1913) - buried in Olvey Cemetery, Green Township, Hancock County, Indiana

Omer Markel Whitesell (1884-1970) - buried in Union Chapel Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

~~~

 I hope that you have enjoyed our walk through Wright-Whitesell Gentry Cemetery located within the Pioneer Cemetery at Crown Hill.  You can see more about it here.

 Today we are back at the Pioneer Cemetery Section of Crown Hill for another Walk Through the Tombstones.  This time we are taking a look at the Rhoads Cemetery, also known as Old Baptist Cemetery.

This cemetery was established in 1844 in Wayne Township, Marion County, Indiana in what is now the Fletcher Industrial Park.  

This monument was erected, I think, in 2008 and reads: 

"Rhoads Cemetery

Established 1844

In memory of five pioneer families originally buried in southeastern Wayne Township in Marion County, Indiana.

In 1999, twelve adults and thirty four children of the Rhoads, Rude, Foster, Foltz, and Johns families were buried at this final resting site.  This memorial serves as a tribute to their lives."

The back side of the monument shows a map of where the burials had been located at Rhoads Cemetery.  This monument also says: 

"Rhoads Cemetery burials may include members of the Rhoads, Rude, Foster, Foltz, and Johns families.  Identified burials are James Rhoads, died - 1844, Hanna Rhoads, died - 1849, Sarah Rhoads, died - 1857, John Rhoads (C-5), died - 1860, Emma Rude, died - 1862, William Rude, died - 1866, and William Rhoads (D-14), died - 1906.  Burial locations are as follows.  (see the picture to the side for the burial map)" 

The Genealogical Society of Marion County has a burial list for this cemetery, which shows a total of 22 burials.  It is likely that many of the aforementioned children either were not recorded or completely lost by the time that the burial list was created.

Behind this monument are two small stones with names on them.  These are the only burials that I could find in this section of the cemetery.  Find-A-Grave has no burials listed, so finding any information on these families is going to be nearly impossible.

~~~

Here is the grave of Williams Rhoads.

Born: unknown

Died: 1906

There is no further information about him.

Next is the grave of John Rhoads.

Born: unknown

Died: 1860

There is no information about him either.

I found that the Rhoads family was a pioneer family, but that is all.  

History has pretty much erased this cemetery completely.  There is no information about the families or burials.  The cemetery is mentioned sparingly.  I haven't even found any listings for the cemetery in obituaries or newspapers of the time.  

I hope you have enjoyed our very short walk through Rhoads Cemetery at Crown Hill in Indianapolis, Indiana.  You can see more about it here.

Today's Walk Through the Tombstones is at the Pioneer Cemetery located on the Crown Hill Cemetery property.  There are three small pioneer cemeteries that were moved here over time,. finally getting monuments in 2008.  Graves that were found were moved as well, though this one didn't seem to have any graves that were located.  There is a large stone monument with some information on it.  As these are three separate cemeteries, albeit located with another cemetery within another cemetery (it's a little confusing), I decided to do a post for each separate one.

We will start with Greenlawn Cemetery.  This cemetery was also known as City Cemetery and was originally located on Kentucky Avenue along the White River.  It was established in 1821.  According to a Wikipedia article, the name Greenlawn Cemetery was actually a set of four public burying grounds all along the White River and Kentucky Avenue.  

It was the original burying site for many of the first settlers of Indianapolis as well as Union and Confederate Soldiers, some now residing in the Confederate Mound in Crown Hill.  The cemetery was closed in 1890 to new burials and many were also relocated due to the flooding of the White River.  Many of the graves were moved to Crown Hill, but these were by the more affluent families.  Concerns rose from the fact that Crown Hill plots were far more expensive and many burials at the City Cemetery were those of much poorer families.

Recently with work happening at the Henry Street Bridge project, graves have been discovered.  It is possible that when the Diamond Chain Building was built in 1917, they covered over many of the grave sites as at this time there was no law to protect them.

Map Collection, Indiana State Library

You can read the Wikipedia article here.  The Indiana State Library has a wonderful blog post about the cemetery which pertains to a project by Emmerich Manual Training High School as a art project in the early 1920s before remaining graves were moved.  There are some wonderful photographs and maps along with some much information.  A May 1, 2024 article in the Mirror Indy discusses the recent projects at the Henry Street Bridge and the nearby apartment complex construction.  This work has disturbed many graves and human remains.  It is possible that in uncovering these remains, they have discovered the city's first segregated cemetery.  There are so many articles about this cemetery, with so much information that really brings to light the terrible way these remains have been treated over the years.  

WFYI - Leaders and Legacies: The rich history of those buried at GreenLawn Cemetery

The Indy Star - Archaeology firm find more graves than expected at historic Greenlawn Cemetery Site

Genealogical Society of Marion County

WRTV 6 - Uncovering Black History: Greenlawn Cemetery's rich legacy buried along the White River

Indiana African American Genealogy Group

Axios Indianapolis - Development could unearth remains at Indy's first Black cemetery

According to Find-A-Grave, there were 727 interments at this cemetery, though the sign says 1,160 on the front.  A few names are listed on the back but no where near as many as the mentioned numbers.

When the Pioneer Cemetery was established in Crown Hill in 2008, this monument was erected.  It reads:

"In memory of the over 1,160 pioneers originally buried in Greenlawn Cemetery and moved to Crown Hill Cemetery in 1912.  This memorial honors these original citizens of Indianapolis.  

Greenlawn was the first cemetery known to exist in Indianapolis and located on a small tract of land beyond the southwest end of Kentucky Avenue near the White River. 

In addition to the pioneers buried within this lot, several thousand burials were moved from Greenlawn Cemetery to Crown Hill and other area cemeteries.  Among those were 1,616 Confederate Soldiers who were reburied in 1933 at the Confederate Mound located in Section 32 of Crown Hill." 

The back side reads: 

"Greenlawn Cemetery burials include members of the following families:

Baker - Sarah A.

Cooper - Clarence

Craighead - four unknown

Given - John

Hanch - W.D., Barbara, Sarah

Hollands - Nancy F. Julia P, Infant, John and George

Hunter - David, Marha R. Mary, John, Moses, John, Rebecca A. Margaret, Martha A. and Infants

Johnson - John W. and Wife, James M.

Lawson - two unknown

Lewis - one unknown

Orr - Benjamin

Petticord - Eli, Elizabeth, and Mary I.

Porter - George

Sponable - Phillip, Jenny and one unknown

Wallace - Jane and Minnie

West - Abner S.

Yates - Benjamin

Colonel Aaron C. Johnson Former Sheriff of Fayette County, Ohio, Veteran of the War of 1812"

There were said to be at least three famous graves here.  I will list them below as they are not listed on this monument.

Andrew Kennedy

Born: July 24, 1810, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio

Died: December 31, 1847, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

He was the son of Stephen C. Kennedy (?-?) and Mary McMann Kennedy (?-?).  He had three siblings and 9 half-siblings, though I haven't found the names of any of them.  He is part of the famous Kennedy political family.  

He was a blacksmith apprentice before studying law, practicing for a while in Connersville, before moving to Muncie, Indiana.  At some point, he entered into politics, holding the following positions: Member of the Indiana House of Representatives in 1835; Member of the Indiana State Senate from 1836-1840; Candidate for Presidential Elector from Indiana in 1840; United States Congress in 1841; member of the United States House of Representatives 1841-1847; United States Senate nominee in 1847.  He left politics to return to law.  He died of small pox rather suddenly in 1847.

~~~~

Noah Noble

Born: January 14, 1794, Berryville, Clarke County, Virginia

Died: February 8, 1844, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

He came to Indiana in 1816 and was a land speculator before entering into the wool carding business.  He joined the 7th Regiment of the Indiana Militia in 1820 and served as a colonel.  After leaving his military service, he became Sheriff of Franklin County from 1820-1824.  After that, he was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives, and served as the Receiver of Public Money of the Indianapolis Land Office.  In 1831, he was elected Governor of Indiana and stayed in that capacity until 1837.  Noble County, Indiana was named in his honor.

~~~

Caleb Blood Smith

Born: April 16, 1808, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts

Died: January 7, 1864, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

He came studied law at Cincinnati College and Miami University in Ohio before passing the bar in 1828 and setting up practice in Connersville, Indiana.  Four years later he founded the Indiana Sentinel, a newspaper that served the Whig Party.  In 1833, he was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives.  In 1843, he joined the US House of Representatives where he stayed for seven years supporting the Whig ideals.  He returned to Ohio in 1851, resuming his law practice and also to manage the Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad.  In 1860, he was part of the Indiana delegation to the Republican National Convention.  When Lincoln was elected president, Smith became his secretary.  During his time there, he caused quote a stir, finally resigning his post when he became ill in 1862.  A large private mausoleum was constructed at Crown Hill Cemetery, but upon his death he was instead interred at Greenlawn Mausoleum, later to be moved to Connersville City Cemetery, but no one has been able to locate his burial site.  Some believe that due to threats by Confederate sympathizers, his body was held within the Elmhurst at Connersville.  Smith had requested to be buried at Elmhurst since it was his home.  Local historians believe that the family placed his body under the flagstone floor of the basement.  His burial is a cenotaph at Greenlawn Cemetery.

~~~

When we were there, I did not see any headstone for this cemetery, though after looking online, there are some headstone photos for various interments, those of which were probably moved by the more well off families.

~~~

Looking through the names listed on the back of the monument, here is what I found, which in all honesty is not much - 

Sarah A. Baker

Born: unknown

Died: unknown

~~~

Clarence Cooper

No information

~~~

Four Unknown Craigheads

No information

~~~

Mary Francis Cunningham

No information

~~~

John Given

No information

~~~

W.D Hanch

No information

~~~

Barbara Hanch

Born: unknown

Died: unknown

Gravesite is listed as Crown Hill

~~~

Sarah Hanch

No information

~~~

Nancy F., Julia P., Infant, John and George Hollands

No Information

~~~

John Hunter 

Born: unknown, Ohio

Died: 1912

Gravesite is listed as Crown Hill

~~~

David, Martha R. Mary, Moses, John, Rebecca A. Margaret, Martha A. and Infants Hunter

No information

~~

John W. Johnson

Born: unknown

Died: unknown

Gravesite is listed as Crown Hill

~~~

James M. Johnson

Born unknown

Died: unknown

Gravesite is listed as Crown Hill

~~~

Wife of John W. Johnson

No information

~~~
Unknown Lawsons

No information

~~~

Unknown Lewis

No information

~~~

Benjamin Orr

Born: 1816

Died: September 1, 1845, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Gravesite is listed as Crown Hill

~~~

Eli Petticord

Born unknown

Died: unknown

Gravesite is listed as Crown Hill

~~~

Elizabeth Petticord

Born unknown

Died: unknown

Gravesite is listed as Crown Hill

~~~

Mary I. Petticord

Born unknown

Died: unknown

Gravesite is listed as Crown Hill

~~~

George Potter 

No information

~~~

Jenny Sponable

Born unknown

Died: unknown

Gravesite is listed as Crown Hill

~~~

Phillip Sponable

Born unknown

Died: unknown

Gravesite is listed as Crown Hill

~~~

Unknown Sponable

No information

~~~

Jane and Minnie Wallace

No information

~~~

Abner S. West

Born unknown

Died: unknown

Gravesite is listed as Crown Hill

~~~

Benjamin Yates

No information

~~~

There is no entry for Colonel Aaron Johnson.  I have found mention of a Colonel Aaron Johnson as a War of 1812 veteran in some places, but it is mostly for Illinois.  I am not sure if this is the same Colonel Johnson or not.  I did find a note on an Ohio website that states the following:

"Phoebe Bloomer was a pioneer in the millinery business.  She married Col. Aaron Johnson, who was sheriff of this county, and who, for a number of years kept a hotel in Washington.  They removed to Indiana."  There was a facebook page that mentioned a dedication for a monument for Colonel Aaron Johnson to rededicate his burial site, but that page is now gone.  

~~~

Greenlawn, aka City, Cemetery, has so much history and it is sad that it was so disrespected at the time, but now thanks to historians, archaeologists and the concerned community we may be able to take back this history for the families and learn so much.

Thanks for joining me in our little walk at Greenlawn Cemetery.  You can see more about it here.