A Walk Through The Tombstones: Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery

Today's Walk Through the Tombstones is at Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery in Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana.

GPS Coordinates: 39.31902, -86.87132

We stopped at this cemetery the day before my birthday, finding it mostly by accident while travelling down St. Rd 46. It is a small cemetery with 45 memorials. There is a short drive that splits the cemetery in two. The left hand side seems to be the older section, while there are a few newer graves on the right side. It appears to be a current cemetery as there is a lot of empty space on the right hand side.

The sign states that it was established on July 9, 1860. I am not sure if there was a church here at any point or if this has always been a small family cemetery.

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Our first stop is at the grave of Samuel Stwalley.

Born: 1839

Died: 1924

He was the son of John Stwalley (1801-1877) and Mary Magdalena Stees Stwalley (1809-1842). He is buried in Olive Hill Cemetery, Morgan Township, Owen County, Indiana, while she is buried in Zion Cemetery, Sherrodsville, Carroll County, Ohio.

He had a few siblings:

Sarah Stwalley (?-?) - buried in Zion Cemetery, Sherrodsville, Carroll County, Ohio

Barbara Stwalley Beamer (1830-1899) - buried in Friendship Friends Church Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee County, Kansas

Isaac Stwalley (1832-1897) - buried in Swalley-Hicks Cemetery, Bowling Green, Clay County, Indiana

Anne Stwalley Beamer (1834-1901) - buried in Olive Hill Cemetery, Morgan Township, Owen County, Indiana

He was married twice, first to Mary Caroline Hicks Stwalley (1842-1866). She is buried nearby in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, with what appears to be their only child:

Emma J. Stwalley (1861-1863) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

His second wife, who is listed next to him on the headstone, was Emerine Elizabeth Hicks Stwalley.

Born: June 2, 1845, Indiana

Died: 1897, Indiana

She was the daughter of Jacob H. Hicks (1804-1860) and Anna Beaman Hicks (1805-1880). They are both buried nearby in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery.

She had several siblings:

Sarah Eleanor Hicks Nichols (1825-1890) - buried in New Union Carolina Church Cemetery, Morgan Township, Owen County, Indiana

Abel Butler Hicks (1827-1868) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

James Robert Hicks (1831-1898) - buried in Marmaton Cemetery, Redfield, Bourbon County, Kansas

Terry A. Hicks (1834-1841) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Elias W. Hicks (1835-1839) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Susan Catherine Hicks Fender (1838-1911) - buried in Riverside Cemetery, Spencer, Owen County, Indiana

Henry Laburn Hicks (1840-1852) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Mary Caroline Hicks Stwalley (1842-1866) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Samuel and Emerine had a few children:

John Williams Stwalley (1872-1951) - buried in Riverside Cemetery, Spencer, Owen County, Indiana

Junnie Alice Stwalley Davis (1875-1951) - buried in Pisagh Cemetery, Beckville, Montgomery County, Indiana

Minnie Mina Stwalley Allen (1877-1952) - buried in Fairfield Cemetery, Newman, Douglas County, Illinois

Sallie A. Stwalley Powell (1887-1970) - buried in Shannondale Cemetery, Shannondale, Montgomery County, Indiana

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This is the grave of Sarah Keene Stwalley.

Born: July 3, 1866, Owen County, Indiana

Died: July 15, 1950, Bowling Green, Clay County, Indiana

She was the daughter of Henry S. Keene (1843-1935) and Hannah Emeline "Emma" Carter Keene (1844-1925). He served in the Civil War in Company G of the 38th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. They are both buried in Fairview Cemetery, Bowling Green, Clay County, Indiana.

She had a few siblings:

Jacob W. Keene (1867-1939) - buried in Fairview Cemetery, Bowling Green, Clay County, Indiana

Cora Belle Keene Keller (1872-1961) - buried in Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery, Miami, Ottawa County, Oklahoma

Carter Keene (1876-1940) - buried in Riverside Cemetery, Spencer, Owen County, Indiana

Otis Keene (1883-1971) - buried in Stilesville Cemetery, Stilesville, Hendricks County, Indiana

Myrtle Faye Keene Powell (1888-1981) - buried in Fairview Cemetery, Bowling Green, Clay County, Indiana

She was married to George W. Stalley, who is listed next to her on the headstone.

Born: February 23, 1867, Owen County, Indiana

Died: July 7, 1949, Patricksburg, Owen County, Indiana

He was the son of Elijah Stwalley (1841-1880) and Margaret Yant Stwalley (1834-1917). They were married in 1866 and are both buried nearby in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery.

He had a few siblings:

Infant Son Stwalley (?-1870) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Ella Stwalley (1868-1947) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Susannah Stwalley Waggoner (1869-1891) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Sarah and George had several children:

May Stwalley Hochstetler (1875-1973) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Renos Ambrose Stwalley (1888-1962) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Grace Elizabeth Stwalley Haltom (1896-1998) - buried in Danville South Cemetery, Danville, Hedricks County, Indiana

William Loren Stwalley (1901-1997) - buried in Cloverdale Cemetery, Cloverdale, Putnam County, Indiana

Inez Violet Stwalley Cassida (1903-1990) - buried in Tippecanoe Memory Gardens, West Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana

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Here we are at the grave of Susannah Stwalley Waggoner.

Born: May 11, 1869

Died: September 24, 1891

She was the daughter of Elijah Stwalley (1841-1880) and Margaret Yant Stwalley (1834-1917). They were married in 1866 and are both buried nearby in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery.

She had a few siblings:

Infant Son Stwalley (?-1870) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

George W. Stwalley (1867-1949) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Ella Stwalley (1868-1947) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

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This is the grave of the Infant Son Stwalley.

Born: unknown

Died: November 13, 1870.

He was the son of Elijah Stwalley (1841-1880) and Margaret Yant Stwalley (1834-1917). They were married in 1866 and are both buried nearby in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery.

He had a few siblings:

George W. Stwalley (1867-1949) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Ella Stwalley (1868-1947) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Susannah Stwalley Waggoner (1869-1891) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

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Here is the grave of Elijah Stwally.

Born: September 30, 1841

Died: March 24, 1880

He was married in 1866 to Margaret Yant Stwalley (1834-1917). She is buried nearby in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery.

They had a few children:

Infant Son Stwalley (?-1870) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

George W. Stwalley (1867-1949) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Ella Stwalley (1868-1947) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Susannah Stwalley Waggoner (1869-1891) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

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We now come to the grave of Margaret Yant Stwalley.

Born: November 26, 1834

Died: July 8, 1917

She was married in 1866 to Elijah Stwalley (1841-1880). He is listed on the other side of the headstone in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery,

They had a few children:

Infant Son Stwalley (?-1870) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

George W. Stwalley (1867-1949) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Ella Stwalley (1868-1947) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Susannah Stwalley Waggoner (1869-1891) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

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This is the grave of Ella Marie Stwalley.

Born: June 2, 1906

Died: November 18, 1921.

Unfortunately, there is no information for her family.

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Here we are at the grave of Ella Stwalley.

Born: April 12, 1868, Owen County, Indiana

Died: January 30, 1948, Cloverdale, Putnam County, Indiana

She was the daughter of Elijah Stwalley (1841-1880) and Margaret Yant Stwalley (1834-1917). They were married in 1866 and are both buried nearby in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery.

She had a few siblings:

Infant Son Stwalley (?-1870) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

George W. Stwalley (1867-1949) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Susannah Stwalley Waggoner (1869-1891) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

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Here is the grave of Mary Caroline Hicks Stwalley.

Born: March 16, 1842, Owen County, Indiana

Died: January 17, 1866, Owen County, Indiana

She was the daughter of Jacob H. Hicks (1804-1860) and Anna Beaman Hicks (1805-1880). They are both buried nearby in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery.

She had several siblings:

Sarah Eleanor Hicks Nichols (1825-1890) - buried in New Union Carolina Church Cemetery, Morgan Township, Owen County, Indiana

Abel Butler Hicks (1827-1868) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

James Robert Hicks (1831-1898) - buried in Marmaton Cemetery, Redfield, Bourbon County, Kansas

Terry A. Hicks (1834-1841) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Elias W. Hicks (1835-1839) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Susan Catherine Hicks Fender (1838-1911) - buried in Riverside Cemetery, Spencer, Owen County, Indiana

Henry Laburn Hicks (1840-1852) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

Emerine Elizabeth Hicks Stwalley (1845-1897) - buried in Stwalley-Hicks Cemetery, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

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This is the grave of Bernice May Davis.

Born: September 4, 1913

Died: January 18, 1914, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

She was the infant daughter of Carl K. Davis (1874-1959) and Junnie Alice Stwalley Davis (1875-1951). They are both buried in Pisgah Cemetery, Beckville, Montgomery County, Indiana.

She had a few siblings:

Helen Faye Davis Joseph (1909-1997) - buried in Rest Haven Memorial Park, Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana

Everett M. Davis (1911-1938) - buried in Pisgah Cemetery, Beckville, Montgomery County, Indiana

Geneva Pearl Davis Deck (1916-1964) - buried in Pisgah Cemetery, Beckville, Montgomery County, Indiana

The headstone states that she was the great granddaughter of those listed next to her, starting with Anna Beaman Hicks.

Born: December 18, 1805, Davidson County, North Carolina.

Died: April 26, 1880, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

She was the daughter of Isaac Beaman (1775-1841) and Ellender Hayslip Beaman (1780-1850). It is unknown as to where they are buried.

She had many siblings:

Mary Beaman Haltom (1804-1876) - buried in New Union Carolina Church Cemetery, Morgan Township, Owen County, Indiana

Nancy Beaman Jordan (1805-1879) - buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Owen County, Indiana

Abraham Beaman (1806-?) - burial unknown

Elizabeth Beaman Haltom (1807-1887) - buried in Sixmile Cemetery, Clay County, Indiana

Welthey Beaman Stevens (1810-1888) - buried in Stephens Cemetery, Owen County, Indiana

Labern Beaman (1815-1883) - buried in New Union Carolina Church Cemetery, Morgan Township, Owen County, Indiana

Susan Beaman Singleton (1821-1889) - buried in New Union Carolina Church Cemetery, Morgan Township, Owen County, Indiana

She was married to Jacob H. Hicks, who is listed next to her on the headstone.

Born: September 24, 1804

Died: July 10, 1860.

They had many children: