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Adams Co., Indiana Burial Sites
Written and compiled by Claren J. Neuenschwander
Most Adams County dead were buried in Adams County cemeteries. However, many were interred in adjacent counties and some others transported large distances.
Nicknames. At first, most burial sites started as family plots or as non-denominational cemeteries by community-spirited individuals. These were usually identified by the landowner’s surname. Later, when the interment sites grew, trustees were often appointed and new names may have emerged. Church sponsored graveyards have also had name changes. As old country churches closed, new names came about. And in recent times, church mergers have affected names of burial sites. Fraternal orders have also sponsored cemeteries and nicknames have also been applied. A case in point is the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In cemetery references, quite a number have been identified as IOOF, I.O.O.F., or Odd Fellows. Sometimes other names have been attached, such as I.O.O.F. Twin Hills. In time, death and burial records have given conflicting names for the same burial ground. For Adams County, current usage of cemetery names are given, along with names used previously.
Ownership. These records are often vague and, with the passage of time, administrative control by individuals or boards has eroded or has become non-existent. In Indiana, ownership of an “abandoned” cemetery property is conveyed to the civil township of location. Thus, if determination of ownership is vital to a research, the office of Township Trustee should be contacted.
Burial Practices. At first, crude markers such as fieldstones or wooden crosses were used. Later, limestone was used and inscriptions made. On these markers, however, erosion has often erased vital information. After the first railroad came to Adams County in 1871, more permanent markers such as marble and granite came into use. Until recent years, the general practice was to line markers north and south with bodies facing east. This concept is based on the Christian belief that Christ will return to earth from the eastern direction. In Adams County a number of churches buried by rows rather than selling or assigning family plots. There were usually two active rows, one for babies and the other for adults. In these cases relatives were not necessarily buried close together. Also, most public graveyards had a “Paupers Field” for indigent burials. In most cases, the temporary markers are long gone.
Records. During settlement days few, if any, public burial records were kept. Even churches, which may have furnished burial grounds, expected pertinent information to be recorded in the family Bible. This included the grave site or position in a particular row. In 1889, an Indiana law required burial permits and this affected the entire state by 1907. Another law, enacted in 1937, mandated that cemeteries keep comprehensive records. Requirements, in addition to keeping copies of burial permits, are to record date body is received, interred, or later removed to another cemetery. Also to be recorded are name, marital status, plot and grave of interment.
Adams County, Indiana Cemeteries
(by townships and sections)
Preble Township
Sec. 1 St. John Lutheran Church, Bingen. Located on northeast corner of U.S. 27 and County Road 350 West, seven miles north of Decatur.
Sec. 10 Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Friedheim. On northeast corner of county roads 1050 North and 550 West.
Sec. 13 Fuhrman. On northeast corner of county roads 900 North and 400 West. Started by Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, which disbanded in 1892.
Sec. 13 Mann. On Winchester Road, approximately five miles from Decatur and about one-fourth mile west of County Road 300 West on north side of road. It lies just south of St. Mary's River.
Sec. 26 St. Paul Lutheran Church. New cemetery is located on southeast corner of county roads 750 North and 450 West, behind church. Old cemetery is across from the church on the west side of Count Road 450 West.
Sec. 28 Magley/Salem/UCC. Old cemetery is on the northwest corner of county roads 750 North and 600 West. New cemetery is about one-fourth mile east of intersection on north side of County Road 750 North in Section 27.
Root Township
Sec. 11 St. Peter Lutheran Church. On southeast corner of county roads 1100 North and 100 East.
Sec. 13 Pleasant Valley. On the south side of County Road 1000 North, about one-half miles east of County Road 200 East.
Sec. 21 Evans Family. About one-half mile northwest of Monmouth in a field near railroad track.
Sec. 21 Monmouth. On north side of County Road 850 North, a short distance west of County Road 000 and just east of the Monmouth school in Monmouth.
Sec. 21 Unnamed. Located in a field a short distance west of U.S. 27 across from Monmouth. The site is historic and the land was one of the first purchased in Adams County in 1824.
Sec. 23 Alpha. On southeast corner of county roads 900 North and 100 East. The cemetery was started by the Alpha Methodist Episcopal Church, which was closed about 1915.
Sec. 29 Reynolds. On north side of Winchester Road and on south bank of St. Mary's River about two miles northwest of Decatur.
Sec. 33 St. Joseph Catholic Church. On north side of US 224 on west edge of Decatur.
Sec. 36 Union Chapel United Methodist Church. Cemetery is located on south side of County Road 700 North and about four-tenths mile west of intersection with County Road 300 East.
Union Township
Sec. 9 Clark Chapel. On southwest corner of County road 1050 North and County road 600 East.
Sec. 16 Alpha/Bethel. On east side of County Road 500 East and about one-third mile north of intersection with County Road 900 North.
Sec. 21 Immanuel Lutheran Church. On east side of County Road 500 East and ½ mile north of County Road 800 North.
Sec. 31 Salem/East Salem/North Salem. On north side of County Road 600 North about ¼ mile west of intersection with County Road 400 East (Indiana 101).
Kirkland Township
Sec. 4 Shady. On north side of County Road 500 North and about 2/3 mile west of intersection with County Road 600 West; also about 3 ½ miles due west of Peterson.
Sec. 14 Pleasant Dale/Steele. Although a public burying site, it is supported by Pleasant Dale Church of The Brethren, which is located directly south across the road. On north side of County Road 300 North about ½ mile west of intersection with County Road 400 West. About 2 ½ miles due east of Curryville.
Sec. 27 St. Luke United Church of Christ. On west side of County Road 500 West about ½ mile north of intersection with County Road 100 North. Also, about ½ mile north of Honduras or “Henpeck.”
Sec. 34 Zion/Cline. It was first deeded to Dutch Lutheran Reformed Church, now extinct. On west side of County Road 500 and about ½ mile north of intersection with County Road 000 (State Road 124). Also, about ½ mile south of Honduras or “Henpeck.”
Washington Township
Sec. 2 St. Joseph Catholic (old). Discontinued but most stones and graves relocated to new cemetery. Located in Decatur between Mercer Avenue and former railroad.
Sec. 3 First City Cemetery. Located in American Legion Memorial Park on east side of Winchester Street just south of former Erie Railroad.
Sec. 4 Decatur/Maplewood (formerly Greenwood). Located on west edge of Decatur on northeast corner of Monroe Street and County Road 050 West.
Sec. 6 Antioch/Beery/River Brethren. Once owned by Brethren in Christ, Mennonite Brethren in Christ, United Missionary and Missionary churches, it is now for public use. On the northeast corner of County Road 500 North and County Road 300 West one mile east of Peterson.
Sec. 13 Adams County Infirmary/County Home. Discontinued since 1918. ON east side of County road 200 East about ½ mile south of County Road 400 North.
St. Mary's Township
Sec. 9 Mt. Zion United Brethren in Christ. On northeast corner of County Road 450 North and County Road 500 East (State Road 101) at Rivarre or “Bobo.”
Sec. 16 Mount Tabor Methodist Church. New cemetery located on sough side of Piqua Road about ¾ mile southeast of County Road 500 East (State Road 101). Old cemetery (known as Shaffer) is north across Piqua Road a short distance from new cemetery.
Sec. 27 Thatcher. Discontinued. About ½ mile southeast of County Road 225 North (Mill Road) on southwest side of Piqua Road and just north of 27 Mile Creek.
Sec. 27 Roop/Carrol. Located among trees on a knoll a short distance off the southwest side of Piqua Road about ¼ mile northwest of intersection with County Road 700 East (Ohio State Line).
Sec. 28 Pleasant Mills. On south side of US 33 on east edge of Pleasant Mills.
French Township
Sec. 9 Apostolic Christian Church. New cemetery is on northeast corner of County Road 200 South and Adams County Road 700 West. Old cemetery is a short distance west across Adams County Road 700 West just south of the church (in Wells County).
Sec. 26 Moser Family. On west side of County Road 450 West about ¼ mile north of County Road 500 South.
Sec. 28 French/Reynolds. Cemetery and French Township were named after a family surnamed French which settled here very early and owned much land. Located on west bank of the Wabash River at confluence with Rice Ditch. Access by long lane east from State Road 116 about 1 ½ miles north of State Road 218.
Sec. 35 Evangelical/Defenseless/Egly/Egli. (Mennonite Church). On east side of County Road 450 West about ½ mile north of County Road 600 South (State Road 218).
Sec. 36 Biberstein (also Moser). Site of extinct Old Mennonite Church. On east side of County Road 400 West and about ¼ mile north of County Road 600 South (State Road 218).
Sec. 36 Huser Family. On northwest corner of County Road 300 West and County Road 600 South (State Road 218).
Monroe Township
Sec. 5 Ray. Located on south side of County Road 000 (State Road 124) about ¼ mile west of County Road 125 West. About 1 ½ miles due west of Monroe.
Sec. 9 Smith (also Chapel). Site of extinct “Twelve Cornered Church” which was meeting house of the United Brethren Methodists and the United Brethren. Located a distance west of County Road 000 (Tile Mill Road) at a point ½ mile south of intersection with County Road 100 South. Cemetery abuts east side of old railroad right-of-way.
Sec. 11 Martz/Stevenson/Steverson. Located in a field a distance east of County Road 100 East and about four-tenths mile south of County Road 100 South.
Sec. 16 Hilty/Graber. (Amish Christian Church, discontinued). On north side of County Road 300 South a short distance east of US 27. Connected by lane on east side of Blue Creek Amish School.
Sec. 20 Mazelin. (Amish Christian Church, discontinued). On north side of County Road 400 South about ¾ mile west of US 27.
Sec. 21 Schwartz Amish. On south side of County Road 300 South about 1/3 mile east of US 27.
Sec. 25 Backesto/Spring Hill. On south side of County Road 400 South about 1/3 mile east of intersection with County Road 200 East.
Sec. 32 Berne Mennonite/Muensterberg. Abandoned. In Berne on northeast corner of Main Street and US 27.
Sec. 32 Neuenschwander/Moser/Amstutz-Neuenschwander/Schweitzer-Schwander. Rev. Peter Neuenschwander Mennonite Church, discontinued. On west side of County Road 150 West and about ½ mile north of County Road 600 South (State Road 218). On northwest edge of Berne.
Blue Creek Township
Sec. 16 BlueCreek/Tricker. On east side of County Road 500 East about 1/3 mile north of County Road 300 South.
Sec. 21 Sipe. Discontinued. Located on east side of County Road 500 East about ½ mile north of County Road 400 South. Cemetery is in a field a distance from road.
Sec. 29 Mount Hope/Willard. On north side of County Road 500 South and about ½ mile east of Salem Road or about ¼ mile east of County Road 475 East.
Sec. 33 Blue Creek Amish. On southeast corner of County Road 525 East and County Road 500 South.
Hartford Township
Sec. 10 Greenwood/Steiner/Linn Grove/Buena Vista. On east side of County Road 550 West (State Road 116) about 4/10 mile south of County Road 700 South.
Sec. 16 Alberson. On northeast corner of County Road 900 South and Adams County Road 700 West (Wells County Line).
Sec. 22 Brown/Glendening/Glendenen. On west side of County Road 550 West (State Road 116) about ¼ mile south of County Road 950 South.
Sec. 26 Hartford/Stringtown. Located a distance (long lane) on north side of Adams County Road 1050 South (State Road 116) and about ½ mile west of County Road 400 West. Originally on Camden Road which connected Geneva and Camden (Pennville).
Wabash Township
Sec. 2 Crawford/Rawley/Prairie Burying Ground. On south side of County Road 650 South a short distance west of County Road 200 East.
Sec. 6 M.R.E. (Mennonite-Reformed-Evangelical churches). On south side of County Road 600 South (State Road 218) about 2/3 mile west of County Road 200 West. A short distance west of Berne.
Sec. 10 Daniel C. Nussbaum Family. Discontinued and no markers. About ¼ mile east of County Road 000 (Tile Mill Road) and about ¼ mile north of County Road 800 South.
Sec. 15 Bunker Hill/Baker. On north side of County Road 900 South and about ½ mile east of County Road 000 (Tile Mill Road).
Sec. 16 Snow. On east side of US 27 a short distance south of Wabash River bridge. Can be seen from highway during winter months when trees are defoliated. Access by right-of-way from County Road 950 South.
Sec. 17 Kross Reformed Church/Hoffstetter. On northeast corner of County Road 150 West (Old Winchester Road) and County Road 850 South.
Sec. 17 Studebaker. Located south of the Price Bridge on east side of County Road 150 West (Old Winchester Road). On west bank of Wabash River.
Sec. 21 Collins/Ceylon. On north side of Rainbow Lake in Geneva. On south side of North Drive about ¼ mile east of Rainbow Road.
Sec. 22 Bunker Hill Amish. On south side of County Road 900 South a short distance east of County Road 050.
Sec. 27 Riverside. About a mile east of Geneva on southwest side of State Road 116 (between County Roads 1050 and 11000 South) on north bank of Wabash River.
Sec. 30 Westlawn/Pyle. Located on west edge of Geneva on northeast corner of County Road 1050 South and County Road 200 West.
Jefferson Township
Sec. 7 Rumple/Cook. On north side of County Road 800 South a short distance east of County Road 300 East.
Sec. 32. Loofbourrow. Name has many different spellings. May also have been referred to as “New Corydon” because of its proximity to the Jay County town. Located on south side of County Road 1150 a short distance east of County Road 450 East.
Sec. 33 St. Mary Presentation Catholic/”Little Irish”. On church site on south side of County Road 1100 South a short distance east of County Road 600 East.
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