Restoring History
Restoring History Genealogical Research Reveals a Forgotten Pike County Cemetery
Ghostly gloominess and undisturbed undergrowth hailed Chillicothe family genealogists, Suzanne and Michael Glendening to search for the "Old Baptist Cemetery" in May 1992. The Higby Road cemetery site overlooks the hamlet of Omega.
Their research lead them to the area believed to be the burial site of Suzanne's ancestors. Accidentally they stumbled over a half-hidden gravestone. When they saw that it was the cemetery, they both silently wept. The Glendenings vowed they would spend each Sunday, weather permitting, restoring the pike County cemetery, while carrying on their genealogical search.
Within three years, the couple has restored 55 marked graves. (The unmarked graves probably had wooden markers which are now gone.) "The trees, grapevines, bushes, and debris were removed Suzanne said, with a knowing twinkle in her eyes. Many mysteries may still await discovery.
The Glendenings believe that the cemetery dates from the December 12, 1839, grave (62 year-old John Warren) to Lyman Hatfield who died in 1911. But, the hard-working Glendenings have not uncovered the whole cemetery.
The Glendening's original intent was to find Suzanne's great-great-great-grandfather, Jacob Hatfield (circa 1800-1884). They haven't found the Hatfield grave, but Suzanne was delighted to find the burial of her great-great-grandfather, Aclin Colvin. He was discharged from Company "G", 91st Ohio Infantry in 1863 with a surgeon's certificate of disability.
That grave is now marked with a Civil War marker set in cement. "I don't like to see servicemen's grave disturbed." explained Micahel, a Vietnam veteran and retired Army officer. He restored the veterans' graves he found.
"Seven of them were Civil War veterans," he said, "and one of them, Ames A. Loney was in the War of 1812." The Civil War vets were William Shrader (who was born in the Kingdom of Hungary), Corp. John L. Aldridge, Taylor Dowes, James Sampson, Aclinn Colvin, J. B. Claytor, and Ameredith Cydrus.
Finding the graves of Suzanne's ancestor and war heroes was easier than finding cemetery caretakers. "We had trouble discovering who was responsible for the cemetery," explained Suzanne.
"The Baptist Church no longer operated the cemetery, so the Pike County commissioners didn't know the status of the site."
Since the church was no long in operation, Prosecutor Neil Rosenberger discovered that the Jackson Township Trustees were responsible. :"After two trips back through a cornfield to the cemetery," they mentioned thankfully of the trustees' assistance.
Suzanne and Michael are painstakingly thorough about the restoration process - from gluing the gravestones back together with ceramic tile (thin set) cement, to straightening and pouring new concrete bases, to planting grass seed, pruning the peonies, and removing trees that interfered with the graves.
"The burial ground was a mess," Suzanne reflected. "The first grave discovered was Caroline E., Wife of Alonza C. Hatfield." It was dated October 7, 1838, and September 12, 1892, for the 54 year-old. She must have suffered for a while - the epitaph said, "Sleep thy last sleep free from pain and sorrow."
Other grave stones in the cemetery revealed interesting insight into the past, too. In 1891, J. K. Brewer and his wife sadly buried their children. Two year old John W. Brewer's marker read, "Sweet little bud for earth too fair, Has gone to heaven to bloom there." And the grieving parents laid their six-year-old, Daisy Pearl to rest only a few months later. The epitaph said, "Thou did'st given and thou has taken, Blessed Lord thy will be done."
"You loved me on earth. I will meet you in Heaven -A token of love to his memory by his wife, May S. Sherman," is the epitaph etched on the grave marker of Isaac A. Sherman. It is not known why this 33-year-old man was shot on Christmas Day 1860. He died one month later on January 29, 1861.
The Glendenings developed a computerized layout of the graves they uncovered, dates that interments were discovered, epitaphs, and the Civil War veterans' records of meritorious service. From discovering the buried history to recording it for posterity, their research is comprehensive.
Suzanne and Michael Glendening's dedication to the preservation of local history and genealogical research is available for all to appreciate at the "new" Baptist Cemetery.
This author has been looking for information about Isaac A. Sherman and the shooting. Why was he shot? Suzanne and Michael Glendening are also seeking an answer.
Submitted by Mrs. Barbara Bolmer Kalfs
Backfence Magazine - 1992 ?
Copyright © 2006
Pike Co. Genealogy Society a Chapter of O.G.S.
P. O. Box 224, Waverly, Ohio 45690
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