Chris Meinicke with Mary O'Donnell

Mary O'Donnell had a special interest in old cemeteries. Several years ago she proposed to Beaver Chapter DAR that we adopt Cooper Mountain Cemetery as our special project. The cemetery has quite a history.

The land on which it is located was owned by Perry Cooper through a Donation Land Claim in 1853. Mr. Cooper donated one acre for the cemetery.

Cooper Mountain Cemetery officially became a cemetery in 1899 when Moses and Martha Dillaboy bought the land. The earliest burial was in 1899. Many of the early residents of the area are buried there.

The upkeep of the cemetery had over the years been quite a challenge with all the blackberries, brush and broken grave stones. There was a one room church, the United Brethern Church, on the property, but it deteriorated so much that it had to be torn down.

With the encouragement of Mr. Howard Grabhorn, the Cemetery Association President, Beaver Chapter members have been there in the fall and spring to clean, rake, and help keep it beautiful.

Beaver Chapter DAR applied to the NSDAR Historian General in Washington, DC; for approval to mark the cemetery with a historical plaque. Approval was granted based upon the documentation provided. A chapter garage sale was held to earn the money to buy the plaque. On the 28th of April 2001 the dedication ceremony was held.

We are aware that nothing is really ended until it is forgotten. Whatever is kept in memory still endures. Therefore, we Beaver Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, chose to dedicate this marker in grateful recognition of the significance of this site.

Need Directions? Ask Chris

Last update CAK on 4 September 2009