Category: Cemeteries

Opal Arthur, 1903 – 1929, Mother, River Hill Cemetery, Spencer, Owen County, Indiana

I’ve been sloooooowly uploading more photos to Findagrave, and I thought this one was kind of interesting. They’ve made their own do-it-yourself marker, but then embedded the little metal plaque from the funeral home into the concrete. (There are a couple of similar grave markers in this cemetery that belong to other members of the Arthur family.)

I went back to Dunn Cemetery today to photograph the headstones I’d missed the first time around. And, of course, there was a wedding party at Beck Chapel when I got there. I seem to have the worst timing when it comes to running into weddings and funerals. Thankfully, the wedding was over and people had started to leave, by the time I got there.

You can see why people like to have weddings (and shoot music videos) here, though. It’s beautiful!

Mary Wife of P. Jarvis Born Feb. 10, 1809 Died Mar. 16, 1889

Philip Jarvis Born Nov. 8, 1806 Died Mar. 24, 1888

This was by far the largest monument in Palestine Cemetery. Or, it would be if it weren’t in pieces. When I got there, the side with Mary’s inscription was facing out. I thought it was likely, since Philip was mentioned in her inscription, that the opposite side–the one resting against the monument’s base–held his inscription. But that’s a really, really, really big hunk of stone (about 3 feet tall, to give you some idea of scale). And it was hot as hell–about 90F. Not exactly the best weather for trying to move giant pieces of stone. But, I managed to tilt the headstone backward enough to get a photo of the back side. Just barely. So that’s why the angle on the last photo is so wonky.

Gateposts

This was the second of three cemeteries I visited yesterday, and by far the most visually appealing. It’s on a narrow gravel road, and the entrance is nearly hidden by trees. The cemetery itself, while along the roadside, is completely ringed by trees, with deep woods on three sides. Very atmospheric. And, unfortunately, also very neglected. It had been mowed recently, but the stones were in pretty poor condition. The largest monument was lying in pieces. Most of the headstones were small, including a couple of fieldstone markers. There were also a few markers that were worn completely smooth.

Corner Post

Palestine Cemetery, Palestine Cemetery Road, Vandalia, Owen County, Indiana

J. C. Cline Co. D. 28 U. S. C. I.

Jos. Walden Co. D 28 U. S. C. T.

J. M. Wilson Co. D 28 U. S. C. T.

J. T. Wilson Co. D. 8 U. S. C .I.

One of the women I work with is from Owen County, and she told me about a little cemetery there with African American burials. And when I say little, I mean tiny. There are maybe 10-12 headstones, some of which belong to Civil War soldiers. The abbreviation U. S. C. I. stands for United States Colored Infantry; U. S. C. T. stands for United States Colored Troops.

Walden Cemetery, Hillcrest Drive, Spencer, Owen County, Indiana