OLD GERMAN METHODIST EPOSCOPAL CEMETERY
(a.k.a.
St. Stephens Lutheran Church Cemetery and the Frederick Cemetery)
New Salisbury, Jackson Township, Harrison County, Indiana
Submitted by Kevin
Conrad, HCCRT Historian
The old German
M.E Church
Cemetery is a small
graveyard located in the Northeast ¼ of the Northeast ¼
of Section 29, Township 2 South, Range 4 East, in the town of New
Salisbury, Jackson Township of Harrison County,
Indiana. USGS Crandall Quad: Latitude 38º 18’ 58” N, Longitude
86º 05’ 18” W.
This burial ground is located approximately 300
feet south from State Road 64 and on the west side of Oak Park Road N.E. Oak Park Road N.E. is located
one block east from the intersection of State Road 135 and State Road
64. This cemetery is bordered along it’s
eastern edge by Oak Park Road N.E, with a large farm field on the
opposite side of the road. A small patch of woods and light brush
borders the northern edge of the cemetery and impedes the view of the
cemetery from SR-64. The western edge is bordered by a narrow tree line
with an assorted array of shrubs and native vegetation (i.e.,
honeysuckle, raspberries, etc.). A borderless grass covered driveway
creates the cemetery’s southern border and separates the cemetery’s
property from the adjacent parcel, which contains a small older home
and detached petite garage. The entrance into the cemetery is from Oak Park Road and the driveway
is easily distinguishable between two old trees; one on each side at
the entrance.
The cemetery contains the remains of approximately
forty-six individuals, of which forty-four are known, including the
remains of three military soldiers; Nicholas Miller (Civil War); Ivan
Bacon (WW-I); and Jesse A. Hahn (WW-I). One of the forty-four known
graves is that of Mrs. Ella Lamm, who died
at 64 years of age on 24 September 1938.
Her unmarked grave is located along the western edge of the cemetery in
an area overgrown with vegetation.
At one time is burial ground was known as the St.
Stephens Lutheran Church Cemetery, but exactly when the name was
changed to the old German M.E
Church Cemetery
is not clear. In at least one record, this cemetery is referred to as
the “Frederick Cemetery.”
It is believed this latter name came about from the cemetery’s earliest
known burial: Mrs. Ann Frederick, who died in 1870. Her husband, John
Frederick, died later that same year and is also buried at this
cemetery.
On 15 October 2005
and after receiving approval from the State of Indiana,
a small group of volunteers known as the Harrison County Cemetery
Restoration Team (HCCRT) began the process of restoring this cemetery.
The restoration project included, but not limited to: photographing and
recording gravestone information; cleaning; repairing; and resetting
grave markers. This project was completed on 30 June 2006. A
copy of the HCCRT’s restoration report for
this cemetery is on file at the Frederick
Porter Griffin
Center for Local History and
Genealogy, 117 West Beaver Street, Corydon,
Indiana, 47112.
Phone: (812) 738-4110.
Surnames at this cemetery
Adam;
Adamson; Bacon; Bill; Damon; Flynn; Frederick; Hahn; Heinz; Heuser; Hilderbrand;
Kaufman; Lamm; Miller; Rector; and Temple.
Headstone
Inscriptions
All rows within the
cemetery are lined in a north and south direction. Most, if not all of
the graves face to the east. Since a plat of the cemetery was not
located, for the purpose of this report, Row 1 is assigned to the row
having the earliest known graves (John and Ann Frederick). Row 1 is
located on the east side of the cemetery and is nearest to, and runs
parallel with, Oak Park Road; whereas Row 8 is on the opposite side (or
west side) of the cemetery.
Headstone
inscriptions were recorded for each row, starting with the southernmost
headstone in Row 1 and ending with the row’s most northern headstone.
This was accomplished for each row; finishing at the last grave marker
on the north-end of Row 8.
Note: The reported
unmarked grave of Mrs. Ella Lamm is
located beyond Row 8; in the brush along the western edge of the
cemetery. See page 12 for additional
information on this gravesite.
ROW 1
John Frederick, born July 16, 1807,
died Aug. 17, 1870. (inscribed on right side)
Ann K., wife of John Frederick,
born Mar. 7, 1802,
died Feb. 15, 1870. (inscribed on left
side)
ROW 2
Adam Adam,
born June 6, 1824,
died dec. 20, 1877.
Katharina Adam, born July 4, 1827,
died July 11, 1912.
Jack R. Rector, born Dec. 28, 1919,
died Aug. 27, 1921.
ROW 3
Rev. Peter A. Flynn, born Dec. 2, 1837,
died Dec. 6, 1925.
Grave (stone marker): initials
“M.F.”
Possible grave (stone found)
Possible grave (stone found)
Philip Damon, born Nov 21, 1804,
died Sept. 26, 1879.
Charles H., husband of S. E. Rector,
died Jan. 27, 1886,
aged 55y, 1m, 28d.
Sarah E., wife of C. H. Rector,
born Feb. 15, 1838,
died Aug. 8, 1898.
James L. Rector, born 1866, died
1956.
Maggie Rector, born 1872, died
1960.
Mary L., daut
of J. L. & M. Rector, born Aug. 16, 1899,
died Dec 23, 1899.
Emma, dau
of J. L. & Margaret Rector, born Dec. 31, 1896,
died Dec 25, 1905.
ROW 4
Catharine, wife of N. Miller, born
Dec. 14, 1842,
died Dec. 27, 1927.
Nicholas, husband of C. Miller, born Feb 25, 1831,
died Apr. 8, 1904.
Carrie M., wife of Ed Bacon, born Nov. 3, 1869,
died Sept. 23, 1902.
Ivan Bacon, born 1888, died 1936,
27th Iowa Inft. Co. 7.
(Note: An American
Legion marker is also affixed to the grave which reads: “Ivan Bacon,
Pvt. Vet. Detmt. A.R.D. 317, died July 1, 1936”).
Anna M., wife of W. Hilderbrand, born Apr. 2, 1822,
died July 4, 1909,
aged 87y, 3m, 2d.
Born at Niederweisel
H.D. Germany.
Wenzel, husband of A.M. Hilderbrand, born Aug.2, 1816, died Aug. 3, 1890,
aged 74y, 1d.
Born at Niederweisel
H.D. Germany.
(Note: H.D. means “Hesse-Darmstadt)
John Heinz, born 1855, died 1882
Julia A. Hahn, born 1853, died
(not engraved)
Philip Hahn, born 1853, died 1932
Catherine Hahn, born 1856, died
1886.
Anna E., wife of Dora Adamson,
born Dec. 17, 1879,
died Jan. 2, 1908.
Jessie A. Hahn, born 1890, died
1919.
(Note:
An American Legion marker is also affixed to the grave which reads:
“Jesse Albert Hahn, Private, died Aug 1, 1919”).
ROW 5
John Temple, born Dec. 29, 1853,
died Apr. 19, 1893.
Louis Temple, born Jan. 7, 1821,
died June 3, 1899.
Elenora Temple, born July 20, 1826,
died July 11, 1884.
Johan Ehegate
von Julia A. Heinz,
Geb. Den Feb.
16, 1855, Gest.den
Oct.
19, 1882, Alt. 27J, 8M, 3t.
Catharine, wife of Philip Hahn, & daut of W. & M. Hilderbrand,
born Sept. 6, 1856,
died Apr. 5, 1886,
aged 29y, 6m, 29d.
ROW 6
John Bill, died 1888.
Jacob Bill, born Aug. 18, 1835,
died Nov. 5, 1907
Alice Bill, born Oct 29, 1838,
died July 28, 1916.
ROW 7
Henry Kaufman, born Nov. 12, 1827,
died Feb. 8, 1905.
Elizabeth Kaufman, born May 20, 1833,
died Feb 3, 1925.
Sarah J., wife of Wm. H. Temple,
born Aug. 25, 1866,
died Apr. 14, 1889,
aged 22y, 7m, 19d.
ROW 8
Lizzie K., daut
of N. & C. Miller, born Aug. 26, 1879,
died Jan. 12, 1882.
Emma, daut. Of E. & C. M.
Bacon, born Nov. 27, 1887,
died Jan. 26, 1888.
Louis Heuser,
born Nov. 4, 1895,
died Feb. 20, 1896.
George W. Heuser,
born 1863, died 1936.
Elizabeth Heuser,
born 1865, died 1896.
Grave (stone marker): initials
“M.E. H.”
Other
Reported Burials
In an email message dated 13 Oct 2005,
from Cheryl Proctor, then Chairman of the Harrison County Cemetery
Preservation Committee (a branch of the Harrison County Historical
Society), stated that according to “Sybil Chinn,” who was
living in the house next door [south from the cemetery], Mrs. Chinn stated “Ella Lamm,” a
member of the Log Cabin Church on SR-135 (just north of New Salisbury)
was buried on the western edge of the cemetery. Ella Lamm died without the means to have a proper
funeral and burial. The church asked if Ella could be buried in the Old German M.E. Cemetery and
permission was given. It was further stated that in the spring, Ella Lamm’s grave can be seen by the white peonies in
bloom at her grave. “
Also in a separate email from Cheryl
Proctor, dated on the same date (13 Oct 2005),
Cheryl stated the following: “The
grave of Ella Lamm is in the tangle of
brush behind the row where the infants, Lizzie Miller and Emma Bacon
are buried. Ella’s grave can be seen in the spring when the white
peonies are in bloom. I have her grave documented as follows: “Mrs.
Ella Lamm died Sept. 24, 1938. Age 64 years, buried in an unmarked
grave, east-northeast of large water maple tree, which is planted along
the fence row. White peonies are on her grave. An old
deteriorated metal funeral home [tag] is no longer on her grave. Her
grave is overgrown with honeysuckle and raspberries.” ”
On 26 November 2005,
several members of the Harrison County Restoration Team (HCCRT)
conducted a thorough search of the area described in the above email. A
site suspected to be the final resting place of Mrs. Ella Lamb was
found and cleared of the overgrown vegetation. The suspected site had
the characteristics and size of a sunken grave. Although peonies were found growing in close promity,
no metal marker from a funeral home was found.
Cheryl Proctor also reported that a
gentleman by the name of “Edward Bacon” was also buried at the Old
German M.E.
Cemetery. Edward’s first
wife, Carrie M. Bacon, is buried at this cemetery in row 4, near her
parents; Nicholas and Catherine Frederich
Miller. Edward and Carrie are the parents of Ivan Bacon, who are also
buried in row 4. There is no headstone at this cemetery that bears the
name “Edward Bacon.” According to his
obituary, Edward Bacon was born in Nov, 1872 and died on Nov. 18, 1942.
