wesleychapelcem

THE WESLEY CHAPEL CEMETERY

Washington Township, Harrison County, Indiana

Submitted by Kevin Conrad

The Wesley Chapel Cemetery is located about 16 miles southwest of Corydon and 3 miles southwest from the town of Valley City, on the Wesley Chapel Road. It is situated on a high ridge overlooking the Ripperdan Valley in Washington Township, Section 18, NW of the NW ¼, T5S and R3E, Harrison County, Indiana.

A fence is established around the perimeter of the cemetery, and normally accessed through a large metal gate on the south-end of the cemetery, although years ago the cemetery was likely accessed in front along the road. The cemetery is separated from Wesley Methodist Chapel by a small patch of sparse old hardwood trees to the south. The land was deeded to the chapel on November 17, 1853 by Isaac and Madeline Kaga. The first church located here was made of logs and has since been replaced by the current structure around 1888. More history is provided later in this record. The present church is located at the corner of Wesley Chapel Road and Sonner Lane.

During the first few frigid and blustery days of January 2003, Kevin and Angie Conrad recorded the names and other pertinent information from the cemetery’s gravestones. This data was collected in a systematic approach, beginning with the first identifiable grave in the first row, located in the south-east corner of the cemetery. The information for each row was always collected at the south end of the cemetery, working our way across to the north end of the cemetery. The 20 rows run north and south and parallel with Wesley Chapel Road.

The earliest known burial at this cemetery occurred in 1824 and is still in use today; with over five hundred individuals interred at this location.

Surnames at this cemetery

Arnold; Baxley; Bean; Beanblossom; Boze; Burnham; Burr; Byard; Clarence; Coffman; Conrad; Craig; Cremers; Cunningham; Curts; Daily; Daugherty; Davison; Davidson; Devore; Duggins; Fish; Fisher; Flanigan; Fleshman; Frank; Green; Hallock; Hardsaw; Hayes; Hisey; Hogan; Holland; Hughes; Lasley; Longacre; Love; Loveless; Kaga; Kagey; Kintner; Knapp; Mathe; Mathes; Mauck; McCraig; McMonigle; Miller; Montgomery; Mooney; Mowrer; Moyars; Newbill; Paris; Perkhiser; Redden; Rice; Richards; Ripperdan; Rissler; Rose; Ross; Sands; Sargent; Shewmaker; Sherrill; Shireman; Simler; Singleton; Sonner; Thornbury; Timberlake; Torrey; Trotter; Windell; Wolfe; Wiseman; Wright; Young; and Zenor.

Headstone Inscriptions

ROW 1

Grave (stone marker): initials “E.B.”

Millie, daughter of P.E. & C.A. SHIREMAN, born Jan. 20, 1881, died Mar. 10? 1881.

Stanton W. SHIREMAN, born Mar. 8, 1884, died Nov. 12, 1962.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Emma SHIREMAN, born 1860, died 1885.

Perry SHIREMAN, born 1859, died 1932.

Anna B. SHIREMAN, born 1859, died 1950.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Stone marker: initials “A.”

illegible, illegible of A. & M. FLESHMAN, born Dec. ?, 1867?, died Nov. illegible

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Francis FLESHMAN, born Nov. 26, 1864?, died Jan. 2, 1884.

Benjamin F. FLESHMAN, born Feb. 9, 1857, died Sept. 1, 1883.

Isaac FLESHMAN, born May 22, 1821, died Feb. 3, 1899.

Mary A. FLESHMAN, born Oct. 22, 1832, died Feb. 19, 1915.

David, son of A. F. & E. SONNER, died Oct. 13, 1897, aged 15y, 2m, 7d.

John William, son of A. F. & E. SONNER, died Jan. 19, 1866, aged 5m, 27d.

Annie F., daut of A. F. & E. SONNER, born June 25, 1869, died July 26, 1885, aged 16y, 1m, 1d.

Emma, daut of A. F. & E. SONNER, died Oct. 24, 1897, aged 19y, 5m, 17d.

Stone marker: no initials

Agrippa F. SONNER, born 1837, died 1910.

Emily SONNER, wife, born 1845, died 1920.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

George W. SONNER, born 1852, died 1932.

Anna R. SONNER, born 1853, died 1932.

Jesse L. SONNER, born 1885, died 1887.

Bertha W., daut of G.W. & A. R. SONNER, died July 24, 1884, aged 1y, 10m, 4d.

Infant, son of G.W. & A. R. SONNER, died Dec. 2, 1876, aged 7d.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Grave (stone marker): initials “I. F.”

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Jane M., wife of Hardin DAILY, born Feb. 19, 1815, died Sept. 24, 1872, aged (illegible).

William T., son of Hardin & Jane M. DAILY,

born Dec. 14?, 1851?, died May 4, 1871?, aged 19y, 4m, 18d.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Sarah D., wife of James DAILY, born Mar. 2, 1860, died Mar. 8, 1882.

Johnnie, son of J. & S. D. DAILY, died Jan. 3, 1883.

Irvin DAILY, born May. 30, 1854, died Nov. 10, 1928.

Mary E. DAILY, born May 23, 1863, died Nov. 30, 1947.

Mary E., wife of I. DAILY, born May 6, 1859, died Sept. 25, 1886.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Stella M., daughter of I. & M. D. DAILY, born July 11, 1864, died Oct. 10, 1866.

James A., son of M. & E. MONTGOMERY, born Apr. 23, 1871, died Sept. 24, 1873.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Ella S., daughter of M. & E. MONTGOMERY, born 14 Oct. 1877, died Jan. 5, 1887.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Martin MONTGOMERY, born 20 May 1832, died Mar. 21, 1914.

Elizabeth MONTGOMERY, born Feb. 22, 1846, died Feb. 15, 1926.

R______ HISEY, Father, born ??, died ?? (headstone illegible. Footstone inscribed “R.H.”).

ROW 2

Clifford, son of Jesse & Zola HISEY, born Nov. 25, 1925, died Jan. 6, 1926.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Jesse A. HISEY, born Mar. 1, 1856, died May 9, 1921.

Mary R. HISEY, born Oct. 8, 1854, died Feb. 3, 1940.

Albert, son of J. A. & M. R. HISEY, born Aug. 27, 1883, died Sept. 28, 1886.

Stone marker: initials “R.”

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Stone marker: initials “Ross.”

Leonard S., son of M. V. & E. V. ROSS, died Aug. 23, 1866, aged 11m, 23d.

John W., son of M. V. & E. V. ROSS, died July 24, 1884, aged 7m, 6d.

Stella Corine ROSS, born 1867, died 1949.

Martin V. ROSS, born Dec. 6, 1836, died Feb. 7, 1900.

Elizabeth V. ROSS, born Mar. 15, 1840, died Sept 1, 1922.

Rosa Viola ROSS, born 1874, died 1947.

Stone marker: initials “R.”

Eliza J., wife of J. K.P. SONNER, died Feb. 24, 1880, aged 30y.

Nellie A., wife of William ZENOR, born July 3, 1871, died Apr. 15, 1895.

James K. SONNER, born 1844, died 1907, Company F, 13th Indiana Cavalry. (Civil War)

Annie V. SONNER, born Mar. 6, 1850, died May. 22, 1912.

William SONNER, born Sept. 16, 1798, died Jan. 26, 1894.

Mary SONNER, born Dec. 9, 1809, died July 29, 1894.

Dr. Joshua SONNER, consort of Agnes M. Sonner, died 17 Nov 1873, aged 38y, 3m, 28d.

Grave (stone marker): initials “M.S.”

William WINDELL, born Dec. 13 1822, died July 1, 1905.

Elizabeth, wife of Wm. WINDELL, born Aug 20, 1824, died June 17, 1891.

William E. WINDELL, died Feb 9, 1867, aged 14y, 9m, 4d.

Robert WINDELL, born 1848, died 1895.

Martha WINDELL, born 1850, died 1929.

Anthony WINDELL, born 1846, died 1899.

Wilford O. RISSLER, born 1867, died 1944.

James DAILY, born 1857, died 1939.

Lucy DAILY, born 1862, died 1942.

Neale R. DAILY, born Oct. 25, 1900, died Feb. 11, 1904.

Grave (marble marker, footstone like): no initials.

John W. MAUCK, born Sept. 3, 1870, died Jan. 31, 1936.

William W. LONGACRE, born Sept. 4, 1842, died Aug. 13, 1922.

Mary A. LONGACRE, born Apr. 6, 1848, died Aug. 12, 1925.

Samuel MAUCK, born Oct. 13, 1874, died Feb. 2, 1888.

Addie V. COFFMAN, daughter, born Dec. 15, 1898, died Nov. 26, 1923.

Laura F. WISEMAN, mother, born Oct. 2, 1877, died Oct. 31, 1907.

Wife and daughter of Lon Wiseman

Jacob WRIGHT, born 1862, died 1927.

Mollie, wife of Jacob WRIGHT, born 1867, died 1921.

ROW 3

Edith M. SANDS, Mother, born 1880, died 1945.

James W. COFFMAN, born 1852, died 1935.

Bettie R. COFFMAN, born 1848, died 1933.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Otto FRANK, born Oct. 20, 1857, died Nov. 24, 1880, aged 23y, 1m, 4d.

Emma, daughter of W. T. & H. FRANK, born Jan. 26, 1871, died Sept. 23, 1876.

Benjamin FRANK, born Mar. 22, 1873, died July 22, 1874.

Infant, son of W. T. & H. FRANK, born Dec. 19, 1864, died Dec. 26, 1864.

Sarah E. FRANK, died June 22, 1863, age 5m, 10d.

W. T. FRANK, born (not given), died (not given).

[Note: This is the actual grave of William Thomas Frank, born Jan. 5, 1830, died July 7, 1879.

William is this researcher’s (Kevin Conrad) great-great-great grandfather. I descend from his 3rd wife,

Harriett Hughes. William is buried adjacent to the grave of his 1st wife, Evaline Sonners Frank.

A large red granite obelisk is nearby which serves as a memorial to William, his first wife and some of

his children].

Evaline FRANK, born (not given), died (not given).

[Note: This marker rests on Evaline Sonner Frank’s actual grave site.]

Wm. T. FRANK, born Jan. 5, 1830, died July 7, 1879.

Evaline, wife of W.T. FRANK, born Dec. 9, 1830, died Feb. 21, 1863.

Children of W.T. Frank

Sarah E. Frank

Benjamin Frank

Emma Frank

Infant Frank

Otto Frank

[Note: This marker serves as a memorial to William T. Frank, his 1st wife Eveline and some of

his children. His first wife’s name appears as “Eveline” on the original grave marker and as “Evaline”

on this memorial.]

Nola Clest, daughter of W. J. & S. A. PURKHISER, died Feb 11, 1876, age 1y, 9m, 20d.

Infant - PURKHISER, born Mar. 7, 1878, died Apr. 4, 1878.

Nola PURKHISER, Father, born (not given), died (not given).

Kirby PURKHISER, Mother, born (not given), died (not given).

Infant PURKHISER, born (not given), died (not given).

[Note: The names shown above were transcribed as shown on the headstone; although, “Nola”

is likely the mother-- not the father, and “Kirby” the father—not the mother.]

Grave (only the stone base remains; headstone missing.)

Dell Purkhiser MOONEY, born 1880, died 1946.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

John D., son of D. A. & A. SIMLER, born Feb. 14, 1880, died Mar. 1, 1881.

[Note: Approximately five feet in front of the headstone of John D. Simler is a damaged

footstone inscribed “O.M.W.” Next to this damaged footstone is a base for a second

footstone, but the footstone is missing.]

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Stone marker: no initials.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Oliver M., son of D. W. & R. E. WINDELL, died Aug. 31, 1866, aged 3y, 3m, 26d.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

illegible WINDELL, June 7, 1865.

illegible, illegible of D.W. & R.E. WINDELL, born (not given), died (not given).

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Susannah C., wife of George CONRAD, died May. 17, 1870, aged 51y, 2m.

Arminda A., daut of G. & S. CONRAD, born July 7, 1852, died Nov. 23, 1878.

Grave (only the stone base remains; headstone missing.)

[Note: The stone base is identical to the based used for Susannah C. Conrad. This may be the grave

of George Conrad. There is no record he remarried after the death of his wife. George was born about 1812

in Pennsylvania and died sometime between June 30, 1870 and June 28, 1880 in Washington Twp, Harrison

Co., IN.]

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Waldo, son of J.W. & E. A. HISEY, born May. 1, 1888, died June 17, 1888.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Unmarked Grave (sunken grave).

John W. SHIREMAN, born 1874, died 1951.

Allie E. SHIREMAN, born 1867, died 1950.

Unmarked Grave (sunken grave).

John WRIGHT, born Oct. 10, 1826, died Oct. 27, 1905.

Grave (field stone).

Laura J. WRIGHT, died Mar. 9, 1905, age 42 yrs.

Abraham WRIGHT, born 1867, died 1910.

ROW 4

Alex MILLER, born May 17, 1894, died June 16, 1972.

Mattie E. MILLER, born Dec. 8, 1899, died Jan. 15, 1964.

Married Apr. 10, 1918.

Gladys N. MILLER, born / died 1926.

Earlene COFFMAN, daut. of Alex & Mattie MILLER, born Apr. 8, 1923, died Jan. 2, 2002.

Curry RICHARDS, born 1878, died 1947.

Ella RICHARDS, born 1872, died 1941.

Silas W., son of Rev. M. M. & S. W. BURR, born Nov. 10, 1871, died Dec. 11, 1872.

Grave (only the stone base remains; headstone missing.)

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

David HISEY, born 1845, died 1872.

Emma HISEY, born 1842, died 1938.

Richard D. HISEY, born 1871, died 1892.

Emma O. HISEY, born 1868, died 1950.

Wash HISEY, born 1869, died 1961.

Celia A. KNAPP, born Mar. 3, 1854, died Jan. 25, 1879.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

David HARDSAW, died Dec. 28, 1872, aged 69y, 10m, 5d.

Catharine HARDSAW, born Nov. 1, 1810, died July 14, 1892.

Grave (stone marker): initials “C.R.”

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Sarah M., daut of A. & S. MATHES, born Sept. 1, 1833, died Mar. 20, 1861.

Thomas, son of A. & S. L. MATHES, born Nov. 14, 1861, died Aug. 12, 1862.

Roscoe B. SHIREMAN, born May 1, 1893, died Aug. 15, 1926.

Robert SHIREMAN, born Aug. 23, 1861, died Dec 11, 1915.

Mary E. SHIREMAN, wife, born June 30, 1863, died July 20, 1948.

Cora SHIREMAN, born Nov. 23, 1880, died Jan. 1?, 1881. (twins)

Dora SHIREMAN, born Nov. 23, 1880, died Jan. 20, 1881.

Children of R. & M.E. Shireman

Stroodie W., son of R. & M. E. SHIREMAN, born May 7, 1882, died Mar. 6, 1884.

George O., son of R. & M. E. SHIREMAN, born Feb. 20, 1884, died Nov. 16, 1885.

Grave (stone marker): initials “M. E. S.”

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Willard SONNER, born 1876, died 1934.

Bertha E. SONNER, born 1881, died 1947.

Eli SONNER, born 1833, died 1914.

Angeline SONNER, born 1841, died 1897.

Sarah E. SONNER, born 1865, died 1898.

Grave (stone marker): initials “D. S.”

Grave (stone marker): initials “E. S.”

ROW 5

Alfred L. HARDSAW, born May 20, 1840, died Feb. 25, 1927.

Caroline HARDSAW, wife, born May 23, 1838, died Nov. 16, 1898.

Alfred, son of A. & C. HARDSAW, born Mar. 28, 1876, died Sept. 22, 1887.

James A., son of A. & C. HARDSAW, born Jan? 9, 1887, died Apr. 27, 1887.

Grave (headstone damaged & illegible): initials on footstone “D. M. W.”

Grave (headstone damaged & illegible, also pieces missing)

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Rhoda M., wife of J.T. FLESHMAN, born Feb. 4, 1868, died Apr. 29, 1888.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

John S. SHERRILL, born Feb. 22, 1813, died May 25, 1884.

[Note: John S. Sherrill and his wife Clarissa, have a young child, Charles W. Sherrill,

buried at the John Purkhiser family cemetery in Washington Township. Charles died on

Nov 20, 1861 at age 4y, 24d.]

Clarissa SHERRILL, wife, born Sept. 20, 1826, died Aug 4, 1908.

William J., son of J. S. & C. SHERRILL, born Apr. 20, 1847, died June 22, 1875.

Ed. S. SHERRILL, born July 14, 1853, died May 8, 1915.

Mary J. SHERRILL, born 1865, died 1930.

Note: Behind the above section of Sherrill headstones (between rows 5 and 6), stands a very large pine tree. The pine tree is located almost directly behind the headstone of William J. Sherrill. Around the base of the pine tree is a collection of four loose footstones, one concrete base used to mount a footstone, and one upper half of a broken headstone. The following information was collected from these piled grave markers: Footstone initials “D.A.S.”; Footstone initials “C.W.”; Footstone initials “C.S.”; Footstone initials “N.C.P.”; and partial broken headstone “Anna M., wife of M. F. Purkhiser.”

Grave (footstone): initials “J.W.S.”

Grave (small headstone is illegible)

Grave (small marble marker): initials “B.W.”

Aquilla F. SONNER, born 1897, died 1898.

Daniel W. SONNER, born July 30, 1910, died June 1, 1937.

Corporal, 11th Indiana Infantry

Harvey H. SONNER, born 1912, died 1930.

Phebe, wife of Hamilton TROTTER, born Jan. 14, 1828, died July 29, 1880.

Clara B., daut of H. & P. TROTTER, born Mar. 11, 1856, died Nov. 10, 1884.

Frank H. ROSE?, died Sept. 7, (year illegible), aged 40y, 2m?, ?d.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Minnie A. TROTTER, born Dec. 5, 1877, died May 3, 1910, aged 32y, 4m, 28d.

Grave (footstone): initials “C.H..”

Grave (headstone is damaged & illegible)

J. W. HISEY, born 1858, died 1932.

Annie E. HISEY, born 1851, died 1904.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Forest O. GREEN, born 1912, died 1965.

Mildred L. GREEN, born 1914, died 1963.

ROW 6

Tommy WOLFE, born July 11, 1893, died Dec. 9, 1896.

Ethel L. WOLFE, born Jan. 22, 1891, died Dec. 13, 1896.

Dudley M., son of G.W. & C. WOLFE, died July 24, 1867, aged 23y, 7m, 14d.

Geo. W. WOLFE, born Feb. 21, 1816, died Nov. 26, 1900.

Catharine WOLFE, wife, born Sept. 20, 1820, died July 15, 1893.

Anna M., wife of Millard F. PERKHISER, born Jan? 31, 1853?, died Nov. 2, 1879.

Florida, daut of M. F. & A. M. PERKHISER, born Dec. 29, 1874, died Oct. 23, 1875.

Jno. TROTTER, Sgt. Company B, 3rd Indiana Cavalry. (Civil War).

Matilda, wife of John TROTTER, died Aug. 28, 1859, aged 29y, 8m.

__ illa?, daut. of J. & M. TROTTER, aged 5m.

[Note: headstone is very worn. If dates were inscribed, they are no longer visible].

Grave (headstone is damaged & illegible)

Grave (stone marker. A field stone also rests against this marker)

John T. CUNNINGHAM, died Mar. 18, 1881, aged 20y, 2m, 21d.

Grave (field stone).

Mary C., daut. of J.W. & P. J. CRAIG, born Mar. 19, 1882, died Jan. 16, 1892.

Wm. TROTTER, Sgt. Company D, 13th Indiana Cavalry (Civil War).

John ARNOLD, born Dec. 9, 1815, died Jan. 12, 1899.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Lillie HARDSAW, born Aug. 5, 1875, died Sept. 17, 1893.

Clerence HARDSAW, born Oct. 21, 1881, died May 27, 1895.

ROW 7

Laura FLESHMAN, born Dec. 27, 18__?, died Sept. ?, 183?.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Infant, daut. of E. & A. SONNER, born / died Nov 1889.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Grave (field stone).

Grave (stone marker): initials “S.C.B.”

Grave (stone marker): initials “N.A.Z.”

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Sarah C., daut. of A. M. & Margaret BEAN, born Feb. 8, 1833, died July 8, 1855.

Infant, son of J. P. & S. SONNER, died June 2, 1878?, aged 8d.

Bertram, son of J. P. & S. SONNER, died Sept. 18, 1875, aged 7y, 2m, 25d.

William M., son of J. P. & S. SONNER, died Nov. 1, 1883, aged 5y, 6m, 24d.

John P. SONNER, born Jan. 17, 1829, died May 5, 1909.

Sarah SONNER, born Sept. 15, 1841, died Nov. 18, 1904.

James M. SHERRILL, born 1860, died 1925.

Mary A. SHERRILL, born 1866, died 1952.

Infant, son of J. M. & M. A. SHERRILL, born Feb. 2, 1905, died Apr. 27, 1905.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Garrison M. SHEWMAKER, born 1827, died 1908.

Nancy E. SHEWMAKER, born 1827, died 1909.

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Unmarked Grave (sunken grave)

Anna Jean LASLEY, 29 June 1931.

Annis Jane LASLEY

Aunt Jane SHEWMAKER

[Note: The above names, as shown, are inscribed on a bronze plaque which is mounted to

a granite stone. The date given did not indicated if this was a birth date or death date.]

ROW 8

Grave (broken headstone; upper portion missing).

Vacant plot or unmarked grave??

Francis H. RIPPERDAN, born Mar. 30, 1925, died Apr. 10, 1976.