Palmer, Ohio, 1876
Editor Register:
I have seen a good many pieces in your paper about cemeteries and graveyards. By request of many friends, I will write on the subject.
I wish to say to all those that have friends buried in what is called the old Gard graveyard, in Palmer, that it is in good repair, free from brush and briers. About five years ago there was a committee appointed to repair it. The friends and neighbors threw in their mite liberally and raised about one hundred dollars, purchased more land, built a good substantial board fence, with locust posts. Since then the Trustees levied a tax to keep up the repairs and from that time I have kept it in good order.
The first person buried in it was a daughter of David Gard, in 1817, fifty-nine years ago. The next was Benjamin Danley, a brother of mine who died in 1820. The next, I think, was Nathan Gard, in 1821.
There are two hundred and fifty-six buried in it, an average of four and a fraction a year. Of the two hundred and fifty-six graves there are one hundred and sixty tombstones, one hundred and four marble, fifty-two sand stone, four Louisville marble, one marble memorial for J. M. Danley and ninety-six without. There are some others ready for setting.
I wish to state that I live within eighty rods of the cemetery, and have for twenty-nine years, and only half a mile from my birth place. Am sixty-two years old, was at the first burial and out of the two hundred and fifty-six burials I don't think there were over ten I have not attended. I always made it a rule to help take care of the sick, go to funerals, dig graves, etc.
I will mention some of the old pioneers who are buried here who followed the old Indian trails with their old flint lock guns, tramping down the pea vines with their moccasins, hunting the bear, wolves, deer, wild cats, turkeys, etc. John Danley, Sen.; Joseph Palmer, Sen.; Jesse Pugh, Henry Corns; J. F. Palmer; Samuel Brown; Cornelius Gard; David Gard; William Corns; Christopher Malster; John Hurlbut; Salmon W. Cook; Benjamin Baker; Nathan Gard; Benjamin Pugh; John Nulton; Timothy Hyatt; James McMannis; and B. M. Brown, who was Sheriff over forty years ago in this county, father of C. A. and J. A. Brown of Belpre; Evan Jenkins, father of E. J. Jenkins, who studied law under Melvin Clark, now living in Kansas.
There are but few of my old schoolmates left. I will mention some who live near me: Hiram Pugh; George Gibson; O. M. Cook; James M. Palmer; and Sheldon Palmer, besides several women. Several older men who are living near have been old neighbors to me: John Breckenridge; William Malster; John Malster; Thomas Malster; William Legget; Elias Murdock, father of J. M. and Jesse G. Murdock.
The following are incidents of the Danley family: My father, an old pioneer, emigrated from Hampshire county, Virginia, in 1797, landed at Marietta and lived there two years, removed to Round Bottom where he remained three years, and then to Wooster, now Palmer, where he died in 1858 in his 84th year. His wife died in 1849 in her 72d year. They raised nine children, five sons and four daughters, and of that number, two, myself and sister Betsey, five years older than I, who married Joseph Leonard, now living in Waterford. Five of the seven are buried in this cemetery - Benjamin; John; and Joseph. Joel lies in Bary, Pike county, Illinois, "peace to his ashes." Eliza and Amy lie with the rest. Polly, who married John Corns, was buried on a farm now owned by Robert Greenlees.
I married over forty years ago the daughter of Edmund Perry, who learned the tanner's trade in Marietta with Mr. Bartlett. We raised three lovely children, two sons and one daughter, but the higher power saw fit to take them from us in the prime of life. Charles, aged 19, died in 1854; Sara, aged 18, in 1862; and John in 1862, aged 13. We live alone waiting for the messenger to call us home to meet our children and friends gone before. May those who read this, interested in our welfare, think how pleasant it is to be remembered.
Robert I. Danley
No comments:
Post a Comment