Graham Cemetery-The Evan Babb Mystery

Evan T F Babb is named among those buried in Graham Cemetery. However...

There were two obituaries published for Evan Babb in the 18 April 1898 Daily Herald both providing the same information but not verbatim.  Despite the two articles, this could realistically be considered a single source. The one found on page eight read as follows: "The funeral of Evan T Babb, who died Saturday evening at his home five miles east of the city, occurred at 2 o'clock this afternoon at the residence. The deceased was 84 years old and leaves a wife, six sons and two daughters. Interment Graham cemetery." That seems clear enough. However. Babb's marker now lies in Mount Tabor Cemetery two miles due south.

[Muncie, Indiana] Daily Herald, 18 April 1898
Evan's son, William H, who had been caring for Evan during his final illness, fell ill as well. On 27 April, 1898, William followed his farther to the grave just nine days behind him. The Daily Times published an obituary for him but no cemetery was named. He, too, has a marker in Mount Tabor Cemetery.

Evan (and/or William) had apparently been the caretaker of his wife, now widow, Elizabeth Moody. It could even be that the loss of both her husband and son back to back was more than she could deal with. Either way, on May 10,1898, following a competency trial by jury where she was found to be of 'unsound mind and incapable of managing her own estate,' Milton L Babb petitioned the court to have guardian appointed for Elizabeth.  Albert N Goff was selected for the position. That same day, Milton received letters of administration for Evan's estate. Elizabeth moved from the family farm to the home of her son Frank Babb on East Gilbert Street by August of 1898 and the rural property was rented to Frank Thornburg. She died 13 September 1898, only a few short months after her husband and son. She was buried in Mount Tabor Cemetery according to her obituaries in both the Daily Herald and Morning News, and her grave is marked there.

So what changed in five months that made Graham Cemetery no longer appealing as a burial place? The last documented burial in Graham was in 1910 so the cemetery was still active. Evan died at the family home on County Road 100 North/Centennial Avenue as did William. Elizabeth died in Muncie at the home of her son on East Gilbert Street. Evan and William were closer to Graham, but for Elizabeth, the distance from her death location to both cemeteries is nearly equidistant. Grave markers in the same lot date back as early as 1841 leading one to believe the lot was purchased long before Evan's death in 1898.

Mount Tabor, East Yard, Lot 58	Owner-John Babb
5. Ollie Williams d 6 Aug 1898 (daughter of Z T Babb)	1. William H Babb 4 October 1862-27 April 1898 (son of Evan and Elizabeth)
6. Mary A Hopping 1883-1922 (daughter of John M Babb and Emily Hupp)	2. Elizabeth Babb 8 October 1830-13 September 1898 (wife of Evan Babb)
7. Watt A Babb 1894-1944 (son of John Babb and Emma Hupp)	3. Evan T Babb 6 June 1814-16 April 1898 (son of Eli and Mary Babb)
8. Emily Della Babb 1853-1943 (wife of John M Babb)	4. Mary Thralls Babb 12 October 1785-24 October 1875 (mother of Evan Babb, wife of Eli Babb)
John M Babb 1853-1925 (son of Evan T Babb and Martha Moody)	Eli Babb 20 March 1781-1 May 1851 (father of Evan Babb)
	Rachel Babb 28 Feb 1822-10 Mar 1841

To take the story one step further, Evan was married prior to Elizabeth. First wife Martha, Elizabeth's older sister, died 15 April 1854. She is buried at Mount Tabor as well. Her grave is marked in the Old Section, Row 8, Space 24. Spaces 23 and 22 are occupied by her parents John and Mary Moody respectively.

There are seemingly four possible scenarios, maybe more:
1. Evan was buried at Graham, disinterred at some point and reburied at Mount Tabor.
2. Evan was buried at Graham and his stone was moved to Mount Tabor while his body remained at Graham.
3. Evan's stone at Mount Tabor is a cenotaph and has never been anywhere else, while his body was and is at Graham in an unmarked grave.
4. The source for burial at Graham, the Daily Herald, was simply wrong about the location.

At this point, I am leaning toward the fourth option, but would love to see any related documentation either way.

[Updated September 1, 2022]

Graham Cemetery

Graham Cemetery is a small, almost microscopic, cemetery on State Route 32 East/Jackson Street between Muncie and Selma. It is on the north side of the highway between Gray Street and Ellis Road that make up the horseshoe containing Cunningham Addition.

The cemetery had set abandoned and unkempt off and on for decades, and, as a result, most stones have been either broken or lost to time. The only remaining marker is that of David Hamer, a replacement issued much later than the era of his death. There are no other complete and legible markers remains, only broken pieces.

On 15 March 1837, Joseph Rash bought a forty acre parcel of land from the government. It was described in the patent as being the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter, section seven, township twenty north, range eleven east. It is unclear when the cemetery was started. Over time, Joseph may have buried family members there or allowed the burial of neighbors on his property.

Just a few months later, on 2 August 1837, Mary Rash, now widow of Joseph, filed for letters of administration of Joseph's estate with John Richey and David Hamer providing security. Letters were issued on 28 August allowing Mary to settle debts and disperse assets. Readily available records show Mary paid and collected various monies as required. The court accepted those actions and gave her permission to distribute any remaining assets to heirs. There is no itemized list of assets found there or a list of those entitled to them. No burial site has been found for Joseph. Was he the first one buried there?

On 6 November 1850, a deed was created transferring a part of Joseph's property to the commissioners of Delaware County, Charles Mansfield, Joseph Thomas and David Shoemaker, and their successors. The portion was described as "commencing at a stone a few feet south of a white oak tree on the south line of said land 102 rods west of the south east corner of said section thence north, west, and south, to said south line and east along it to the beginning so as to include one square acre to be a public burying ground for said county". The grantors appear below.

William Rash
Sarah Rash, wife of William
Joseph Rash
Minas Turner
Fanny Turner, wife of Minas
Thomas Rash
Matilda Jane Rash, wife of Thomas
James Truitt
Avery Truitt, wife of James
Johiel Graham
Cassandria Graham, wife of Johiel

Despite being mentioned in reminisces as part of the Ora Ogle farm, Ogle owned land on two sides but not the cemetery itself. Upon its sale to Wilbert Gray in 1944, it was noted that the property included "sixty-seven acres, more or less, excepting therefrom one acre on the south end thereof used for cemetery purposes".

The fact that the cemetery is named "Graham" is a bit of a head-scratcher. It seems the only connection to the name is Johiel Graham and wife, Cassandria, who were grantors on the deed to the commissioners. Their relationship to Rash is uncertain, and as a result, how they became part owners is a mystery. Graham did own property adjoining that of Rash.

As usual, any additional information would be appreciated.

Keep an eye out for future posts about those connected to this little patch of ground.