Lost in the Shuffle

Mortuary markers are meant to temporarily identify graves until a permanent marker can be placed. They are often made up of a metal frame with letters that snap in. Many also contain dates. Weather and yard maintenance often result in a loss of the letters and numbers, and eventually, the little marker disappears altogether taking with it all opportunity to identify the grave.

A cemetery transcription for Zion Chapel Cemetery in Washington Township done in the 1970s included a mortuary marker for William Morgan. The following decade, William's was no longer around, but one for Mary Morgan was found. What was the relationship between William and Mary? Husband and wife? Father and daughter? Mother and son? The mystery became buried in the ever-growing files (or piles) of things to research later.

Over the decades since those markers were discovered, more and more information has been made available online. With no birth or death dates available, pinning them down might take more than a few clicks. No records appeared to fit either William or Mary in Delaware County. As part of a massive burial database and paper trail project for the Delaware County Historical Society, a death certificate for Florence Marie Morgan, born 21 April 1910 and died 15 May 1910. The little girl's parents were listed as W Elias and Mary (Roberts) Morgan and her burial location was listed as Zion. That find moved the Morgan mystery to the top of the pile...err...file.

A few hours renewed enthusiasm resulted in not only the confirmation of their relationship as husband and wife as well as their death information, it also brought to light the names of ten of Mary's twelve children (six identified as belonging to William and four, possibly six, belonging to her former husband, Abraham Miller. Four of those fathered by William died as infants or children. Their burial locations have also been confirmed in Zion Chapel Cemetery.


Children of Abraham Miller and Mary Roberts
Cora D Miller Gillenwater 14 Feb 1889-17 August 1980
Odie Otto Miller 15 Jan 1895-30 Nov 1948
James Miller 14 Sep 1897-31 Jul 1990
Henry/Harry F Miller 27 Apr 1899-23 Dec 1967

Children William Morgan and Mary Roberts
Leroy "Roy" Morgan 28 April 1906-25 April 1911
Mable Lavonne Morgan 2 Feb 1908-9 Nov 1983
Florence Marion Morgan 21 Apr 1910-15 May 1910
Eddie Leroy Morgan 13 August 1911-23 February 1912
Etta Mae Morgan 13 August 1911-10 Feb 1912
Charles Harold Morgan 7 November 1912-3 December 1986

Two additional children who were born and died prior to 1910. Based on the timing of Mary's identified children, it seems they were most likely born between Harry born 1899 and Mary's marriage to William in 1905 or between Cora born 1889 and Odie born 1895.

None of the Morgans buried at Zion have any sort of marker as of 21 May 2020.

Mary E Roberts married Abraham Miller on 20 January 1888. The couple lived together as man and wife until 20 November 1901. She filed for divorce on 6 October 1902 on the grounds that Abraham had treated her cruelly and inhumanely, and was a habitual drunkard who refused to provide for his wife and children. She stated that he had had been 'calling her vile and indecent names, and accusing her of being unchaste, in the presence and hearing of others'.  He had regularly spent what little money he had in areas saloons. The situation had reached the point of Mary having to make her own way. At the time she filed, she requested that the court grant her custody of the couple's four children, Cora aged 13, Odie aged 6, James aged 3 and Harry aged two and a half. She had left the children with Abraham in Grant County as she tried to find sufficient work as a house keeper to support herself and the children while living near Gaston. 

From the Files: Life Sketch of Patience M (Bryant) Kemper

Patience (Bryant) Kemper was an early settler in Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana. She and her husband Arthur had eleven children. Among them was son General William Harrison Kemper, a prominent local physician, Civil War veteran, and editor of A 20th Century History of Delaware County. Two of her daughters, Zerelda and Sarah both married Thomas S Walterhouse, a well-known Indiana attorney. Mrs Kemper passed away on Oct. 30, 1881. This sketch appeared in the Muncie (Indiana) Daily News the following day.

GONE TO THE HOME BEYOND THE SKIES

Death of Mrs. Patience Kemper-A Brief Sketch of Her Life

At one O'clock Sunday morning Mrs. Kemper died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Robert Cones, after having lived the life of a good and faithful christian, a tender and devoted wife, and a kind and loving mother. Her funeral took place this afternoon from the residence of her son, Dr. G.W.H. Kemper. The services were conducted by Rev. F.T. Simson, paster of the M.E. Church.
Her children living in this city and county are Dr. G.W.H. Kemper, Mrs T.S. Walterhouse, Mrs. Robert Cones, and Mrs. Ardery. She has two sons, living far from here-one in Florida and one in Iowa; also a daughter, Mrs. N. Gillam, living at Hartford City. All her children, except her two sons last spoken of, attended the funeral.

The following sketch of her life was read by Rev. Mr. Simpson in connection with the semon: Patience Kemper was born in Garrad County, Ky., Feb. 9, 1802, and died in the city of Muncie, Oct. 30, 1881, having reached the advance age of 79 years, 8 months, and 21 days.
Her maiden name was Bryant, and she was married to Arthur Smith Kemper on the 21st day of January, 1818. to this pair were born eleven children. Three sons and five daughters still survive. The husband and father died on the 31st of August, 1849, since which date the subject of this sketch remained a widow. 

In the year 1834 the family then consisting of husband, wife and seven children removed from Kentucky, and arrived in Rush county, Indiana, on the 10th of October. In that vicinity Mrs. Kemper resided for almost twenty-three years. After visiting her children in different localities she finally took up her permanent abode in Muncie, in 1859, from which date to the time of her death she was seldom absent from this county.

In early life she united with the Baptist Church and remained a communicant of that body until the removal to Indiana, when, finding not organization of that denomination in the vicinity, she cast her lot with the Methodist Episcopal Church, where she made her home to the day of her death. She was no religious bigot but loved all christians. Her children were her only jewels and she loved them with all the affection that can be measured by a mother's love. She was ever ready to suffer, to labor or sacrifice for their comfort and welfare, and in their presence she derived great happiness. She loved the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ and loved to talk about it and the anticipations of a home in Heaven. With her Religion and Heaven were facts that doubts never obscured. Shortly before her death while all the children but two sons were present, the question was asked her, What messages she had for John and Jefferson, and the ready response came: "Tell them I die in the triumphs of a living faith." Thus she died as she had lived-a practical christian, "coming to her grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in its season."  

Originally published 7/15/2013

Catherine Robe: A Find A Grave Success

While wandering around some old Muncie, Indiana, newspapers, I found a fantastic obituary for Catherine (Darnell) Robe. I searched for her on Find A Grave but found nothing in my initial search. Thinking outside the box, I searched for her last name and year of death. There she was. Her entry did not include her first name but the bio portion indicated this unknown woman was the wife of Josiah Robe. That clicked with the obituary that I had found. The death date was correct, too. I messaged the memorial manager who promptly added the obituary to the website. Later, another contributor added a photo of her beautiful zinc marker. The spelling varies a bit with 'Catharine' appearing on her marker. A community of contributors ensured that Catherine has not been forgotten. She was buried in Thompson Cemetery, Gaston, Delaware County, Indiana.

Muncie Daily News, January 17, 1890

Mrs. Catherine Robe, the subject of this notice, was born in Mongahala County, Virginia, May 13, 1816, and departed this life January 8, 1890, aged 73 years, 6 months, and 25 days. Her maiden name was Catherine Darnell. She was united in marriage to Mr. Josiah Robe, August 23, 1839. The result of the union was seven children - two boys and five girls. The husband and one daughter preceded her to the spirit land. Six children are left behind to mourn their loss.Immediately after her marriage in Virginia, she, with her husband, left the place of their nativity and emigrated to Indiana - a distance of over 400 miles. The trip was made in a wagon. They landed on the spot in Harrison Township, Delaware County, that Mr. Robe had formerly entered. They were in a waste, howling wilderness. Tangled forest around them had not been broken, and the wild beast roamed almost undisturbed. The prowling wolf made the night hideous. With these surroundings and all the difficulties incident to a pioneer life, they started out, and by industry that is only known to the sturdy pioneer, the forest gave way to fruitful fields, and as the years glided by joy and sunshine filled the hearts of this happy family in their cabin home. But alas, the severest ordeal is yet to come. The death angel came into this happy household and took the husband and father, leaving the wife and seven children in the wilderness thirty four years ago. To provide for these children and train them up for future life and usefulness was a heavy task, yet this mother looked upon these children as her own. She loved them as none but a mother could love. She accepted the situation, virtually saying "By the help of God I will keep them together." She did her work and did it nobly, and the children rise up blessed and call her blessed.She joined the M.E. Church when she was a girl, and always lived according to her profession. She was one among a class that worshipped in log cabins, when church houses were unknown in this vicinity. For six years she was an invalid, and for the last three years of her life her sufferings were intense. She bore it all with Christian patience. Religion was her consolation in life and her solace in death. She died in the faith.The writer conducted the funeral exercises in the M.E. Church at New Corner, assisted by Rev. Croan, to a large and sympathizing audience. God bless the sorrowing ones.-C.W. Boxell.

You may visit her memorial here:
Catharine (Darnell) Robe

Originally published on 7/29/2013

From Heaven to Muncie 1859-1880

The beauty of West Virginia was forever immortalized in the John Denver song "Almost Heaven". Throughout the late 1800 and into the early 1900s, numerous Mountaineers made the move west from Heaven to Delaware County, Indiana. The following mentions of Muncie have been gleaned from West Virginia newspapers. Articles involving railroad corporations containing "Muncie" are not included. Such companies were covered fairly extensively and someone particularly interested in them might be better served to research those on their own.

American Union, Morgantown, (West) Virginia, July 8, 1854
Died
At Muncy [sic] Indiana, on the 15th of May last, Mrs Abella Boner, wife of Gabriel Boner. The deceased was formerly a resident of Monongalia county, Va.

American Union, Morgantown, (West) Virginia, December 10, 1858
Very Icy! Andrew I, Ezekiel T and Frederick M Ice, were all married in Thursday week, at the hotel in Muncy [sic], Delaware county, Indiana. They are all sons of Col Jesse Ice, formerly of Marion county, Va. So says a correspondent of the True Virginian.

Wheeling Daily Register, Wheeling, West Virginia, July 27, 1865
Mrs Morris, who has been eight months a captive among the Cheyenne Indians, has escaped to her home in Muncie, Delaware county, Indiana. The Indians murdered Mrs Morris' husband, and one of the chiefs took her as his wife; in which capacity she lived until she made her escape. Mrs Morris bears marks of her long residence among the savages, and is sun-burned to a copper color. She kept a journal of her capture, and it is understood that she will publish a book.

Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, Wheeling, West Virginia, September 27, 1871
Fell Overboard and was Drowned
St Louis, Sept 26
On Friday evening last, Gen D H Boswell and wife of Muncie, Indiana, took passage on the steamer St Louis for Jefferson City. About 2 o'clock that night the General was taken sick and went out to the guard of the boat to see of the fresh air would not revive him. Desiring some article from the state room, he requested his wife to step back and get it. As Mrs Boswell was returning she saw her husband fall over the railing into the river. The boat was immediately stopped, but the General could not be found. The accident occurred on the Missouri river, about ten miles above its mouth. Efforts are being made to recover the body.

Wheeling Daily Register, Wheeling, West Virginia, June 19, 1872
A fire at Muncie last night destroyed a stone and tin store, marble shop, two dry goods stores, a confectionery store, a boot and shoe store and two groceries. Loss $20,000 to $25,000.

Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, Wheeling, West Virginia, September 23, 1872
Hon John W Burson, State Senator from the counties of Delaware and Madison, died at his residence, in Muncie, Saturday morning at a 8 1/4 o'clock, after a protracted illness. Mr Burson was one of the most liberal and public spirited men of the state, and his loss will be deeply felt.

Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, Wheeling, West Virginia, August 6, 1875
Muncie, August 5, In Delaware county many thousand acres of wheat are swept away and the corn is destroyed. In the vicinity of the Missenerwa [sic] and White rivers the wheat in the shocks is covered with sprouts six inches long, but it will be better than first thought. The oats are nearly all lost, also the hay and flax. The corn will make half a crop, and the other grain about one-third.

Weekly Register, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, June 15, 1876
Our young friend J B Menager, left last Monday evening, on the Emma Graham, for a visit to his brother in Muncie, Indiana.

Weekly Register, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, June 14, 1877
James B Menager, Esq, Left on the the Hudson, Sunday, for Muncie, in Indiana, on a visit to his brother. He will be absent about a week.

Weekly Register, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, October 11, 1877
We regret to learn of the continued severe illness of our young friend, J L Menager, Esq, at Muncie Indiana. Mr Menager proposes to locate to Florida as soon as he is sufficiently recovered to go to that State.

Wheeling Daily Register, Wheeling, West Virginia, October 11, 1877
Boiler Explosion
Cincinnati, October 10, The Gazette's Muncie, Ind, special says that the boiler of H E McKendry & Co's heading factory exploded this morning, instantly killing Smith R Perdien, engineer, and Robert Flanors, the fireman, and seriously injuring Jacob Shockley and his son, and Patrick McCarty. The front part of the boiler, eight feet long and five feet in diameter, was thrown over the houses into the field two hundred and thirty yards away. Seventy-five men have been thrown out of work by the accident.

Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, Wheeling, West Virginia, May 19, 1879
Religious
Various Important Bodies in Session-Presbyterian Central Assembly...Saratoga, May 17...R F Effinger, from Muncie, Indiana, made a speech calling for assistance to the fund, saying that he would see that his Presbytery increased its contribution 200 percent, if he paid it himself.

Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, Wheeling, West Virginia, June 30, 1879
Crops Damaged
Muncie, Ind, June 28-There have been very heavy rains falling almost constantly in this section since 11 o'clock last night, doing much damage to the fine wheat crops now being harvested. At 8 o'clock tonight, rain commenced falling again, and indications are that further damage will be done to wheat and oats.

Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, Wheeling, West Virginia, August 26, 1879
R H Pelan, Esq, Waynesburg, Pa, W F Tingle and wife, Cincinnati; B W Smith, Lafayette, Ind, and Jas Capertor [Carpenter?], Muncie, Ind, are among the recent arrivals at the Stamm House.

Weekly Register, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, July 20, 1880
Local Matters
Personals-Mr George Stephenson, wife and daughter, of Muncie, Indiana, arrives in this place, Sunday, on the Andes, and are stopping with his brother, James M Stephenson. They come to see his old father, who is now lying very ill at his house in this place. Mr Stephenson is now, probably the oldest man in the county, and a good citizen. Mr George Stephenson returned to Muncie on Sunday evening, on important business, but will be here again during the week. His family will spend several weeks in this place.

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.