Stories of Relocated Cemeteries in the state of Indiana.

Indiana

This area of Southern Indiana involves two dozen small community cemeteries. In 1965, the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources decided to construct an 8,800-acre lake, the second largest in Indiana. Construction began in 1972 and was completed in 1978.

During that time, 24 cemeteries were discovered within the future basin of the man-made lake. Most were moved to a site now known as the Patoka Memorial Cemetery, in the vicinity of Painter Creek Boat Ramp. It sits on the hill above the lake and provides a beautiful view of Southern Indiana scenery. A perpetual care fund was set up for the upkeep of the cemetery, so it is well taken care of.

The list below includes small pioneer or family cemeteries dating to the 1800s, some individual graves, and some community burial grounds. The State of Indiana attempted to have all graves exhumed and relocated, but those who worked on the project admitted there was not enough time to get all the remains relocated before the basin was filled with water. Divers visit the lake today to search for the remains of underwater towns, buildings, and grave stones.

As a general rule, I believe graves should remain undisturbed, and that people should be left where their families placed them in the ground. In reviewing the records it appears that the condition of most of the family graveyards listed were “unfenced and untended.” I have to wonder if that means the graves were already partially forgotten and at risk of being consumed by the earth, as will naturally happen. Part of me wonders if in these cases, it was a good deed the Army Corps of Engineers deed. Perhaps the dead might even have appreciated the relocation and good tending care given at Patoka Memorial Cemetery. I know if I was a descendant researching my ancestors I would appreciate the record that have been kept and not slogging through overgrown fields or woods to research family and pay my respects.

At the Patoka Memorial Cemetery page at ingenweb you can find many of the names of the deceased as well as additional information on the cemeteries.. http://ingenweb.org/inorange/patoka/patokacem2.htm

Kalb Family Cemetery – Originally located in Hall Township, Dubois County; contained nine graves. The cemetery was unfenced and untended. The last burial is unknown.

Kesterson Family Cemetery – Five graves. The last known burial was in 1862.

Ellsworth (Neighborhood) Cemetery – Originally located in Hall Township, Dubois County. The last burial was in 1909.

Roberts ME Church Cemetery – Located in Hall Township, Dubois County. The cemetery contained one hundred twenty-nine graves. The last known burial was in 1907.

Atkins / Steward Cemetery – T2S R3W Section 01 SW 1/4 of NW 1/4 of SW 1/4. Deed Book 20, Page 108.

George T. Zehr Family Cemetery – Originally located in a wooded area of Patoka Township, Crawford County.

DeWitt Cemetery – Originally located in Patoka Township, Crawford County. It contained eighteen graves. The last known burial was in 1860.

Sinclair Cemetery – Originally located in Patoka Township, Crawford County. The cemetery contained one hundred sixteen graves. The last known burial was in 1948.

Cox Family Cemetery – Originally located in an open field in Jackson Township, Orange County. The cemetery contained ten graves. The last known burial was in 1929.

Smith Family Cemetery – Originally located in Patoka Township, Crawford County. The cemetery was fenced and partly cleaned at the time of relocation. It contained fourteen graves. The last known burial was in 1946.

Fleming Family Cemetery – Originally located in Patoka Township, Crawford County. It contained forty-five graves. The last known burial was in 1899. Most of the stones had been moved and were lying on the ground. The iron fence around grave #1561 (Cynthia F. Cannavan, 1855–1898) was buried as directed.

Henry Morgenroth Burial Ground – One grave of Henry Morgenroth (1900–1920), originally located in Jackson Township, Orange County.

Carroll Cemetery – Originally located in Jackson Township, Orange County. The cemetery contained forty-eight graves. The last known burial was in 1957.

Hillsboro Cemetery – Originally located in Jackson Township, Orange County. The cemetery contained sixty-one graves. The last known burial was in 1912.

Mary Miller Family Cemetery – Originally located in an open cultivated field in Jackson Township, Orange County. One burial was located: Claira Mary Miller (1920–1923).

Elon Cemetery – An active church cemetery located in Jackson Township, Orange County at the time of relocation. It was the property of the Elon Christian Church. It contained two hundred five graves.

Thompson Cemetery (Family Cemetery) – Originally located in Jackson Township, Orange County. It contained two graves: John Thompson (1816–1890) and Nancy R. Thompson (1818–1883).

Elijah Hawhee (aka Rachel Irene Parks Cemetery) – Grave of Elijah Hawhee. From DAR transcription, about 1945: On the Carter Parks farm, where the Hawhee family once lived, this stone was found leaning against a tree. Elijah Hawhee was killed in the Civil War, and a few months later his brother, William Smith Hawhee, was also killed. Their father brought the bodies home. Smith is buried at Emmons Ridge Cemetery. The inscription reads: Elijah, son of A. & E. Hawhee. Died Oct. 8, 1862. Aged 19y 8m 21d. He was in Co. I, 38th Reg. Inf.

Swift Family Cemetery – Originally located in Jackson Township, Orange County. The cemetery contained eighty-three graves. The last known burial occurred in 1924.

Foster / North Family Cemetery – Originally located in Jackson Township, Orange County. The cemetery contained two graves, and the last burial is unknown.

Gilliatt Family Cemetery – Originally located in Jackson Township, Orange County. The cemetery contained one hundred twelve graves. The last known burial was in 1889.

Newton Stewart Cemetery – An inactive neighborhood cemetery, partially fenced but untended, originally located in Jackson Township, Orange County. The cemetery contained eighty-four graves. The last known burial was in 1852.

Knight Family Cemetery – Originally located in Greenfield Township, Orange County. The last known burial was in 1917. The cemetery contained forty-eight graves.

McDonald Cemetery – At the time of relocation, this was an inactive township cemetery located in Greenfield Township, Orange County. The cemetery was fenced and periodically cleaned. It contained fifty-two graves. The last known burial was in 1881.

Mount Eden Cemetery – Deleted from the re-interment plans. It is an inactive community cemetery containing two hundred thirty-nine graves. It is fenced and was cleaned several years ago. A few stones were found to have been moved. The last burial was in 1903.

Morris M. Hubbs Cemetery – Supposed burial location in Hall Township, Dubois County. This site was deleted from the Corps of Engineers plans after extensive exploration failed to reveal any indication of a burial.