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WYREKA CEMETERY Compiled by Mrs. Stella Wells 1935. Data furnished by Luke Owens and Miss Mary Frances Smith Wyreka Cemetery is probably the oldest public burial ground in Putnam County. A small slab of white marble clearly marks the spot that shows in Feb. 1851, a babe who died without a name was buried there for David and Elizabeth Howry, and another tiny slab tells that on May 1, 1851, Hercules Ellis, one year old son of Dr. Lewis Ellis was the second to die in the pioneer community. Soon after that date Ellen, the twelve-year-old daughter of Eli and Susan Howard became the third. The three mounds, eloquent of the toll paid by their parents for the privilege of conquering a wilderness, grouped within a small area, were in a corner of a fenced pasture owned by Lewis Ellis, pioneer doctor and circuit-riding preacher of the Wyreka Community. By the time the third mound had been made, the people of the community led by Mr. Ellis had organized a church and a log building had been erected which was to serve as a church and a schoolhouse, near the graves on a hill top. Then the good men in that area “entered” the land and invited his neighbors to lay their dead in the corner of his pasture gave to the public “God’s Acre,” which today is the hill-top of beautiful Wyreka Cemetery. THE FIRST FENCE to enclose the cemetery was a “stake and rider” rail fence. There was a gate near where the main entrance is today. When it became necessary for a wagon to be taken within the enclosure, the fence was opened. The cemetery grew and when more land was needed, the Ellises gave it on the north and west, extending the cemetery’s area to its present size of 3-1/2 acres. In 1874, a frame church was built across the road, south, near where the tool house stands. The land was given by Adam Ellis, a son of the old preacher-doctor. The old log church was removed. The grave of Rev. George Wells marks the site of the early pulpit. The night of Aug. 25, 1902, fire started by lightening destroyed the frame church, and soon the church board, made up of John Howard, John Crawford and John Daly, deeded the land that had been solely church property to the cemetery. In 1920, Timothy Blanchard requested that his family burial plot, which was separated from Wyreka Cemetery by only a fence, be taken into the public area. His pleas were granted, Mr. Blanchard paying for the increased length of fencing. Since that time the boundaries of the Wyreka Cemetery have not been changed. During its more than 84 years of service, (now in 1972, 121 yrs.) the cemetery has been encircled by many fences. Since the earliest rail fence, a board fence and wire fences suited to the times and the desires of the community have given service. T hog fence surrounded it for a time, reminding us that hogs were not restrained within enclosures, but were permitted to roam at will, until that was ended by a vote of the people of the county (1885). The present iron fence and arch came into being chiefly through the efforts of Miss Mary Frances Smith, who now lives at the age of 85 years and takes becoming pride in the fruits of her labors and efforts. In 1913, the determined lady decided to raise money that would buy a permanent and beautiful fence. Not until 1920 was the fence in place. It had been a long task, but the determined never gave up. On Labor Day 1920, the Wyreka Cemetery Association was begun, with purpose
to keep clean and beautify this city of the dead. WYREKA CEMETERY ADAMS, Children of T & M ADAMS, Dau. Of Leroy ARMFIELD, Paris AYERS, Evaline, wife of Samuel AYERS, Dasho BATES, Millard 1876 - 1889 BENNETT, George W. BISHOP, Elva Callison 1906 - 1943 BLANCHARD, Abe (Abraham) 1869 - 1953 BLANCHARD, Cecil, son of Samuel & Minnie BLANCHARD, Willie, son of S & M BLANCHARD, Inf. Dau. of S & M BLANCHARD, Timothy FATHER BLANCHARD, Jimmie b. 2 May, 1870 - d. 26 Apr 1950 BLANCHARD, Samuel, son of Timothy and Mary BLANCHARD, Lester S. 1914 - 1957 BLANCHARD, Timothy, b. N.Y. d. 6 May 1863 BLANCHARD, Richard FATHER BLANCHARD, Junior Ray, d. 29 Dec. 1940, age 5 mo. 7 da. BLANCHARD, Arthu Eugene, d. 25 Aug. 1958, age 3 mo 7 da BLANCHARD, William T. 1892 - 1971 BLANCHARD, Harvey W. 1915 - 1966 BLANCHARD, Albert 1905 - 1970 BLANCHARD, Charles 5 Feb. 1877 - 8 Aug. 1938 BLANCHARD, Robert 1872 - 1950 BLANCHARD, Timmie, b. 9 July 1904 - d. 28 Feb. 1956 BLANCHARD, Esther R., dau of R & M, 1920 - 1938 BLANCHARD, Richard 1877 - 1966 (funeral marker BIG DICK) BLANCHARD, Frank & Dollie (cement stone no dates) BLANCHARD, Delmar 1909 - 1978 BLANCHARD, Charles, our son, b. 9 Dec. 1943 - 3 Oct. 1964 BLANCHARD, Liash , 19 May 1897 BLANCHARD, Holmes, 9 May 1888 BLANCHARD, Jake, 27 Apr. 1897 BLANCHARD, Malissa, d. 4 Aug. 1884, age 37 yr. BLANCHARD, Grandma, d. 22 Nov. 1893 BOWEN, Sarah, d. 27 Apr. 1895 age 75 yrs. 7 mo 11 da. BOWEN, Foster R. , son of F. K. & M. P. BOWEN, Foster K. b. 9 Jan 1859 - 6 Mar. 1897 BOWEN, William, 5 May 1891 BREWER, Laura, wife of Thomas, d. 13 Apr 1896 BREWER, William, d. 1 June 1900, age 64 yrs 9 mo 7 da BREWER, Joel, husband of Lucinda, d. 6 Dec. 1880 BRIDGES, Lucinda, wife of Joel, d. 8 Mar. 1905 BRIDGES, Allen D., son of J & L , d. 19 Jan 1862 BRIDGES, James H, son of J. & L. d. 25 Jan 1874 BRIDGES, Isaac, b. abt. 1861 d. Dec. 1910 BROWN, Alexander (Rexie), 1928 - 1934 BROWN, Kenneth, son of A E & F E, 28 Feb - d. 6 Mar 1907 Stone loose---by main gate BRUNDAGE, John, b. 18 Feb. 1818 - d. 3 Sept. 1888 Susanne, wife of John, b. 29 May 1829 d. 3 Sept. 1915 BRUNDAGE, Rebecca J., dau of J & M, d. 23 Sept. 1865 BRUNDAGE, Annie C., wife of E. G. W. d. 31 Aug. 1873 BUCKWORTH, John, son of P. B. , d 6 Nov. 1874 BUCKWORTH, P.B., d. 16 Dec. 1886 age 69 yr 8 mo 12 da BUCKWORTH, Catherine, wife of P.B. , d. 23 Mar 1881 BUCKWORTH, Curtis, son of P.B. & C 1841- 1878 BUCKWORTH, Ellwood C. d. 25 Aug. 1903 age 55 yr 4 mo 19 da BUCKWORTH, Clara A., dau. of G W & L B, 6 Oct 1871 DOMAN, James S. 1867 - 1959 DOMAN, Walter Ferd DOMAN, Unnamed son of J.A. & Jennie DRAPER, Lincoln A. J., son of J.C. & M. A. DRAPER, Sarah (wife of Azariah) DRAPER, Azariah, husband of Sarah Cartwright Draper DRAPER, Henry DRAPER, Janey May, wife of J. J. DRAPER, Calvin DRAPER, Lucinda S, wife of Calvin DRAPER, Mrs. Joseph DRAPER, Son of A. E. DRAPER, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas DRAPER, Harlen W. DRAPER, Axle A. DRAPER, William Sherman, son of T.P. & M.A. DRAPER, Sarah E , dau of T. P. & M. A. DRAPER, Martha M. dau of L. H Staley DUNCAN, Mary L. DUNCAN, Paul DUNKIN, Ida Skipper, wife of H. J. DUNKIN, Ray W. DUNKIN, Neita A. DUNKIN, Anna Julia, dau of Ed C & Mary O DUNKIN, Fred DUNKIN, Lucy M., wife of Fred DUNKIN, Harvey (Theodore) DUNKIN, Fred (Arlie) DUNKIN, Roy Ervin DUNKIN, dau of Fred & L. M. DUREE, A. C. (Albert Caleb), son of John D. & M.A. DUREE, Ervin M., son of J.D. & L. J. DUREE, Martha A., wife of John D. DUREE, Lottie, dau of J. D. & M.A. DUREE, Inf. Son of J. D. & M. A. FARMER, Nellie Viola, dau of J. E. & S.F. FARMER, David G. A. R Emblem FARMER, Priscilla, wife of David FARMER, Teresa, wife of David FARMER, Inf son of D & P FARMER, Rachel Jane, dau of D & T. J. New Stone 1981 Terrissa Jane FARMER, Thomas FARMER, Florence, dau of T & Ina FIELDS, Inf. Dau of G. W. & M.E. FIELDS, James A. FIELDS, Ruby, wife of J. A. FIELDS, M. Nancy, wife of Allen FIELDS, Lucy A., dau of Allen FIELDS, Alfred FIELDS, Ellen (Stark), wife of Alfred FIELDS, Marshall, son of A. & E. FORD, Jennie FORDYCE, Roy (Cement Stone) FORDYCE, America, wife of Roy FORDYCE, Uel FORDYCE, Alice, wife of Uel FULCHER, Levi F. - G.A.R. 7th MO. Cav FULCHER, Mary H. wife of L.F. GADBERRY, Mary Opal GADBERRY, Jessie Howard GINN, Sarah J., wife of Harvey GINN, Ivy Mae, dau of G. L. & M. F. GINN, Ira Elle, son of G. L. & M.F. GREENE, Ellen A. GREENE, John H., son of Ellen A. GRIFFITH, Nancy A. , wife of J.S. HARDESTY, Frank HARDING, Lena Gladys, dau of J.B. & E. HARDING, Charles W. son of J.B. &E. HARDING, Otto B., son of J.B. & E HELMICK, Benjamin OWENS, Adam L. OWENS, EARL OWENS, Carrie, wife of Earl POLLEY, Kenneth, Inf son of E.F. & M.R. PAULEY, Elmer PAULEY, Emma R., wife of Elmer PAULEY, Inf son of E. & E. R. PAULEY, Alfred PAULEY, Lavina, wife of Alfred PAULEY, Johnny M PAULEY, Rosie G. PAULEY, John M. FATHER PAULEY, Sarah C. MOTHER PAULEY, Aaron S. PAULEY, Irena Mae PAULEY, Zena Blossom, dau of A. S. & J. L. PAULEY, Estress FATHER PAULEY, Martha E. MOTHER PAULEY, M. Albert, son of Estress & Martha PAULEY, children of J.S. & Cora PAULEY, Cora, dau of William & Nancy Callison PHILLIPS, S. D. PHILLIPS, Mary, wife of S. D. PHILLIPS, Samuel PHILLIPS, Sarah PHILLIPS, Lola Dell PHILLIPS, Edwin A POOL, George PORE, Chancey, son of W. P. & S.E. PORTER, William L. POWERS, Elisha G. A soldier for our country NP. PURCELL, Sarah Ogden PURSLEY, Lydia E. F., wife of John S. SPENCER, child of James STALEY, Martha M., dau of A. & M STARGELL, Sarah J. , wife of J.D. STARGELL, Nellie STARGELL, Floretty, dau of J.D. & S. L. STARGELL, Pearly H., dau of J.D. & S.L. STARGELL, Chorale, dau of J.D. & S.L. STARGELL, John D. STARK, Mary J.E. , dau of M & C STARK, Mahlon STARR, Mary I.F., daug of M.C. STARR, Jesse STARR, Seaton STARR, son of J.T. STARR, Adam C. , son of W.B. & M STARR, William B., husband of Martha STARR, Martha, wife of W.B. STARR, G. A. (no dates old foot marker) STARR, William H., son of J & J.S. STARR, Hannah STARR, T. T. STARR, Rebecca, wife of T.T. STARR, W. B., son of T.T. & Rebecca STEEN, James L., son of F. & A. STEVENS, Icel STEVENS, Archie STEVENS, Vernie A. STEPHENS, John L., son of A.C. & Vernie A. STEPHENS/Stevens, Vernia A. STONEKING, Amanda, dau of H & A STONEKING, Henry J. STOTTLEMIRE, Samuel STOTTLEMIRE, Nancy A. STOTTLEMIRE, Nancy E., dau of C.C. & C. STOTTLEMIRE, Christopher C. |
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