Farnsworth Cemetery

 

What began as another un-named cemetery appears to be what was known in years past as the Farnsworth Cemetery.  The current designation as the Farnsworth Cemetery is based on two arguments.  The first is that the name Farnsworth is on the only readable stone in the cemetery.  The second is the story that was related by Delven Devore below and independently verified by Dennis and Ruth Weber.  That story is that a Mr. Farnsworth who cleaned and maintained the cemetery stated that his Farnsworth ancestors were buried there and that the name of the Cemetery was the Farnsworth Cemetery.

 

The following is the story extracted from Delven Devore’s e-mail regarding this cemetery. Del Devore wrote:  “I am aware of the cemetery you refer to and it's location. A man recently died last summer by the name of Farnsworth who kept the area cleared of brush. He lived in a trailer and would stay down there often in the summer. He knew my mother (Rosa Edyth Frank Devore), Osal Frank, and others. His family is buried in the cemetery. It was a large cemetery with a lot of sand stones years ago. A couple of farmers removed the stones and dumped them below the road. Mom remembered that August (Frank, Del’s grandfather) and others made them stop. They had the area in corn. I thought a Farnsworth stone was still in the cemetery. Mom always told me that the Barber Ridge Church once stood there. It was moved to Barber Ridge and then to Rich Fork before my time. The Farnsworth Family lived down a road just below the cemetery and they knew the Frank Family quite well.”

 

The chart below is the approximate orientation of the cemetery.  The top of the chart is approximately the east end of the cemetery.  The numbers in the grids of the chart correspond to the location of grave markers.  The monuments in the cemetery are oriented, relative to each other and to the dimension of the cemetery, approximately as they appear on the chart below.  [Note:  This is a work in progress and a more precise location of the markers will be added within the next 2 to 4 months from 3/1/2004.]  All of the grave markers except marker number ? were made of limestone that has crumbled over the years.  The one readable stone is likely made of an unpolished marble.  It is also corroded and worn but it is still mostly readable.  This stone bears the inscription: Elizabeth Farnsworth died (month not readable) 28, 1811 aged 47 years, 10 months, 1 day.

 

A picture of the Farnsworth Cemetery is found under the chart.  Delven Devore reported that this cemetery was much larger at one time.  The photographer for the picture below was facing approximately east when the pictures was taken.

 

This cemetery is located at latitude N 39^o 40.277' and longitude W 081^o 13.504'.  This latitude/longitude reading was made on top of the grave marker number ? and has an accuracy of 27 feet as indicated by the GPS measuring unit.  The elevation at the Elizabeth Farnsworth stone was 1114 feet above sea level.

 

Please direct any questions to Richard Harrington

 

Farnsworth Cemetery

 

Arrow points approximately North

 

West end of cemetery

 

All except one of the tombstones in this cemetery appear to have been field

stones (limestone and sandstone) that had been shaped for use as tombstones. 

While there almost certainly were inscriptions on the stones originally, these

have long since been eroded away so that only the single high silica stone of

Elizabeth Farnsworth remains readable.

 

 

 

Farnsworth Cemetery looking east

 

 

 

The tombstone of Elizabeth Farnsworth is the only readable stone in the Farnsworth Cemetery

 

 

 

Details relating to the location of this cemetery:

 

Farnsworth Cemetery

Elevation: 1114’ (corrected to ground level)

Latitude: N 39 ^o 40.277’

Longitude: W081^o 13.504’

Description: This measurement was made on top of the gravestone of Mary Farnsworth died (month not readable) 28, 1811, aged 47 years 10 months and 1 day.  At the time of this visit, the cemetery was well maintained to the extent that it was not overgrown by the brush and trees that have taken over the surrounding field.  

 

This cemetery can be found by starting at the intersection of Ohio Route # 78 and Monroe County Route # 145 in Lewisville, Ohio; continue southwest for about one mile (approximate) on Monroe County Route # 145 (in the direction of Stafford) to Monroe County Route # 77.  Turn left onto Rt. 77 and go about one-half mile to Monroe County Route # 17.  Go right on Rt. # 17 for about 1½ miles to where Monroe County Route # 99 intersects Rt. # 17.  Take Rt. # 99 to the right for about three quarters of a mile.  This stretch of road on Rt. # 99 is known locally as Smith Hill.  At the top of Smith Hill, a small un-numbered dirt road or lane turns off to the left.  This road will accommodate an automobile in dry or frozen weather but in wet weather, maybe not. This cemetery is out this road about a quarter mile, on top of a knoll on the right side of the road.  The cemetery cannot be seen from the road.  Note:  As of the year 2004, there is an abandoned house on the left almost immediately upon entering this un-numbered road.  Proceed along this road until you come to a hunting trailer on the left.  At this point, you have passed the cemetery maybe 100 yards or so. All of the distances given in this description are rough estimates – allow for possible significant error.

Measurement made on February 26, 2004 by Richard Harrington

Approximate Accuracy of Lat/Long as stated by the GPS device: 27’

 

Chart, photo, and data from stones provided by Richard Harrington

 

 

 

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