West Lima Cemetery TALES THE TOMBSTONES TELL

           (Includes Vernon Cemetery which seems to have
                                 taken the place of the West Lima Cemetery)

Tales The Tombstones Tell - Republican Observer - June 12, 1958

              West Lima and Vernon Cemeteries

                                                                 West Lima Cemetery

    Many of the pioneers of the West Lima area are out in the cemetery north of the village. It, like other country burying grounds, is on a side hill. It is not too well kept, but had been given some attention. Names upon the stones were Donaldson, Bean, Lepley, Miller, Morris, Jordan, Seeley, Griffin, Sabin, Spry, Hurless, Harness, De Hart, Callaway, Houts and Chapman. A number of monuments could not be read as time and the elements had taken toll.

    Several children of James and Martha Lease are here buried and upon the marker it says:
            "Sleep on sweet babes and take your rest
            God called you home, He thought it best."

    Franklin Seely, Co. B 25th Wis. regiment, died August 8, 1890, at the age of 56 years and 19 days. There are other members of the Seely family buried here as 11 stones mark their graves.

    Eve Babb, born January 8, 1804 and died September 25, 1871, found final rest here. Jane Morrison, wife of Friend Morrison, is also in this cemetery. She died May 5, 1859, at the age of 42 years, seven months and three days. There is no indication that Mr. Morrison is here. Robert Milligan, born in 1800, lived to be 64 years of age. Irene, wife of M. Yakley, has a marker. She died May 7, 1878, at the age of 51 years, five months and three days.

    George Fruit, who died January 27, 1899, lived to be over 84 years of age. Evidently he was twice married as Mary, his first wife, died in 1858 at the age of 39, and E. J., born in 1829, died in 1894.

    Ellen Rogers, aged 20 years, died in 1871, the date of her death being December 25, Christmas day. Nancy Morrison, wife of Darius Morrison, born in 1835, passed from this world in 1870. John Scoles died December 8, 1875, at the age of 44.

    John Douglas, a Civil War veteran, was born in 1817 and died in 1913. There is also another Civil War veteran buried in this cemetery. He is Robert Smalley, a member of Co. D, llth Wisconsin.

    Henry B. De Hart died in 1877 at the age of 70 years. He and his family located in the town of Bloom when it was a wilderness back in 1855 or thereabouts. His wife Elizabeth died in May 1876, at the age of 60.

    Here is a marker for Sarah, wife of A. (Adam) Shambaugh, born in 1824 and died in 1893. She and Mr. Shambaugh were married in 1850. There is no indication that he is buried here. He was well known as a family doctor, a book he wrote gives remedies gathered in the woods and fields. We are told that Mr. Shambaugh is buried here.

    Nancy Lepley was 82 years of age when she died April 18, 1879, which would place her birth back in the days of George Washington. Another member of the Lepley family was Willett Lepley, who was born in 1833 and passed on in 1896.

    H. B. Chapman is buried here, together with some of his children, two of whom met death in a fire. Mr. Chapman was born in 1832 and died in 1898.

     Charles Tillou who died in 1943, is here. He was a storekeeper in West Lima for a long period. Jobe Hurless and his wife Cynthia, are here. They were numbered among the early settlers of the town of Bloom. Mr. Hurless was born in Virginia in 1831. He moved to Indiana where he married Cynthia Trobough who was born in 1836. They came to Richland county in 1854 and settled in Bloom. Mr. Hurless for a time, owned an interest in a store at West Lima. He died in 1907 and his wife in 1925.

    Harvey Tillou born in 1845, is here together with Letitia his wife, who was born in 1844. He died in 1905 and she in 1931. A 13 year old son is also buried on the lot.

    There has not been a burial here for quite some time and it is possible that none will be made in the future.

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           The Vernon Cemetery

    This burying ground seems to have taken the place of the West Lima burying ground. The two are rather close together, perhaps a bit over a mile. The Vernon cemetery is not far over the county line. It is a well kept graveyard, not large in size, level, with plenty of space for future burial.

    There are numerous members of the Marshall family. Mose Marshall appears to be the earliest born of those buried here. He came into this world in 1818 and left it in 1907. Another of the Marshall family was Andrew K. and his wife Eliza. Andrew was born in 1832, and passed on in 1907. Eliza born in 1837, died in 1905. On her monument it says:
            "Go home dear friends,
            Dry up your tears,
            I must lie here till
            Christ appears."

    Members of the family were town office holders in Bloom township. Jehu Marshall and his wife Cena are buried here. He was born in 1859 and passed on in 1939.

    One Civil War veteran is buried here. He was W. H. C. Ammerman, a member of Co. B 20th Regt. When he enlisted on July 10, 1862, he gave West Lima as his address. He was discharged in 1863 on account of disability. Other members of Co. B who gave West Lima as their address were: D. H. Bean, Lewis Clark, Samuel F. Curtis, Mr. Curtis was killed in action December 7, 1862 at Prairie Grove, Ark.; Daniel De Hart, also from West Lima, was in Co. B, as was Alfred T. Favorite, John Fruit, John H. Smith, Joseph Todd, William A. Yakley, who also was killed in action at Prairie Grove.

    A World War veteran, Hans C. Berg, is buried on this hilltop cemetery. He was a private in I Co. 341 Infantry, 86th Division. The date of his passing was October 23, 1943.

    Familiar names upon the stones include Riley, Hawkinson, Burt, Matthes, Poorman, Hunter, Fanta, Thompson, Essex, Jordan and Lewis.

    Diamond Lawton and his wife Margaret are buried in this cemetery. He was born in 1838 and died in 1894. Margaret was born in 1848 and passed on in 1909.

    Martin M. Marshall is here and a World War marker is on his grave. He was born in 1896 and died in 1951.

    Thus it is that life ebbs and flows and here and there are monuments and markers to indicate the burial place of those who have gone down the long, long road into the land of the setting sun., Peace be with them all.

S. F.

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