Restoration of
May 18, 2003
Members of the Putnam
County Cemetery Restoration and Identification Project restored the
During 2002, Susan
Huber and Larry Tippin surveyed the cemetery and documented its condition. Only
a few stones were standing, which were leaning badly and in danger of falling
over. There were another half dozen stones lying on the ground and leaning
against trees.
On March 16, 2003,
Sheila Morrison and Larry Tippin mowed and cleared the area of undergrowth and
searched for more stones. Five new stones were located; two of which were
legible. The cemetery was mapped, with the stones marked at the location found.
Bases for several stones were leveled and made ready for restoration. The
stones were marked with surveyor’s flags and the area was photographed. The
types of vegetation and species of trees were also documented. At that time,
legible readings could be made for ten individuals.
On May 4, 2003, Lee
Creed and Larry Tippin started the restoration work in earnest. It was a damp,
dreary day, with rain sprinkles on and off all afternoon. As the day wore on,
thunder could be heard in the distance. As the thunder got nearer and the rain
more steady, it was deemed prudent to continue another day.
The following is a
summary of work done that day:
The stone of David
Badger was found broken about three inches above the ground. The lower portion
of the stone was in the ground about two feet, with a large tree root growing
laterally against one side of the stone pushing it at an angle. The ground was
dug about one foot around the lower part of the stone. The tree root was cut
and the lower portion of the stone was leveled and packed with sand. The top
portion of the stone was then mortared to the bottom portion.
The stones of Uriel
B. Chambers, the two infant sons of C. L. & Frances Priest and Mary F.
Goodbar were matched with their respective bases. These bases were properly
reset in the ground and the stones were reset in their bases.
The base of the stone
of Leah Priest and her daughters was broken and cracked. This stone was also
chipped badly at the bottom. It was deemed best to repair the base with
concrete as best as possible and to reset the stone in the repaired base.
The remaining stones
were left as is at this time.
On May 17, 2003, Lee
Creed and Larry Tippin returned to the cemetery to continue restoration work.
The stone of William
Henry Bedford was found below ground level. This stone was broken and in two
pieces, with the crack well below the bottom of the inscriptions. This stone is
a fairly small stone, measuring about 14 inches across and about 38 inches
long, when pieced together. The bottom portion of the stone was set in sand
about one foot deep. The stone was then pieced back together and repaired.
The stone for Mary A.
Priest was found leaning against a tree at the west end of the cemetery. The
west end of the cemetery ends at a precipice above the creek. The hill running
down to the creek is very steep, and evidence of erosion is clearly visible. It
was deemed appropriate to reset this stone about ten feet east of the location
it was found. This is not likely the original location of the stone, but since
it was found leaning against a tree it was not possible to determine where it
should be set. If the stone were left where found, or if it were set nearby, it
would have eventually found its way to the bottom of the ravine. By moving this
stone and setting it properly, it should remain in good condition for many
years.
After setting this stone,
we had the nagging feeling that there might have been other stones at the west
edge of the cemetery at one time. We went to the bottom of the ravine, and sure
enough, there were two legible tombstones down there. These stones were a son
and daughter of W. & D. Yeates and both stones were still attached to their
bases. The dates were still legible, but the stones were broken off at the top
just below the names. We were not able to locate the portion of the stone with
the names of these children, who both died at less than one year of age. The
stone for the daughter was at the edge of the creek, partially in the water.
The stone of the son was in the creek bank with only the bottom of the base
visible. The stone was firmly encased in the roots of a hedge, or orange osage,
tree about four inches in diameter. We felt around the base and deemed that
there was in fact a stone attached. We dislodged the stone by cutting the roots
with an ax and literally pulling the tree away from the stone which then
plopped down at the edge of the stream. Our jubilation from locating this stone
and freeing it from the tree roots was short lived as we realized the next step
would be to get it up the steep, muddy hillside. Since the stone was still
attached to its base, it was heavy and difficult to handle. We estimated the
stone and base to weigh at least one hundred pounds. Lee was somehow able to
carry, wrestle and drag this stone to the top of the hill.
There was no way to determine
where these two stones went. We also noted that the stone for Charles B. Yeats,
who also died very young, was about the same size and style as these two
stones. Judging by the dates and names of the parents, it seems probable these
three stones are that of siblings. That stone was still in its base also, but
it was simply lying atop the ground about twelve feet west of the stone of
David Badger. Not only that, it was just a few feet away from the edge of the
hill. If left at that location, it would no doubt have also ended up at the
bottom of the hill along the creek bank in just a few years. After mapping the
location of this stone, it was moved and reset immediately south of the stone
of David Badger. The stones for the son and daughter of W. & D. Yeates were
then set to the south of this stone. We know this is not where these stones
belong, but there is no way to determine their original location. It was deemed
this would be the best location for these stones so they would remain in the
cemetery and not migrate down the hill again. It was very satisfying to honor
these children by at least ensuring their stones were securely set and close
together.
We then searched for
more stones. Four new stones were located, two of which were legible and in good
condition. The stone of Nannie W. Yeates, wife of S. N. Yeates, was located
about 14 feet west, and about 30 feet north of the stone of David Badger. This
stone was in good condition. It was righted and set in sand at the location it
was found.
We also found a stone
for William F. Priest, son of D. B. & N. Priest. This stone was located
about four feet south of the stone of Wm Henry Bedford. This stone was also in
one piece and in good condition. It too was set and packed in sand at the
location it was found.
At this time there
are legible stones for 15 individuals, all of which are upright and repaired.
There are another 6-8 illegible stones in the area and evidence of more
burials. It is possible more stones can be located in the future.
View photos of
restoration of
Badger cemetery
looking east before cleanup
Infant Son Yeates
growing into tree
Infant
Son Yeates after dislodging from tree
Badger cemetery looking
northeast
Badger cemetery looking southeast
David Badger and Yeats
children
View listing of individuals buried
in this cemetery
View listing of all Putnam County
cemeteries