MOUNT ZION CHURCH AND GRAVEYARD

A 'graveyard' is a burial ground connected to a church. While 'cemetery' has become interchangable in modern speech, historically they were stand alone entities.

This church and graveyard are on the south side of the intersection of County Road 100 West and Eaton-Wheeling Pike/County Road 1100 North (formerly the Marion and Greenville Gravel Road) in Union Township. 100 West used to run along the west side of the cemetery where the driveway is now then jogged slightly back to the east then south continuing the line of the existing road and crossing the Mississinewa River. I suppose at some point the bridge fell into disrepair and/or failed and the road was effectively vacated. The Center Pike (now Walnut Street) was only one mile to the east.

Although the archway to the cemetery says 1840, that may have been the origination of the organization of the graveyard although there was at least one earlier burial. This congregation was actually organized in 1833 at the home of John Ginn as the Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal Church. It met in the homes of members but later constructed a log church on the site. In a deed signed on September 29, 1871, William Adsit and wife, Mary, along with Richard Craw and wife, Lavina, sold two parcels of land to the trustees of the Mount Methodist Episcopal Church for $10. These are in Township 22 North Range 10 East. The first piece, the Adsit property, was described as 'commencing at the northwest corner of section twenty-one, thence south twenty-six and a half rods (437.25 feet); thence east three rods (49.5 feet); thence north twenty six and a half rods (437.25 feet); thence west to the place of beginning (49.5 feet).' The second piece, belonging to the Craws, was described as 'commencing at the northeast corner of section twenty, running twenty-six and a half rods (437.25 feet) south, thence six rods west (99 feet); thence twenty-six and a half rods (437.25 feet) north; thence east to the place of beginning (99 feet).' The combined property totaled an acre and a half.

The current building was vacated by the congregation in the 1920s when they joined with the Eaton Methodist Church. On February 18, 1930, trustees of the Shideler Circuit Methodist Episcopal Church, North Indiana Conference, Muncie District, transferred the property as described above, church, its contents (pews, furniture, etc) and cemetery to the Mount Zion Cemetery Association 'for and in consideration of good and valuable consideration and one dollar'.

In 1989, Joanne (Nixon) Baur whose family roots run deep in Mount Zion soil, and her husband, Bob, were instrumental in the resoration of the church. Over time, the southeast corner of the building had begun to fail putting the entire structure in jeopardy. Affected parts of the south and east walls were removed and rebuilt and the structure was again considered sound. The church and its cemetery stand today as a beautiful and peaceful tribute to local pioneers who made their homes and raisd their families near the banks of the Mississinewa.

Adsit and Craw to Mount Zion M E Church

Trustees to Mount Zion Cemetery Association

As noted above, the archway at the cemetery entrance has the date of 1840. That being said, the earliest surviving marker is that of six year old Julia Craw who died July 17, 1839. She is said to be the daughter of Richard Craw's younger brother William. There may be earlier burials but their graves either went unmarked or their markers have been lost to time.