WHEELING CEMETERY
On January 4, 1851, the cemetery at Wheeling, Indiana, was officially established. John Wharton and his wife, Mary Ann, deeded a piece of property to the
commissioners of Delaware County "for a public burying ground called the Wheeling Burying Ground". The parcel was described as being in the northeast corner
of the west half of the north east quarter, Section 14, Township 22N, Range 9E. It's specific boundaries are as follows: "...commencing at a stake and stone
eight rods west of the east line of said half quarter and at the North line of the Greenville and Logansport State Road thence northerly near the bluff of
the hill nine and one half rods to a stake and stone thence westerly nineteen rods to a stake and stone thence south westerly thirteen rods to a stake and
thence easterly along the north line of the Greenville and Logansport State Road twenty-four and one half rods to the place of beginning estimated to contain
one and a half acres..." It is more familiarly described as being just west of the town of Wheeling on the north side of Wheeling Pike.
Extant markers indicate that the cemetery was in use well before that date. Burials of community members go back as early as February 7, 1839, with the death
of one year old Rebecca McCrary/McCreery. There are more than 20 known burials prior to this property transfer. The cemetery was often referred to as the I.O.O.F.
Cemetery. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows had a very active lodge in town burials would be made under the traditions of the fraternity although nothing
indicates that they were either owners of the property or even have a specific area set aside within it. Later discussions occasionally refer to it as the Old
Indian Trail Cemetery, however there is no contemporariy evidence to support it as an actual name. More likely it is a reference to the cemetery being on
the old Indian trail through the area.
As with any cemetery of it's age (180 years plus), Mother Nature has left her mark. Uneven ground, sinking stones, collapsing graves, and vegitation growth
have all been enemies of the burial ground. Through nothing more than dumb luck, it was spared during the 1922 tornado that caused extensive damage to the
town of Wheeling. However, another foe has taken its toll over the years. Vandals have struck the cemetery and done extensive damage over the years.
On December 16, 1910, the cemetery was hit by miscreants who broke or toppled as many as fourteen markers. Most of those damaged were for the Beouy family. One marker,
estimated $300 in value at the time, was destroyed. The two men left in a buggy eastbound and were tracked for a distance until their trail mixed with others
in the snow. Their spree had begun in Matthews where they damaged a wagon and cut a hose to a water tank at the home of Milton Marley. They then caused extensive damage to
the interior of the Wheeling School destroying books and furniture then leaving a trail of items in the road as they left. As the passed out of town, they fired numerous
shotgun rounds at the home of John Dunlap, but luckily the family was uninjured. It does not appear that any arrests were ever made.
In early November, 1958, fifty-one tombstone were knocked over or broken by vandals then scattered around the area. The exact date of the damage is uncertain,
but it was discovered on the 12th, and indications at the time were that the damage was done about a week prior. The stones damaged were in an area described as
being farthest from the road. Again, it appears that no arrests were ever made.
In the early 1970s, the cemetery fell into such disrepair that brush and briars were head hign and finding the graves of family members was left to the
most determined. The property was mowed with a tractor (not a riding mower) with little regard for the markers within. The Wheeling Cemetery of more recent years would
appear in a state of disrepair to many, but for long-time locals, it is miles ahead of where it has been in the past. In the 2020s, with the efforts of the last few
township trustees and a small handful of volunteers, the site is in the best condition it has been in in decades.
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