Uncovering Elhanan Cemetery’s Hidden Stories

Betty Oakes on left, recently presented a copy of Elhanan Cemetery research to Catherine Campbell, Assistant Manager of Adult Services at the Wells County Public Library in Bluffton. Betty along with the help of other volunteers researched and assembled a history of Elhanan Cemetery located at the southeast corner of County Road 1000N. and 600E. east of Ossian, in Jefferson Township, Wells County.

Thank you also to former township trustee, Larry Heckber who encouraged Betty to work on the project. Larry has been an advocate for upgrading and improving the cemeteries in the county. Betty was very interested in researching the cemetery since she has relatives at Elhanan. The cemetery was established in 1844 by the Elhanan Presbyterian Church which would build a building across the road on the north side.

The cemetery is in a “L” shape and it is believed that there are some unmarked graves in some of the open spots. James Furgeson in February of 1844 donated one acre of land for the cemetery and Robert Yule donated 1/2 acre of land for a church. As populations shifted and consolidated toward nearby towns, the Elhanan Church congregation eventually merged with the Ossian Presbyterian Church in 1925. The old brick church (which was the 2nd at the site) was torn down in the 1940’s.

Veterans that are buried at Elhanan include: WWI,Clarence Gibson; WWII, Richard J. /Jack Barnes; Korean War, Norbert Bauermeister; Vietnam War, Robert/Rob Hawkins, David/Dave Thatcher.

Here is one of the monuments with Elhanan Cemetery name on it. Note the EST. 1844 in the lower right.

Here is one of the unique tombstones which is in the tree-stump style which many times represented a life cut short.

The cemetery is also the final resting place for six (6) Civil War soldiers. They include William Green, Johanthan/Jno A. Comer, James Ball, Daniel Perry/D.P. Reynolds, Henry Shultz (Schultz) and Valentine Todd.

Patrick Archbold, in the 1887 Biographies of Wells County, was with General Anthony Wayne when Wayne came to Fort Wayne {1793-94}. The U.S. Army used young boys for runners. It is believed that Patrick may have been one of them. In his later years, Patrick served in the War of 1812 as a private under Captain William Stokes in the 1st Regiment,2nd Battalion, of the Ohio Militia. {in Family History of Wells Co. IN 18837-1992, p. 244}

Here is another stone that helps tell the history of the churches that were at the site.