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Jefferson Church Cemetery, Shelby Twp

Sat, 11/22/2008 - 4:08pm — Ruth Hoggatt

Jefferson Church Cemetery

Section 9, Township 5 North, Range 11 East
Shelby Township, Jefferson County, Indiana


Jefferson Church
© Sep. 1, 2000


Copyright by, Jackie Owen, burial survey; Robert Scott, history; Ruth Hoggatt, photos.


The Jefferson Presbyterian Church was organized by Orin Fowler, a missionary from Connecticut on Oct. 16, 1818. It was originally known as the Bethel Church, and also as the Ryker meeting house and the brick meeting house. Land for the church, 1 acre 3 rods and 38 1/4 poles in Section 9 Twp. 5N Range 11E was deeded by Jacob Ryker to Samuel Ryker, William B. Benefiel and John Weatherford, trustees of the Bethel meeting house, on July 1, 1828 (Jefferson Co. Deed Book E p. 316.) The Church drew the bulk of its original members coming from the so-called Low Dutch community. When the Pleasant Presbyterian Church was formed in 1828, most of the Low Dutch (Demarees, Vorises, Vanosdols, etc) joined that body, leaving the Scotch-Irish as the dominant group.

Robert Scott, © August 2000




Burial survey

By, Jackie Owen © August 2000


This cemetery is located at the Jefferson Church N.E. of Canaan.
I surveyed this cemetery with the help of the 1941 DAR record and notes from Bob Scott.
Names with * were on the DAR list but when I surveyed the cemetery I couldn't find the stones.
Names with ** were on Bob Scott's list, but I was unable to find these stones.


SS=same stone    D=daughter    S=son


Name Date of Birth Date of Death Other Info.
?, Wm T. April 9, 1849 May 18, 1860 No last name-S of ?.A. & Mary
Barber, Opal Nov. 29, 1900 Sept. 20, 1902 D. of H.R. & C.I.
Barnes, Lena Mae 1892 1940  
Bassett, Clara M. Jan. 3, 1903 July 4, 1955  
Benefiel, Amanda   Oct. 7, 1833 D of Samuel & N. M.-age 2 yrs.-SS as Jesse & Nancy
Benefiel, Ann Ryker ** 1797 1825  
Benefiel, Arthur W.   Feb. 18, 1860 Age 16 yrs. 1 mos. 16 days
Benefiel, Elizabeth   Nov. 3, 1852 3rd w of Rob't-age 54 yrs. 8 mos. 5 days
Benefiel, Elizabeth S. Oct. 14, 1804 July 22, 1891 W of Jas. C.-age 86 yrs. 9 mos. 8 days
Benefiel, George   April 1, 1832 Age 72 yrs. 3 mos. 7 days-DAR marker Culbertson's PA Mil. Rev. War
Benefiel, James Dec. 27, 1853 Aug. 29, 1880  
Benefiel, James C. May 11, 1806 May 31, 1886 Age 80 yrs. 20 days
Benefiel, James E.   June 9, 1855 S of Wm B. & Pheobe-age 26 yrs. 20 days
Benefiel, Jesse   July 18, 1833 S of Samuel & Nancy M.-SS as Amanda & Nancy
Benefiel, Jesse M.   Sept. 16, 1838 S of Wm & Pheobe-age 2 yrs. 11 mos. 8 days
Benefiel, Letha Nov. 11, 1841 Nov. 14, 1841 D of W.T. & S.
Benefiel, Ludicy   May 13, 1847 D of J. & Sarah A.-age 9 mos. 30 days-SS as Martha
Benefiel, Maranda Jan. 19, 1832 No Death Date W of Wm H.H.-SS
Benefiel, Martha   Jan. 21, 1844 D of J. & Sarah A.-age 17 yrs. 13 days-SS as Ludicy
Benefiel, Martha M. Dec. 27, 1842 Nov. 3, 1847 D. of Jas. & Eliz.
Benefiel, Mary   May 21, 1857 W of Geo.-age 19 yrs. 2 mos. 6 days
Benefiel, Mary V. *   Jan. 22, 1862 W of John T.-age 19 yrs.
Benefiel, Nancy M.   July 14, 1833 W of Samuel M.-age 28 yrs. 6 mos. 20 days-SS as Jesse & Amanda
Benefiel, Phoebe   June 21, 1867 W of Wm. B.-age 72 yrs. 1 mo. 27 days
Benefiel, Robert Sr. * 1782 April 8, 1860  
Benefiel, Sarah 1831 1867 D of C.H. & S.A.-DAR list shows birth year as 1851 & the father's initials as G.W. Both were hard to make out, but what I have is what I think the stone actually says.
Benefiel, William Buchanan April 14, 1791 Jan. 29, 1841 Age 49 yrs. 9 mos.
Benefiel, William H.H. March 8, 1825 July 20, 1911 SS as Maranda
Buchanan, George     DAR marker-U.S. Soldier, Rev. War-A marker for George was also placed in the McLaughlin Cemetery but has been moved to the Buchanan Cemetery
Buchanan, James M. 1842 1928 Co. K. 22nd Ind. Inf-SS as Mary E.
Buchanan, Lula Grace Dec. 6, 1881 1949  
Buchanan, Mary E. Nov. 6, 1846 Feb. 14, 1924 W of Jas. M-SS as James M.
Buchanan, Nancy   Dec. 28, 1862 W of Wm. H.-age 46 yrs. 1 mo. 3 days
Buchanan, William H. July 22, 1796 March 8, 1877  
Campbell, James * Aug. 3, 1789 June 11, 1829  
Campbell, Sarah * June 1, 1785 Jan. 15, 1863 W of Jas.-age 77 yrs. 7 mos. 14 days
Campbell, William Oliver * Dec. 10, 1817 Dec. 17, 1837 Age 20 yrs. 16 days
Cole, James June 22, 1822 April 16, 1876  
Demaree, Alice 1859 1941  
Demaree, Edwin T. March 2, 1829 July 21, 1829 S of W.S. & A.M.
Demaree, Infant July 23, 1852 Aug. 1, 1852 D of W.S. & A.M.
Demaree, Infant ** 1879 1882 Child of W.S. & A.M.
Dunn, Mary Ellen   Feb. 29, 1852 D of Thomas & Mary A.-age 2 yrs. 3 mos. 12 days
Gordon, John R. 1879 1956  
Gordon, John W. Nov. 18, 1818 Feb. 1, 1875 Age 49 yrs. 2 mos. 2 days-SS as Sarah A.
Gordon, Lucinda Sept. 3, 1860 Jan. 14, 1885 W of Albert-age 24 yrs. 4 mos. 11 days
Gordon, Nancy J. 1851 1895 W of W.H.H.-SS as W.H.H.
Gordon, Sarah Ann   March 24,1890 W if J.W.-age 68 yrs. 2 mos. 9 days-SS as John W.
Gordon, Sarah F.   Sept. 24, 1889 D of J.W. & Sarah Ann-age 28 yrs. 9 mos. 18 days
Gordon, Verney T. *   Dec. 18, 1880 S of A.E. & E.L.-age 9 mos. 5 days
Gordon, W.H.H. 1851 1916 SS as Nancy J.
Hillis, Freeman Matthew Jan. 17, 1906 Sept. 8, 1907  
Hillis, Hiram Jan. 1, 1811 Jan. 5, 1876 Age 65 yrs. 4 days-born in KY-SS as Louisa
Hillis, Infant   Jan. 26, 1878 D of Wm. T. & Martha A.
Hillis, James S. Nov. 20, 1878 July 10, 1879 S of Wm. T. & Martha A.
Hillis, Louisa Jan. 19, 1813 Sept. 28, 1877 W of H.-age 64 yrs. 8 mos. 9 days-SS as Hiram-born in VA
Hillis, Martha A. 1847 1932 SS as Wm. T.
Hillis, Mary C.   Sept. 15, 1874 D of W.T. & C.E.-age 14 yrs. 5 mos. 13 days
Hillis, William T. July 29, 1833 June 12, 1894 SS as Martha A.
Horton, Otto E. June 25, 1887 Oct. 6, 1888 S of J.A. & S.
Johnson, C.F.   Dec. 27, 1857 S of Wm. T. & E.
Johnson, Jordan Feb. 20, 1834 May 1, 1903  
Johnson, Mary A.   May 15, 1876 D of J. & P.-age 17 yrs. 5 mos. 19 days
Johnson, Phoebe E.   Aug. 29, 1869 W of Jordan-age 36 yrs. 1 mo. 26 days
Lee, Alice M. Sept. 3, 1906 Aug. 22, 1908 D. of R.T. & R.E.
Lee, Robert T. Feb. 18, 1882 May 21, 1958 SS as Rose E. & Ruby J.
Lee, Rose E. April 1, 1878 May 2, 1926 W of Robert T.-SS as Robert & Ruby J.
Lee, Ruby J. Jan. 2, 1910 Sept. 1, 1926 D of Robert & Rose-SS as parents-there was also a separate stone for her.
Loring, Charles V. March 20, 1827 Jan. 10, 1888  
Loring, Synthia March 1, 1827 Sept. 29, 1905 W of C.V.
McClure, Martha * April 4, 1790 Jan 20, 1863  
McCoy, Amanda E.   March 17, 1863 D of Wesley & Isabella-age 19 yrs. 4 mos. 18 days
McCoy, Isabella F.   Feb. 2, 1895 W of Wesley-age 78 yrs. 8 mos. 16 days
McCoy, Wesley   April 1, 1863 Age 51 yrs. 8 mos. 10 days
McLaughlin, Mary Ellen Jan. 7, ???? Feb. 17, 1864 D of George & Mary
McLeland, Ester E. * Jan. 17, 1793 March 19, 1872 W of Rob't-age 79 yrs. 2 mos. 27 days
McLeland, James H.   Aug. 19, 1838 S of R. & E. -age 18 yrs 7 mos. 12 days
McLeland, Louisa E.   April 20, 1843 D. of W.E. & E.F.-age 1 yr. 11 mo. 5 days
McLeland, Robert Feb. 14, 1793 July 15, 1855 Age 62 yrs. 5 mos. 1 day
Means, Charles B. *   June 30, 1839 S of John H. & Louisa-age 11 mos. 21 days
Means, Cynthia A. *   Aug. 21, 1863 W of James H.-age 23 yrs. 3 mos. 21 days
Means, Elizabeth * Nov. 10, 1808 May 29, 1890 W of Wm.-age 81 yrs. 6 mos. 19 days
Means, Mary *   March 12, 1841 W of R.G.-age 26 yrs. 5 mos.
Means, Sarah * Sept. 26, 1789 Jan. 18, 1853 W of Wm.-age 62 yrs. 3 mos. 20 days
Means, William * Nov. 1, 1789 Aug. 12, 1831 Age 41 yrs. 9 mos. 11 days
Means, William * Nov. 17, 1800 Jan. 23, 1889 Age 88 yrs. 2 mos. 6 days
Means, William B. * Aug. 13, 1837 May 26, 1865  
O'Neel, Ella M.     D of M.& V.-No dates-SS as Wm. & Infant
O'Neel, Henry March 8, 1813 Nov. 26, 1890 Age 77 yrs. 8 mos. 18 days
O'Neel, Infant     No dates-SS as Ella & Wm. C.
O'Neel, Marshall 1840 1922 Co. E. 83rd Regiment-SS as Victoria
O'Neel, Victoria 1845 1931 W of M.C.-SS
O'Neel, Wm. C.     No dates-SS as Ella & Infant
O'Rear, Cynthia C.   March 5, 1848 W of M. O'Rear
Ralston, Clara Fern May 27, 1904 Oct. 7, 1994  
Ralston, John Oct. 13, 1899 May 23, 1964  
Ralston, Mary March 2, 1927 March 3, 1927 Infant
Ralston, Opal F. Feb. 8, 1930   No death date.
Robbins, Elizabeth A. Nov. 14, 1829 April 10, 1872  
Robbins, James W.   March 8, 1963 S of J.W. & M.A.-age 5 yrs. 5 mos. 2 days
Robbins, Mary J. Jan. 5, 1849 April 14, 1876 W of J.W.
Russell, Eliza June 16, 1808 Feb. 14, 1891 W of Powell
Russell, Powell Dec. 26, 1810 March 19, 1876  
Ryker, Abraham     No dates-SS as Mary, Jesse, Christian, Amanda, James & William
Ryker, Amanda     No dates-SS as Abraham, Mary, Jesse, Christian, James, & William
Ryker, Amy ** July 2, 1808 July 24, 1845  
Ryker, Christian     No dates-SS as Abraham, Mary, Jesse, Amanda, James & William
Ryker, James     No dates-SS as Abraham, Mary, Jesse, Christian, Amanda, & William
Ryker, Jesse     No dates-SS as Abraham, Mary, Christian, Amanda, James & William
Ryker, Mary     No dates-SS as Abraham, Jesse, Christian, Amanda, James & William
Ryker, William     No dates-SS as Abraham, Mary, Jesse, Christian, Amanda, & James
Stevenson, Hattie A. Nov. 2, 1872 Jan. 24, 1949 SS as Robert F.
Stevenson, Robert F. Feb. 23, 1874 Sept. 25, 1931 SS as Hattie
Stewart, Mariah Martha *   June 25, 1851 D of Jas M. & Mariah M.-age 1 mo. 26 days
Stewart, Mariah Mary *   May 26, 1851 W of James M.-age 22 yrs. 10 mos.-D of Wm. & Sarah Means
VanAntwerp, Charles A. Jan. 16, 1888 May 26, 1888 S of G.W. & N.J.
VanAntwerp, Mary J. April 24, 1892 Jan. 20, 1899 D of Frank & H.
Vanosdol, Rachel   Dec. 22, 1831 Age 80 yrs.
Warfield, James W. May 4, 1854 Feb. 25, 1904 SS as Nancy
Warfield, Nancy A. Jan. 26, 1857 Aug. 27, 1903 W of Jas. W.-SS
Warren, Susan   June 8, 1875 Age 34 yrs. 6 mos. 23 days
Weatherford, David   April 25, 1900 Age 55 yrs.-Co. E. 6th Ind. Vol. Inf 1862-1865
Weatherford, Elizabeth M. Aug. 22, 1854 Aug. 22, 1935 Birth & death month & day same on stone
Weatherford, Howard April 26, 1915 May 7, 1915 S. of C.G.& M.E.
Weatherford, Joseph Dec. 11, 1852 May 9, 1935  
Weatherford, Luella Ileana   Nov. 2, 1883 D of David & Martha-age 13 yrs. 8 mos. 16 days
Weatherford, Martha M. Russell June 2, 1843 April 8, 1925 W of D.
Weatherford, Sarah A. May 26, 1849 June 17, 1912 W of Sol.-SS as Solomon
Weatherford, Solomon March 7, 1848 March 30, 1929 SS as Sarah H.
Wehr, Martha 1836 1878  
West, John   Jan. 20, 1867 Age 76 yrs.
West, Martha March 13, 1789 Dec. 13, 1878 W of John
Whitham, Calvin 1858 1937 SS as Melvin
Whitham, Dillard C. Sept. 12, 1828 March 2, 1907 SS as Mary E.
Whitham, Joseph W. April 24, 1865 Dec. 19, 1950  
Whitham, Mary E. April 16, 1833 Sept. 14, 1914 W of D.-SS as Dillard C.
Whitham, Melvin 1900 1942 SS as Calvin
Whitham, Nancy J. July 24, 1865 Aug. 4, 1925  
Woodfill, William T. April 9, 1849 May 18, 1860 S of A. & Mary


Jefferson Church Cemetery
Photo © Ruth Hoggatt, Sep 1, 2000.