On one stone in the cemetery is the inscription: "Emeline, wife of Joel Oakes, formerly wife of Isaac Folwell, died January 16, 1893, aged 79 years. For 60 years an honored resident of Cambridge, Penn.

  On the shore beyond the river,
  from her labours she's at rest.
  Now the cares of earth are over
  And she mingles with the blest.

 On one old stone in the shade of a tree on the Harter lot, is carved but two words, "Little Elmer." John Wallace, who was born in 1829 and died in 1900, is remembered by this verse:

      "And if beside his grave the tears our aching eyes must dim,
  God comfort us for all the love which we shall lost in him."

 Upon a lot stands a stone which reads: "Our Hattie, 2 years, 1 month and 3 days. May we meet her in heaven."

 There is nothing else upon the stone, but it stands upon a lot with a stone for Robert, son of Robert and Mary Field, who died April 23, 1856, aged 11 years, 2 months 7 days.

 In the quiet confines of this old burying ground sleeps a sweet old lady known by many Richland Center folks as their first school teacher. These school children of 70 to 80 years of age will remember her as Mary Vedder who taught school in the basement of the Baptist church here some 70 years ago. The rear door of the church basement through which the boys and girls trooped to and from school, remains the same as in the far old days. Upon the marker at the base of her grave marker at the head of her grave say:

 Miss Vedder became the wife of H. J. Morrison, an early settler of Buena Vista. He became a  resident of Richland Center later in life and he and his wife resided on what is now the Sextonville road. Their old home still stands; it has been remodeled, other houses have been erected close by and the venerable couple would hardly recognize the place if they could see it today. Mr. Morrison was twice married, but his first wife being Ann Fox who preceded him in death by many years. Mr. Morrison and his wife Mary, were devout Christians, members of the Richland Center Presbyterian church. Well can we remember them on a Sunday morning driving in their buggy to attend the church services. They would tie their horses to a post across the street south of the church and attend the meeting. Home for dinner and back again to the church for evening services; and on Thursday nights only a severe storm or sickness would keep them from prayer meeting. Few, if any, were more devoted to their church than Mr. and Mrs. Morrison.

 There is a monument in the cemetery for Hattie Anora Martin. It is carved from marble and represents an angel. Hattie Anora was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Martin. She died January 11, 1869, aged 8 months and 11 days. Her father James Martin Sr., was born in Ohio in 1827 and died October 23, 1886. He was the father of J. W. Martin and the grandfather of Harley Martin, long prominent as cattle breeders. Harley served as assemblyman from this county. His son James, now occupies the old home farm.

 On the tombstone of Clara, the daughter of Charles and Joanna Maxwell, who died in 1884 at the age of two years, is this verse:
  "We miss the bright eyes of our darling child,
   And the sweet, rosy lips that so often on us smiled."

 Buried in the northwest corner of the cemetery, are Paul A. Seifert and his wife Elizabeth. Paul will be remembered as living on what is now highway 60 west of Gotham and many a story of Bogus Bluff and the counterfeiters could he spin.

 Five stones, all alike appear upon the lot of William Williams and his wife Nancy. Mr. Williams was born in 1831. There is the grave of William Ketcham and other members of his family, one for Parduhns, G. L. Thomas, John and Frank Brown, the latter served for a number of years as game warden. Dr. George Jamieson, J. W. Briggs, Alfred Kuykendall, Alex Ray; who served as postmaster at Lone Rock for many years; the Bills family.

 One of the earliest settlers in Buena Vista was Samuel Long who settled there in 1848; he was born in Indiana in 1816. Another old settler, Jacob Bennett, found a resting place in the cemetery. He was born in Scotland in 1836, came to America in 1851 and to Buena Vista in 1857. Alfred Beckwith, Civil War veteran, died in 1893. His monument has carved upon it:

  "There is no death,
             the stars go down to rise upon some fairer shore,
   And bright in heaven's jeweled crown they shine
   forever more."

 Henry G. Tucker, member of Co. A. 1 Vol. Infantry, Spanish-American War. Charles Tustison, Major in 533 Field Artillery, who passed on in 1945, he was born May 11, 1910, and served in the Ist World War. Other World I and II veterans in this cemetery have flags waving over their graves.

 Along the west fence are a number of slabs to mark graves of members of the Perrin family. Their deaths followed closely one another and it is recorded that they died of some mysterious disease.

 William P. Weston, a relative of the Perrins, died in 1854, aged 15 years; Gilbert Perrin died September 1854 aged 19; Dr. Perrin passed away in October 1854, aged 28, and his wife died December 18, 1854, aged 21, and Ella Perrin died on February 28, no age given.

 There is one monument in the city of the dead with a cheerful note. It is a regulation sundial on the monument for Michael Martin Shirk and his wife Laura Burnham Shirk. It reads:

  "I count none but the sunny hours."
 

S. F.

Page 48

Tales The Tombstones Tell  -  Republican Observer  -  August 9, 1956

 John Coumbe, the first white settler of what is now Richland county came into this county in 1838, but did not remain for a long period as Indians were numerous and not at all friendly. Mr. Coumbe returned to the Muscoda area, but came back in 1840 to what is now the town of Richwood and remained until the time of his death. He set aside a site on his farm for cemetery purposes. Burials began to be made there in 1851 when James Carson was laid to rest. This plot of land, two or three acres, is now known as the Coumbe cemetery and in it sleep the long, long sleep, John Coumbe, members of his family and many of the pioneer settlers of that section of the county. Among the early settlers, whose names appear upon the stones are Richason, Appleby, Powers, Jones, Waneck, Leffler, Hayward, Crandall, Dillon and others.

 Civil and World Wars veterans are there. One of the World War veterans is Thomas Wallace, who entered service September 15, 1917 and died January 6, 1918 at Camp Pike, Ark. Three flags wave over the Crandall lot for there are buried three Civil War veterans, William, John and Wilson Crandall.

 David Dewey, who was born in Vermont in 1833, came to Richwood in 1854 but a year later moved to Sheboygan county, returning to Richwood in 1860 and took up his residence at Port Andrews. He served as engineer on Wisconsin river steam boats for some years and then bought mill property on Byrds Creek. He died on August 17, 1926. His wife was Ann Dudgen, who was born in 1828 and died January 9, 1903. On the cemetery lot is a stone for Dama Dewey, who died in 1881 at the age of 79. A verse on the stone reads:
  "My work is ended, my troubles are through;
   And now my dear children I bid them adeau."

 One of the early day store keepers at Port Andrews was William Richie, who was born in 1838 and died in 1919. He was a native of New York and served in the Civil War in Co. D 79th Regt. New York Volunteers. He conducted a general store in the village for many years. His wife, Lida, was born in 1848 and died in 19l9. Another name upon the is that of Isabelle Ritchie, born in 1840 and died in 1875.

 Another pioneer of Richwood was Myron Whitecomb who came there in 1844 and moved his family to their new home in 1845. The family consisted of his wife and three children. His personal property at that early day consisted of an "old horse, an old cow, an old sow, and three pigs, and 25 cents in cash." Thus, he and his family started pioneer life in a little cabin. He worked hard and laid by an estate. He raised, so it is said, the first frame barn in Richland county. He left his home in New York when he was 18 years of age, went south and is credited with hewing the first stick  of timber for the capital building in the state of Texas. He was born in New York in 1817. In 1840, in Indiana, he was married to Margaret Ann Carson.

 There is a tombstone in the Coumbe cemetery for Olive L. Pilling, who was the wife of Isaac Pilling. She died September 15, 1859. A verse on the stone reads:
  "She went not alone for on her breast
   A babe of an hour sleeps at rest."

 Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Isham, ran a hotel in Port Andrews years and years ago. Following the death of his wife Mr. Pilling remarried and for years ran a saw mill about a mile south of Eagle Corners and the place was known as Pilling's Mill. When Mr. Pilling passed on they buried him in the Muscoda cemetery. The family moved to Richland Center, residing for years and years in the little cottage two doors south of the Baptist church. Walter Pilling, who passed on within the last few years, lived alone in the house sometime prior to his death. The cottage

Page 49

stood at 346 North Main street, now the site of the Howard Hansen home erected within the past year.

 Dr. R. M. Miller, an old time physician, who is buried in the Coumbe cemetery, first came to Richland county in 1849 and with his brother, L. N. Miller, established a store Port Andrews in 1851. His family resided at Galena, Illinois, and in 1852 he brought them to Port Andrews. He practiced medicine until retirement in 1872. One of his sons, George, will be remembered as a citizen of Richland Center. He was known as "Candy" George Miller, selling his "pulled" candy at the county fair here for many years. Dr. Miller was born December 25, 1811 in Jefferson county, Ohio, and died on March 28, 1903. In 1837 he married  Elizabeth F. Phlager, who was born at Ft. Snelling, Minnesota, on June 3, 1822, and is said to be the first white girl to be born in that state. She died, so the tombstone says, in 1900.

 Two of the worthy pioneers of Richwood, who now rest in the Coumbe cemetery are Joseph Elliott and his wife, Mary, the former Mary F. Mulamphy. Mr. Elliott was born in Illinois, Nov. 1, 1829 and came to Richwood with his parents, Thomas and Sarah Elliott, in 1848 where he resided until his death. In 1851 he married Mary Mulamphy. Miss Mulamphy was the first person to teach school in Richland county according to history. She came from Highland in l848 and was hired to teach in the Orion village school. The school house, a log affair, was not completed so she opened school in the house of Capt. John R. Smith, one of the founders of the village; on June 5, 1848. She was hired to teach three months at $23 a month. She was a good teacher and was employed to teach the second term in 1849. Following their marriage in 1851 they resided in Orion for a time and then moved to Port Andrew where Mr. Elliott began to keep store in 1859 and continued until 1874 when they settled on a farm at the east limits of the village of Port Andrew.

 John Coumbe, the pioneer, the first white settler of Richland county, is buried in the cemetery which bears his name. Also is his wife Sarah,  together with other members of their family. Around them sleep their friends of the far off day. The monument on the Coumbe lot states that John Coumbe was born in Devonshire, England, March 25, 1808 and died May 2, 1882, aged 74 years. Mr. Coumbe was married in May 1849 to Sarah Palmer, a native of Kentucky, who came to Richland county with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Palmer, in 1848. The parents were both born in 1794, he on October 6 and his wife, Susannah, January 7. Mr. Palmer died August 29, 1862 and Mrs. Palmer, November 2, 1872. Also on the monument, which stands near the east line of the cemetery, are engraved the names of Thomas Coumbe, who died January 20, 1867, aged 89, and Christian, his wife, who died January 6, 1869 aged 86. They were the parents of John Coumbe. Much has been written about Mr. and Mrs. John Coumbe in the past. They were a worthy and honored couple. They raised a fine family of seven children, all now passed to their reward. Grandchildren and great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren of the pioneers remain in the land of the living.

 There are other pioneers in the Coumbe cemetery. Looking down upon them all is still something alive. It was there back in 1851, 105 years ago, when James Carson was laid to rest; it has witnessed every burial made there and bids fair to witness other similar scenes over the years that lie ahead. It is a giant elm tree, standing alone near the south line. It is, from all appearances, well over 150 years old. It was there when John Coumbe first came; it saw the Indian camps; saw white man come and the red man go.

 It guards well the portals of this burying ground.

S. F.
 

 Page 50

Tales The Tombstones Tell  -  Republican Observer  -  September 6, 1956

The Pleasant Ridge cemetery in the town of Bloom is one of the numerous cemeteries that is well kept and those who are buried therein are not neglected or have been over the years gone by. As in all cemeteries the pioneers of the areas have found rest in peace along with others in the cemeteries in which they sleep the long sleep.

 Names of the pioneers of the Pleasant Ridge territory appear upon the stones that stand close by the Pleasant Ridge church. There are monuments for the Ammermans, Spanglers, Todds, Griffins, Lookers, McBains, Withrows, Farmers, Parkers, Thorntons, Mullendores, Potts, Sandmires, Pelletts, Carters, Essexs and many others. Would that we knew the history of them all.

 A plaque in the cemetery contains the names of 32 Civil War veterans who, when life ended for them, they found rest far from the battlefields of the south in this cemetery. Also buried there are four World War soldiers.

 An interesting marker, a home made one marks the grave of R. J. Darnell, an early day surveyor. The marker reads:

 Mr. Darnell, a native of Kentucky, came to Richland county in 1843, located in the town of Orion and in 1856 moved to the town of Forest. His wife was the widow of Capt. John Smith who founded the village of Orion. Mr. Smith died in 1851 and she afterwards married R. J. Darnell; died in the town of Forest. Another stone in the cemetery marks the grave of George L. Spangler, who at one time was city marshall of Richland Center about 1881 and was also a deputy sheriff. He had his right hand badly mutilated in a clover huller, causing amputation. Mr. Spangler was born in Indiana in 1853, coming to Richland county in 1866. He died April 6, 1915, and his wife, who was the former Elizabeth Allbaugh, died in 1931.

 One of the first to be buried in the cemetery was John Farmer, who died March 12, 1858, at the age of 61 years, 11 months and 21 days. There is a stone for the children of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Griffin, who burned to death.

 Stones mark the graves of Edmund B. Looker, born in 1811, and died in 1896, and his wife born in 1826 and died in 1912. On the stone it says:

  "Behold the pilgrim as he lies with glory in his view,
   To heaven he lifts his longing eyes
   And bids the words adieu."

 A home made marker is on the grave of Cassie M. Patten, who it is said, made the marker herself and had it erected before her death.

 There are seven or eight persons, over 90 years of age, buried in this cemetery. Among these are George Stout who died at the age of 96; Jacob Sandmire, 92; Ellen Mullendore, 95; Martha Allen, 95; Mary McBain, 91, and Thomas Jefferson Edwards, the oldest of them all, who died on October 10, 1921, at the ripe old age of 105.