Tales the Tombstones Tell Page 96-100

Tales The Tombstone Tell Columns from the Republican Observer Written by S. W. Fogo Page 96

Tales The Tombstones Tell - Republican Observer - July 18, 1957

Orion Cemetery Down in the once thriving village of Orion, first named Richmond, is an old cemetery, the oldest one in Richland county, dating back to the year 1844. Come this September 29th or 30th, it will be 113 years since Henry Ferris, a 17 year old lad was laid away here, and there may have been burials there before that time, in fact the county history of Crawford and Richland counties states that David Petty, the first white person to die in the county, is buried here. His death took place in the spring of 1844 at Rockbridge where he was engaged with a sawmill crew. The history goes on to state that the body as placed in a canoe and taken down Pine river to the Wisconsin river and then to the settlement at Orion where it was buried. The history also states that his death was in 1846 and the body taken to Mineral Point for burial. However Capt. John Smith, who helped found the village, stated that the burial was at Orion and he assisted in digging the grave. The cemetery has a name but it has slipped my mind, however we believe it is "Cedar Mound." The monument for Henry Ferris bears the oldest date of any in the cemetery. It reads:

Henry Son of Stephen and Deborah Ferris Died September 29, 1844 Aged 17 Years

___________________ | | | | | Photo | | | |___________________|

The monument, a slab of marble, does not stand erect now but lays upon the ground. Grass was growing over it when we visited the spot on June 26th and it was necessary to scrape away the grass and dire with a wire brush to clean the face of the slab so it could be read. Back in 1941 we paid a visit to this old burying ground. With us on that visit 16 years ago was Frank C. Poynter and with us again this year was Mr. Poynter, in fact he has been with us on most all of our trips to the many cemeteries, he has not missed more than two or three. Also with us
this past June were Charles Ray and Charles Johnson, who have been with us on trips to several other burying grounds.
In writing about Henry Ferris 16 years ago we stated: "As we stood beside the grave we wondered what sort of a lad Henry was. Was he flaxen haired, blue eyes, or was he dark with raven locks? Was he rugged and strong, or was he weak and sickly? What caused his death and who stood about the grave as they lowered him to his last resting place? We wonder."
As we entered the cemetery we noted an old hockberry tree near the gate. Upon it was tacked a sign badly faded now; it reads: "No hunting allowed in this cemetery." There are a number of mulberry trees in the cemetery loaded with berries nearing the ripening stage. Near the south side, of the cemetery is a large sunken spot which, denotes that a
house stood there once years and years ago. On the west side of the burying ground standing north and south, is a row of cedar trees about ten feet apart which stand near the heads of the graves. The grave of Henry Ferris is the one at the north of the row.
Standing first as you enter the cemetery is a slab monument for J. B. Mathews who died November 5, 1862, at the age of 20 years, 11 months and 16 days. At the top of the monument is carved: "Brave and Gallant Soldier and a true patriot." Mr. Mathews was a soldier in the Civil War. He left his bride and babe when Lincoln's first call for volunteers came. Not long after entering service he became ill and was treated at a government hospital in the east. His bride was notified and hastened to his side but death won the race, he passing away before she was able to reach his bedside. The body was brought back to Orion and they laid him away in the old, old burying ground. He was a son of Thomas and Catherine Mathews, founders of the village. Near by on the lot or close are brothers and sisters. One brother, Jackson D., died, the stone says, October 20, 1846, aged one year; William J., another brother, died September 25, 1846, aged 11 months. He and Jackson were evidently twins,

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the dates of death and ages indicate this. A sister, Josephine, died on January 20, 1850, at the age of seven months. The parents of these children are buried in the Indian Creek cemetery a quarter of a mile east of "Cedar Mound."
Close beside the lot for the soldier boy is a rough stone upon which is engraved in rude letters these words:

E. Wife of Wm. Powell 1849 There is a lot in the cemetery kept in nice shape. Grass is mowed and cleaned of weeds: There are two stones upon this space, both of granite. One reads Cramblett Mother          Father 1876-1946       1856-1943 The other stone is engraved Wiltrout Charles     Roseann 1877-1954    1881-1954 Solomon and Louise Huntley are here. Mr. Huntley was born in 1867 and died in 1947. His wife, born in 1865, passed on in 1943. Their monument is of granite. Mrs. Huntley was a daughter of Henry and Louisa Fiedler, early settlers of Orion. Mr. Fiedler was born in 1825 and she in 1832. Mr. Fiedler died in 1904 and his wife in 1911. They came into Muscoda and later into Orion. Back in Germany they were sweethearts. With others they came to America and to Grant county where they were married. They came to Orion in 1854 and lived in a log house. Mr. Feidler was a carpenter and cabinet maker. He built for himself and family a stone house which still stands at the eastern limits of the village, joining the old cemetery on the north. Much of the timber in the house was secured from driftwood rescued from the Wisconsin river. Big rafts would break up and the lumber float downstream where it would be secured.
The stone in the Fiedler home came from the ledges along the Wisconsin river. Mr. Fiedler was a member of Co. D, 44th Wisconsin Infantry, giving Orion as his residence when he enlisted February 12, 1865. He was mustered out at the close of the war, the date of his discharge being August 28, 1865. There were six children in the Fiedler family, two of whom are buried close to their parents. Bertha died in 1885 at the age of 22. On her marker it says:
"Another star is added to the heavenly diadem."
Katie passed on December 26, 1883, aged 16 years, eight months and seven days.
Then there is this verse:
"Dear Katie is gone, her spirit pure and free has winged its
flight to seek a home on high, where angels roam and in its
purity add one more star to the glitter in the sky."
There is a stone in the cemetery which reads:
"Elizabeth, wife of A. Thompson, aged 38.
Not lost but gone before."
On the same lot are two stones, each with a little lamb at the top.
One reads:
"Our pet, Ada, daughter of A. P. and Elizabeth Thompson,
   Aged 2 years."
The second stone is for another daughter, Cora, who was 9 months of age when she passed away. No dates are given upon these three stones.
Another marble slab marks the grave of Ben Ferris, who died on November 8, 1863. A Masonic emblem is upon the stone as is the three links of the I.O.O.F. Mary Ferris, wife of Ben, is buried here. She died September 18, 1857, at the age of 43.
Carved upon the stone is this:
   "Nothing the loved one can restore.
    Dark is her tomb but bright her home,
    Where on the joyous, blissful shore of Heaven
    He waits for her to come."

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A youthful physician, Josiah Stanley, is here buried. He died, it says upon his slab marker, January 27, 1854, at the age of 25 years, 10 months and 12 days. Dr. Stanley came from Illinois, became ill with typhoid fever which caused his death. He has some kin still living in Illinois, we believe.

The Old Church From the cemetery we went down to the old meeting house; first used as a school years and years ago,. Peter Bobb, who came to Orion in the early 50s, bought the building from the school district and gave it, to be used for church purposes, to the people of the village. It is still in use though some repairs are needed. Siding should be renewed as the years that have passed have collected toll; the siding so old that it is not worth a coat of paint.
The door seemed to be locked so we went to the house next door to inquire about a key. The man mowing the lawn said the church was not locked and he went over and opened the door which had become swollen from dampness. The man, George Howard, showed us in. We found things spick and span. There were two old organs standing to one side of the pulpit. A piano stood to the west and Mr. Howard informed the four of us that it had been given to the congregation as a gift by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bohmann. Mr. Howard, 82 years of age, spry for his age, sat down to the piano and played and sang several of the old, old hymns. He stated that be could not read music but could play chords. He made a good job of it. The four of us visitors sat in the old pews and greatly enjoyed the sacred music which was so popular years ago and still is today in the little old time churches such as this.
Kerosene lamps were upon the walls, a mantle lamp of later date hung from the ceiling.
A Bible upon the pulpit had this inscribed upon the fly leaf:
"This Bible presented to the Orion church by
   Mrs. Lela Emshoff, granddaughter of Thomas Mathews,
   first settler of Orion." (June 13, 1954).
Up over the pulpit hung a picture of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Bobb. Over to one side was a framed motto which reads:
"If every member was just like me
   What kind of a church would this church be?"
Also upon the wall hung a framed paper which was dated April 2, 1933. It was written by Clark A. Cohes, 80 1/2 years old which stated that he was baptized in the church 75 years ago and tat his parents were members from October, 1857, to October 14, 1861.
In a way te years have delt kindly with this old church house. It has weathered the storm for close on a full century but the time has come when repairs are needed if it is to continue to serve the little community.
The head of the church or any member of the little congregation have not asked for help, they take up no collection at the services, the income is meager and we know they would appreciate greatly any financial assistance given to help them restore the building. That is the reason that we ask readers of "The Tales the Tombstones tell", to give, a hand right now. A dime or a dollar from each of us would be of great assistance. Won't you help in a good cause? We will. A historic building is the old church, help keep it alive. It is old fashioned, the pioneer church. Services are held each Sunday morning and again in the evening. It will do you good to attend.
We were there to the Sunday school picnic on June 30th, and are going down to the morning services some Sunday before the summer ends.
If you want to help keep the past alive you can do so by sending Raymond Booher, Muscoda, route 3, a dollar or a dime or you can leave or send it to this office.
Thanks a lot friends,

S. F.

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Tales The Tombstones Tell - Republican Observer - August 8, 1957

Dayton Ridge Cemetery The door to the church was unlocked when Frank Poynter, David Bender and I paid a visit there not so many moons ago, so we walked into the Dayton Corners Methodist church.
Upon the pulpit a Bible lay open to the "Song of Solomon," and the first verse read "The song of songs, which is Solomon's". On the fly leaf was written "Presented by Mrs. Clarence Davis, June 16, 1946." Another Bible was upon a table and on the fly leaf was this: "Presented by Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Morris, July, 1915." The Bible presented by Mrs. Davis was once owned by her aunt, Mrs. Charles Baker, in whose memory it was presented.
Then we went out into the cemetery where lay the pioneers of other days and other years.
Names upon the monuments and markers included Palmer, Huston, Craig, McKinney, Hilleshiem, Robinson, Cooper, Propp, Tanner, Yarrock. Then there were others, Russell, Tiser, Maly, Walther, Miller, Carter, Thompson, Markin, Barry, Endicott.
Many of the old monuments are weather beaten, time and the elements have taken toll over the years and names, dates and inscriptions are impossible to read. In addition to the above list can be added, Engendorf, Roach, Young, Harwood, Wolff, Wheaton, Kirkpatrick, Smart, Morris and Norris.
The Dayton Corners Methodist church was organized in 1856 at the home of Lorenzo Woodman by Rev. John Walker, who lived at Sextonville. There was a post office and quite a settlement close by the present church. Lorenzo Woodman and James Hofius laid out some lots and gave the place the name of Dayton Corners. This was in 1857 and the same year a
post office was established under the name of "Ripley Post Office" and Lorenzo Woodman was the first postmaster. He kept office at his home until his death in 1858, when Comfort Walker was appointed. He was succeeded by James Hofius. The post office was discontinued two or three years after a short life. There was a school there in 1857 which was taught by Eliza Bevier in a house owned by Comfort Walker, until a school house could be erected, this was used until 1881, when a frame house was built in section 15 which is, we believe, the present Berger school on highway 14.
Back in the "old days" Dayton Corners was on the main road between Richland Center and Boaz. The road is still in use though the present highway 14 carries all the traffic. Back in 1874 the land upon which the cemetery is located was owned by James Hofius, now it is owned by George Smart.
Many a Civil War veteran is buried here as you will note from time to time in this article. We were unable to secure a complete list. One GAR marker we noted was on a lot which contained no stones or gave any indication as to who might be buried there. One broken stone was for Wm. H. Campbell, son of Charles and Matilda Campbell. There the stone is broken and we were unable to read on. There was a GAR marker on the lot. On another lot close by was a marker for S. P. Hoffman, member of 22 Wisconsin regiment. Here was another marker, this one for Caleb Haller, a member of Co. K, 51st regiment. His army life was short, less than three months, from February 28, 1865, until mustered out May 4, 1865.

On the monument of Jacob Van Poole it says he was a member of Co. B 25th regiment. At enlistment he gave his residence as the town of Dayton. He enlisted on August 14, 1862, and participated in a campaign against the Souix Indians during September and December, 1862, and was then sent south. He was mustered out at Washington, D. C., June 7, 1865. He was married in 1860 to Annie Bolenbaugh, who is buried by his side. Mr. Van Poole died April 4, 1885, at the age of 47. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1837, and came to Dayton in 1856, moved to Kansas in 1867, and back to Richland county in 1875. On his tombstone it says: "Weep not, he is at rest." His wife was born in 1840 and died in 1919. A

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son Larrison, is on the lot with his parents. He died at the age of five months. A daughter Susie, died in 1882, at the age of nine years. "We will meet her again," it says on the monument.

Two of the "Old Timers" found rest here. They are Owen Miller and Dexter Russell. Mr. Miller was born in 1838 and died on July 6, 1899, and Mr. Russell died in 1887 at the age of 80 years. Members of their families are with them out in the burying ground.

Lorenzo Woodman, first postmaster at the pioneer office, and who was the postmaster when he passed on, was born November 11, 1819, and died November 4, 1858. He was a native of the state of New York. Coming to Dayton about 1854 he was present when the town was organized in 1857, and was one of the supervisors put into office at that time. His wife, before her marriage, was Charlotte Barry, who was born in 1822, and died October 12, 1886. A son, George W. is buried with his parents. He was born May 19, 1856, and died February 4, 1868. The Woodmans were prominent in affairs of the country back in the early days. A part of the family moved to Grey Eagle, Minn., at an early date, and there at the present time, some of their sons and grandsons live.

Another of the pioneer families to take up settlement "on the ridge" was the James Hofius folks. James Hofius and his wife Eliza, are here. They were natives of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Rofius was, prior to her marriage, Miss Eliza Wheaton. They were married in Pennsylvania and came to Dayton in 1856. James died in 1865 and his wife died in 1898 at the age of 80. Mr. Hofius was born in 1808. They were the parents of three children, one of whom, Joseph, became well known. He was born in 1854 and passed on in 1940. He was a relative of Lorenzo Woodman. Mr. Hofius married Cynthia Barry. He served on the county board for some years. They were the parents of a daughter Sylvia, who married George Smart.
Jacob M. Brown, born in 1843, is buried here as is his wife Sarah. Mr. Brown died on Christmas day, 1910.
A soldier boy, Simeon Gravatt, was one of the first constables of Dayton. A GAR marker is at his monument, but he is not buried here for he died at Nashville, Tennessee, December 20, 1861. We have no information about him except that which appears upon the stone.
Emily, wife of Eli Woodman, died December 1, 1877, at the age of 31 years, 9 months and 12 days, it says upon the tombstone. Mr. Woodman moved to Minnesota. On the stone for Mrs. Woodman is inscribed:
"Unseen the holy angels escort her to the sky
Where joys of all are blended in bliss of Paradise."

Another of the Woodman family buried here is Jeremiah Woodman, who died May 1, 1867, at the age of 72 years and 10 months. He served in the War of 1812. Mr. Woodman was a native of Vermont. A GAR emblem marks his resting place.

There are many members of the Barry family in this cemetery. Among them are Mr. and Mrs. James Barry. Joseph Hofius married their daughter Cynthia, as noted elsewhere. James Barry was a native of New York as was his wife, Sylvia Ann Woodman. They were not early settlers of Dayton for they came in 1865. Mrs. Barry's maternal grandfather was Jeremiah Woodman. Both Mr. and Mrs. Barry lived long and useful lives. He died on December 26, 1901, at the age of 80 years, 10 months and 16 days. Mrs. Barry preceeded him in death, her passing taking place in 1889. She, too, was in her 80th year.
Also buried here are a number of the Robinson family; L. Robinson, who died in 1873, at the age of 35; J. H. Robinson, born in 1846 and died in 1907; William Robinson, who was born in 1805 and died March 1, 1876, at the age of 70 years. Milton Robinson is remembered on a marker but he is not here in this cemetery but far away. He was killed in battle at Ft. Blakely, Alabama, on April 9, 1865. He enlisted from Dayton, September 12, 1861; discharged on account of illness on June 1, 1862; re-enlisted February 13, 1864. Though a marker for him is in the Dayton Corners cemetery, be died and was buried in the Southland.

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