Felton Cemetery TALES THE TOMBSTONES TELL

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

               The Felton Cemetery

    The Felton cemetery in the town of Akan, is located in the north portion of that township, in fact right on the town line in section four. A town road is between the towns of Akan and Sylvan. It is quite an old burying ground and contains many of the old settlers of that area. Many of the Chitwood clan are there and other names appearing on the stones are Dobbs, Wallace, Coppernoll, Helm, Burns, Popp, Dahl, Cook, Eaton, Clanin, Alderman, Beeman, Dobson, Sheffield, Felton, Armstrong. These together with others appear upon the old and newer monuments in this cemetery. John Chitwood, who died February 14, 1875, aged 78 years, and Stephen Marsh, who died February 3, 1874, aged 81 are two who were born before 1700. On the monument of John Chitwood is this inscription:

        "My dear children, prepare to meet me in heaven."

    Mr. Chitwood was a native of Tennessee and came to Richland county in 1855. He raised a large family.

    Benjamine Adams is another aged citizen buried in the Felton cemetery. He was born in 1820 and died in 1902 at the age of 82. On this monument is says:

        "Rest father, rest in quiet sleep,
        While friends in sorrow o'er thee weep."

    Mrs. Adams died in June 1874, at the age of 55.

    There is a stone for D. E. Felton and his wife Nancy. Also for their children Agnes E. who died in 1878; and Rhoda A, who passed on in 1879.

    Mary McMillin, 23 years of age, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James McMillin, died in 1888. On her gravestone is this:

        "Yet again we hope to meet you
        In that land so bright and fair.
        Stand by the pearly gates dear
        Mary and be the first to meet us there."

    Wilson Slayback, born in 1849, died in 1925; and his wife Lucy, born in 1854 and died in 1933 found final rest in this cemetery close to relatives and friends.

    Solomon Hall, who passed on April 8, 1880, has this on his monument:
        "Dearest father you have left us,
        We shall never see thee more,
        Till God call us home to that ever green shore."

    Mr. Hall's wife Ellen, who died in 1893, has this upon the stone:
        "Rest in heaven, O what pleasure
        Those blissful words afford.
        There again we'll clasp our treasure,
        Safe forever with the Lord."

     Four early settlers, James Bachtenkircher and his wife Sarah, Mr. and Mrs. Levi Slayback are in adjoining lots. Mr. Slayback was born in 1847, according to his tombstone Mr. Bachtenkircher was born in 1835 and died in 1923, his wife Sarah was born in 1838 and passed on in 1902. Sarah was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hezekiah Slaback, early settlers of the town of Sylvan. They were married in 1861. Mr. Bachtenkircher first came to Richland county in 1855 but did not remain but returned to Indiana. In 1860 he and a companion started for Pike's Peak in a wagon drawn by oxen. They reached Central City, Colorado, where Mr. Bachtenkircher remained until November when he started back toward the east and in 1862 he bought land in Sylvan. The western fever hit him again, so he sold his land and moved to Kansas, where he and his wife remained a few years and then returned to Richland county where they spent the remaining days of their lives.

    There is a World War veteran, John Coppernoll, buried in the Felton cemetery. His marker states that he was a Pfc. in Co. G, 505 Abn. Inft. He was born on January 12, 1932 and died July 29, 1955.

    A few Civil War veterans are buried there. One of these is Geo. Armstrong, born February 8, 1834, and died January 5, 1910. He enlisted in the 1st Wisconsin Battery, September 10, 1961, and served until October 11, 1864. Wm. Helm is another Civil War veteran in this cemetery. He was a member of Co. E., 101 Regt., Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Mr. Helm was born in 1842 and died in 1909. His wife, Lustisha, was born in 1855 and died in 1907. George Thomas, Indiana Vol., born in 1839 and died in 1907, rests in this cemetery.

    There are a number of the Beeman clan in the cemetery. John Beeman is one of them, and his wife Mary, is another. He was born in 1830 and died in 1895; she was born in 1832 and passed to the Great Beyond in 1907.

    The cemetery is well kept and burials therein, while not numerous these days, are still being made.

S.F.

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