Sylvan Cemetery TALES THE TOMBSTONES TELL

Tales The Tombstones Tell - Republican Observer - November 13, 1958

                  Sylvan Cemetery

    It was springtime 1853 when William Ogden and E. B. Tenney took up residence in what is now the town of Sylvan and they became the first white settlers of that township. Mr. Ogden settled on section 18 and lived there for years and years. Mr. Tenney also settled on section 18 but some years later moved to Kansas. Mr. 0gden now rests in the Sylvan cemetery which is not far distant from where he took up his home back in 1853.
    The Sylvan cemetery is quite an old one and adjoins the church. It is a well kept burying ground and a new wire fence has been installed. Many of the pioneers and members of their families are buried here along with members of their families and other relatives. One cannot help but notice the large number of fine monuments and markers which have been erected there. Perhaps no other cemetery of its size in the county has so many granite memorials as this one. Burials are not so frequent these days, perhaps eight or ten a year.
    Scattered throughout this cemetery are monuments bearing the names of well known people such as Johnson, Orsburn, Ewing, Felton, Thomas, Grim, Adkins, Bennett, Fowell, Hoke, Hartley, Van Fleet and Fetty are just a few. Then there are others Koch, Sandmire, Elder, McAfee, Sutherland, Kepler, Higgins, Hall, Heal, Buroker, McMillin and Burns.

    Ogden first white settler of the town of Sylvan, is buried near the west fence. Surrounding him are his wife and members of their family. Mr. Ogden was born in New York state in 1822. In 1837 he enlisted in regular army and served until 1841 when he was discharged. He moved to Michigan, then to Wisconsin and came to Richland county in 1853. In 1842 he was married to Minerva Lyon, who died in 1863, and later be married Abigale Briggs, a native of New York state. Mr. Ogden served as a member of the regular army as mentioned above. He must have enjoyed the life of a soldier for on Sept. 23, 1861, he enlisted in Co. L 25th Infantry, and was promoted to corporal. He was discharged in 1862 and in 1865 re-enlisted in the 46th Infantry, serving until the close of the war. He lived to a ripe old age, passing away March 7, 1905, at the age of 83. On his marker is a line which reads,
            "Earth has no sorrows that Heaven cannot heal."
    His wife Abigail, died May 10, 1914, at the age of 72. There is a school house near the cemetery named the Ogden school.

    A World War II soldier boy, Van Buren Bailey, is buried here. His marker says, he was "Tec. 5, Medical Detention, 15th Inft. Regiment." He was born Sept. 3, 1913, and died August 10, 1956.
    John Dary, also a Civil War veteran, is here. He was a member of Co. D 11th Wisconsin Infantry. This company was made up of many Richland county boys. Mr. Dary, his record shows, enlisted Feb. 20, 1864, giving his address as the town of Rockbridge. He was wounded at Fort Blakely and mustered out Sept. 4, 1865. Mr. Dary was born in 1832 and died in 1922. His wife, Margaret, was born in 1833 and died in 1909 at the age of 76.
    Another Civil War veteran, William Searls is here. He was a member of Co. B 92nd Regt., Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was born in 1832 and died in 1910. His wife's given name was Electa, who was born in 1838 and died in 1907.
    Madison Henthorn, born in 1842, and his wife Marerett, also born in 1842, are buried here. They were among the members of the Henthorn family, well known and highly respected citizens of Sylvan, who did a great deal in helping develop that part of Richland county.
    Everett Lee Hall, soldier boy, Cpl. 353 Kansas Infantry 89tb Division, World War I, died February 25, 1939, his marker says.
    E.0. Ewing and his wife Mary, have a space in this burying ground. He was born in 1854 and died in 1922, while Mrs. Ewing was born in 1865 and died in 1885. On the marker it says:
            "Deceive not lest ye be not deceived,
            for God is not mocked."
     William Fowell, born in 1829 and died in 1901, and his wife, Rebecca, born in 1834 and died in 1907, have markers as does John and Mary Porter, long honored citizens of Sylvan. Mr. Porter was born in 1837 and died in 1918. Mrs. Porter was born in 1839 and passed on in 1914.
    Clarence Burns Jr., Pfc., 603 AAA, AW Bn., World War II, is another service man who rests beneath the sod here. Clarence was born November 9, 1928 and died March 3, 1952.
    Delbert Scott Burns, World War veteran, a corporal of the U. S. Marine corps, was born March 2, 1930, and died March 3, 1952, one day after his birthday. You will note from this that the Sylvan cemetery contains many Civil and World War veterans. Pearl P. Buroker is a World War I veteran, a private in 20 Co. Discharge Det. He was born August 2, 1893, and died February 3, 1953.
    William Henthorn, born in 1837 and died in 1912, is a Civil War veteran. His wife, Louisa, was born in 1845 and passed on in 1906. Thomas Pierce, who belonged to a Minnesota Unit in World War was a Pfc. Btry. B 77 AAA, Gen. Bn., was born March 31, 1932, and died August 1, 1956.
    Another Civil War veteran, who at one time lived in Richland Center, was Edgar Ward, a member of Co. B 33 Regt. He enlisted from Boscobel December 10, 1863, and transferred to Co. B llth Infantry, and was mustered out July 22, 1865. Mr. Ward was handicapped in his later years by being blind. His wife, who before her marriage was Rosanna McCord, was born in 1834 and died in 1888. Mr. Ward was born in 1837 and passed away in 1915. On the marker for Mrs. Ward it reads: "Mourn not for me."
    One cannot help but note the names of the honored dead that appear upon the stones. For instance McDowell, McCumber, Eckhardt, Babb, Walker, Thayer, Wallace, Deckert, Hocking, Glick, and many more.
    Numbered among the Civil War veterans is Albert Savage, born in 1843 and died in 1929. He was a member of Co. I, 12th Wis. Infantry, enlisted from Sylvan August 14, 1862, and served until May 31, 1965, when he was mustered out. Many Richland county men were members of this company; Hartwell Turner of Viola, was the captain. Mrs. Savage was born in 1851 and died in 1897.
    Another Civil War veteran is Allen Wheeler, born in 1840, and died in 1924. On his marker it says he was "A friend to all." His wife, Isabella, born in 1845, died in 1925, has this upon her marker: "She lived for others." Close by is a marker for one of a later generation, Jannine R. Wheeler, born July 26, 1925, and died a few years later. On her marker is a part of a well known prayer which reads: "I pray the Lord my soul to keep."
    Charles H. Hebard Sr., and Charles Hebard, Jr., are buried side by side. Charles Sr. was a preacher, born in 1850 and died in 1935. Charles Jr., was born in 1917 and died in 1954.
    The Eckhardt family were long time residents of the town of Sylvan. One of these, John Eckhardt, and his wife Elizabeth, are here. The marker upon Mr. Eckhardt's grave says he was born in 1821 in Hermanstein, Germany, came to America in 1854, married Elizabeth Hillberry August 29, 1859, and died October 31, 1900.
    A "down east" man, Jeremiah Freeman, has a marker which gives but little information merely stating that he was "born in Maine, died March 3, 1883, aged 70."
    William Fish has a GAR marker on his grave so he is another Boy in Blue buried in this high ridge cemetery. He was 72 years, eight months and four days of age when he passed on in 1907. Betsey, his wife was 60 when the final call came.
    Arthur Fish and his wife Alice, are among the numbered dead. They lived to celebrate their 60th    wedding anniversary. Arthur was born in 1865 and died in l957. His wife first saw the light of day in 1867 and her passing was in 1956.
    Glen F. Jones, Cpl. Co. H, 39th Infantry, World War II, is numbered among the soldiers to be laid away here. His marker says he was born March 11, 1895, and died September 14, 1956.
     Henry Mathews was born February 2, 1821, which would make him 146 had he lived until 1957, but he died January 16, 1881, at the age of 59. His wife is not given a full name upon the tombstone which marks their graves, it only says:
            "S.J., his wife, 1842, 1911, aged 69."

    Judson Cook, Civil War veteran, has two flags engraved upon his tombstone. Mr. Cook was a member of Co. D 11th Wis. Infantry. Mr. Cook, "Jud", as he was called by his many friends, was a member of one of the early pioneers families of Sylvan. He was born in Grant county May 30, 1845. His parents came from the east in 1831 and passed through Chicago in a covered wagon when the place was but a village and Lancaster had but two or three log houses. Mr. Cook's father became the first sheriff of Grant county. The family came to Richland county and here they spent the remainder of their days. "Jud" was the eldest of the family of seven. When he was 16 he enlisted in the army in 1861 and served until the fall of 1865. In 1866 he married Alma Dean, a daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Luke Dean. She was born in 1846 and died in 1938. Mr. Cook passed on in 1928.
    As stated in the beginning of this story that numerous Boys in Blue sleep in this cemetery, we can now take note of the truth of that statement. Michael S. McMillin is to be counted as a Civil War veteran. He was a member of Co. D, 6th Infantry. He enlisted March 20, 1865, giving his residence as Clayton, Crawford county. Mr. McMillin was born in 1831 and passed away in 1892. Near him are laid to rest other members of his family.

    The Henthorn family, or rather, members of it, are here with friends. Members of the family became widely known as good citizens. One of these William, who was born in Ohio in 1837, came with his parents to Sylvan in 1864. He engaged in business at Sylvan Corners as a storekeeper and also served as postmaster at the "Corners" for quite a number of years. This post office was established in 1856 but no mail was received for over a year. Asahel Savage was the postmaster at the beginning but he resigned and D. E. Clingensmith took over the job, and a letter came now and then. William Henthorn was appointed and kept the office at his store.

    Another family to become prominent in early day affairs of the township was the Grim family, a number of whom are buried in this cemetery. Nathaniel Grim was one of the pioneer settlers. He was born in Ohio in 1826. In 1856 he came to Sylvan. In 1850 he married Sarah Allen. Mr. Grim was also a Civil War veteran, a member of the llth Wisconsin Infantry. He represented the town of Sylvan on the county board and held other offices of trust.

    Calvin Hall has a marker in the cemetery as do members of his family. He was a native of the Buckeye state, born in Monroe county, Ohio, in 1842. He too, served in the Civil War with the 36th Ohio regiment. Taken prisoner during a battle he spent eight months in a rebel prison. He was married to Mary Barrett in 1865.
    Among the prominent and well known families of Sylvan were the Glicks. They were not perhaps among the earliest of the settlers but came later on. Minor Glick was storekeeper at Sylvan Corners for a long period and a sign above the door proclaims that he is still on the job.
    It is quite difficult to write in detail of all the pioneers that are buried in any cemetery. There are so many of them in the Sylvan burying ground that to make more than a brief mention would fill several columns of a newspaper and we can only do the best we can with the facts at hand.

S. F.

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