W. P. A. Cemetery Survey - Cromley Cemetery, Defiance Township

The Works Progress Administration was formed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in reaction to the Great Depression as a means of employing Americans and stimulating the economy.  Established in 1935, one of the projects of the W.P.A. was to conduct Historical Records Surveys, one of which included finding information on cemeteries and the graves of veterans.  The W.P.A. was disbanded in 1943, but the historical information provided on these surveys continue to be of interest and are, thankfully, preserved.

In this series, some of the general surveys of Defiance County cemeteries will be shared, transcribed as written with a few punctuation and/or spelling changes for readability.  The surveys were probably done around 1936.
For more up to date information on the cemeteries, check out this chart on our website:
 http://defiancecountygenealogy.org/cemeteries.html

Cromley Cemetery

1. Name of cemetery:

The Cromley Graveyard, so named from the people who owned the farm on which it stands.

2. Location, how reached:

Four and one half miles south of Defiance, Ohio on state route #111 and on the west bank of the Auglaize River, just above the power dam.

3. Name and address of caretaker:

George Newton, R.R. #5, Defiance, Ohio

Photo from www.findagrave.com

4. General description, size, appearance, etc.:

Placed on the bank of the Auglaize River overlooking the wide expanse of this river here made by the Toledo Edison Company's power dam across a river a quarter of a mile below.  The river bank has here been reinforced with concrete because it was fast washing the graveyard away; in fact, many of the older graves had to be moved to other places some years ago.

The plot contains today about an acre of ground, is fenced in and runs directly up to the road.  At the south side of the cemetery is the Cromley rural grade school.  At one time, across the road from this graveyard, there was a Methodist Church.  The graveyard was started by the congregation of this church; later the church was torn down and the graveyard became undenominational.

It hasn't any very fine markers, most of them being quite small and the old style pedestal kind.  There are three red granite markers of the heavy type in the graveyard and these are not so large.  

The grounds are well wooded and trees, however, are small. Evergreen shrubbery is profusiously scattered around the yard and is much overgrown.  Although supported by the township trustees of Defiance township, it does not seem to get much care.

5. Name and date of first burial recorded:

William Whitcomb, 1854 - 1869, is the oldest stone to be found in the cemetery today, but it dates back before the Civil War.  Other graves that were older and on the "point" were moved away after the Dam was built here across the river. 

6. Names of important persons buried there:

In importance, the Newton family plots the best known, the Newtons at one time being the greatest Dairy farmers in the county and had milk routes from door to door through Defiance City.  

 

William Newton, 1822 - 1872 (www.findagrave.com)

Then Charley Schooley, an old carnival man is buried here; he died in 1919 and was well known in all northwestern Ohio especially by horse traders and county fair people.

Photo from www.findagrave.com

7. Markers of unusual appearance:

None

8. Unusual epitaphs: 

None 

9. Is cemetery used for new burials?

The graveyard is still used by older people - several lots are still open.

Topic #624

Defiance County

District #13

Cemeteries

C. Cadwallader and C. Gish, Reporters

Consultant: Mr. Ray Karr, Harrison Street, Defiance, Ohio