W. P. A. Cemetery Survey - Hill Cemetery, Delaware 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

Hill Cemetery

Delaware Township 

1. Name of Cemetery:

The Hill Cemetery, Delaware Township, so named because most of the persons buried in it are named Hill.

2. Location, how reached:

On the bank of the Maumee River, five miles west of the city of Defiance, Ohio, and half a mile or more just northof Route U.S. #24, a blind end road leads back to this graveyard and the river from the main highway.  It is a at the eastern start of the horse-shoe bend in the river.  This graveyard is not very well known.

3. Name and address of caretaker:

A. J. McFeeters, Sherwood, Ohio 

Photo from www.findagrave.com

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

This graveyard is kept up by the trustees of Delaware Township.  It is fenced in with plain wire and has a wooden gate kept locked.  The grounds have not been well kept up this year, are weed grown and much brush has piled up in it.  It sets on a hill back in a field about a hundred feet from the river bank and contains about half an acre of ground, which is well wooded with walnut and pine trees.  It is not a church cemetery and is controlled by the trustees of the township.  It never was much used.  There are only twenty five marked graves in it.

6. Name and date of first burial recorded:

George Mast, a seven year old boy, buried in 1859, is the oldest marker in the graveyard.

7. Names of important persons buried there:

Two old Civil War veterans, one named Hill and the other Duck, seem to be the only persons of any note buried there.

George Duck, veteran - www.findagrave.com

7. Markers of unusual appearance:

The markers are mostly all old white slabs, although in the last ten years, the Hills have erected two modern granite markers to their family.

8. Unusual epitaphs:  None

9. Is cemetery used for new burials?  Yes.

C. Cadwallader and C. Gish, Reporters

Consultants:

Mrs. L. C. Kretzer, R. R. #7, Defiance, Ohio

Mr. A. J. McFeeters, Sherwood, Ohio

 

W. P. A. Cemetery Survey - Hill Cemetery, Highland 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

Hill Cemetery

Highland Township

1. Name of cemetery:

The Hill Graveyard, so named for two reasons: first, it sets on top of a sand mound with valleys on every side and second, it is on the Hill farm and the first man buried in it was named Hill.  Also, in the beginning, it was the private burial grounds of the Hills.

2. Location, how reached:

The Hill Cemetery is in section 10, Highland Township, Defiance County, one mile south and one half mile east of Ayresville Village on a sand road and in a very picturesque spot.

3. Name and address of caretaker:

George Berringer, R. R. #6, Defiance, Ohio

Photo from www.findagrave.com

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

The Hill Cemetery sets of top of a sand knoll, overlooking a fertile farming region.  At one time, by the site of the graveyard was a church which was torn down a few years ago.  The graveyard is not kept up as well as it might be, weeds and grass being high.  The caretaker only gets paid for one day a month or when a grave has to be dug.  It is shaded with numerous large trees of cedar and sycamore.  It is fenced along the road.  It is undenominational at the present time, formerly was the Methoist Cemetery, but now kept up by the trustees of Highland Township.  There is two acres in the ground. 

5.Name and date of first burial recorded:

Jane Hill, wife of Harvey Hill, is the first person buried here.  She died in 1852 and a large pedestal marker of gray granite is erected to her memory.

Jane Hill - www.findagrave.com

6. Names of important persons buried there:

 Early pioneer settlers of Highland Township are the most important people.  This graveyard was started sometime after the Ayresville graveyard, north of Ayresville. People, however, of the same families seem to be buried here as at Ayresville. 

Harvey Hill, the greatest man and the great ancestor of the Hills now living in Highland Township, is the most foremost citizen buried here.  

Harvey J Hill - www.findagrave.com

Also John K. Myers, Justice of the Peace of Highland Township for 40 years and well known throughout Defiance County, is buried here.

Also John M. Myers, a cousin of the last named Myers and Master of Ceremonies of the G.A.R. Bishop Post of Defiance County for 20 years.  He died in 1919, is buried here.

This is the first graveyard found so far in which colored persons are buried.

Charles Mumford, a southern slave who migrated to Highland Township during the Civil War and owned a farm and raised a family.  The only living relative of his now in Defiance County is Bell Hitower (Hightower), who lives near here.

William Mumford (born 1818) - www.findagrave.com

Other important personages are the Fulmers, Blanchards and Dunlaps.

7. Markers of unusual appearance:

The highest marker is that of Harvey and Jane Hill which stands at the entrance gate.  It is of gray granite and of the pillar type, with a Doric capital on top of it.  The finest and most modern marker is a heavy, red granite one about five feet high, three feet wide and a foot and one half thick, with three carved logs on top of it.  This belongs to the Dunlaps.

Dunlap stone - www.findagrave.com

 

8. Unusual epitaphs:  None

9. Is cemetery used for new burials?
This cemetery is now used; however, no new lots are being sold or laid out in it.  It is only for the people who have relatives buried there.

C. Cadwallader and Charles Gish, Reporters