In a message dated 8/20/00 9:25:03 AM US Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: << [email protected] >> Dear Julia, I found more information for you. It came from the book called, "History and Families 1836-1990 Brown County, Indiana". Compiled by the Brown County Historical Society in 1991. Sandra Mathis Gaither Brown County, Indiana MT. ZION CHURCH AND CEMETERY The earliest burial listed for Mt. Zion Cemetery in the book, Brown County Indiana Cemeteries, by Helen and Kenneth Reeve is Sary (Sarah Allen) Matney wife of Clement Matney. She died in 1834 and he died in 1838. A total of 566 burials were identified with 124 family names represented. Those with the most numerous burials are Browns (32), Ayers (29), Hurley (27), Hedrick (19), Moore and Skinner (16 each), Reed (14), Freese, Noblit, Bradley, and Shepherd (13 each), Williamson (12), Deaver (11), and Tipton and Whitehorn with (10 each). The earliest land transaction occured in 1868 when the Trustees of the Christian Church of the New Light Order, William Roush, James Williamson and William Tipton, purchased 130 sq. rds. of land from Jonathan and Catherine McKain for $10. A log church was first built and in 1876 a frame church was built. This building was still being used for funerals in the 1930's, but became unsafe and was removed in 1986. Trustees of the Mt. Zion Christian Chruch from 1898 to 1935 were James Reed, Sr. which he died 1914, David P. Noblitt and Winfield Noblitt. 1935 court records show also that William Reed, Samuel Anthony and James Brown were Trustees and others followed even though the Chruch was inactive. A shelter has been constructed where the church stood. Other families involved in the sale or gift of land to make up the present cemetery were Newmister, Hurley, Ralphy and Deaver. On March 19, 1936, L.J. Deaver and Elizabeth Deaver his wife Released and Quit Claimed the southern portion of the cemetery which lies in Section 22. On October 10, 1975, Bob Allen Brown County Surveyor, surveyed the portion of Mt. Zion Cemetery that lies in Section 15 between State Road 135 and the old raod on the East side of the Cemetery. Until 1973 the Mt. Zion Cemetery was "looked after" by various interested parties. Cloyd Anthony, son of George Anthony, recalls "that neighbors volunteered to help clean the cemetery at least once every year, always in late May, just prior to Memorial Day. Each family cared for the graves of their own family. Then most folk would help cut weeds, etc in acres where on one accepted responsibility. I have seen as many as 20 people working the same day." In 1973, Maxine Ayers Melton, as president of the Mt. Zion Cemetery Association, with the assistanc eof Warren Ogle, filed Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State. Other officers listed were G. Scott Ayers, Vice President and Esther Settle, Secretary/Treasurer. In addition to the officers, Rex Bond and Lawrence Strahl also served as Directors. The current officers are Maxine Melton, President, Plessie Hamblen, Vice President, John W. Hamblen, Secretary, Esther Settle, Treasurer, and Bob Settle, Sexton. Other recent active members include Lawrence Strahl, Jim Wilkerson, Marge Craver, Lenore Ayers, Ollie Kritzer, Thelma Carmichael, Tressa Ayers, Burnell Hedrick, Virgil Hedrick and Dale Strahl. Association policy is not to charge for burial lots but to encourage those who want lots to contribute to the Perpetual Care Fund. In 1989, 43 new lots were staked out in the front part of the Cemetery. There are two ZION Cemeteries 1.) ZION CHURCH CEMETERY, located in Hamblen Township, Brown County, IN 2.) MT. ZION CEMETERY, Located in Van Buren Township, Brown County, IN ZION CHURH CEMETERY Alternate Name: MT. ZION CEMETERY (causing some confusion in public records with Mt. Zion Cemetery in Van Buren Township) Recorded: July 28, 1973 Location: Section 25; Township 10 North; Range 3 East One half mile north from south end of Three Notch Road, on the east side of that road. There are a number of unmarded graves and some marked only by uninscribed stones. MT. ZION CEMETERY Recorded: December 1, 1971. Undated through 1975 Location: Southwest corner of Section 15; and Northwest corner of Section 22; Township 8 North; Range 3 East. Situated on a hill on the east side of, and adjacent to, State Road 135, it is 2 miles southwest of Stone Head and 2-1/4 miles northeast of Story. One of Van Buren Township's largest and oldest cemeteries with many unmarked graves and graves marked by fieldstone. A frame chuch, now abandoned (1976), stands at the top of the hill with the cemetery adjacent on the south and west. The church bears the sign "Mt. Zion New Light Church - Since 1878" An earlier log church burned.