I have a Rev. War 3rd great-grandfather, Henry Russell buried in the Otterbein Cemetery in Chesterfield, Indiana. I was there in Oct. and met a cousin for the first time, also a descandent of Henry. My cousin said she heard the airport next to the cemetery wanted to buy the land. What a shame it would be if something would happen to this little pioneer cemetery. Below is the dedication speech for a plaque for Henry Russell. Bill Mason Renton, Wa. The Plaque dedication of Henry Russell at the Otterbein Cemetery Chesterfield, Indiana Talk by Edw. J. Ronsheim Sr. 4/22/1959 at dedication of plaque to Henry Russell as a Soldier of the Revolution. At Otterbein Cemetery in Chesterfield, Indiana As the last of the Delaware villages along White River were vacated the surveyors began their work. Even as David Hillis completed the survey of this area early in 1821 pioneer families were pushing through from the east. The first in Union Township was William Dilts who first set up a home on Mill Creek a mile to the east. That was in 1821 or shortly earlier Mr. Dilts, his wife and members of his family are buried only fifty feet from where you stand. Frederick Bronnenberg Sr., entered land to the north of us along White River adjacent to the site of Buck's Town. this on July 1, 1823. John Suman, Elizabeth Shimer and Amasa Makepence took land not far away. Daniel Noland came up from Wayne County where he had settled before the War of 1812. He took the 80 acres just west of the hedgerow on July 4, 1823. With him came his family, some married The frontier took it tool and on April 30, 1825---a few days less than 134 years ago-- Mary Wilson Noland died and was buried on this spot, the oldest known marked grave in the county. Daughters died and are buried near by. Then on Jan. 14, 1829. Daniel Noland died at 63 and is buried next to his wife. This part of the cemetery was the original Noland burying ground and is just inside the line of land entered by Brazelton Noland, youngest of the family, Dec. 13, 1824. To the south of us a hundred feet is the grave of Jason Hutson, first teacher in Union Twp., who married Daniel's grand-daughter. Another, Sarah Noland Tucker, lies a few feet north from us. Under the hedge to the north are the McClannahan graves, ancestors of Riley' signpainter friend. Many are the graves of the first settlers who rest within this plot which was deeded to the United Brethern church for a building and cemetery on July 29, 1843. Signing the deed were Brazelton and Nancy Russell Noland. East of the church site are other Noland graves which newer stones, these coming down from James Noland and Peggy Russell, ancestors of the big Adams Twp. family. Now let us turn out attention to the man being honored here today. Henry Russell. Who was he and why does he lie here among all these others. Henry was born in Charles County, Maryland, in 1754 coming, probably, from William Russole who was a landowner and active in colonial affairs before 1674. Henry was fourth generation in Maryland. Because three families were neighbors back as far as 1650 to 1675 and for two centuries more it is easy to follow the course of all. These families were the Russells, the Smallwoods and the Nolands. Through many marriages they became closely related Henry first appears on record taking the Oath of Fidelity in 1778 and then as he entered the army about Sept. 11, 1778, for three years. He was first in the 1st Maryland Regiment and if not transferred must have served in many of the colonies. That he replaced Benjamin Smallwood seems evident. Yorktown and the end of the war and the close of Henry's service came in 1781. A year later, back in Charles County, he married Chloe Smallwood, this on Nov. 10, 1782. in Port Tabacco Parish with Rev. George H. Worsley, rector performing the service. Chloe was the daughter of Benjamin. The census of 1790 shows Henry and his wife with five young children in Montgomery County, Maryland, adjacent to William Smallwood, his brother-in-law. By 1797 Henry had settled among the Nolands on Dutchman Creek in Rowan County, NC. The Nolands had moved well before the Revolution and before 1780 William Smallwood had rejoined all of them. This in now in Davie County. On Nov. 16, 1797, Henry purchased the only land he is known to have owned, fifty acres from the old Stephen Noland estate, Stephen, the father of Daniel here, also was a Soldier of the Revolution. Nancy Russell was born on the farm Nov. 7, 1801 with Zadock, the last child, being born there June 15, 1804, Chloe Russell never again appears on record and is believed to have died before Nov. 23, 1805, when Henry sold his land. About the time Henry sold his farm in Rowan County the Adams family, the William Smallwoods, Daniel Noland and many others were starting the long journey westward toward Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. Henry probably was with them. His older children were married. Some of the others remained in North Carolina for a time Henry Jr. who married Rebecca Garner ( her grave is right there.) did not come until after 1816 and died in Madison County in 1846. In 1830 old Henry was living with Brazelton and Nancy on this very land, a man never sick, quite tall and with raven black hair when he died suddenly with the start of winter in 1836. It would be easy to wander along the side trails of the past but we are here today to do honor to Henry Russell long years after such honor was due. In closing may we express on hope--that somehow, some way we will make certain that cemeteries such as this are recreated from stones hidden barely beneath the grass so that those people from the past will be with us as we face the future. Only by preserving history are we fit to make it. These people braved the dangers of the frontier to establish that which we now enjoy. Surely they earned from us a right to believe that the stones which mark their lives and deaths will be held a sacred trust and historical tie between the past, today and the future. Let us , as we honor Henry Russell, resolve to honor all those others who went before and built the foundations of a nation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------- > It is disheartening to hear about little cemeteries being destroyed, but > there are also happy tales. Several years ago I found an ancestor was > buried > on a corner of a farm in Brown County, OHIO. When I drove into the people's > driveway, the 10 year old son of the owner came out...and on questioning him > > about the grave, his chest puffed up...and he said, "I take care of Lizzie!" > > I'll show you where she is!" With his parents watching, he guided me to the > > spot, a small fenced in area with about six graves there. Two had standing > stones and the grass had been trimmed, the whole site in beautiful > condition. > I tried to give the boy a reward for his efforts...and he said, "No thank > you, ma'am. Lizzie's MINE to take care of!" > > Nikki >