A HISTORY OF BELPRE, WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO By: C. E. Dickinson, D. D. Formerly Pastor of Congregational Church (Author of the History of the First Congregational Church Marietta, Ohio) Copyrighted in 1920 - Pgs.189-193 BURIAL OF THE DEAD The first death in Belpre was that of Captain Zebulon KING who was murdered by Indians May 1st, 1789 while clearing the land on his claim. The place of his burial is unknown. It is probable that his body and those of several others who died during the first decade were buried in private grounds. A cemetery was laid out very early on the bluff a little below the site of the first log meeting house, and this was about half a mile above Farmers Castle it seems probable it was not laid out until after the Indian War. Here are graves of most of the first settlers although a part of the original ground has been carried away by the river. The following inscriptions from the old cemetery were obtained by E. B. DANA for A. T. NYE, Esq., previous to 1881. 1. Over (or near?) this spot were buried Capt. KING, Jonas DAVIS, Mrs. ARMSTRONG and her three children, all of whom were massacred by the Indians in this vicinity. Mrs. Armstrong and her children on the Virginia shore, during the years 1791-5. This stone is erected to rescue their names and fate from oblivion. Erected by George DANA, 1836. 2. To the memory of Col. Daniel BENT a native of Mass, who died April 4, 1848. Aged 74 years. Mary, wife of Col. Daniel BENT died June 10, 1851 in the 84th year of her age. 3. Jonathan STONE, who departed this life March 24, 1801, in the 60th year of his age. A Captain and an active officer in the American Revolutionary War, one of the first settlers of this town. An affectionate husband, a tender parent, beloved and respected by all who know him. 4. Captain William DANA, a revolutionary soldier, born in Massachusetts, emigrated to the west in 1788, and settled in Belpre. Died in 1809 aged 69 years. Captain DANA spent a part of the first year in Marietta, went to Belpre in 1789. Mary, wife of Captain William DANA, a native of Massachusetts died in 1852, aged 79 years. 5. In memory of William BROWNING a native of Massachusetts whence he emigrated to the then western wilderness in 1789. He lived to behold, and contributed in causing these valleys to give place to the arts and comforts of civilized life. Died August 1825 aged 56. In memory of Abigail BROWNING, wife of William BROWNING and daughter of General Rufus PUTNAM, who departed this life February 24, 1803, aged 35. In memory of Mary BROWNING, wife of William BROWNING, Esq., formerly wife of Peregrene FOSTER, Esq., who died September 1825, aged 65 years. 6. Persis HOWE, wife of Perley HOWE, and daughter of Rufus PUTNAM (Whose dust lies hear) died Sept. A. D. 1822 aged 55 years. 7. In memory of Jonathan HASKELL, a native of Massachusetts, who departed this life December 6, 1810 in the 62nd year of his age. 8. In memory of Daniel LORING, who died 31st July 1825, aged 73 years. In memory of Mrs. Lucy LORING consort of Daniel LORING, Esq., who died 8th of September, aged 75 years. 9. In memory of Major Robert BRADFORD who died September 11, 1822 in the 72nd year of his age, was a revolutionary officer and one of the first settlers of this county. Captain and Mrs. Benjamin MILES were buried in this cemetery but their graves could not be found. REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS The complete list of officers and soldiers of the Revolution buried in Belpre so far as known is as follows: 1. Captain William DANA of Charleston or Worcester Mass. 2. Major Jonathan HASKELL born in Massachusetts. Commissioned Major in the regular service. Stationed at Marietta 1791. Died 1810 aged 62 years. 3. Colonel Nathaniel CUSHING; born near Boston, Mass. 4. Colonel Israel PUTNAM, born Salem, Mass. Served in regiment with is father General Israel PUTNAM. 5. Captain Jonathan STONE. Born Braintree, Mass. Served in Northern army under Gen. Rufus PUTNAM and General GATES. 6. Colonel Alexander OLIVER of Massachusetts. 7. Colonel Daniel BENT of Massachusetts. 8. Sherafiah FLETCHER, soldier, Lowell, Mass. 9. Major Oliver RICE, Massachusetts. 10. Captain Benjamin MILES, Rutland, Mass. 11. Major Robert BRADFORD, Plymouth, Mass. Lineal descendant of Governor BRADFORD. 12. Captain Zebulon KING of Rhode Island, killed by Indians in 1789. (old cemetery.) 13. Pregrene FOSTER from Rhode Island. 14. Noah SPAREHAWK These men were not only among the heroes who, by their sacrifices, gave us the best country in the world, they were the pioneers of our favored town of Belpre. They deserve to be honored by their successors to the latest time. The citizens of Belpre should secure the old cemetery from all encroachments by a strong and durable fence and the ground should be kept in such order that when the sons and daughters of Belpre shall visit their old homes they may not only walk among the graves of the honored dead but may also tell their friends how faithfully the memory of these heroes is kept fresh by the care of their resting place. The first deaths in the Lower Settlement (Newbury) were Mrs. BROWN and child and Persia DUNHAM murdered by Indians who were buried on the farm of Truman GUTHRIE near the river. Burials were made near this spot until about 1825 when this cemetery was abandoned on account of occasional floods and another opened on higher ground near the school house. In 1871 the tomb stones wee removed from the old cemetery and a marble monument was erected bearing this inscription. "Anthony SPACHT and wife Catharine, Hannah, wife of Joseph GUTURIE, STRATTON, LEAVENS, BLISS, DUNHAM, one woman and two children killed by Indians; these and some names not now remembered died and were buried on this spot between 12790 and 1810. Erected by some of their descendants as a token of their memory. Erected in 1871" There is a small neighborhood cemetery about one and one-half miles north of Porterfield station, used by families in the vicinity. The principal cemetery, now used by nearly the whole township, is known as the Rockland cemetery. this was laid out about 1821 and the old brick meeting house stood within its bounds. After the organization of the Center Belpre Church this building fell to them and after the erection of their house at Porterfield the old brick was demolished. It is quite generally conceded that this was a mistake for a chapel is needed in every considerable cemetery where services may be held for strangers and for bodies brought from a distance, and the old building was well adapted in size and locality for that purpose. It has been suggested by some of our citizens that a chapel should be erected in the Cemetery to be used when needed. If the citizens should decide to build such chapel we will take the liberty to suggest that it be erected as near the site of this old building as possible and architecturally be duplicate of the Chapel built here in 1821. This cemetery was considerably enlarged in 1895, and in the nature of things the graves are constantly increasing in number. A few revolutionary soldiers are buried here and a large number of soldiers of our civil war. The beautiful and patriotic services of decorating the graves of soldiers with flowers on May 30 is still performed and this festival has been adopted by many who make it an occasion for decorating graves of their friends. One of our best loved American poets wrote: "All that tread the globe are but a handful to the tribes that slumber in its bosom." The number of those whose mortal bodies have been deposited in Belpre Cemetery is even now larger than that of those who occupy our homes and the former citizens who shall return to this home town after absence of a score of years will find more familiar names on tombstones than familiar faces among those they meet. It is a privilege as well as duty of those who are alive to keep the place of the dead beautiful, and attractive, and it is a satisfaction to us while living to know that those who follow us will continue to honor the memory of the dead.