Location and Driving Instructions To Some Ohio County Cemeteries
The legible headstones of those buried in Ohio County, Indiana have been
exhaustively recorded and listed in Ohio County Cemeteries by Dillon R. Dorrell,
Sr. As of this writing, an index of that book is nearing completion. The Road
Map of Ohio County will speed your travels and help avoid getting lost. All
three are available at:
Ohio County Historical Society
212 S. Walnut Street Rising Sun, IN 47040
812 438-4915
www.ohiocountyinmuseum.org
Sadly, despite the heroic efforts of Mr. Dorrell in the last half of the 20th
century to reclaim many old cemeteries from the ravages of time, the resting
places of many of the earliest settlers in the area have faded from view and
are forever lost. Many stones have crumbled with age. Some have been washed
away by the floodwaters of the Ohio or of Laughery Creek, and some were just in
the way of plows or "progress".
While the map and index of cemeteries between pages 64 and 65 of the book
give a general indication of cemetery locations, they aren’t always adequate for
those not familiar with the area to find their way. The following directions
will hopefully provide enough detail for visitors to find some of the restored
and most-visited Ohio County cemeteries. These hallowed places should be seen
while they are still available to us.
John S. Dorrell
Indianapolis
April 30, 2004
Bear Creek Cemetery
east side of Mexico Ridge Road about 50 yards from Laughery Creek
about 100 yards downstream from the Watts or Hart Cemetery
mostly washed away by floods over the last century
2 or 3 stones may remain near the creek bank
Birdzell or CarpenterCemetery
East side of Poor House Hill Road behind the first home south of Rohlfing Road
From Rising Sun, west on Main Street and straight ahead as it becomes Nelson
Road
Right on Poor House Hill Road about 2 miles to 7994
Distance from the Court House: about 4.4 miles
Cedar Hedge (newer) Cemetery
across the paved lane ("First Street") from Union Cemetery, at south end of
Downey Street
From "downtown" Rising Sun, west on Main Street to Downey Street
Left (south) on Downey Street to the cemetery
(Downey Street is 3 blocks west of the Courthouse at 600 Main Street)
Distance from Courthouse: .6 miles
Conner Cemetery
North side of Highway 56 between Dibble Road and Brown Road
From Rising Sun, south on Walnut (Highway 56) from Main Street
Right on Highway 56 where it turns west about 2.4 miles from Main Street
Distance from Main Street: About 6.8 miles
Cooper or Voris Cemetery
About 50 yards north of Aberdeen Road between Cutter Road and Mexico Ridge
Road
From Rising Sun, South on Walnut (Highway 56) from Main Street
Right on Highway 56 where it turns west about 2.4 miles from Main Street
Highway 56 to Aberdeen, approx. 9.5 miles from Main Street
Straight ahead on Aberdeen Road at the Stop sign to Bear Branch, approx. 5
miles
Continue west on Aberdeen Road from Bear Branch about 1.2 miles
Downey Cemetery
North side of South Fork Road, west of Downey Ridge Road
one quarter mile behind farm house on private land
From Hwy. 262 at Pate, south on Cass Union Road about 1 mile to Downey Ridge
Road
Right on Downey Ridge Road about 2 miles to South Fork Road
Left on South Fork Road about .4 miles
French Cemetery (only 1 stone remaining)
behind the house near the Obertate or Althoff Cemetery
German Cemetery
South side of Main Street, just outside Rising Sun
From "downtown" Rising Sun, west on Main Street, bear right as it leaves town
Distance from Courthouse: .5 miles
Gillispie Cemetery
South side of Aberdeen Road, about 1 mile west of Aberdeen
iron fence next to road
From Rising Sun, South on Walnut (Highway 56) from Main Street
Right on Highway 56 where it turns west about 2.4 miles from Main Street
Highway 56 to Aberdeen, approx. 9.5 miles from Main Street
Straight ahead on Aberdeen Road from the Stop sign about 1 mile
Lutheran Cemetery
East side of Milton Bear Branch Road at South Fork Road (southeast corner),
behind the church
From Rising Sun, South on Walnut (Highway 56) from Main Street
Right on Highway 56 where it turns west about 2.4 miles from Main Street
Highway 56 to Aberdeen, approx. 9.5 miles from Main Street
Straight ahead on Aberdeen Road at the Stop sign to Bear Branch, about 5 miles
Right on Milton Bear Branch Road to South Fork Road, about 1.2 miles
Marsh Lampkin Cemetery
East side of Cass Union Road, just south of Downey Ridge Road
From Hwy. 262 at Pate, south on Cass Union Road about 1.2 miles, just past
Downey Ridge Rd.
McCardle Cemetery
West side of Poor House Hill Road at 7016
From Rising Sun, west on Main Street and straight ahead as it becomes Nelson
Road
Right on Poor House Hill Road about 1 mile to 7016
Distance from the Court House: about 3.8 miles
Mt. Carmel or Stone Cemetery
From Rising Sun
South on Walnut (Highway 56) from Main Street
Right on Highway 56 where it turns west about 2.4 miles from Main Street
The cemetery is on the south side of Highway 56, 1.6 miles west of Stewart
Ridge Road
Distance from Main Street: About 7.6 miles
Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
North side of Highway 262, near Pate, between Woods Ridge Road and Salem
Ridge Road
From Rising Sun, west on 262 (Main Street) approx. 6.4 miles
From Highway 50 at Dillsboro, south on Highway 262 to Pate
The cemetery is on the left just beyond Pate and Woods Ridge Road
Murray Cemetery
East side of Cass Union Road just north of Highway 56 at Aberdeen
From Rising Sun, South on Walnut (Highway 56) from Main Street
Right on Highway 56 where it turns west about 2.4 miles from Main Street
Highway 56 to Aberdeen, approx. 9.5 miles from Main Street
Right on Cass Union Road at the Stop sign The cemetery is visible from the
road.
New Hope Cemetery
South side of New Hope Road, west of Short Cut Road, just east of Webster Road
From Rising Sun, South on Walnut (Highway 56) from Main Street
Right on Highway 56 where it turns west about 2.4 miles from Main Street
Highway 56 to Aberdeen, approx. 9.5 miles from Main Street
Right on Cass Union Road about 3.2 miles to New Hope Road
Left on New Hope Road about 2 miles
About .6 miles past Short Cut Road, to just after sharp left turn where road
turns sharp right
North Cemetery
Short distance west of Highway 156 on North Landing Road
From Rising Sun, South on Walnut (Highway 56) from Main Street
Highway 56 to North Landing Road (about 4 miles)
Right on North Landing Road to the cemetery (half in Ohio County, half in
Switzerland County)
Obertate or Althoff Cemetery
West side of Milton Bear Branch Road near Iceburg Road (southwest corner)
From Rising Sun, South on Walnut (Highway 56) from Main Street
Right on Highway 56 where it turns west about 2.4 miles from Main Street
Highway 56 to Aberdeen, approx. 9.5 miles from Main Street
Straight ahead on Aberdeen Road at the Stop sign to Bear Branch, about 5 miles
Right on Milton Bear Branch Road about .8 miles to just before Iceburg Road
Olive Branch Cemetery
at Olive Branch Church
east side of Milton Bear Branch Road, about .4 miles south of Aberdeen Road
From Rising Sun, South on Walnut (Highway 56) from Main Street
Right on Highway 56 where it turns west about 2.4 miles from Main Street
Highway 56 to Aberdeen, approx. 9.5 miles from Main Street
Straight ahead on Aberdeen Road at the Stop sign to Bear Branch, approx. 5
miles
Left on Milton Bear Branch Road about .4 miles
Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
East side of Pleasant Ridge Road at Salem Ridge Road
From Rising Sun, west on 262 (Main Street) approx. 4 miles to Pleasant Ridge
Road
Right on Pleasant Ridge Road to its junction with Salem Ridge Road, approx.
3.2 miles
Rising Sun ("new") Cemetery
North side of Highway 262, just outside Rising Sun
From "downtown" Rising Sun, west on Main Street, bear left as it leaves town
and becomes 262
Distance from Courthouse: .7 miles
Salem Cemetery
Salem Ridge Road, northwest of Rising Sun
West on Fifth Street from High St. (Highway 56) in Rising Sun
Fifth Street curves to the right and becomes Salem Ridge Road
Salem Cemetery is on the left, behind the red brick church, just past
Thuermer Hollow Road
Distance from Fifth and High Streets: about 4.4 miles
Union ("Old Cedar Hedge") Cemetery
South end of Downey Street behind the school
From "downtown" Rising Sun, west on Main Street to Downey Street
Left (south) on Downey Street to the cemetery
Downey Street is 3 blocks west of the Courthouse at 600 Main Street
Distance from Courthouse: .4 miles
Watts or Hart Cemetery
east side of Mexico Ridge Road as it approaches Laughery Creek
stone wall and several trees, one quarter mile down a lane from the road
From Bear Branch, west on Aberdeen Road to Mexico Ridge Road
Right on Mexico Ridge Road about 4.4 miles to just south of Laughery Creek