August 14, 2004 article from the Elwood Call -Leader
"Special Attention Paid to One of Area's Oldest Cemeteries" by Mike
Retherford
Frazier/Carr/ Duck Creek Cemetery, Pipe Creek Township, Madison Co. IN
By MIKE RETHERFORD
As crews continue to create what will soon become the new nine holes at the Cattails Golf
Course, owners Jeff and Brad Mays are paying special attention to one area of the property
that few even know exists.
Located just south of Madison Road and tucked away behind a row of trees, lies one of the
area�s oldest cemeteries. The Duck Creek Cemetery dates back to at least 1849, when Jacob
Tranbarger was buried at the age of 46. Tranbarger is likely the first to be buried in the
cemetery as it once carried the name Tranbarger Cemetery. Since then, however, the
cemetery has also been known by other names including Frazier Farm, Ray, and Carr
Cemetery.
The area was not officially deeded as a cemetery until 1863 when it was set aside as a
burying ground by John and Phebe Ray. The last person buried in the cemetery is believed
to be Henry Hanshew, who died Aug. 20, 1900.
Of the stones that can still be read, most are of individuals who died before the age of
40. The oldest person appears to be Emily W. Benedict, who died three months prior to her
85th birthday.
Although the cemetery is located on the property purchased for the golf course, the owners
have no intentions to do anything but improve the area. According to Brad Mays, workers
have already began clearing out overgrown trees and weeds from the area.
In the end, the cemetery will be surrounded by a new fence and will be more accessible to
the public than it ever has been. Mays stated that the plans include a cart path from
Madison Road back to the cemetery, which will allow for individuals to walk back to the
historic site.
Currently the only access to the cemetery requires traveling off-road through a rugged
field.
The lack of access, however, has not stopped the individuals from getting back to the
cemetery. In fact, the area has been the site of numerous local legends over the years,
prompting teens to investigate the area. Unfortunately, not everyone has entered the
cemetery with good intentions, as many of the stones have been knocked over, broken, or
stolen by vandals. Other stones have been found along the creek, which borders the
cemetery. Mays said that those stones will be relocated to the cemetery.
The responsibility of maintaining abandoned cemeteries falls on the township trustee. Pipe
Creek township trustee Pearl Gardner stated that the Duck Creek cemetery, along with seven
other abandoned cemeteries, are mowed when needed. ��Whenever stones are knocked over we
try and get them reset. It is really too bad that we can�t read more of the stones,�
Gardner said. She added that the better public access to the cemetery and addition of the
golf course will keep the cemetery safer and less likely to be vandalized. She also noted
that a new marker will be placed at the road and the golf course developers have discussed
having a small parking area just off of Madison Road.
The nine hole addition to the course is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2005.
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