INPCRP-L Archives

From: "debra dougherty" <>
Subject: [INPCRP] Wells Cemetery in Daviess County, Indiana
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 10:41:14 -0500

Dear List Members,

I just started researching a small pioneer family cemetery known as Wells cemetery here in Daviess county, Indiana. I can't answer any of those hard questions about title and taxes yet. But I did happen across a post on the Wells surname message board that mentioned a letter written in 1923 about this cemetery from one descendant to another. Charlie Wells, who has the original, has generously provided me with a copy and granted me permission to share this excerpt with you. This beautiful letter was written by John McGauhy (1853-1931), and he is buried in Wells cemetery. His words were very inspirational to me, and I thought you might enjoy them too.

John McGauhy in 1923 wrote:

"....{ I } will assume that you have a sentimental interest in protecting this little spot of earth where the ashes of those who were near and dear to us repose and will give you somewhat in detail the history of its origin: as a place of burial - I have not visited it for many years - One hot summer day not long after I purchased my farm, your father and I went over to it. Elisha and Oscar were with us. Frank still resided on his farm. We looked all around over the neglected graves and sat down to rest under the shade of that Sycamore that has within my recollection grown to be a might tree. At that time I had no doubt but Frank, who was naturally a sentimental man, when he came to die, would crave to sleep among his ancestors. Lish, however, was a man if he had any sentiment, I never discovered it, for he had such a poor way of showing it. In our talk, Lish said: "The thing that ought to be done", was "to remove all the grave stones put them away-" (he did not say!
where) - "grub out and clear off the ground and let it be a part of the cultivated farm!" Frank's reply was not responsive quite but in the light of subsequent events was to say the least significant. He said: "Yes that would be as well as not: only the looks of the thing!" To my mind the very idea of such a sequence was shocking. I have long believed that those who soon forget the dead - who fail to keep green their graves - soon learn to neglect and care for the living. That our sorrow for the dead should be and ever be as Irving has said "a sorrow from which we refuse to be divorced". From that time forward, for two or 3 years, so long as I lived at Washington (Indiana) I exerted myself to make some kind of arrangements that would culminate in getting it incorporated so that it might be saved from desecration and the ploughs lare."

Debra Dougherty
Plainville, IN

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• [INPCRP] Wells Cemetery in Daviess County, Indiana by "debra dougherty" <>