Nihizer Cemetery

Nihizer Cemetery

transcription and photo's compiled by David Thomas November 2003

This is a transcription of the stones that remain visible at Nihizer Cemetery. In speaking with a landowner who borders the cemetery he clearly remembers around 20 or so headstones being visible years ago. The impression is that most have fallen down on their own over the years or been knocked over by roaming cows. David plans a trip back in the spring to probe the ground a bit in order to locate these missing stones. David also included pictures of all the stones still visible. While at the cemetery he found his wife's Great Great Grandfather & Grandmother Stephen & Sarah Nihiser buried there and their headstone is one of those still fully erect.

Notes from David: My wife and I took another drive down there on 11/22/2003 and took a better look around. We found the cemetery and with the property owners permission we were able to survey the site first hand. Unfortunately it is in absolutely deplorable condition. Only 5 stones are upright enough to be read. The area has been severely damaged by free roaming cows and soil erosion due to a natural gas line that was dropped in right next to it. We found what we were looking for along with some very useful data but were absolutely beside ourselves over the state the cemetery has been allowed to fall into. According to a nearby landowner who has lived there nearly all his life he states there were easily 20+ headstones there before the gas line was dropped in and the fence that protected it was over run by the cows.

David made contact with the Laurel TWP trustees and they have generously agreed to take up his request to allow him to erect a new fence and begin cleaning the cemetery up at their Dec.30, 2003 meeting. Hopefully they will permit him to do this as this cemetery will not last much longer if left in it's present state. If anyone else can help out or give a donation to help save this cemetery contact David . Here is the transcription:

1. still standing monument with the following: In Memory of John Phillips & Eliza Phillips
There are no other dates etc on this stone.

John and Eliza Phillips

2. John Nihizer Died Nov 28.1867, age 9 months 23 days **

John Nihizer

3. Thomas Nihizer Died Oct. 8.1862, age 4 years 7months 14 days**

Thomas Nihizer

4. Sarah Nihizer Died Aug. 26. 1876, age 11 yr 1 mon 13 days** ( Sarah died of Typhoid Fever)
** They are apparently buried all together. There is one four sided stone listing the 3 of them. The stone has fallen to the ground. These are the children of George & Leah Nihiser who I suspect are also buried here somewhere.

Sarah Nihizer

5. John Nihiser Born Feb. 5.1831, Died Feb. 16, 1907 buried with him is
Mary A Nihiser Born June 25.1834. There is no date of death for her, this area was left blank. This was his wife but no way to know if she was actually buried there as well. This stone is still erect.

John and Mary Nihizer

6. Stephen Nihiser Died Oct. 9. 1869 age 48 years with him is buried his wife
Sarah Nihiser Died Sept. 15. 1868 age 49 years
This is also a 4 sided stone with one side also saying " Mother & Father". This stone is still erect.

Stephen and Sarah Nihiser

7. Hannah Daughter of Isaac & Charlotte Kitchen
This stone is badly broken with only 1/2 still visible on the ground. I have since found the following on Hannah: died January 1848, aged 3y 4m 3d

Hannah Kitchen

8. Isaac Kitchen Died Sept. 16. 1851, age 32 years 6 months 18 days. This stone is still whole but is now laying flat on the ground. Isaac had a wife named Charlotte who I would assume is also buried here as well.

Isaac Kitchen

This cemetery is located in Laurel Township, near Rockbridge. All photos above by David Thomas.

Submitted to Hocking County, OHGENWEB for genealogical research.