Tree Stump Gravestones
in LaPorte County, Indiana Cemeteries

Fern Eddy Schultz, LaPorte County (Indiana) Historian, began recording text found on tree stump gravestones and taking photos of these gravestones located in cemeteries throughout LaPorte County, Indiana. When the project was completed, Fern approached the LaPorte County Public Library about making this valuable collection available to the public.

The Library, in cooperation with Fern Eddy Schultz, wrote a grant to purchase the equipment necessary to make this collection available via the Internet. The Indiana State Library (using Library Services and Technology Act monies) funded the grant request and made it possible to make available this historically significant material rich in genealogical content.


What are tree stump gravestones?
Where will I find these gravestones?
How do I search for my ancestors?

#1 - Pine Lake Cemetery - PAUL

Back Side of Maple Hill, needs rubbing ~ East of WELLER stones

In Memory of
Arthur W. Paul
Born: February ??, 1862(?)
Died at Indianapolis: November 23, 1881


#2 - Pine Lake Cemetery - ?

North side of Wm. Weller and other WELLER stones ~ Small tree ~ engraving on book at bottom of stone's left side:

Born
Charles


#3 - Pine Lake Cemetery - CHASE

Maple Hill ~ Directly east of Eason Chapel
(See photos from 1986 LaPorte Herald-Argus)

Edward H.
Son of Hiram & A. CHASE
aged 18 yrs - 9 mos 5 days
June 9, 1880 (?)

Book has some legend ~ can't read ~ needs cleaning

Two (2) pieces on ground ~ 283 Maple

#4 - Pine Lake Cemetery - CHASE

More of the CHASE family

Our Father
entered into rest
April 7, 1883
Aged 73 yrs
Hiram CHASE

 

Our Mother
Alice N. EVANS
wife of
Hiram CHASE
entered into rest
November 15, 1903
Aged 85 Yrs

NOTE: See obits. In addition, DH, Fri, 11/13/1903, pg 8, col. 4

Died at her residence in this city at 9 p.m. Thursday evening,
Mrs. Alice CHASE, aged 85 years and mother of
Henry CHASE and Mrs. Ella A. TRUMBULL.

#7 - Patton Cemetery - KASBAUM/PEGLOW

KASBAUM, Julia/PEGLOW, Henry C. 10/1/1872 G/173 (Marriage Record)

1882

PEGLOW

KASBAUM

Henry C., December 17, 1852

January 11, 1897

Death Record

PEGLOW, Fredericka M.

NO Henry in index

f w 37

 

November 3, 1882

 

Searched for obit ~ HC (wkly) Thursday 11/9/1882, page 5
Mrs. F.M. PEGLOW, widow of Chas. PEGLOW died of
consumption Friday in the 38th yr of her age.


#8 - Patton Cemetery - STRALEY

Henry A STRALEY LaPorte Herald-Chronicle
Thursday, 26 May 1881, pg. 1 col. 6


#9 - Greenwood Cemetery, Calvary III near Greenwood Ave KINTZELE

KINTZELE

Maria Wife of N. KINTZELE
March 23, 1856 - September 13, 1889*

Emma, their daughter
March 10, 1879 - November 19, 1883

Joseph, their son
February 2, 1886 - February 6, 188__

Nicholas, their son
March 18, 1889 - October 11 - 1889*

Above engraved on west side of stone; leaves and branches on east side.

NOTE:

Greenwood Cemetery Records:

KINTZELE
No Emma or Joseph
No Maria -- Mary - 33 09/30/1889
Nicholas J. - 4 mos. 10/11/1889 (born June?)

Michigan City Death Records:

KINTZELE, Mary (?)
KINSLER (?), Nicholas
f w 33
m w 4 mo
09/30/1889 MC
10/11/1889 MC (?)


#10 - Greenwood Cemetery - BLUETT

To right of 1st circle, south of entrance

John BLUETT
Died
July 18, 1891
Age 60 yr

Lida
Wife of J. BLUETT
Born February 8, 1831
Died December 22, 1914

NOTE:

Greenwood Cemetery Records:

BLUETT, John
Lydie

MC IN 66
MC IN 85
07/22/1891
12/22/1914

Michigan City Death Records:

BLUETT, Lydia f w 85 12/22/1914 MC

LaPorte County Death Records:

BLUETT, John m w 66 07/18/1891


#11 - Greenwood Cemetery - WALKER

Section P, section south of Hutchinson Mausoleum

H.H. WALKER
other stone

Henry H. WALKER
Died July 7, 1903
Aged 73 yrs

NOTE:

Greenwood Cemetery Records:

WALKER, Henry H. Burlington, VT - 74 07/07/1903


#12 - Greenwood Cemetery - PODOLL

South of circle north of entrance

Ida
Wife of
Gustav PODOLL

Born June 18, 1840
Died Dec. 31, 1863*


Emma
Child of
Gustav & Ida PODOLL

Born December 24th, 1863*
Died September 14, 1864
Rest in Peace

NOTE:

Greenwood Cemetery Records:

PODOLL - NONE

#13 - Pine Lake Cemetery - SCHIRMEYER

No probate

No dates or other information

Death record:

Caroline SCHIRMEYER
f w 73
March 13, 1914
SEE OBITUARY    

Pine Lake Record:

Mrs. SCHIRMEYER
fm Lutheran
11/18/1908 - 149 Cherry

157 Cherry:

Tree Stone



Top of Stone



F. SCHIRMEYER
and three links
No other visible information

Records at Supt's Office:

Infant & Caroline SCHIRMEYER  near Fara's

Maybe purchased graves from Bertha PETERSON who is Shirley (Wendt) Barber (See Caroline's obit - had dau Mrs. John WENDT

Mrs. Fred SCHIRMEYER
Mr. Fred
7
4
1907 Directory SCHIRMEYER,Fred, (Caroline), Janitor h, 1406 Jefferson
1911 Directory   h, 1406 Jefferson
1913 Directory Caroline, wid of Fred  

Per PL Records:

Mira WEGNER, Wife of F. 1/18/1848 7/29/1879*
(Checked Argus (wkly) Thurs., 7/31/1879, 8/7/1879 and 8/14/1879 but found nothing)

Marriage Records:

SCHIRMEYER, Fred to Caroline ROHLONS - 10/18/1879* H/476
(marriage quite close to death date of Mira???)


#14 - Greenwood Cemetery - HALLER

Section B, behind and a little east of Dabbert Mausoleum

Jacob HALLER
geb 25 July 1826
G 17 August 1910
Johanna HALLER
Gebrn MULLER
g 17 August 1834
G 8 August 1910 (?)
Wilhelm Karl


#15 - Greenwood Cemetery - DORAN

Section B, behind and to the west of Dabbert Mausoleum

South Side of Stone West Side of Stone N Side of Stone
Sarah Jane Patrick DORAN Edward DORAN
Died Oct. 15, 1846 Born March 17, 1819
Died June 24, 1897
Died March 1, 1849
Amelia Mary A. DORAN  
Died June 25, 1851
Born Feb 1st, 1815
Died March 18, 1853
 

Twins
   
Died Apr 13 & 14, 1852 DORAN  

 


#19 - Pine Lake CEMETERY - VAIL

South Cherry Hill

Caradora    
Dau of W. & G. VAIL (Walter & G. Truesdale--BR)
Born Aug 3, 1882
Died Dec 26, 1883 (DR)
     
DR--VAIL, Carrie Dora f w 1 Dec 26 1883 Michigan City

 

#20 - Pine Lake Cemetery - SWAN

Cherry Hill Lot #341

Emma L. wife of G. F. SWAN
Died Feb. 28, 1872 - Ae 21 yrs
Also buried next are:
  
SWAN, George F.
Mary, wife of George F.
1847 - 1926 (Jan. 4, 1926
b. Nov. 3, 1853 d. Aug 1, 1888

MR. SWAN, George F./M.  Kate LOWEN - 4/3/1876 - H/73

LaPorte TIMES, 04, January 1926
Obituary for George F. SWAN contains information as follows:

b Cherry Velly, NY 9/26/1847
1st wife - Emma PORTER, d 1872, the year of the marriage
2nd wife - Margaret Kate LOWER, d 1898



#22 Pine Lake Cemetery - DAISY

Between COLLINS burials

Stones North: Samuel B. COLLINS - July 30, 1835 - Oct. 24, 1893
Caradora ANDREW, wife of Samuel B. and dau/Abram P. & Viola J. Andrew - July 20, 1845 - Aug. 10, 1880


#27 - Patton Cemetery - WOLBERT

Row 7 from East - Lakeview Section

Simon WOLBERT
Died Jan 11, 1890 - Aged 78 years

SEE OBITUARY

 

 

#28 - Patton Cemetery - WING

East Bank - 3 rows south of STEWIG

Eddie
Son of C. E. & A. W. WING
Born Aug. 10, 1882
Died Feb. 13, 1896

SEE OBITUARY

 


# 29 - Patton Cemetery - TILT

Lakeview Section

Charles L. Tilt
Born Oct. 13, 1859
Died Sept 15, 1897

SEE OBITUARY


#30 - Westville Cemetery - MILLER

John Carlin MILLER
Died Feb 14, 1882

Age 54 yrs 10 mo & 8 da
Photo


#31 - Westville Cemetery - HITESMAN

Harry, son of S. W. & Emma HITESMAN
May 4, 1891 - Sept. 6, 1891
Buried on earth...
 


#32 - Greenwood Cemetery - HIPP

east of Hutchinson Mausoleum

Regina HIPP
deg 24, Dec 1886
alt 2 tage


#33 - Foster Cemetery - SHEAD

CR 900 North just east of CR 300 East

Leammi/Laommi SHEAD
Died Aug.23, 1857 - Aged 44 years 2 mo & 12 days

Miranda - wife of L. SHEAD
Died June 30, 1887 (Cem list shows Jan 30, 1887) - Aged 71 yrs 4 mo 21 days

Infant Daughter
Died Oct. 6, 1846 age 3 mos 21 days

We Loved Them


#35 - Rolling Prairie Cemetery - DALE

(engraving on West side of stone)

Elizabeth J. Dale
dau of Daniel & Susan WALT
Born March 4, 1839 - Died July 8, 1879

At Rest


#36 - Rolling Prairie Cemetery - WALT

North of Elizabeth J. DALE

Daniel WALT
Died July 22, 1875 - Aged 61 yrs 9 mo 4 d's

Susan WALT
Died Jan. 29, 1890 - Aged 73 yrs, 6 mos 15 d's


#37 - Rolling Prairie Cemetery - REYNOLDS

1st row east side to north end

G.W. Reynolds
Died Jan 4, 1855 - Aged 38 yrs 10 mo 24 ds

We Loved Him

 


#38 - Salem Chapel Cemetery - JOHNSON

SR #4, Pleasant Twp. - NOT IN CEMETERY INDEX

Martin P. son of C.O. & P.E. JOHNSON
Born April 28, 1893 - Died Jan. 17, 1894


#39 - Salem Chapel Cemetery - NO NAME

SR #4, Pleasant Twp.
stone is East of Ziba BAILY - West of Ralph LOOMIS

The small stones MOTHER - FATHER

 


#41 - Hanna Cemetery - PHIPPS

John PHIPPS
Born April 18, 1848 - Died Oct 1890 (Cem. list shows 1900)

Elizabeth A.
his wife
Born July 6, 1849 - Died July 1, 1925


#42 - Morgan Cemetery - GREENING

Cass Twp., between 700 and 750 West on CR 1400 South
also next to right of this - GREENING

August GREENING
Born August 18, 1827 - Died August 25, 1898

Caroline
his wife
March 2, 1836 - March 28, 1881


#44 - Morgan Cemetery - MARKS

NOT IN CEMETERY INDEX

Infant son of R.M. & E.E. MARKS
Born June 18, 1893 - Died June 23, 1893


#45 - Sacred Heart Cemetery - MANN

Porter County - west side of County Line Road

Helen - Daughter of Henry & Mary MANN
March 2, 1895 - Sept. 27, 1910

Will See You Again


#46 - Union Mills Cemetery - ELIS

CR 800 South about 1 mile west of Long Lane
(Shown as ELLIS in cemetery list)

AT REST

John G.Elis
Born Sept. 21, 1824 - Died Jan. 13, 1889

Johanna C. his wife
Born Dec. 21, 1831 - Died Jan. 22, 1895


#47 - Union Mills Cemetery - FINNER

NOT IN CEMETERY LIST

John FINNER


#48 - Union Mills Cemetery - DUNHAM

DUNHAM

Fred I. DUNHAM
Nov. 16, 1859 (cemetery list shows Nov. 6, 1859) - Feb. 18, 1929

Winnie - wife of F.I. DUNHAM
Apr. 25, 1862 - Mar. 3, 1889

On left (north) side of this stone - small stone S. I. D.
On right (south) side of this stone - small stone S. I. D.


#49 - Union Mills Cemetery - NO SURNAME READABLE

Is in middle of empty area, about 8 empty or unmarked graves to north and at least two to south.

John       Jane E. (?)
..... .....
July 3,      ... 19


#50 - Westville Cemetery - ZENER

NOT IN CEMETERY or DEATH RECORD LISTING

Nina Grace
Infant daughter of G.E. & N.J. ZENER
Died August 22, 1896 (?) Aged 5 mos 8 ds

Our Darling


#51 - Westville Cemetery - EARL

To eastof JEROME stone. Open area to east of this stone. Nothing other than Earl visible--don't know if this is a given or surname)


#52 - Westville Cemetery - OSBORN

Gracie M. - little daughter of
J.A. & J.A.R. (cemetery listing shows James & Alta) OSBORN
Died Oct.7, 1900 (this is clearly date on stone but cemetery shows Dec 7)
Aged 6 ms 5 ds
(There is a verse but not readable--perhaps with rubbing)

Other stone to east--cannot read--possibly rub. Perhaps the following as shown in cemetery listing is for whom this stone is set.

James Russell
son of Jas. A. & A. R.
b Jan 3, 1909 - d Mar 5, 1909


#53 - Oak Grove Cemetery (Wills Twp.) - GILBERT

Milly May (east side of stone)
dau of T.S. & D.J. GILBERT
Born July 17, 1894 - Died Sept. 1, 1894
Darling We Miss Thee

John H. (south side of stone)
son of T.S. & D.J. GILBERT
Born July 28, 1902 - Died Movember 28, 1902


#54 - Springville Cemetery - BENSON

AT REST

Richard BENSON (east side of stone) Born in Drumman Norway
May 4, 1832 - Died March 9, 1889

Alice SCANLIN (cemetery list shows SCANLAN)
His wife born in Sligo, Ireland (cemetery list shows Slyn)
Aug 10, 1835 - Died June 8, 1897

there are three stones south of the tree--all engraved on west side

Next to tree
MOTHER


Next South
FATHER


Next south by road
CARRIE
dau of E.& I. BENSON
Born Feb 25, 1872
Died Aug 4 1892


#55 - Sauktown Cemetery - MAYS

James MAYS (west side of stone)
March 1, 1848 (quite clear - cemetery list shows 1843)
Jan 5, 1937

Carrie, his wife
Jan 7, 1858

Feb 20, 1915

Helen E. (north side)
Their Daughter
May 31, 1899 (cem list shows Mar 31)
Aug 12, 1900 (cem list shows May 12)
Winona (south side of stone)
Their Baby
Aug 20, 1899
Eugene, their son
April 18, 1884
Aug 25, 1889
 


#55 - Sauktown Cemetery - MAYS

(north of tree stump, from north to south)

1. Edna 2. Bessie 3. Helen 4. Mother 5. Father  

MAY - November 25, 1881 - Mar 31, 1899

Granite Stone

Sept. 29, 1891 - Aug. 4, 1901 June 30, 1907 May 12, 1900

(south of tree stump, from north to south)

7. Winona
Nov 5, 1879 - Aug 20, 1899
8. Eugene
Apr. 18, 1884 - Aug 25, 1889

 


#56 - Pine Lake Cemetery - BLAKEMAN

Lakeside--St. Peter Catholic Church

Mary - (west side of stone)
Wife of Wm. BLAKEMAN
Died Aug.11, 1889 - Aged 54 yrs

May Her Soul Rest In Peace

Third row east of Arthurs' above ground

William BLAKEMAN - (Southeast side of stone - NOT in cemetery listing)
Aug. 28, 1833 - Aug. 23 1912 - (In my computer list--8/27/1917 Catholic)

May His Soul Rest in Peace

BADGER/BLAKEMAN

Fanny G. (Death records list as Frances, 27 yrs)

Wife of Henry L. BADGER (Southeast side of stone below Wm. BLAKEMAN information)
Feb 16, 1877 - Oct. 1, 1904

May Her Soul Rest In Peace


#58 - Sauktown Cemetery - SHORT

MOTHER

Elizabeth SHORT
1811 - 1892

Not listed in death records


#59 - Oak Grove Cemetery (Wills Twp.) - MILLER

Infant - (Not in cemetery listing)
Dau of B.R. & ... MILLER
Dau. born Nov. 1886 - Died Oct. 25, 1889


#60 - St. Stanislaus Cemetery - LUDVIG

Alojzy LUDVIG
UR 14 WRZ 1887
UM STY 1926
Pros.. Dromas & Mary A.


SYN ...

Maryanna LUDVIG
... 1851
... 1926

MATKA

...LUDVIG



..OS..


#61 - St. Stanislaus Cemetery - BOZA

Michial BOZA
ur 4. paz 1851 - um 7.sty. 1933

Rozalin BOZA
ur 4 wrz 1851 - um 1 wrz 1905


#64 - St. Joseph Cemetery - KUMMEHER

At Rest
Meinrad KUMMEHER
Died July 25, 1895 (list shows 1898)
Aged 58 y 16m 25 d (list shows 6 m)

(four lines of verse)

Bid well dear wife ...
Life has no ... for there...
But trust in God he"s bring relief
And send them home to me

This may NOT be considered a tree stump gravestone






#65 - Greenwood Cemetery - WESTPHAL

Section A Row 4 from Tilden Avenue

Mary WESTPHAL


#66 - Greenwood Cemetery - ...LLM

South of HALLER, behind DABBERT Mausoleum

...LLM
gest 17 Jan 1883


#67 - Greenwood Cemetery - KARL

South of #66, behind DABBERT Mausoleum

KARL


#68 - Greenwood Cemetery - STANGER

Section D

Laura STANGER
Died Jan. 23, 1888 - Aged 27 yrs.

(2 lines of verse--needs to be rubbed


#69 - Greenwood Cemetery - JEWELL

Section E

Walter
Infant son of Wm. B & P.R. (?) JEWELL
Born May ... 1884 - Died Sept. ... 1885 (?)


#70 - Greenwood Cemetery - MROSS

Section E

Carl MROSS
1853 - 1891

Emma MROSS


#71 - Greenwood Cemetery - FRYER

Section G

Ida
Dau of W & A. FRYER
... 1890


#72 - Greenwood Cemetery - (Questionable tree stump) - BATZEL

Section Q

At Rest
Harvey BATZEL
1897-1913

 

At Rest
Henry BATZEL
...


#73 - Patton Cemetery - Lakeview Section - McGRAW

Harry McGRAW
Died Nov. 19 1892
Aged 16 yrs