Franklin Township Cemeteries

ANDERSON-PAYNE CEMETERY

page 98, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in NE 1/4, Section 29, T2N, R5E. (7.7 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. go 0.5 miles to the intersection of SR 60, turn left, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of SR 160, turn left, go 5.7 miles to the new bridge at the west side of South Boston. At the west end of the bridge, is a farm gate on the left (north) side of SR 160. The Anderson-Payne Cemetery is located to the north of SR 160, approximately 0.2 miles. As you look north from SR 160, the cemetery is at the top of the small bluff, behind the tree line, and to the left. The cemetery can be seen from SR 160 in the winter, but not in the summer.

BEECH GROVE CEMETERY

page 1, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in SE 1/4, Section 12, T2N, R5E. (11.3 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go north on N. Main St. 0.2 miles to the intersection of SR 56, turn right, go 3.4 miles to the intersection of Canton Road (Old SR 56), turn right, go 0.4 miles to the intersection of Canton Road (the real one), turn right, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of Howell Road, turn left, go 0.2 miles to the intersection of Franklin Church Road and New Philadelphia Road, turn right, go 0.9 miles to the intersection of Von Elliott Road, (this is a right-left "S" type intersection) stay on New Philadelphia Road, go 1.6 miles to New Philadelphia, go straight 3.2 miles to Read Road, turn left, go 0.1 miles to Beech Grove Cemetery. The cemetery is past Beech Grove Church, on the left.

BLUE RIVER BAPTIST CEMETERY

page 45, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in SW 1/4, Section 31, T2N, R5E. (7.7 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. go 0.5 miles to the intersection of SR 60, turn left, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of SR 160, turn left, go 3.3 miles to the intersection of County Farm (formerly Poor Farm) Road, turn right, go 2.3 miles to the intersection of Farabee Road, turn left, go 0.3 miles to Blue River Baptist Church and Cemetery. The cemetery is located on left (north) side of the road.

BUNKER HILL CEMETERY

page 142, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in NE 1/4, Section 31, T2N, R6E, at Bunker Hill Church. (12.5 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. go 0.5 miles to the intersection of SR 60, turn left, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of SR 160, turn left, go 10.7 miles to the Bunker Hill Church. The cemetery is located on the north (left) side of SR 160. CAUTION Watch this hill, the road (in both directions of travel) breaks just over the crest of the hill, which is blind.

CHESTNUT HILL CEMETERY

page 112, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in SE 1/4, Section 25, T2N, R5E. (11.6 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. go 0.5 miles to the intersection of SR 60, turn left, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of SR 160, turn left, go 9.8 miles to the Chestnut Hill Cemetary. The cemetery is located on the left (north) side of SR 160, approximately 150 feet from the road. The cemetery is hard to see until you have passed it's location. As you approach the cemetery on SR 160 from the west (South Boston) you will come up a slight grade and the road will make about a 45 degree turn to the right. In the middle of the turn, a road cut will be on you left; near the top of the cut, you can observe a north-south fence line. The cemetery is to the east of the fence line, directly north of the apex of the turn; after you go thru the turn, you can look back over your shoulder, to the left and see the cemetery.

CONWAY CEMETERY

, page 75, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in SE 1/4, Section 27, T2N, R5E, at the Conway Methodist Church. (9.3 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. go 0.5 miles to the intersection of SR 60, turn left, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of SR 160, turn left, go 7.5 miles to the Conway Methodist Church. The cemetery is immediately west of the church on the north (left) side of SR 160.

DAWSON - GRAY CEMETERY

, page 125, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in SW 1/4, Section 33, T2N, R6E, at Yankeetown Stables. (14.4 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. go 0.5 miles to the intersection of SR 60, turn left, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of SR 160, turn left, go 12.6 miles to the entrance to Yankeetown Stables, turn left into farm lane. The cemetery is located east of the lane, on a small rise, about 100 yards from SR 160.

FRANKLIN-AMISH CEMETERY

, page 101, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in SW 1/4, Section 16, T2N, R5E, on the site of the former Franklin Township School. (10.7 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. go 0.5 miles to the intersection of SR 60, turn left, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of SR 160, turn left, go 7.0 miles to the intersection of Franklin School Road, turn left, go 1.9 miles to a grassy lane on the left (west) side of Franklin School Road, with a board fence. The cemetery is approximately 150 yards, west of the road, back the lane and on the north (right) side of the lane. The cemetery is directly behind the house on the Franklin School site. The cemetery has a board fence.

HAMILTON CEMETERY

, page 101, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in NE 1/4, Section 9, T2N, R5E. (8.2 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go north on N. Main St. 0.2 miles to the intersection of SR 56, turn right, go 3.4 miles to the intersection of Canton Road (Old SR 56), turn right, go 0.4 miles to the intersection of Canton Road (the real one), turn right, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of Howell Road, turn left, go 0.2 miles to the intersection of Franklin Church Road and New Philadelphia Road, turn right, go 0.9 miles to the intersection of Von Elliott Road, (this is a right-left "S" type intersection) stay on New Philadelphia Road, go 1.6 miles to New Philadelphia, go straight 0.2 miles to Bryant Road, (this looks like a driveway) turn left into the lane. The Hamilton Cemetery is located at the edge of the woods, directly to the right (east) of the house, about 50 yards, and about 100 yards north of the road. There are large cedar trees growing around it.

HARTLEY CEMETERY

, page 111, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in SE 1/4, Section 23, T2N, R5E. (11.7 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. go 0.5 miles to the intersection of SR 60, turn left, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of SR 160, turn left, go 8.5 miles to the intersection of Lockenour Lane, turn left, go 1.1 miles to the intersection of Garrison Hollow Road, turn right, go 0.3 miles to a residence on the right (south) side of Garrison Hollow Road. The Hartley Cemetery is located approximately 150 yards from the road, behind (to the south) of the residence, in the middle of a pasture field. Ask at the residence.

MCCLELLAN CEMETERY

, page 121, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries
Located in NE 1/4 Section 33, T2N, R6E. (14.8 miles from the Courthouse)
Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. go 0.5 miles to the intersection of SR 60, turn left, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of SR 160, turn left, go 12.6 miles to the entrance to Yankeetown Stables, continue on SR 160, 0.2 miles to an entrance to a farm field, (just east of the Jack Jenkins residence), on the north (left) side of SR 160, continue, 0.2 miles on SR 160 to a concrete culvert under SR 160. The cemetery is located about 1/4 mile north (left side) of SR 160 at this point. It is on the west (left side) of the woods as you look north from the culvert.

MCKNIGHT CEMETERY

, page 123, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in SW 1/4, Section 8, T2N, R5E. (6.4 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go north on N. Main St. 0.2 miles to the intersection of SR 56, turn right, go 3.4 miles to the intersection of Canton Road (Old SR 56), turn right, go 0.4 miles to the intersection of Canton Road (the real one), turn right, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of Howell Road, turn left, go 0.2 miles to the intersection of Franklin Church Road and New Philadelphia Road, turn right, go 0.9 miles to the intersection of Von Elliott Road. (This is a right-left "S" type intersection.) The McKnight Cemetery is located immediately east of the intersection, approximately 50 yards from the road, in the middle of a pasture.

MORGAN CEMETERY

, page 115, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in NE 1/4, Section 33, T2N, R5E. (10.0 miles for the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. go 0.5 miles to the intersection of SR 60, turn left, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of SR 160, turn left, go 7.0 miles to the intersection of Franklin School Road, turn right, go 0.8 miles to the intersection of Conway Church Road, turn right, go 0.2 miles to a driveway at a residence. The Morgan Cemetery is located at the corner of a woods approximately 1/4 mile north of the residence.

MOTSINGER CEMETERY

, page 111, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in NE 1/4, Section 32, T2N, R6E. (14.1 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. go 0.5 miles to the intersection of SR 60, turn left, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of SR 160, turn left, go 12.2 miles to the intersection of Pixley Knob / New Liberty Road, turn left, go 0.1 miles to a residence on the west (left) side of the road. The cemetery is located west of this residence, about 300 yards, at the edge of a woods.

NEW LIBERTY CEMETERY

, page 128, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in NW 1/4, Section 33, T2N, R6E, at New Liberty Baptist Church. (14.2 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. go 0.5 miles to the intersection of SR 60, turn left, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of SR 160, turn left, go 12.2 miles to the intersection of Pixley Knob / New Liberty Road, turn left, go 0.2 miles to New Liberty Baptist Church. The cemetery is located east of the church.

NEW PHILADELPHIA CEMETERY

, page 102, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in SW 1/4, Section 9, T2N, R5E. (7.7 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go north on N. Main St. 0.2 miles to the intersection of SR 56, turn right, go 3.4 miles to the intersection of Canton Road (Old SR 56), turn right, go 0.4 miles to the intersection of Canton Road (the real one), turn right, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of Howell Road, turn left, go 0.2 miles to the intersection of Franklin Church Road and New Philadelphia Road, turn right, go 0.9 miles to the intersection of Von Elliott Road, (this is a right-left "S" type intersection) stay on New Philadelphia Road, go 1.3 miles to the New Philadelphia Cemetery. The cemetery is located on the left (north side) of the road, about 100 yards from the road, on the side of a hill in a pasture field. There is a grassy lane leading to the cemetery.

NEWLON CEMETERY

, page 122, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in SW 1/4, Section 32, T2N, R4E. (9.4 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. go 0.5 miles to the intersection of SR 60, turn left, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of SR 160, turn left, go 5.9 miles to the intersection of Canton-South Boston Road (in downtown South Boston), turn right, go 0.5 miles, to the intersection of Farabee Road, turn right, go 1.2 miles to Newlon Cemetery. The cemetery is located on the left (east) side of Newlon Road, approximately 100 yards from the road; it is the middle of a pasture, downhill from the road; it has a stone wall around it.

RODMAN (SOUTH BOSTON) CEMETERY

, page 95, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in SE 1/4, Section 29, T2N, R5E. (8.0 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. go 0.5 miles to the intersection of SR 60, turn left, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of SR 160, turn left, go 5.9 miles to the intersection of Canton-South Boston Road (in downtown South Boston), turn right, go 0.2 miles, up the hill to a trail, on the right (west side of the road), entering the woods, go back the trail 0.1 miles to Rodman Cemetery. The cemetery is in the woods, at the top of the hill overlooking South Boston.

SMITH CEMETERY MARKER

, page , Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in NW 1/4, Section 24, T2N, R5E. (12.7 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. go 0.5 miles to the intersection of SR 60, turn left, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of SR 160, turn left, go 8.5 miles to the intersection of Lockenour Lane, turn left, go 1.1 miles to the intersection of Garrison Hollow Road, turn right, go 1.2 miles to the intersection of Thomas Lane, turn right, go 0.1 miles to a driveway on the right (south) side of Thomas Lane. The Smith Cemetery Marker is located approximately 100 yards from the road, in the edge of the woods, at the southwest corner of the yard. Ask at the residence.

VAN METER CEMETERY

, page 121, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in SE 1/4, Section 21, T2N, R5E. (9.9 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. go 0.5 miles to the intersection of SR 60, turn left, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of SR 160, turn left, go 7.0 miles to the intersection of Franklin School Road, turn left, go 1.1 miles to a fence line from the left, at a farm gate, just over the crest of a hill. The VanMeter Cemetery is on the south side of the fence row to the left (west) of Franklin School Road, approximately 150 yards, in a group of trees.

WELLER CEMETERY

, page 109, Franklin Twp. Cemeteries Located in NW 1/4, Section 29, T2N, R5E. (7.1 miles from the Courthouse) Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. go 0.5 miles to the intersection of SR 60, turn left, go 1.3 miles to the intersection of SR 160, turn left, go 5.3 miles to the new bridge. Weller Cemetery is located immediately to the left, on the north side of SR 160, on top of a small bluff that comes down to the edge of the road. (Sight may be obscured by trees during the summer.) You can see the cemetery better as you approach the bridge from the west before the road turns to the right.

Photo of John Milton HayWho was John Hay?

Statesman, Author, Ambassador

John Hay was a great American statesman, diplomat, author and poet, whose political career spanned over 50 years.  He was born in a small brick home in Salem, Indiana, on October 8, 1838.

After John displayed considerable potential in his schooling, his Uncle Milton Hay, who was a practicing lawyer in Springfield, Illinois, took a special interest and sent him to Brown University, where he graduated in 1858. 

In 1860, when John Hay’s childhood friend, John Nicolay, was appointed Abraham Lincoln’s presidential campaign secretary, he was brought on board to assist with the enormous amount of correspondence. 

Hay grew to adore President Lincoln for his goodness, patience, understanding, sense of humor, humility, magnanimity, healthy skepticism, sense of justice, resilience and power, love of the common man and mystical patriotism. Many later noted that Lincoln too, loved Hay as a son and was very attached to him.

In 1903, after years of negotiating treaties, Hay successfully passed legislation that afforded the United States the opportunity to start construction on the Panama Canal. 

Brown University’s John Hay Library was named in his honor, as was the John Hay Air Base, in the Philippines and both his birth home, in Salem, Indiana and his summer estate, The Fells, in New Hampshire, have been historically conserved. 

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