Pierce Township Cemeteries

BIG SPRINGS CEMETERY

page 24, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in SW 1/4, Section 30, and NW 1/4, Section 31, T1N, R4E. (9.2 miles from the Courthouse)
Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. (SR 135), go 8.2 miles to the intersection of Big Springs Road, turn right, go 0.7 miles to the intersection of Grandview Road, turn left, go 0.3 miles to Big Spring Church of Christ and Cemetery. The cemetery is on the right as you approach the church, and behind the church.

BLUE RIVER CEMETERY

page 84, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in SW 1/4, Section 4, T1N, R4E. (5.2 miles from the Courthouse)
Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. (SR 135), go 2.7 miles to the intersection of Rudder Road, turn left, go 0.8 miles to the intersection of Blue River Church Road, turn right, go 1.2 miles to Blue River Christian Church, turn right into a private drive (Katy's Lane) across from the church, go 0.1 miles to a locked gate (ask at the house), go 0.4 miles to the cemetery.

Bowman Cemetery

CARTER CEMETERY

page 10, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in SE 1/4, Section 12, T1N, R4E. (7.8 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 6.6 miles to the intersection of Sullivan Road, turn left, go 0.1 miles, turn left and follow the farm lane, go 0.3 miles to a farm gate (go past the barns and farm house on the right), go through the gate and follow the farm lane 0.2 miles to another gate (you have to cross a creek before the gate (if your in the Chrysler rather than the pick-up, you probably have gone too far, and should walk the rest of the way), through the gate, turn left, below the pond, and go up hill, bearing right 0.1 miles. The cemetery is located under two large maples trees, at the edge of the pasture, west of the old pond. Ask at the new house before you go.

CATHOLIC CEMETERY ON MCGARVIN PLOT

page 6, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in SW 1/4, Section 27, T1N, R4E. (10.3 miles from the Courthouse)
Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. (SR 135), go 7.5 miles to the intersection of Short's Corner Road (Vincennes Trail), turn left, go 2.0 miles to the intersection of Old Palmyra Road, turn right, go 0.6 miles to lane on the right, (this is a long lane with the residence sitting on a hill), turn right, go 0.2 miles up the lane. The Catholic Cemetery is on the right, in the middle of a pasture, about 50 yards from the lane.

CAUBLE - WINGLER CEMETERY

page 79, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in SE 1/4, Section 6, T1N, R4E. (7.1 miles from the Courthouse)
Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. (SR 135), go 5.5 miles to the intersection of Skylight Road, turn right, go 0.5 miles to the intersection of Cauble Road, turn right, go 1.1 miles to Cauble-Wingler Cemetery. The cemetery is located on the right (north) side of the road.

Cemetery on John McCoskey Farm

Cemetery on Egert Smith Farm

Cemetery on Clair Sullivan Farm

COLVIN CEMETERY

page 83, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in SW 1/4, Section 33, T1N, R4E. (10.9 miles from the Courthouse)
Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. (SR 135), go 10.2 miles to the intersection of Old Palmyra Road, turn left, go 0.7 miles to an entrance to a farm field on the right. The Colvin Cemetery is in the middle of the field, south, and slightly west of this entrance approximately 200 yards. It can be seen from the road if the crops are out of the field.

CRAVENS-SHANKS-GRAVES CEMETERY

page 3, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in NW 1/4, Section 2, T1N, R4E. (6.0 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 5.0 miles to the intersection of Temple Road, turn right, go 0.5 miles to Martinsburg Road. Turn right into the driveway 150 feet before you get to the intersection of Martinsburg Road. The Cravens-Shanks-Graves Cemetery is located approximately 200 feet north of (behind) the big barn at this residence. Ask at the house.

ENOCH MARTIN CEMETERY

page 78, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in SE 1/4, Section 32, T1N, R4E. (9.4 miles from the Courthouse)
Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. (SR 135), go 9.4 miles to Enoch Martin Cemetery. The cemetery is located on the left side of SR 135, approximately 100 yards from the highway. It is beyond the barn surrounded by a stone fence.

FIRST SHILOH CHURCH CEMETERY

page 8, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in NE 1/4, Section 2, T1N, R4E. (5.1 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 4.6 miles to the driveway for the East Washington Rural Water Corp. pump station, on the left, turn left and pull up to the pump station . The First Shiloh Church Cemetery is located to the left (north) side of the driveway about 150 feet at the base of a big tree.

Ford Cemetery

Frederick Boss Cemetery

Hamilton Cemetery

Hinds Cemetery

Indian Cemetery

Kepley Cemetery

Leach Cemetery

LUTHERAN CEMETERY

page 5, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in SE 1/4, Section 34, T1N, R4E. (13.5 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 9.3 miles to the intersection of SR 335, turn right, go 2.0 miles to the intersection of Trainer Lane, turn right, go 1.4 miles to the intersection of Wagner Road, turn left, go 0.3 miles to a private drive, on the left, at the foot of the hill, turn left into the private drive. The Lutheran Cemetery is located approximately 200 yards due east of the garage at this residence. Ask at the residence.

MOUNT PLEASANT CEMETERY

page 11, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in NE 1/4, Section 23, T1N, R4E. (10.2 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 8.4 miles to the intersection of Short's Corner Road, in Pekin, turn right, go 0.5 miles to the intersection of Daisy Lane, turn left, go 0.7 miles to the intersection of Martinsburg Road, turn right, go 0.1 to the entrance to the cemetery. The cemetery is on the northeast corner of the intersection.

MOUNT WASHINGTON CEMETERY

page 52, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in NW 1/4, Section 36, T1N, R4E. (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 9.3 miles to the intersection of SR 335, turn right, go 1.7 miles to the intersection of Martinsburg Road, turn right, go 0.1 miles to Mount Washington Church and Cemetery.

NEWLON CEMETERY

page 1, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in NE 1/4, Section 11, T1N, R4E. (6.1 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 5.5 miles to Motsinger Road, keep going, 0.1 mile to Newlon Cemetery. The cemetery is located on the right (south) side of SR 60. It is surrounded by a stone fence, and located approximately 250 feet from the highway.

OLD BLUE RIVER CEMETERY

page 94, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in SE 1/4, Section 4, T1N, R4E. (4.7 miles from the Courthouse)
Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. (SR 135), go 2.7 miles to the intersection of Rudder Road, turn left, go 0.8 miles to the intersection of Blue River Church Road, turn right, go 1.2 miles to Blue River Christian Church, turn left into the church lot. The cemetery is located behind the church.

PHILLIP BOSS CEMETERY

page 6, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in NW 1/4, Section 34, T1N, R4E. (11.7 miles from the Courthouse)
Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. (SR 135), go 10.2 miles to the intersection of Old Palmyra Road, turn left, go 1.5 miles to the Phillip Boss Cemetery. The cemetery is on the left side of the road, about 50 feet behind a mobile home. This is across the road from the Vivian Bush farm.

Ponsford Farm Cemetery

ROBERT EVANS CEMETERY

page 9, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in SE 1/4, Section 34, T1N, R4E. (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 8.4 miles to the intersection of Short's Corner Road, in Pekin, turn right, go 0.3 miles to the intersection of Graves Drive, on the left, turn left, go 0.1 miles to Robert Evans Cemetery. The cemetery is located on the left, behind a residence, in the middle of the backyard.

RUSH CEMETERY

page 1, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in SW 1/4, Section 11, T1N, R4E. (8.2 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 6.6 miles to the intersection of Sullivan Road, turn right, go 0.9 miles to the intersection of Martinsburg Road, turn right, go 0.2 miles to Rush Cemetery. The cemetery is located on the left (west) side of Martinsburg Road.

Samuel Baker Cemetery

Sheets Cemetery

SHEPHERD - STRAIN CEMETERY

page 7, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in SW 1/4 Section 33, T1N, R4E. (11.5 miles from the Courthouse)
Directions: From the Courthouse, go south on South Main St. (SR 135), go 10.2 miles to the intersection of Old Palmyra Road, turn left, go 1.0 miles to the intersection of Lewis Road, bear left and go straight off the curve as you approach, go 0.1 miles to the "square" intersection, turn left, go 0.2 miles the Shepherd - Strain Cemetery. The cemetery is on the left (south) side of the road, at the edge of the field; it is surrounded by a stone fence.

SULLIVAN FARM CEMETERY

page 1, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in NW 1/4, Section 11, T1N, R4E. (8.7 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 6.6 miles to the intersection of Sullivan Road, turn right, go 0.9 miles to the intersection of Martinsburg Road, turn right, go 0.7 miles to Sullivan Cemetery. The cemetery is located on the left (west) side of Martinsburg Road, just past the intersection of Banet Road.

VALENTINE BAKER CEMETERY

page 9, Pierce Twp. Cemeteries
Located in SE 1/4, Section 22, T1N, R4E. (11.1 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 8.4 miles to the intersection of Short's Corner Road, in Pekin, turn right, go 0.5 miles to the intersection of Daisy Lane, turn left, (at 1.2 miles, the cemetery will be located to your right (west) across the field and creek and on top of the bank) go 1.5 miles to a bridge, as soon as you cross the bridge turn right onto a paved/gravel area [this is the old road bed]. The Valentine Baker Cemetery is located directly north approximately 0.2 miles. The cemetery is in the power line (look up) right of way 4 power poles to the north. You can drive part of the way, by driving around the lower edge of the field, but then you will have to walk, across a small ravine and some wooded brushy area to the cemetery.

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. 

John Hay Center Hours of Operation

Thursdays - 10:00am – 5:00pm
Fridays - 10:00am – 5:00pm
Saturdays - 10:00am – 5:00pm

Tour Pricing

Self-Guided Tours

Adult (Age 18+) - Donation
Child (Age 6-17) - Donation

Guided Tours

Complete Comprehensive Tour
(Museum,Pioneer Village, The Depot)
Adult (Age 18+) - Tour Price  $20.00
Child (Ages 6-17) - Tour Price $10.00
Guided Tours - Free to Members

Steven's Museum Guided Tour
(Approximate 2 hour Tour)
Adult (Age 18+) -  Tour Price $7.00
Child (Ages 6-17) - Tour Price $4.00
Guided Tours - Free to Members

Pioneer Village
(Approximate 1 hour Tour)
Adult (Age 18+) - Tour Price $7.00
Child (Ages 6-17) - $4.00
Guided Tours - Free to Members

The Depot Railroad Museum
(Approximate 1 hour Tour)
Adult (Age 18+) - $7.00
Child (Ages 6-17) - $4.00
Guided Tours - Free to Members

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Private & Public School Tours: $3.00 per student/parent (Teachers free & 10 student minimum)

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Scheduled Private Tours (More than 5 Guests) (Minimum $50)

Additional Information

*All regular tours are free for Life Members
*Children under 5 are free

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