The location of a number of marked and unmarked graves for George and
related family members may still be readily located near Okeana, Butler
County, OH. Directions: From the Cincinnati area, take state road 126
through Ross and Shandon to Okeana. As you follow 126 to the NW, the
Okeana-Drewersburg Road forks to the left in Okeana shortly before you
reach the only bank office we saw in town. Still in or very near town, you
cross a one-lane bridge. South Dwyer Road is a right turn, just after the
bridge, and is clearly marked by a road sign. In approximately one mile,
the small cemetery is clearly visible on the left (due to numerous
tombstones), directly adjacent to the road, just beyond a private home on
the same side of the road, and across the road from a cornfield. There is
no flat parking available; but I was able to pull off into, then beyond a
shallow ditch on the cornfield side of the road, leaving the car parked
strongly tilted toward the road. (I wouldn't attempt that with a top-heavy
vehicle or trailer. Perhaps one of the two private homes nearby would
permit parking for a brief visit.)
The cemetery has apparently been neglected at some point(s?) in its
history, as there are broken and doubtlessly some missing tombstones.
However, at present, it is in very good maintenance, as someone is keeping
it mowed and trimmed; some fallen stones have been re-erected; some old
headstones have apparently been replaced with modern headstones; and the
perimeter is enclosed in a wire fence with a chained but unlocked gate.
The surrounding country is beautiful, green, rolling farmland. The
property is about the size of two small suburban house lots or one large
suburban house lot. I'd guess it contains around a hundred (?) graves,
though fewer headstones. The terms "old George cemetery" or "George
Burying ground" may be somewhat misleading, as this small cemetery contains
grave markers for numerous other families, only two of which (George and
Handley) I'm sure are related to the George line. Nor are all the George
and Handley plots together within the cemetery.
There are several George grave markers, though none identifying Reuben
George or Ann(e) Handley George, whom other records state are buried here.
All the George markers were of a soft stone which has now weathered about
half-away. Here are the details from those we found (the slash character
represents a line break on the stone):
(in-ground marker) JOSHUA GEORGE / DIED / FEB. 25 1836 / AGED (blank)
Apparently, the "DIED" and "AGED" portions were pre-cut on "ready-made"
markers; the "aged" portion on this one was never carved. It is not worn
away; it was just left blank.
(standing decorative tombstone) CATHERINE /wife / of / Joshua George / DIED
/ Oct 29 1862 / AGED / (illegible) 3 mos
(standing decorative tombstone) REBECCA J. / WIFE OF / A.T. GEORGE / DIED
Sep. 30 1865 / Aged 30(?) yrs (illegible)
(standing plain tombstone) blackened (with moss or mildew, whatever
blackens old tombstones), partly illegible but containing the name "GEORGE"
near the top in uppercase letters. "died 1868" Located next to tombstone
of Rebecca J., described above.
There are two Handley tombstones, larger than any of the George headstones,
and made of much harder stone, with the result that the lettering is
completely legible, virtually unworn. Perhaps these Handleys could afford
more expensive work:
(large plain standing tombstone) IN / memory of / ARCHEY HANDLEY. / who
departed this life / August 7th 1842; / Aged 53 years 5 mo. / and 19 days.
(large plain tombstone, standing but at strong tilt) IN / memory of /
RABECCA. / Consort of / Archey Handley, / who departed this life / Nov.
14th 1839; / Aged 50 yrs.
Note: the spelling of Rabecca is from the stone.
The local historical society meets monthly in the metal town building
adjacent to the Methodist Church on Okeana-Drewersburg Rd. The meeting
date and time is posted on a public bulletin board at the bank. The
friendly bank staff helped us confirm the location of the cemetery by
calling a local woman active in the historical society.
"On the hill, north-west of Okeana one mile, is the old GEORGE burying-ground, on the south side of the original Scipio road, on Section 17. This yard was originated as a private ground. Quite recently an addition of three acres has been made to it. The inscriptions will tell the rest.
