Murray City Cemetery Inscriptions

Listing of tombstone inscriptions from the Murray City Cemetery, located between Athens and Hocking Counties, in Ohio just west on state route 78 in Murray City behind the Murray City park on the hill. The Murray City park was a mine reclamation effort created on the old site of the Sunday Creek Coal Mine #5, originally the Greendale #25, and at the end was a house coal mine owned by the Robson's.

This information was transcribed from the tombstones in the cemetery by Sandra Mitchell-Quinn and with help in the tombstone readings by her mother Marlene Robinson-Mitchell, September 6, 1998. Many were difficult to read and crayon rubbings were used to help in deciphering them.

Permission to display this information was granted to the USGenWeb project by Sandra Mitchell-Quinn on 20 Dec 1998.

#	Name	Birth Date	Death Date	Inscription	Stone Condition
1	Effie Avis	Leslie Moore	none listed	In memory of Effie Avis and Leslie Moore	Very Good
2	Margaret L. Byers	6-10-1832	8-10-1904	Margaret L. Byers wife of Benjamin Byers	Good
3	Robert Pearson			Co. K 47th OH INF	Poor
4	Emma J. Pearson	10-8-1844	3-6-1899	Wife of Robert Pearson	Good
5	Minne B.			Wife of John McLaughlin	Poor
6	Edna Archer	1874	1963		Good
6	Joseph Archer	1874	1942
7	Ellen Mura		10-3-1902	Aged 5 mo. 9 days	Good
8	Jesse Phillips	7-6-1902	11-9-1903	son of James Phillips	Good
9	James Turner			Co. A 195th OH INF	Good
10	Ittnyugszik				Poor
10	Nagy Domokosne			Bo`kepo`rain
11	Gyarmatirebeka	1887	1918
12	Wm. M. Price	4-18-1871	11-4-1901	PRICE	Good
13	Gale Earnest Price			Son of W. M. & Bertha E.	Fair
14	Nichols			Nichols	Very Poor
15	Glenn Palmer	1910	1912		Fair
16	Tommy ?	2-2-1895	12-3-1901	Tommy	Very Poor
17	Thomas Orval		9-26-1905	son of T. and F. McAfferty age 1m 26 days Tom (*on footstone)*	Good
18	Ralph Canter		9-21-1906	Son of J. and Chloe Canter	Very Poor
19	Ruth E. McGarva	1895	1900	A little bud of love	Good
20	Power - Bryan			Power - Bryan	Good
21	John M. Stephenson	1881	1930		Good
22	Frank Stephenson				Fair
22	Tobetha Stephenson	1849	1924
23	Viona Nutter	9-4-1899	9-6-1904	dau of B. F. and Grace Nutter	Very Poor
24	David Ellis	8-22-1894	8-10-1901	son of T. & L. Ellis	Very Poor
25	Freda S. Stephenson	7-31-1899	11-29-1901	dau of Nora Stephenson	Good
26	Louis Lonberger	7-9-1883	4-12-1905		Poor
27	Lena Lonberger		8-17-1901	wife of Joseph Lonberger	Poor
28	Katie Brooks			dau of P. & E. A. Brooks	Fair
29	General Millard May			SRF?	Very Poor
30	Fanny McCafferty		3-12-1906	19 years 1m 15days Wife of Thomas McCafferty	Fair
31	Willie Leasure			son of S. & L. Leasure	Good
32	Ethel Sabo		8-23-1905	age 31 days dau of Paul and Mary Sabo	Fair
33	Roberts			Roberta, and Margaret	Fair
34	Maude Fisher	1-9-1897	5-24-1899	dau of Phillip and Lizzie	Fair
34	Vintie Fisher	12-14-1894	5-17-1888	son of Phillip and Lizzie
35	William W. Wray	12-29-1906	2-14-1907		Fair
36	Betty Charbo	1872	1959	Mother Betty	Good
36	Andy Charbo	1865	1915	Father Andy Children Elizabeth, Mary, Betty
37	David Brown	3-6-1844	8-8-1910		Good
37	Mary J. Brown	9-19-1850	----------- *Death date missing, slashes on tombstone*
38	ITT ?????????		1911 January ten	LTZREVETMH ? BEKEHAVAIRA	Very Poor
39	J. A. S.				*Footstone is all that is left*
40	Davie Evans	4-11-1904	5-4-1904	Gone but not forgotten	Good
41	Thomas Smith			C. C 143rd IND INF	Fair
42	Burel Smith	1907	1910	Our darling	Fair
43	Sarah E. Smith	12-30-1875	3-30-1899		Poor
44	Willey Watkins			Co. E ???	Very Poor
45	James Elgin		1-16-1894	Age 1 year 5 months	Good
46	Ruth M. Bridge	1925	1928
46	Vilas Bridge Jr.	1927	1928		Poor
47	CLEGG			CLEGG	Good
48	Ashford C. Jones		5-14-1902	son of J. S. and Sarah Jones	Good
49	CLEGG - ZARLEY			CLEGG - ZARLEY	Very Good
50	Lucetta Clegg	12-19-1813	1-22-1905		Good
51	Samuel Clegg	2-29-1802	3-16-1875		Good
52	David Zarley	4-5-1813	2-2-1841	footstone D. Z.	Good
53	David Jones *Plaque*	1808	1846	drowned at Nelsonville 12-23	VG
54	Elisha Watkins		2-23-1876	69years 4 months	Very Good
54	Margaret		12-22-1884	71years 10m 6 days, wife of Elisha
55	Gilbert Shaffer *Plaque*	3-6-1904	5-5-1904	At rest	Very Good
56	George Watkins			Co. E. 75th OH INF	Fair
57	ANGLE Mary Angle	1848	1888		Good
57	Dora Angle	1873	1887
58	Emily Ann Davis	1877	1908	(wife of Charles Davis, son of Olive Davis Mitchell)	Very Good
59	Isaac Hawkins	11-26-1862	9-6-1913		Good
59	Amanda Hawkins	4-6-1868	19--
60	LaFOLLETT			Father and Mother (tombstones surrounded by fence)	Very Good
60	James LaFollett		5-10-1855	16y 9m 26d
60	Mary LaFollett		10-29-1887	Aged 71y 17d	Good
61	James LaFollett		10-19-1887	(Isaac LaFollett first pioneer sold the land that would become Murray City to Murray Brown for $600 and Murray Brown sold to the Railroad for $20,000 in the 1870's.)	Poor
62	John Holt	1870	1918	(2nd husband of Mary Alice Lee)-	Murray City coal miner
63	John Weller			(3rd husband of Mary Alice Lee )
63	Mary Alice Lee Campbell Holt Weller	4-9-1861	1933	(wife of John Campbell, John Holt, Richard Palmer, and John Weller, daughter of Peter Lee and Lydia Cheney, and she was born in Burning Springs, Wirt county, WV. Her father Peter Lee is buried in the Carbon Hill cemetery.)
Cook family surrounded by a fence, no legible stones.
64	Raphael E. Cook			Co. G 18th Ohio Infantry
65	Jane S. Cook	1871	1898
66	Parker S. Cook	1866	1947
67	Dellie Verigan	8 yrs. 8 m. 28 days	died 4, 12, 1896	son of John and Emma Verigan Asleep in Jesus Blessed sleep which none ever wake to sleep
68	Leroy Reed		WWI	(son of Samuel Reed)
69	Ralph Dixon		7-12-1952	OH Sgt. 161 Depot Brigade (son of Malinda Dixon)
70	Malinda Dixon	3-6-1861	5-7-1905
71	Maggie Cuthbertson	1 month 10 days	died 1901
72	Chaney			(must be Jane Chaney, obituary listed below)
73	Mary Hagler and children Mattie	1851 1874	died 1881 died 1897	this was near to the Chaney tombstone. One other date listed 1900-1902
74	Garnet Collins	1935	1936
75	Devore		died 1901
76	Mr. Ed Park	1882	died 1924	Was married to Elizabeth Armstrong, she later married widow James Henry Lantz who was working with her husband in the mine at the time of the accident and James had worked diligently to bring Ed's body out of the mine.
77	Wilber Shafer Howard Shafer		died 1904 Aug died 8-14-1906
78	Albert Zeller Gertrude Zeller	1902 1904	died 1904 1904

Also known by the author to be buried in the cemetery according to death certificates but tombstones not found:
	William Mitchell	9-7-1852	12-15-1914	(son of Squire Mitchell and Maryette Fay death certificate says buried in MC cemetery signed by undertaker John Simons)	Murray City coal miner
	Olive Anne Davis Mitchell	2-18-1857	7-17-1914	(wife of William daughter of Thomas Davis and Zipporiah Spurbeck born in Morgan county, Ohio, death certificate says buried in MC cemetery by undertaker John Simons)	teacher
	Clyde Mitchell	September 12, 1891	October 01, 1958	(Son of William and Olive Mitchell, husband of Maude)	Murray City coal miner
	Maude Vanhorn Mitchell	September 1894	April 20, 1928	(Daughter of John VanHorn and Mary Ellen Tillie) Byrd	wife of Clyde
	Infant Mitchell	April 15, 1928	April 19, 1928	(Daughter of Clyde and Maude Mitchell)
	Jesse Allen Dyson	born March 14, 1911	Died April 2, 1911	info provided by Sylvia Cunningham
	Charles and Ada (Jenkins) O'Reilly and their infant son Donald.			(info provided by Sylvia Cunningham)
	Violet Ilean North	birth: 8/16/1914 in Ohio	9/23/1916 age: 2y, 1m, 9d	Father: Henry Elswood North born in Ohio Mother: Clara Edith Matheny born in Ohio Informant: Henry Elswood North of Orbiston, Ohio info provided by Julie North

Mrs. Minnie McLaughlin: 1898-1901 Mrs. Minnie McLaughlin Burned to death at Murray City Last Week. On Tuesday evening last week as Mrs. Minnie McLaughlin of Murray City, was knotting a comfort, her clothing caught fire from an open grate. The cries of her children attracted the attention of the neighbors. Henry Wolfe was the first to arrive and found Mrs. McLaughlin standing in the kitchen apparently motionless, with her clothing burning all over her body. She said, "I am burning to death." Her husband, John McLaughlin, is a machine man and works at Jobs, and was at work at the time the accident occurred, about 9 O' clock in the evening. Death came to her relief about midnight, an hour after her husband had arrived. She leaves her husband, John McLaughlin, parents, Robert and Emma Pearson and a little son, William and daughter, Mildred to mourn their loss. She was a member of the Maccabee Lodge, and the funeral took place last Friday at 2 p.m. Note: the year is between 1898-1901, Murray City, Ohio.

Obituary 2: of Minnie Pearson-McLaughlin; wife of John McLaughlin. Daughter of Robert Pearson

b.1847,England, and Emma _________, b. Ohio. Minnie is buried at Murray City Cemetery ,next to her parents.

Murray City Lady Burned To Death By Clothing Being Ignited From The Fire In The Grate

Last Tuesday evening while Mrs. John McLaughlin was sitting before the fire knotting a comfort, her clothing ignited and before she noticed it, (her back was toward the fire) the flames were running up her body and she was powerless to save herself. She run to and fro through the house, followed by her two young children, William and Mildred, aged 4 and 6 respectively, who pursued her with cups of water which they threw upon her blazing body.

Her cries, mingled with those of her children, attracted the attention of Henry Wolf, who hurried to the rescue. Mr. Wolf tried the door, which was locked, owing to the lateness of the hour, for it was 9 O'clock, then ran to the window, and busting out the sash, sprang in and tore off as much of the burned garments as remained and offered relief. In the mean time, the neighborhood was acquainted of the terrible happening, and crowded in to lend assistance. Dr. T. J. Dillinger was summoned, and it required but little examination to show that the unfortunate woman was beyond medical aid. She died about twelve O' Clock, retaining consciousness until the last.

When the news was broken to Mr. McLaughlin, he was crushed with grief and inconsolable.

The horrible accident has thrown the town into a state of excitement, and sorrow is being expressed on every hand.

Joseph Archer: Jan. 15, 1942- Joseph Archer dies at his Murray City home. Joseph Archer, age 68, born in England and for many years a resident of Murray City, died at his home there early this morning. He leaves his wife Edna Archer and the following children: Joseph Jr. and Mrs. Edna Bradbury of Columbus; Mrs. Ann Rushbrook of England and George Archer of Murray City; also three brothers and one sister. A daughter Emma preceded him in death. Funeral services for Joseph Archer were held Friday afternoon at 2 at the Murray City Methodist Church conducted by the Rev. Bancroft. Burial in the Murray City Cemetery.

Maude Mitchell: April 20, 1928- Maude Mitchell, 33, Succumbs at Corning. Mrs. Maude Mitchell, 33, wife of Clyde Mitchell, died of pneumonia yesterday morning at her home at Palos. An infant daughter, four days old, was buried yesterday at Murray City where the body of the mother will be interred Saturday. Funeral services will be held at the residence Saturday afternoon. Mrs. Mitchell leaves her husband and five children, her father John Van Horn, all at home; four sisters; Mrs. Mae Eberts, New Straitsville; Mrs. Mary Smith, Crooksville; Mrs. Charles Ellis of Columbus; Mrs. Leona Davis of Marysville.

Mary Lou Mitchell: September 8, 1929- Daughter dies. Mary Lou Mitchell, twenty two month old infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mitchell died Friday at the home at New Pittsburgh on Friday. Funeral services will be held at the New Pittsburgh church and burial will be in Murray City.

Mrs. Jane Chaney: December 31, 1926- Mrs. Jane Chaney, 68, wife of Henry Chaney, died very early Thursday morning at her home in Murray City. Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church. She leaves her husband.

Ruth Bridge: April 3, 1928- Ruth Bridge Child Dies. Ruth Margaret Bridge, 3, Succumbs at Murray City, Monday. Ruth Margaret Bridge, 3, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vilas Bridge, died at the home of the parents at Murray City Monday evening. Funeral services will be held at the residence Thursday afternoon at 2. Burial will be made at Murray City. The parents have six other children.

Vilas Bridge Jr.: April 19, 1928- Vilas Bridge Jr. infant dies. April 18, Vilas Jr., the seven months old son of Mr. and Mrs. Vilas Bridge of Murray City died at the home of the parents Wednesday night following an illness of several weeks. This is the second death in the immediate family within a month, a daughter aged 3, dying about four weeks ago. Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 at the residence conducted by the Reverend Nihizer. Burial will be made at Murray City. The parents and five sisters and brothers are left.

Russell Maness: Nov. 5, 1930- Funeral services for Russell Maness, 20 years old, who was killed by a fall of coal in No. 5 mine were held Sunday afternoon at the Murray M. E. Church in charge of Rev. Householder. This was the largest funeral that has been held in the M. E. Church for some years. The deceased was very well known, having moved here when he was only 6 years old from Virginia. he had many friends in the town. He was also a member of the independent football team. He leaves his mother Mrs. Almeda Maness, one sister Beulah and two brothers, Raymond and Carl. Burial was made in the Murray City Cemetery.

Note by the transcriptionist- September 1998 Sandra K. Mitchell-Quinn

I chose to do this project in honor of my ancestor’s William and Olive Annie (Davis) Mitchell who are buried in the Murray City Cemetery under a large walnut tree. I lived in Murray for many years while I was growing up. Many of the Mitchell descendants are still living in Murray City. My husband’s ancestor aunt Margaret L. Byers, wife of Benjamin Byers the Civil War Soldier is also buried there.

According to the village town council and my parents Larry and Marlene Mitchell who were members, there are no known records of who is buried in the Murray City Cemetery. While walking the cemetery it became obvious to me that there are many graves which have become sunken over the years and there are many graves missing tombstones. You can visibly see where the tombstones once stood on many lots, but are now gone. The ground is spongy and covered in a thick peat moss. Some of the graves have slipped down over the hill. Most of the tombstones there were difficult to read and with my mother’s assistance (Marlene Robinson-Mitchell), we made crayon rubbings to read them. The cemetery sits on a hill above the Murray City town park which formerly was the Murray City Sunday Creek Coal Mine #5 also known as the Greendale Coal mine #25. The cemetery is actually situated above the old coal mine entrance.

According to the readable tombstones, the earliest burial occurred in 1841, long before Murray City had become a coal mine village town. The first person buried was David Zarley. David Zarley was the husband of Lucetta Drake Zarley. The last person buried was Betty Charbo in 1959. The Zarley's and the LaFollette's were the first owners of the fertile farm land that later became Murray City.

The local Legend told to me by my grandfather Charles "Ike" Mitchell , was the cemetery is directly over a coal mine shaft and about 50 years ago some local boys were exploring the shafts and much to their surprise came upon the skeletons and tombstones of the buried which had fallen into the abandoned mine shaft. No effort was made to retrieve them or to move the cemetery, but the cemetery was officially closed to new burials at that time. Grandpa told me other fascinating stories, one story about finding a skeleton in the woods. After he died I found an old Athens messenger article and found his story was true! For most of his stories I have now found news articles backing them up showing their can be some truth in family lore.

"Athens Messenger 4-14-1947. Skeleton is Found in Long Hollow Area Buchtel- (Staff Special) The skeleton of a man identified as Joseph Andrew Vice, 43, of near Buchtel was found in the Long Hollow area by a hunter Monday about noon. Death was believed to have been by suicide. Vice had been missing since Memorial Day.
Discovery of the body was made by Charles Mitchell, Buchtel, as he was hunting. He notified neighbors who in turn called Sheriff George Bateman.
Dr. John H. Elias, Athens county coroner said death was from "unknown causes". However under the circumstances and from the facts available, the death was probably self inflicted, he added.
Dr. Elias said he had been dead since Memorial day. Mrs. Zalencki told Sheriff Bateman that her son had threatened suicide several times and on Memorial Day morning told her to send his clothes to Europe as he wouldn't be needing them anymore. The day of his disappearance the family searched the heavily wooded area for him but they found no trace of him. "

Sandra Mitchell-Quinn is webmaster of Athens County on OHGENWEB, Ohio History Network, American Local History Network, Member of First Families of Athens County, Ohio, has been a Member of Athens County Genealogical Society, Member of Daughter's of Union Veterans of the Civil War , and has been a member of the Hocking County Genealogical Society, and is the webmaster of Hocking County on OHGENWEB Ohio History Network and American Local History Network.