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St. Paul Lutheran Church
(Preble), Decatur, Indiana |
| I. THE
ORIGINAL CEMETERY II. THE NEW CEMETERY III. CHARTER MEMBERS IV. INFORMATION FOR GENEALOGISTS |
THE
ORIGINAL CEMETERY:
The original St. Paul school and church building was located just east
of the old cemetery. This cemetery was used from 1874 to 1883. In the
early years, until 1938, the old cemetery was surrounded by a white
wooden fence. This kept children from playing in the cemetery and
livestock from entering it. In 1883, it was decided to put the new
cemetery south of the new church building. There are 14 adults and 29
children buried here. Four of these adults are charter members: Andrew
Werling, William Ehlerding, Daniel Bieberich, and Jacob Hoffman.Henry Meyer, a civil war veteran, is buried in the old cemetery, designated with a civil war grave marker. All veterans' graves are marked with a flag holder and flag provided by Adams County and placed there by the Adams County Veterans Association. In 1938, an effort was made to remove all monuments and place a central monument. However, due to the lack of total consent from relatives, some would remain. It was at this time that the wooden fence was replaced with shrubs. THE NEW CEMETERY: The first burial in the "new" cemetery was an adult, Johann Breiner, in 1885. He is buried in row 3, plot 1. The first child was Marie Fackler (row 2, plot 2) in 1890. In 1897, her infant brother, Paul Fackler, was buried next to her. Although not a member of St. Paul congregation, his parents were former members who transferred to the newly established Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Ossian, where burial grounds were not yet available. 
As of 1998, a total of 308 adults are buried in this cemetery, as well
as 61 children. Former Pastor Mathias' wife is buried in row 4, plot 19.
Former pastor Norman Kuck and wife, Dorothy, are buried in row 4, plots
48 and 49. In 1987, one grave was exhumed and moved to Decatur Maplewood
Cemetery. Prior to 1938, the cemetery was mowed with 16-inch push-type
reel mowers and trimmed with hand shears.President George Washington died in 1799. The following people buried in our cemetery lived during that time: Barbara Graf, born 1799 (old cemetery plot 8) Gerhard Linnemeier, born 1794 (new cemetery row 3, plot 3) Sophia Linnemeier, born 1794 (new cemetery row 3, plot 4) CHARTER MEMBERS: These charter members are buried in the new cemetery: Christ. F. Bieberich (1853-1919) Row 6, Plot 1 Carl Oscar Bley (1835-1886) Row 3, Plot 2 Adam Bley (1812-1894) Row 3, Plot 15 John Breiner (1829-1919) Row 5, Plot 21 Charles Conrad (1838-1903) Row 5, Plot 13 Nathan Ehrman (1841-1930) Row 6, Plot 8 Louis Goldner (1841-1916) Row 5, Plot 4 Jacob Kiefer (1837-1924) Row 5, Plot 23 Carl Koenemann (1846-1907) Row 4, Plot 3 Henry Linnemeier (1854-1915) Row 5, Plot 18 William Macke (1824-1887) Row 3, Plot 5 William Karl Schaekel (1821-1896) Row 3, Plot 17 George Schueler (1834-1893) Row 3, Plot 19 Henry Wefel (1852-1914) Row 5, Plot 27 John Wefel (1850-1903) Row 4, Plot 13 Nikolaus Werling (1839-1901) Row 4, Plot 15 Ben Breiner (1820-1880) Row 4, Plot 23 (excerpted from the book Commemorating 125 Years of God's Grace: 1873-1998. Copies of this book are available from the church office. Contact church secretary Lynn Brege at (260) 547-4176 or by e-mailing her at secretary@splutheran.org) |
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INFORMATION
FOR GENEALOGISTS: Local genealogist Allen L. Franz has provided our
church with updated research. It was entered onto this site in February
2003. If you have any inquiries regarding his service, call him at (260)
623-3723. We thank him for his service to our church and its cemetery
website. |
| ©2000-2003, St. Paul Lutheran Church (Preble), Decatur, Indiana. All Rights Reserved. The contents of this page may not be republished in any form without the permission of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Decatur, Indiana. |