Centerville, Indiana
History - Cemetery - Newspaper Clippings
The community of Centerville faded into the past before the Great Depression days. It was located about 7 miles outside of North Vernon, Indiana.
The cemetery is located beside the Centerville Baptist Church. The original church was Methodist and sat in the middle of the cemetery. You will notice the lack of stones [in the photos below] in the middle of the cemetery.
The parents of Alinda Miller's father-in-law, Mr. Frances Wilder, moved to Jennings County during the mid-1930's and purchased the property across from the cemetery. Mr. Wilder is currently maintaining the cemetery and is looking for information on the cemetery, the people buried there, and Centerville.
You may contact Alinda Miller if you have information on Centerville and/or the cemetery. I know that they will be very appreciative of your help. Contact Alinda at or .
Thanks, Alinda, for providing the info below!
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Transcribed Stones
BAILIFF, Wilber Wells
April 22, 1859 - February 24, 1947
BAILIFF, Marietta
May 26, 1847 [stone broken-hard to read] - August 1, 1908
BAILIFF, Celesta Cora [No dates visable]
BAILIFF, Orin M. son of P.B. & S.J.
January 6, 1862 - June 15, 1864
BAILIFF, Susannah H. wife of E.P. BAILIFF
March 14, 1799 - November 3, 1878
BAILIFF, Edmond P.
April 17, 1798 - June 5, 1871
BAILIFF, Ellison D.
Died 1863
Aged 20 Yr, 1 Mo, 12 Days
LAKE, Elijah 1847 - 1923
Viola B. wife 1853 - 1929
Jesse W. son 1883 - 1912
Co C. 133 Reg. Ohio National Guards Vol. Inf.
Newspaper Clippings
CENTERVILLE - October 21, 1890
Mrs. Millie Young is improving slowly at this writing.
Ed Jordan is at home on a visit from Horrace, Ind.
Katie Billou visited Hattie Wetzel a few days last week.
Bert Jordan went to Lett's Corner last Saturday to work this coming winter.
Lizzie Ochs and Birdie Dawson visited Phoebie and Lizzie Gahn, Saturday and Sunday.
Misses Maggie Wilson, Anna Jordan, and Hattie Wetzell visited Anna Simpson last Sabbath.
Byron Green who has been visiting at this place, returned to his home at Elnora, Ind., last Thursday.
E. S. Wetzel is progressing nicely in building his residence. The carpenters are Mr. Fisher and Sam Reed.
There was a surprise birthday dinner last Monday at the residence of Marion Spencer, it being Mrs. Spencer's fifty-fifth birthday. A number of relatives and friends assembled and a pleasant day was spent. After they partook of their dinner, they all returned to their homes feeling that a social and happy day had been spent, and wishing Mrs. Spencer many more happy birthdays in the future.
DIED - On Monday morning, October 20th, 1890, at his home one mile east of this place of typhoid fever, after a brief illness, Mr. George Tweedy. In his death we have lost one of our estimable young men, one who was well known and highly respected by all. We hope our loss will be heavens gain. He leaves behind him an aged father, mother, four brothers and two sisters and numerous other friends and relatives to mourn his departure.
VERNON BANNER - North Vernon, Jennings County, Indiana - November 5, 1890
CENTERVILLE - Mrs. Young is about the same at this writing.
Mrs. Mariah Whitmore has been on the sick list a few days.
Byron Green and family have moved from Elnora, Ind., to this place.
Charles Ochs and family visited in the Hopewell neighborhood, Sunday.
Mr. Kysar of the Tea Creek neighborhood was in this vicinity on business, Monday.
Joseph Warren, one of the early settlers in this vicinity, died at his home in Kansas recently.
There was a social singing Sunday night at Hartman Wetzel's and a pleasant evening was spent.
Uncle John Deal is very low and he says he is just waiting for the death angel to summons him home.
The young folks of this neighborhood attended a social party at Perry Jordan's Thursday night. A good time was reported.
BANNER PLAIN DEALER - February 21, 1900
CENTERVILLE - George Wilson has sold his farm to a gentleman from Shelbyville, who intends moving onto it the first of March.
A force of hands are cutting stave blocks for a firm at Crothersville.
Will Gray was called to Vevay last week to the bedside of a brother-in-law, who is very ill.
Our huckster, McKay, of Paris Crossing had six horses to his wagon last week.
Demp Meek was clerk.
BANNER PLAIN DEALER - February 7, 1900
CENTERVILLE - A ten-year old child of Lawrence Stewart's of Freedom was buried in the cemetery here Friday at 2 o'clock.
George Trapp, George Craig, and Grant Hendricks butchered Monday.
Invitations are out for a Valentine musical party at the home of the Misses Whelan at Diamond Peach Farm on Tuesday evening, Feb. 13.
BANNER PLAIN DEALER - March 21, 1900
Hartman Wetzel of Centerville was in the city several days recently visiting the family of his son, Smith, and recuperating from the effects of pneumonia. Before the advent of machinery, Mr. Wetzel was a large manufacturer in this city of barrels of all kinds, and for several years employed a large number of hands and conducted a prosperous business at the corner of Poplar and State streets.
BANNER PLAIN DEALER - January 24, 1900
CENTERVILLE - C. F. Lurton's huckster wagon mired down near Duck creek last Tuesday.
John Whitmore was at North Vernon Saturday.
BANNER PLAIN DEALER - January 31, 1900
CENTERVILLE - Rumor reports the mumps as being plentiful in the vicinity of Tea Creek.
Maggie Hastings is staying at Commiskey.
Lou Whitmore fell last Sunday morning and sprained her ankle.
Fred Spreckerhoff and family of Osgood visited relatives here over Sunday.
* Following Transcriptions added 12/29/2000:
Banner Plain Dealer - December 12, 1900
Centerville: Mrs. Jennie Dicks of Springfield, Mo., is visiting relatives in this place. Wilbur McClure has returned from Rush County. Will Gray sports a fine new buggy. Chas Engle and wife spent last Sunday with her mother, Mrs. Ella Dawson. Married at the home of the bride on Thursday evening, George Pryor to Mrs. Lou Whitmore. Jesse Lake has returned from Ohio, where he has been visiting relatives.
Centerville Cemetery, Jennings County Indiana
JORDON, Walter - No Dates
JORDON, Els-----h [Elsworth?] - No Dates
JORDON, Hulda - No Dates
SKINNER, Clarry Wife of Stephen SKINNER
March 25, 1811 - July 27, 1869
SKINNER, Stephen
January 22, 1809 - December 7, 1824
RAMSEY, Betty Joan
November 24, 1923 [presumed death date]
RAMSEY, Joyce Ann [presumed death date]
July 31, 1941
RAMSEY, Marshall C.[Preacher at Centerville Baptist Church]
February 23, 1922 - September 2, 1985
DEAL, John
Born November 16, 1813
Elizabeth wife of John
Born May 11, 1824 [no death dates listed]
DEAL, Charles E.
March 9, 1862 - September 1, 1863
DEAL, Frank
December 25, 1859 - September 3, 1863
DEAL, James P.
October 22, 1842 - November 25, 1867
DEAL, Adam
January 1, 1851 - April 27, 1884
DEAL, John R
.
September 16, 1853 - February 28, 1864
DEAL, William H.
February 4, 1856 - February 29, 1864
DEAL, George W.
January 17, 1846 - March 5, 1864
DEAL, [can not be read]
DEAL, Arthur C. son of JP & [?]G DEAL
February 29 1866 - August 29 1867
DEAL, Adam
January 1, 1861 - April 27, 1884
HENDRICKS, Grant
1865 - 1916
Flora
186? - 1930
*Additional Transcriptions added 1/11/2001:
Banner Plain Dealer - January 2, 1901
Centerville: News is scarce. We are having beautiful weather for January. Mrs. Lou Pryor was at North Vernon Saturday. There was a watch party at the residence of George Pryor New Year's Eve. Flora Hendricks was the guest of Hattie Hastings Friday.
*Additional Transcriptions added 1/30/2001:
CENTERVILLE - September 29, 1890
Clara Jordan is on the sick list.
Lizzie Ochs was the guest of Hattie Wetzel, Sunday.
Gently the breezes blow. There is going to be a wedding soon.
Our Sabbath school closed for the year at this place last Sunday.
Mrs. Merriah, and Lou Whitmore and children visited at Joseph Hendrick's, Sunday.
Andrew McClure, wife and daughter, Miss Gracie, were the guests of Allen Smith, Sunday.
Quite a number of young people from this vicinity attended Sunday school at Pleasant View, Sunday.
There was a surprise singing at H. Wetzel's Monday night in honor of his daughter, Miss Hattie's birthday.
There will be an ice cream and oyster supper at Centerville M. E. church on Thursday night, Oct. 2d, for the benefit of the church. All are cordially invited to attend.
*Additional Transcriptions added 4/5/2001:
Banner Plain Dealer, April 3, 1901
Peter Trapp, brother of Sheriff Trapp, died at his home near Centerville Monday and was buried Tuesday.
*Additional Transcriptions added 4/10/2001:
Banner Plain Dealer, April 10, 1901
Centerville: Charles Fisher and family will move to Shelbyville this week. John Hastings is working for Will Biedert. Peter Trapp was buried at the cemetery here on Tuesday. Will Ochs has returned from Johnson County. There was a social party at George Pryor's Saturday night, March 30, in honor of Howard Fisher's 16th birthday. H.R. Weeks is erecting a fine woven wire fence around his barn lot.
